Competitive Squads
Competitive Squad swimmers are members of the SOPAC Swim Team and compete at club nights, meets and other social activities.
Training timetables
About SOPAC Swim Team
The SOPAC Swim Team's mission is to promote swimming as a sport by actively encouraging the pursuit of competitive success and excellence. By creating a swimming club culture dedicated to innovation and excellence, we aim to promote and respect these ideals at the highest levels within the competitive swimming community and the general public.
SOPAC Swim Team is affiliated with NSW Swimming and is a member of the Metro North West District. The club is a non-profit organisation with all funds raised being reinvested into the club for the benefit of its members.
The club holds a race meet each month and competes against other NSW-affiliated clubs at Invitational Meets, which are hosted by fellow clubs. Club membership entitles swimmers to compete against other clubs in Metropolitan, State and National Championships.
The club places a great deal of emphasis on its young members. It exists not only to help fund members attending National Championships but also to develop and encourage young swimmers.
Each squad swimmer is encouraged to be a member of the SOPAC Swim Team. Membership enables swimmers to participate in monthly club nights, and race meets. Find out more about the SOPAC Swim Team.
Squad coaches
Having coached high-performance athletes at Sydney Olympic Park since 2011, Adam Kable leads the Olympic Park Performance Hub's coaching team. He is a four-time consecutive winner of the NSW Swimming Coach of the Year award and has guided athletes onto each and every Australian swimming team, including the Olympic Games, World Championships, Pan Pacific Championships, Commonwealth Games, World Cup events, and more. In 2019 alone, the NSWIS coach guided one athlete to a world-record performance and a world championship gold and silver medal.
Adam’s philosophy involves connecting with each athlete as a person and developing an individual performance plan to help them achieve their goals. This plan combined with a strong squad culture built on ownership and accountability has driven the squad to be one of the best in the nation.
Adam holds an undergraduate degree in Physiotherapy and a Master of Education in Coach Education.
Coaching appointments:
| 2019 | World Championships Australian Team Coach |
| 2018 | Pan Pacs Australian Team Coach |
| 2018 | Commonwealth Games Australian Team Coach |
| 2017 | World Championships Australian Team Coach |
| 2016 | Junior Pan Pacific Championships Australian Team Coach |
| 2015 | World Junior Championships Australian Team Coach |
| 2015 | Australian Rio Protocol Camp Coach |
| 2014 | FINA Youth Program Mentor Coach |
| 2014 | Lead Coach Australian National Talent ID Squad |
| 2013 | Australian Youth Olympic Festival Australian Team Coach |
James Greathead is a highly skilled performance coach with 18 years of experience and is renowned for his dedication and passion for building environments that optimise for the development of individual potential through challenge, support and exploration.
Some of his extensive highlights include serving as the Head Coach at Wests Illawarra Aquatic Swim Club, earning APV Club Of The Year in 2021/22, coaching Jarrod Poort and Wesley Roberts to remarkable successes, including World Championships and Olympic Games representation, National Event Camp Team Coach (100/200 Women) and placing swimmers on Junior World Championship and Junior Pan Pac teams.
James’ experience also saw him employed as the Australian Triathlon National Swim Lead and a key member of the NSWIS triathlon coaching team.
With an impressive coaching history and a commitment to developing young talent, George brings a wealth of experience that is set to bolster the performance of the squad swim team at the state level.
George, who most recently served as Acting Head Coach and Head Junior GPS Coach at Churchie Anglican Grammar School, is known for his ability to develop junior swimmers into elite competitors. His tenure at Churchie saw numerous successes, including coaching athletes to Brisbane finals, state and national medals, and even record-breaking performances. Under his guidance athletes were selected for the Queensland Team to compete in the Japanese Olympic Cup and he also coached an athlete to a spot on the Australian Junior World Team, competing in Israel and bringing home a medal.
Prior to his role at Churchie, George led the Junior GPS Swim Team at Nudgee College, where he consistently delivered top-tier results. His leadership in junior development saw his squads placing in the top two at every competition, ultimately achieving first place in the Junior GPS Swimming Points Score. His approach not only focused on immediate success but also on building a strong junior development pathway, increasing the squad size and improving overall performance.
George's experience extends beyond school squad programs. He has held roles as Head Coach at Albany Swim Club and Assistant Coach at Breakers Swim Club, where he coached multiple swimmers to national level competition, including medallists and record holders. His work with both able-bodied and multiclass athletes at Breakers showcased his versatility and commitment to inclusivity in the sport. Additionally, his volunteer work with the Western Australia Institute of Sport, where he assisted high-performance squads, highlights his dedication to continuous learning and professional growth.
