Swim Squad Training

Swim Squad Training

Discover your thrill for competitive swimming

The Swim Squad program at Albany Creek Leisure Centre supports all swimmers to train to their individual potential and maximise their enjoyment of the sport, whether swimming for fun, personal health goals and other aquatic activities including Open Water Swimming, Water Polo and Triathlon. Competitive swimming is a challenging and exciting element of swimming, supporting a range of physical, mental and emotional health benefits. 

Swim Squad Levels: 
  • Bronze 
  • Silver 
  • Gold 

Swimmers will be assessed prior to being placed into a Squad group to ensure they are working to a level appropriate to their abilities and goals. All swimmers will be assessed continuously to progress levels if needed.

Photo looking front-on to a young girl swimming butterfly stroke in a lane swimming pool, smiling widely at the camera as her arms cause a splash above water's surface.

GOswim Academy (Developmental Squads) 

The GOswim Academy levels of our GOswim program serve as a transition from learning the foundations of swimming and water safety to participation in competitive swimming squads. The GOswim Academy is designed to encourage continued participation in aquatic activity including involvement in competitive swimming and swimming for health and wellbeing.

Swim Squad 

The Swim Squad program creates pathways for students to continue their passion for swimming from lessons onwards into adult life, experiencing the thrill and excitement of swimming competitively while improving their swimming technique and skills within a team learning environment.

Our Squad Coaches

Brendan Dowling

Head Coach – National Squad

A former swimmer and Advanced Level Coach that has actively worked in the swimming industry for 16 years developing swimmers from Learn to Swim programs through to State, National, and International Competition.  Brendan comes from a long family history in swimming that includes Australian representation at Olympic and Commonwealth Games, High-Performance Coaching, and Owner/Operating highly successful swim schools.
Through experience, Brendan believes that a coach and swimmer partnership must be built on the foundations of trust, accountability, and respect whilst maintaining a positive environment and performance culture to assist in the holistic development of all swimmers.
Adding value to Brendan’s coaching qualifications he also holds a Diploma in Management, Cert 3 & 4 in Fitness, Cert 4 Trainer & Assessor, and Certificate in Sport Psychology allowing a more comprehensive understanding and insight into the athlete’s mind.

Favourite Quote:
‘There is no such thing as perfection. But, in striving for perfection, we can achieve excellence.’ 

Amanda Rhode

Development Coach – State Squad

Amanda has been a swim coach for the past 9 years, currently holding an Advanced coaching licence along with also being a qualified sports nutritionist. 

“I have a great passion for swimming and how nutrition can influence the athlete positively. Working alongside my swimmers I love to help them achieve their goals, whether those goals are to become fitter or to swim at a national level,
I believe everyone can accomplish their desired objective through hard work and dedication.”

 Favourite Quote:
‘Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, an hour, a day or even a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If you quit however, it lasts forever’.

Jay Sheppard

Junior Coach – Junior Beginner & Advanced Squad

Jay has been working for Belgravia Leisure at Albany Creek Leisure Centre since October 2020. Starting with our Learn to Swim program, teaching all levels then as the Junior Beginner squad coach and assisting with the Intermediate squads before taking on the role of Junior Beginner, Junior Advanced and Intermediate Squad Coach as of September 2024.

Jay is a qualified Development Coach whilst also holding an AUSTSWIM Teacher of Swimming and Water Safety and Teacher of Competitive Strokes.

Favourite Quote:
“Practise good technique then make that technique faster”

Join the squad!

To join our squad program, we invite you to participate in an initial assessment with us so we can ensure you are placed in the appropriate Squad group. Please enquire below to express your interest and one of our friendly staff will be in contact to get you started.