To many, a lot of the below will be blindingly obvious I'm sure - but I thought it worth writing down for anyone that doesn't know.
The swimming season runs inline with the school year, September → July, and for those at the top of their game it continues into August.
Below is a table of what happens when:
| When | What | Why |
|---|---|---|
| September → October | Skills and basic fitness improvement | Foundational skills are necessary to build fitness on top of |
| October → January | Fitness improvement and focus on Short Course competitions | County Championships are in February/March |
| January → April | Fitness improvement and speed development with focus on Long Course Competitions | Regional Championships are in April/May |
| May → July | Fitness improvement and speed development | National/British Championships are in the Summer |
| August → September | Rest, recovery and holiday time | Because humans need this |
Swimmers that don't qualify for pathway competitions (County / Regional etc.) still tend to follow a similar season plan because they are still focussing on getting fitter and faster in the hope that they'll get there next season/one day.