Joining a swim club is the first step towards a rewarding career in competitive swimming. Whether it’s Ian Thorpe joining Padstow Swim Club at the age of 8, or Emma McKeon being coached by her father out of the family-owned McKeon Swim School and Club. In line with Westbourne’s values, Westbourne Swim Club will be a community of swimmers striving to better themselves and their teammates in a culture that will foster the next Thorpes and McKeons.
Our club’s primary goal is to develop swimmers who are passionate about the sport. Our carefully designed squads have been built around the Australian Institute of Sport’s FTEM Framework to ensure young swimmers enjoy a fun, long and successful career in swimming. Click below to read more about the requirements, commitments and goals of each squad.
- Session Requirements: Min. 2 of 4 (45 min)
- Equipment Requirements: Kickboard, Pull Bouy, Fins, WSC Cap
- Club Membership: Not required
The Performance Pathway is a tailored Learn-To-Swim pathway for enthusiastic and dedicated young swimmers to accelerate their progress in the pool. Swimmers will learn fundamental competitive swimming skills in a tailored program designed to seamlessly transition into our Squad program.
After a year:
- Swimmers would be encouraged to compete in club time trials and encouragement meets.
We will prepare these swimmers for:
- Squad training
- School competitions
- Session Requirements: Min. 2 of 4 (1.5 hour)
- Equipment Requirements: Kickboard, Pull Bouy, Fins, WSC Cap
- Club Membership: Not required
The Development Squad is an introductory squad where the emphasis is placed on reinforcing great technique whilst building speed, endurance and racing skills.
Types of competition that can be entered:
- Encouragement Meets, Club Championships, District Championships, Nipper Open water events, Metro West All Juniors.
After a year:
- Swimmers will be confident racing in any school or local competitions.
- Swimmers would be encouraged to compete (although not compulsory).
We will prepare these swimmers for:
- School competitions
- Session Requirements: Min. 3 of 5 (2hr + Gym)
- Equipment Requirements: Kickboard, Pull Bouy, Paddles, Snorkel, Fins, WSC Cap
- Club Membership: Required
The Junior Development squad is aimed at swimmers who are interested in pursuing competitive swimming. In this squad a strong emphasis is maintained on developing efficient mechanics across all 4 strokes.
Types of competition that can be entered:
- Encouragement Meets, Club Championships, District Championships, Nipper Open water events, All Junior Championships, State Qualifying meets and State Championships.
After a year:
- Swimmers would be targeting specific competitions.
- Swimmers will learn fundamental skills for training, recovery and racing as a competitive swimmer.
- Swimmer is confident in swimming a 200m IM at an inter-club competition.
We will prepare these swimmers for:
- School competitions
- All Junior and Metro Championships
- District Championships
- State Championships (if eligible)
- Session Requirements: Min. 5 of 7 (2 hr + Gym)
- Equipment Requirements: Kickboard, Pull Bouy, Paddles, Snorkel, Fins, WSC Cap
- Club Membership: Required
The State Squad is for swimmers who have qualified for events at a Victorian State Championship event. This squad continues to place an emphasis on technical efficiency whilst introducing training principles to build aerobic capacity and speed. Swimmers will begin to learn mental and emotional skills to balance training, recovery, and school.
Types of competition that can be entered:
- Club Championships, District Championships, Open water events, All Junior Championships, State Qualifying meets and State Championships
After a year:
- Swimmers understand what is required to swim at a national level.
- Swimmers understand what is required to be a competitive swimmer.
- Swimmers are confident in swimming a 400m IM and 800m Freestyle.
We will prepare these swimmers for:
- School competitions
- All Junior and Metro Championships
- District Championships
- State Championships (if eligible)
- Session Requirements: Min. 7 of 9 (2 hr + Gym)
- Equipment Requirements: Kickboard, Pull Bouy, Paddles, Snorkel, Fins, WSC Cap
- Club Membership: Required
The National Squad is for swimmers who have qualified for events at an Australian Swimming Championship competition (or within a second per 100m). Swimmers will learn what it takes to become a High Performance athlete. Swimmers are expected to attend all sessions and improve flexibility and strength in their own time in addition to prescribed sessions.
Types of competition that can be entered:
- Club Championships, District Championships, Open water events, State Qualifying Meets, State Championships and National Championships
After a year:
- Swimmers understand what is required to swim at a national level.
- Swimmers are able and willing to swim any event assigned by a coach.
- Swimmers are striving to make a National final.
We will prepare these swimmers for:
- Australian Championships
- Victorian Championships