Daniel has been a long time regular at Sydney Olympic Park, starting off his swimming career in the parents and babies’ classes, and later re-joining in the learn to swim levels. He quickly worked his way into squads at the age of 13, and soon after qualified for the State Championships in the 14 years 100 Breaststroke. Throughout the next year Daniel qualified for the 100m and 200m Breaststroke, the 100m Butterfly and the 200m IM at the State Age Championships.
Later in his career he attended his first National Championships in Brisbane in 2012 and continued to qualify for National Age and Open events until he retired from competitive swimming at 19. Daniel then went on to teach learn to swim for 5 years at Sydney Olympic Park, where he took a role as a mini squad coach, quickly progressing up to junior squad. He has worked his way up, over time, to be the State coach at Sydney Olympic Park. Daniel has completed a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Teaching degree.
Coaching appointments and achievements:
- Development coaching license
- Teacher of competitive strokes (AUSTWIM)
- Former state, national age, and open qualifier
- Swim teacher for 8 years
- Coached metropolitan medallist’s
- Coached state medallist’s
With a strong background in competitive swimming and coaching, Anne brings a wealth of experience and passion to her role as a Junior Competition Coach.
Anne’s journey in swimming began as a State and National-level competitor, specialising in butterfly and breaststroke events, as well as open water swimming. This firsthand experience in elite competition has shaped her approach to coaching, where she is committed to nurturing the next generation of swimming talent.
Since June 2024, Anne has been leading training programs for junior athletes aged 8-12, focusing on foundational technique development across strokes, starts, turns, and finishes. Her dedication to individualised feedback and athlete confidence-building aligns seamlessly with SOPAC’s performance pathway.
Anne is also pursuing a Bachelor of Medical Science at the University of Technology Sydney, complementing her coaching work with a focus on education and continuous improvement. Her qualifications include a Foundation Swimming Coach Accreditation and plans to advance her Development Swimming Coach credentials.
NSW Hub High Performance Program
Coach: Adam Kable
The High Performance program that operates out of the SOPAC pool is the pinnacle of the program. Entry to this squad is via approval from Adam Kable and the NSW Coaching Director Jon Shaw.
Training requirements as per direction of High Performance team and Coach. It is expected that members of the NSW Hub program treat the membership like a full-time job, with part-time university study or part-time work worked around training.
Banksia Squad
Coach: James Greathead
Age: 15-18 years+ (*Coaches discretion)
Competition Performance Standard: Australian Age Finalist OR Australian Open Qualifier
Cost: $222 per month
- This performance training group focuses on:
Holistic athlete development incorporating the physical, psychological, technical and tactical skills essential for high level performance at the Australian Age, Open and International level. - Advanced technical refinement of all four competitive strokes, along with mastery of competition skills including starts, turns and underwater work .
- Individual competition plan, race strategy and preparation.
- Swim specific strength and conditioning program.
- Promoting a high-performance mindset supported by a strong team culture, centered on teamwork, trust, honesty, and the pursuit of excellence.
Training expectations: A training attendance of 7 - 9 x swim + 2 – 3x gym sessions depending on needs per week.
Session times:
| Training times | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AM | 5:00 - 7:00 | 5:00 - 7:00 | 5:00 - 7:00 | 5:00 - 7:00 | 5:00 - 7:00 | 6:00 - 8:30 |
| PM | 4:00 - 6:30 | 4:00 - 6:30 | 4:00 - 6:30 |
Please note that session times and venues can change slightly due to pool closures and other events.
Equipment:
- Every swimmer must have a wet-bag containing their gear. Since many swimmers have similar, if not identical, equipment, it's crucial to clearly label your items. Everyone is responsible for their own gear.
- Equipment you will need: Short Blade Fins, Pull Buoy, Band, Small Paddles (finger), Big Paddles (hand), Kick Board, Snorkel, Drag Sox or Parachute, Goggles x2, Drink Bottle
- Logbook to record practices, goals (training and competition), meet results/splits/SR, qualifying times, other comments.
Acacia Squad
Coach: George Harnetty
Age: 13-18 years+ (*Coaches discretion)
Competition Performance Standard: Australian Age qualifier in at least 3 individual events (one of which can be 50m)
Cost: $216 per month
This performance training group focuses on:
- Advanced technical refinement across all four competitive strokes.
- Mastery of competition skills including starts, turns and underwater work.
- Progressive aerobic and neuromuscular development to support race specific performance.
- Holistic athlete development incorporating the physical, psychological, technical and tactical skills essential for high performance competition.
- Individual race strategy and preparation.
- Introduction to a swim specific strength and conditioning program.
- Prioritising team culture, fostering a training environment built on trust, honesty, accountability and the pursuit of excellence where each athlete is supported to thrive.
Training expectations: A minimum training attendance of 6x swim + 2x strength & conditioning sessions per week and up to a maximum of 8 swim sessions per week.
