The Hong Kong Island Stingrays Swim Club offers training groups for swimmers of all ages and ability levels. It is the goal of the Stingrays to offer age specific training for all of our athletes geared towards challenging and developing each individual to the best of their abilities. Our comprehensive swim program provides instructional training for Club, Developmental, Age Group Competitive and Senior Competitive swim streams with a clear path for progression within each training group. Our program ensures that our swimmers are taught the correct skills and techniques to enable them to compete at which ever level they choose to competently. As the training level increases, the attendance and performance requirements becomes much more of an entry requirement to that specific group. 

The Developmental squads are for swimmers who are new to competitive swimming. Swimmers are placed in a specific group depending on their age and ability level to set them up for future success in swimming.

Stingers Squad (Age Guideline 5-10 Yrs)

The Stingers Squad is a session-based squad for athletes that are new to the sport and/or are working toward learning the 4 competitive strokes. Our Stingers squad sessions are centered around competitive stroke instruction with an emphasis on balance in the water through specialized drills. This squad will set you up with the strokes and skill needed for competitive swimming.

Rays Squad I (Age Guideline 6-8Yrs)

Rays squad is a 3x per week program. This when they begin true technique work of strokes and learn competitive skills i.e. Starts, turns, finishes. Meets are encouraged to measure progress. Dry Land is introduced to assist in athletic development. 

Rays Squad II (Age Guideline 9-10 Yrs)

Rays squad is a 3x per week program. This when they begin true technique work of strokes and learn competitive skills i.e. Starts, turns, finishes. Meets are encouraged to measure progress. Dry Land is introduced to assist in athletic development. 

The Age Group Competitive Program is for swimmers who can swim all 4 competitive strokes legally. In addition to the technique development these swimmers will do, they will also be introduced to training.

Development Squad I (Age Guideline 8-10 Yrs)

Development squad is a 5x per week program. The swimmer continues the refinement of stroke and competitive skills, while meet attendance is important so they can begin to see improvement in racing and build bonds with teammates. Attendance at Dry Land is essential to improve athletic development!

Development Squad II (Age Guideline 11-12 Yrs)

Development squad is a 5x per week program. The swimmer continues the refinement of stroke and competitive skills, while meet attendance is important so they can begin to see improvement in racing and build bonds with teammates. Attendance at Dry Land is essential to improve athletic development!

Futures Squad I (Age Guideline 9-12Yrs)

Futures I squad is a 6x per week program. Athletes continue to develop drills, stroke technique, starts and turns. The training environment remains fun, however a greater emphasis is placed on competition, learning to train and swim discipline. At this point swimming is becoming one of your main activities and meet attendance is essential while continuing to build bonds with team mates. Dry Land has become an important part of being a healthy well rounded athlete.

Futures Squad II (Age Guideline 12-14Yrs)

Futures II squad is a 6x per week program. Athletes continue to develop drills, stroke technique, starts and turns. The training environment remains fun, however a greater emphasis is placed on competition, learning to train and swim discipline. Athletes will be aiming to compete and achieve at HKGSA Divisional Meets whilst aspiring to compete at HKGSA Age Nationals. At this point swimming is your main activity and meet attendance is essential while continuing to build bonds with team mates. Dry Land has become an important part of being a healthy well rounded athlete.

The Senior Competitive Program has options for swimmers of all abilities and goals, ranging from high school swimming through to club swimming at a National and International level. Each squad will build upon the previous one with the goal of creating the proper progression for athletes to move through the program based upon their respective goals.

Competitive Squad (Age Guideline 13+ Yrs)

Competitive is for HS Aged swimmers swimmers who enjoy competitive training and swimming yet find they need time to continue other activities (sporting or otherwise). These individuals often find they do not have the flexibility to commit to the Performance Squad training schedules. This allows them to improve their swimming ability to the competitive level at which each individual swimmer wishes to achieve.

Performance Squad I (Age Guideline 13+ Yrs)

The Performance I Squad is for HS aged swimmers who are at Sectional Bonus Standard. It is a 8x session per week program. Swimming and academics are the sole focus of this squad. Attendance at training, camps and meets crucial, expected and monitored. The goal is to prepare athletes to attain Multiple Sectionals Cuts. Admittance to this group will be based on, but not limited to attendance, ability, and performance and coach-ability. Dry Land is an integral part of the program to help the athlete reach their potential. 

Performance Squad II (Age Guideline 15+ Yrs)

The Performance II Squad is for HS aged swimmers who are at US Sectionals Standard and moving towards Futures & US Jnr National Standard. It is a 8+ session per week program. This is a high achieving, training squad where swimming and academics are the sole focus. Attendance at training, camps and meets crucial, expected and monitored. The goal is to prepare athletes for national, international levels of competition while assisting athletes to excel in the sport. Admittance to this group will be based on, but not limited to attendance, ability, and performance and coach-ability. Dry Land is an integral part of the program to help the athlete reach their potential. 

The Club Program allows an opportunity for both late swimming developers and swimmers who want to make less of a commitment to swimming.  Swimmers will learn to train, improve and refine swimming technique, skill and fitness. Coaches will work with swimmers who wish to take their swimming further and want to progress into the main competitive squads in the future.

Stingrays Club Blue Squad (Age Guideline 10-14)

The Stingrays Club Blue Squad for MS Age children looking to improve their swimming technique, skills and fitness and has 3x sessions available. The Club Blue has a less stringent commitment level than the competitive squads. Club Blue will allow swimmers to refine and improve swimming technique & skill, while balancing other sports and activities. It will also allow swimmers to improve and maintain a good level of physical fitness. Swimming is beneficial to both a child’s physical health and wellness, but it is also a vehicle by which the child learns valuable life lessons and skills that will remain with them for the rest of their lives.

Stingrays Club Black Squad (Age Guideline 13+)

The Stingrays Club Black Squad is for HS Age Swimmers that want to stay fit year round and it has 3x sessions available. Technique is primary, then an increase in volume and intensity and speed will be introduced. The focus will be on fitness, competition at school, internal meets however there is no meet attendance requirement. Athletes are encouraged to attend a minimum of 3x sessions per week as this will allow the swimmers to improve and maintain a good level of physical fitness while still having time for academics and other interests. 

There are many ways to progress through the sport of swimming. Because there are many factors that go into growth, development, and maturation, we must accommodate these various levels of athletes with different squads. Squads become more specific throughout the program. Correct squad placement is essential to ensuring quality coaching for the individual, squad, and team. At some point each level will be introduced to the next in some way. As in any organization, there has to be some order and structure. These squads are designed to be a guideline. Coaches at times will make moves outside these definitions due to situations at the time regarding swimmers, squads and whole team levels. Becoming a great swimmer is a marathon, be patient!  

Things to remember

Move ups are a coaching decision.

The coaches has nothing to gain by your athlete’s lack of progression.

Squad placement is not a statement on the long term success of your child.

When we consider which squad you fit in to we have taken in to account the following: Training Attendance; Competition Performance; Training Performance; Maturational Age, Biological Age; Emotional Age; A Good Attitude; Aptitude and Potential; Within the Optimum Age Limits for Squad.

For more info about groups and group progression please direct inquiries to your swimmers current group coach.