{"id":553,"date":"2025-09-11T01:18:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-11T01:18:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/garstangasc.org.uk\/wordpress\/?page_id=553"},"modified":"2026-02-04T11:57:39","modified_gmt":"2026-02-04T11:57:39","slug":"squads","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/garstangasc.org.uk\/?page_id=553","title":{"rendered":"Squads"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Training Squads<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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At Garstang Gators, we offer a progressive squad system designed to support swimmers at every stage of their development \u2014 from early technique to competitive excellence. Our structure aligns with Swim England\u2019s Coaching Awards, ensuring each swimmer receives ability-appropriate, high-quality coaching as they grow.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Foundation Squad<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Our entry-level Foundation Squad introduces swimmers to structured training and fundamental skills. This stage follows Swim England Coaching Awards Levels 1 and 2, focusing on stroke technique, body position, and basic drills. Swimmers learn how to train with purpose, build water confidence, and develop the discipline needed for club-level swimming.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Junior Squad<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Once swimmers have mastered the basics, they progress to the Junior Squad, which builds on the foundations with Levels 3 and 4. Here, we introduce more advanced drills, aerobic sets, and race preparation. Swimmers begin to understand pacing, lane etiquette, and the importance of consistent effort. Coaches encourage independence and goal-setting, preparing juniors for higher-level competition.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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“So many people along the way, whatever it is you aspire to do, will tell you it can\u2019t be done. But all it takes is imagination. You dream. You plan. You reach. There will be obstacles. There will be doubters. There will be mistakes. But with hard work, with belief, with confidence and trust in yourself and those around you, there are no limits.”<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Michael Phelps<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Ignite Squad<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The Ignite Squad is where swimmers begin to shine. Aligned with Levels 5 and 6, this stage focuses on refining technique, increasing training intensity, and developing tactical awareness. Swimmers train across all strokes, work on starts and turns, and begin to compete regularly. Ignite is the bridge between development and performance.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Performance Squad<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Our top-tier Performance Squad is for swimmers ready to compete regularly at open, county,, and regional levels. Training is tailored to individual goals, with a focus on race strategy, conditioning, and mental resilience. Older swimmers are role models within the club, often mentoring younger squads and representing the Gators spirit at its best.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Recommended Equipment<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Kickboard<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Needed by ALL SQUADS<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Pull Buoy<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Needed by ALL SQUADS<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Fins<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Needed by ALL SQUADS<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Hand Paddles<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Needed by Ignite and Performance\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Snorkel<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Needed by Performance Squad<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tClick here to see Training Times<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Training Squads At Garstang Gators, we offer a progressive squad system designed to support swimmers at every stage of their development \u2014 from early technique to competitive excellence. Our structure aligns with Swim England\u2019s Coaching Awards, ensuring each swimmer receives ability-appropriate, high-quality coaching as they grow. Foundation Squad Our entry-level Foundation Squad introduces swimmers to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"ocean_post_layout":"full-screen","ocean_both_sidebars_style":"","ocean_both_sidebars_content_width":0,"ocean_both_sidebars_sidebars_width":0,"ocean_sidebar":"","ocean_second_sidebar":"","ocean_disable_margins":"on","ocean_add_body_class":"","ocean_shortcode_before_top_bar":"","ocean_shortcode_after_top_bar":"","ocean_shortcode_before_header":"","ocean_shortcode_after_header":"","ocean_has_shortcode":"","ocean_shortcode_after_title":"","ocean_shortcode_before_footer_widgets":"","ocean_shortcode_after_footer_widgets":"","ocean_shortcode_before_footer_bottom":"","ocean_shortcode_after_footer_bottom":"","ocean_display_top_bar":"off","ocean_display_header":"on","ocean_header_style":"transparent","ocean_center_header_left_menu":"","ocean_custom_header_template":"","ocean_custom_logo":0,"ocean_custom_retina_logo":0,"ocean_custom_logo_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_tablet_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_mobile_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_max_height":0,"ocean_custom_logo_tablet_max_height":0,"ocean_custom_logo_mobile_max_height":0,"ocean_header_custom_menu":"12","ocean_menu_typo_font_family":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_subset":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_size":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_unit":"px","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight_tablet":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight_mobile":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform_tablet":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform_mobile":"","ocean_menu_typo_line_height":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_unit":"","ocean_menu_typo_spacing":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_unit":"","ocean_menu_link_color":"","ocean_menu_link_color_hover":"","ocean_menu_link_color_active":"","ocean_menu_link_background":"","ocean_menu_link_hover_background":"","ocean_menu_link_active_background":"","ocean_menu_social_links_bg":"","ocean_menu_social_hover_links_bg":"","ocean_menu_social_links_color":"","ocean_menu_social_hover_links_color":"","ocean_disable_title":"on","ocean_disable_heading":"default","ocean_post_title":"","ocean_post_subheading":"","ocean_post_title_style":"","ocean_post_title_background_color":"","ocean_post_title_background":0,"ocean_post_title_bg_image_position":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_attachment":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_repeat":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_size":"","ocean_post_title_height":0,"ocean_post_title_bg_overlay":0.5,"ocean_post_title_bg_overlay_color":"","ocean_disable_breadcrumbs":"default","ocean_breadcrumbs_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_separator_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_links_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_links_hover_color":"","ocean_display_footer_widgets":"default","ocean_display_footer_bottom":"default","ocean_custom_footer_template":"","omw_enable_modal_window":"enable","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-553","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/garstangasc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/553","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/garstangasc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/garstangasc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/garstangasc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/garstangasc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=553"}],"version-history":[{"count":47,"href":"https:\/\/garstangasc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/553\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1424,"href":"https:\/\/garstangasc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/553\/revisions\/1424"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/garstangasc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=553"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}