Performance Pathways Program

2024 NZ Touring Team Selection Criteria

To prepare Australia’s next generation of swimmers for senior performance excellence, SAL, through the State Technical Directors has thoroughly reviewed the Performance Pathway program. The State and National Talent Program now will be known as Swimming Australia’s ‘Flippers’ program. The program will feature a combination of activities delivered by each State and Nationally with the aim of preparing identified athletes to successfully transition to the pinnacle of swimming in Australia - the Dolphins Swim Team.etes, while also positively impacting the daily training environment for all swimmers within the home program.

These programs are managed by SAL’s Performance Pathway staff and the relevant State Swimming Associations (SSA’s). Primarily, the Flippers programs are funded by the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), State Swimming Associations and will include a small financial contribution from each participating athlete.

The Performance Pathway programs will assist in nurturing and developing your sporting potential by focusing on the three E’s - education, environments and experience.

Athletes are identified from performances from the recent Australian Age Championships. Athletes were selected if they placed within the top 8 Australians in an Olympic event. 

Girls 13yrs-15yrs

Boys 14yrs - 16yrs

Swimming Victoria reserves the right to select swimmers into the Performance Pathways Squads.

As part of the Performance program, athletes and their coaches are invited to activities which over the course of the next 12 months. The focus of these activities is to bring the top athletes and coaches together in a high performance training environment to share and develop their own skills and knowledge.

 

12 years – 18 years

Athletes who have qualified for 2024 Australian Age Championships. Events must be offered in Paralympics, IPC World Championships, Virtus Games or Deaflympics.
Age as at the first day of the competition 2024 Australian Age Championships.

Athletes and their coaches will be invited to multiple workshops across the season which aim to educate them on the Para Pathway, as well as identifying the athletes strengths and weaknesses through conducting various pool testing protocols.

Athletes are selected into the Open Water Squad through performances at the National Open Water Championships. Athletes and their coaches will be invited to various trainings and clinics throughout the season, with a focus on preparing athletes for success at a National level. Selected athletes will also be given the opportunity to represent Victoria and travel to Queensland to race at their State Open Water Championships as part of a touring squad.

 

The Junior Talent Squad consists of athletes aged 12-13 selected through performances at both the State Long and Short Course Championships. Athletes and their coaches are invited to a number of training sessions throughout the season. The major focus of the Junior Talent Squad is to continue to develop the athletes skills, and in particular encourage athletes to train all strokes and progress as Individual Medley swimmers.

 

Swimming Victoria in conjunction with Swimming Australia coordinates the Junior Excellence Program (JX). The JX program exists to encourage swimmers to strive to achieve set qualifying times throughout the season.

The Australian Junior Excellence Program (JX), recognises rewards and encourages junior swimmers who, through their development of aquatic skills and fitness, achieve a high standard of swimming excellence.

For further information, please visit Swimming Australia’s website by clicking here.