Swim England Regional Development Programme (RDP)

This is the second step on the Swim England Talent Pathway, which is implemented and delivered by each region with support from the Swim England Talent team.

Programme aims to support athletes and the workforce to:

• Further develop fundamental movement skills and core aquatic skills to advance physical literacy
• Further develop technical and skills across all four competitive strokes and turns
• Understand the culture of Swim England and its associated talent programmes
• Develop the characteristics in-line with the age and ‘Development’ stage of the Optimal Athlete Development Framework (OADF)
• Increase opportunities for the workforce delivering at this stage of the pathway, to experience and facilitate an integrated and inclusive training environment

Key consideration criteria

• 13 years of age 31^st December 2023
• Up to 48 swimmers (24 male and female) per region selected from Long Course 200m Individual Medley Rankings
• If regions do not have the minimum number of swimmers for each sex they can reduce as required, or increase the number of swimmers of one particular sex
• To reflect relative age, two selection bands will be implemented
  • Selection Band A – 1^st January to 30^th June
  • Selection Band B – 1^st July to 31^st December
• Additional selections, if required, can be made for either selection band from swimmers meeting the required minimum standard.
• Times used for selection to the RDP must be taken from the Swim England national rankings, and be achieved between 1^st January 2023 1^st January 2023 and 6^th August 2023
• Any exceptional short course performances can be considered at the discretion of the RDP Head Coach
• Swimmers will be selected for their RDP based on the region their club is affiliated to
• Swimmers will be expected to commit fully to all aspects of the programme
• Swimmers will have worked with their home coach to achieve the standard of levels 3 & 4 of the Swim England Club Awards. Confirmation of these standards being achieved will be signed off by the head coach
• Para-swimmers will be selected nationally by the Swim England Talent Officers/Coaches and selections will be communicated to the respective region *see general conditions for more information
• Up to 6 para-swimmers per region (nationally selected from 2 IPC events included within the total of 48 swimmers) *see general conditions for more information
• As a minimum, standard times Swimmers will only be considered where they are equal to, or in excess of the below World Aquatics Points (WAP) / British Para-Swimming Points (BPSP)
• Please note, achieving these points does not guarantee selection to a talent programme;

*PI selection 2 strokes where impairment allows

Swim England Regional Distance Development Programme (RDDP)

Running parallel to the RDP is the RDDP, which includes an open water swimming experience, aiming to educate swimmers and workforce, increasing the standard of swimmers participating in distance events. The RDDP, is implemented and delivered by each region with support from the Swim England Talent team.

Programme aims to support athletes and the workforce to:

• Gain a greater understanding and insight of training requirements and opportunities within distance swimming
• Experience practical elements of open water environments
• Develop technical and racing skills in distance pool events and open water environments
• Understand the culture of Swim England and its associated talent programmes
• Develop the characteristics in-line with the age and ‘Development’ stage of the Optimal Athlete Development Framework (OADF)
• Increase opportunities for the workforce to gain knowledge, experience and understanding of effective distance swimming practices and different aquatic environments

Key consideration criteria

• Up to 48 swimmers (24 male and 24 female) per region
• 12 – 14 years of age on 31^st December 2023
• To reflect relative age, two selection bands will be implemented
  • Selection Band A – 1^st January to 30^th June
  • Selection Band B – 1^st July to 31^st December
• Additional selections, if required can be made, for either selection band from swimmers meeting the required minimum standard.
• The top 4 long course ranked swimmers per age and sex in 800m and 1500m Freestyle
  • 4 male and 4 female 800m 12 years
  • 4 male and 4 female 1500m 12 years
  • 4 male and 4 female 800m 13 years
  • 4 male and 4 female 1500m 13 years
  • 4 male and 4 female 800m 14 years
  • 4 male and 4 female 1500m 14 years

• Times used for selection to the RDDP must be taken from the Swim England national long course rankings, and be achieved between 1^st January 2023 and 6^th August 2023
• Further selections can be made from fifth, sixth etc. ranked positions until maximum numbers are achieved. Where swimmers have an equal ranking, selections will be prioritised based upon the highest World Aquatic point score
• Any exceptional short course performances in the 800m & 1500m events can be considered at the discretion of the RDDP Head Coach
• Swimmers will be selected for RDDP based on the region their club is affiliated to
• Swimmers will be expected to commit fully to all aspects of the programme
• Any swimmer(s) selected for the Swim England National Distance Swimming Project (DSP), will not be eligible for selection to RDDP.
• As a minimum, standard times Swimmers will only be considered where they are equal to, or in excess of the below World Aquatics Points (WAP)
• Please note, achieving these points does not guarantee selection to a talent programme;