Bates has trained various British Athletes and is looking to recruite for new development squad

Head Coach of the London Aquatics Centre Performance Programme Lisa Bates is excited about the upcoming development squad trials at the end of January.

The programme, in partnership with the University of East London and Sport England amongst others, is aimed at children aged between seven and 11-years-old and the first trial is on Monday (January 26).

Bates, a fully qualified coach who has trained various Olympic athletes, discussed the programme and revealed what it aims to achieve.

“Trials for the development squad are at the end of January,” she revealed.

“It will provide an opportunity for swimmers to learn new skills and be exposed to a competitive environment with Olympic and Commonwealth swimmers.

“One of the biggest aims of the programme is to increase the level of swimming in the area.

“Hopefully this development squad at the end of January will provide us with an opportunity to improve the amount of people swimming in the community.

“Ideally we are looking for ages between seven and 11. That way they will be at ASA stage five to seven already and be competent and have the skill acquisition that we can improve on.”

Bates will work with the GLL Learn to Swim Programme to identify swimmers and those picked for the programme could have the opportunity to work with Aimee Willmott, who competed in the 2012 London Olympics.

Sophie Taylor, who won gold at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, is also involved in the programme.

Bates is hopeful that swimmers in the programme, which will be based at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, could progress and potentially represent their country on the national stage.

She is excited to have Willmott and Taylor involved in some capacity with the London Aquatics Centre Performance Programme.

Bates added: “Both Amy and Sophie have won medals at the Commonwealth games, and whilst they will be in the senior programme, they will be working with the swimmers and acting as a mentor for them.

“It would be fantastic to have some home grown talent bread through the program and looking at them potentially competing in the Commonwealth Games in 2018 or the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.”

For more details and to book your trial session contact Esther Hill at esther.hill@swimming.org.