Achievement becomes a challenge to improve the PB, particularly with young squad members. Success must be identified firstly with stroke improvement (e.g. using a tumble turn for the first time, performing a correct breaststroke racing start, adopting a more advanced breathing technique in freestyle etc.) under race conditions, and secondly with PB improvement. Placing high at the end of the race is a bonus. To "win" is to take time off the PB, not necessarily to come first and swim three seconds slower.
With the development of the Personal Best, a number of awards are given:
Personal Best Record Certificate
Given at the end of each season. This is an award to every squad member. This certificate details all PB's recorded during the season over all strokes and distances.
There are a few guidelines parents need to be aware of with times submitted for the Personal Best Certificate. These are:
- Official times only count.
- Wherever possible parents should not time their own children. History notes some parents become "trigger happy" with their own kids.
- A time cannot be registered in cases where swimmers are disqualified.
- Times recorded in relay races do not count.
- Strokes must be technically correct.
- All times must be passed to the coach for verification.
This is also important for club records.
Whether a swimmer is competing at school or at other non-club meets they should endeavour to have their performances verified by an official or nominated parent timekeeping the event. In these cases, the "Time Verification" slip should be used. This slip should then be handed to the coach.
Achievement Certificate
Presented at the end of the season. This is an award from the club to every squad member. This certificate details all achievements made by the swimmer during the season. It covers both club and non-club events.
The information included on each Achievement Certificate is dependent upon parents/ swimmer keeping an accurate record of their performances during the season. Parents/ swimmers are required to complete the Achievement Certificate questionnaire at the end of the season and submit it to the Club Secretary by the date given.
Strive Award
This is a challenging award given for the pursuit of Personal Excellence. It aims:
- To represent the best award a swimmer may receive as a member of the squad.
- To recognise excellence - in dedication, discipline, attendance and productivity.
- To be open to all swimmers, not just those who win trophies, races, titles etc.
- To encourage the development of positive lifetime qualities.
Guidelines :
- 90% training attendance. Must be a squad member for the entire season. It requires full season participation. Those who start late or finish early are excluded. Maximum holiday allowance - five training session credits. Maximum injury/illness allowance five training session credits and covers only "bad" illness, not sniffles/colds etc.
- Credits given for holidays and illness, together with leeway of 90% attendance enables a squad member full opportunity to meet the attendance requirements.
- Productivity in training is essential to meet the requirements of the "improvement scale". Those who loaf in training will not meet the "improvement scale" standards. The performance requirements are set according to a scale of improvement.
Improvement Scale
Improvement in all four strokes. Squad members start the season with trials to determine their fitness levels. These are remeasured in December. From this time to the end of the season, swimmers must improve their PB in all four strokes over 50 metres, according to a scale (separate scales for boys and girls). Official times only will count. Non-sanctioned meets require the swimmer to obtain copy/proof of the time. A parent can be delegated to act as an official timekeeper. Relay splits do not count. Times are verified by the coach.
Gold Award
The Gold Award is available to:
- Top squad swimmers
- Swimmers who attend 90% of all available pool sessions but do not do weight training sessions because of their age.
- Swimmers who have been members of the Squad for three years and during this time have attained the Strive Award.
- Improvement scale: Exactly the same as for the Strive
- Award, plus 50% extra per stroke.
- Must qualify for the 50 metre Victorian Sprint Championships in any two strokes.
- All the rules explained with the Strive Award regarding which times count and time verification also apply with the Gold Award
The Gold Award represents the ultimate challenge for the well-established squad swimmer.
