Our Swimming Pathway in 5 Squads

The club has five swimming squads to which individuals are allocated dependent upon ability. Only the masters, squad 5, is age dependent. Regular meetings between coaches, and time trials within sessions, are used to assess development and allow progression within lanes and transition between squads. Structuring training this way ensures that the skills of the swimmer are compatible with the squad and a lively training regime that all can enjoy.

Squad 1 provides an entry point for junior swimmers making the step up from swimming lessons to a club training environment. It focuses upon technical mastery across ALL strokes and builds stamina.

Squad 2 has the broadest range of swimmers, in relation to age, ability and aspirations. It is a guided route for development of younger swimmers into competition and equally a positive environment supporting swimmers of any age who wish to pursue swimming mainly for fitness.

Squads 3 & 4 are for swimmers who wish to compete regularly, and we will support them up to whatever level they aspire to reach. This requires a certain level of commitment from the swimmer, so there are more defined expectations in terms of times, attitude and goals. Squad 3 is for any swimmer aspiring to county times or older swimmers who wish to train to compete. Squad 4 is for swimmers who are (or in the opinion of the coaches are likely to be) of regional standard and above.

Squad 5 (Masters) Whether you wish to be involved with competitive swimming or just fitness, our relaxed, friendly, cohesive Masters squad has universal appeal. There is only so much that can be achieved by undertaking repetitive lengths alone in a local swimming pool. DRSA will ensure that your individual goals are facilitated and your motivation nurtured.

Our Masters squad provides an opportunity for adult swimmers with a range of abilities from those who just want to improve or maintain fitness, those who want to supplement their triathlon training, open water swimmers and even medallists who compete at the British Swimming Master's championships. The ages of our Masters swimmers range from 18 years to post retirement.

Gala Calendar Our members compete in a number of competitions which target various levels. Click here to view the DRSA Gala Calendar for 2023 broken down by squad. Dates of galas are also published on the Calendar page.

DRSA embraces Swim England's 'cradle to grave' policy where we ensure that individuals of all ages can enjoy both the social and health benefits associated with swimming. The club provides coaching for all masters swimmers who can demonstrate a minimum ability of being able to swim at least two recognised strokes over a distance of 300 meters minimum without stopping. This will be assessed at your first free taster session.

Ideally the Friday and Monday sessions provide skills and technique coaching for swimmers who can demonstrate the above minimum and swimmers who aspire to improve their other strokes and existing abilities.

In addition to that, the stronger Masters swimmers have the opportunity to train on a Wednesday as well. The club promotes an integrated training model where the Masters squad follows much of the Senior programme but specifically adapted to meet the needs of the mature swimmer. The more competitive swimmers can also rotate between the Senior and Masters squad according to their individual requirements.

Our Masters sessions are on:-
Monday 8.30-9.30pm
Wednesday 8.30-10.00pm
Friday 8.30-9.30pm

In addition to this, some of our stronger Masters swim with our Senior Competitive swimmers and in our Sunday long-course training sessions where the pool is in 50 metre format. These sessions will be by invitation only.

All squads train on a Monday and Friday. Additional sessions are available on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday. For more information have a look at the Timetable page on this website. The fee structure for sessions is available on the Join us page. We do not dictate how many sessions per week you do.

If you would like to join our club, we offer two free trial sessions, this enables coaches and swimmers to identify the best squad for you. Due to our contract with the Life Centre, the minimum standard for trialists is to swim three stroke techniques and to swim 200m without stopping.

There is a Para Pathway from Plymouth Life Centre to DRSA as the club is the Hub for Para swimmers, and as such we welcome Para swimmers from other sources too. DRSA prides itself on a long-standing track record developing very successful Para swimmers, past and present.

We have a team of excellent, truly dedicated volunteer coaches who are led by our professional Lead Coach, James Lake. If you are interested in joining our team of swimming coaches, please contact the club's Swim Secretary at drsaswimsec@gmail.com.

Currently we have two Land Training sessions, Sunday morning and Wednesday afternoon, open to all 12+.

Interested? Book your trial now by going to the Join us page on this website.