Session times:
| Training times | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AM | 5:00 - 7:00 | 5:00 - 7:00 | 5:00 - 7:00 | 5:00 - 7:00 | 5:00 - 7:00 | 6:00-8:30 |
| PM | 4:00 - 6:30 | 4:00 - 6:30 |
Please note that session times and venues can change slightly due to pool closures and other events.
Equipment:
- Every swimmer must have a wet-bag containing their gear. Since many swimmers have similar, if not identical, equipment, it's crucial to clearly label your items. Everyone is responsible for their own gear.
- Equipment you will need: Short Blade Fins, Pull Buoy, Band, Small Paddles (finger), Big Paddles (hand), Kick Board, Snorkel, Drag Sox or Parachute, Goggles x2, Drink Bottle.
- Logbook to record practices, goals (training and competition), meet results/splits/SR, qualifying times, other comments.
Wattle Squad
Coach: Daniel Benvenuti
Age: 13-16 years+ (*Coaches discretion)
Competition Performance Standard: NSW Senior State Qualifier in a minimum of 4 individual events (one of which can be 50m)
Cost: $206 per month
In this squad we focus on:
- Developing the physical, psychological, technical and tactical skills essential for high level performance.
- Fostering a positive team culture built on strong relationships, teamwork, trust, honesty and excellence.
- Continually refining the technical skills of all four competitive strokes as well as starts, turns, underwater skills.
- Expanding the swimmer’s aerobic capacity and neuromuscular co-ordination.
- Encouraging participation in other sports to support well rounded athletic development.
Training expectations: A minimum training attendance of 5 sessions per week and up to a maximum of 7 sessions per week
Session times:
| Training times | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AM | 5:00 - 7:00 | 5:00 - 7:00 | 5:00 - 7:00 | 6:00 - 8:30 | ||
| PM | 4:00 - 6:30 | 4:00 - 6:30 | 4:00 - 6:30 |
Please note that session times and venues can change slightly due to pool closures and other events.
Equipment:
- Every swimmer must have a wet-bag containing their gear. Since many swimmers have similar, if not identical, equipment, it's crucial to clearly label your items. Everyone is responsible for their own gear.
- Equipment you will need: Short Blade Fins, Pull Buoy, Band, Small Paddles (finger), Kick Board, Snorkel, Goggles x2, Drink Bottle
- Logbook to record practices, goals (training and competition), meet results/splits/SR, qualifying times, other comments.
Waratah Squad
Coach: Anne Donaire
Age: 11-14 years+ (*Coaches discretion)
Cost: $201
In this squad we focus on:
- Refining the technical skills of all four competitive strokes.
- Enhancing starts, turns, underwater skills.
- Developing the swimmer’s aerobic capacity and neuromuscular coordination.
- Introducing the physical and mental skills essential for success at the NSW Area, Metro, and State level competitions.
We also encourage athletes at this stage to participation in a secondary sport to support their overall development.
Training expectations: A minimum training attendance of 4 sessions per week and up to a maximum of 6 sessions per week
Session times:
| Training times | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AM | 5:00 - 7:00 | 5:00 - 7:00 | 5:00-7:00 | 6:00-8:00 | ||
| PM | 4:00 - 6:00 | 4:00-6:00 |
Please note that session times and venues can change slightly due to pool closures and other events.
Equipment:
- Every swimmer must have a wet-bag containing their gear. Since many swimmers have similar, if not identical, equipment, it's crucial to clearly label your items. Everyone is responsible for their own gear.
- Equipment you will need: Short Blade Fins, Pull Buoy, Band, Small Paddles (finger), Kick Board, Snorkel, Goggles x2, Drink Bottle.
Bottlebrush Squad
Coaches: Daniel Benvenuti, Matthew Wilson and Jordan Pavlovski
Age: 8-12 years+ (*Coaches discretion)
Cost: $196 per month
In this squad we focus on:
- Building confidence and developing technical skills across all four competitive strokes: Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke and Freestyle.
- Introducing and refining key race elements such as starts, turn and underwater skills with a focus on learning strategies on how to effectively pace different events.
- Providing opportunities to experience competition in a supportive way through club nights and local area meets, with coach guidance throughout.
We also encourage young athletes at this stage to stay active in other sports to support well rounded athletic development and maintain enjoyment in training.
Training expectations: A minimum training attendance of 3 sessions per week and up to a maximum of 5 sessions per week
Session times:
| Training times | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AM | 5:45 - 7:00 | 5:45 - 7:00 | |||
| 4:00 - 5:15 | 4:00 - 5:15 | 4:00 - 5:15 | 4:00 - 5:15 | ||
| PM | 5:15 - 6:30 | 5:15 - 6:30 | 5:15 - 6:30 | 5:15 - 6:30 |
Please note: Session times and venues can change slightly due to pool closures and other events.
Equipment:
- Every swimmer must have a wet-bag containing their gear. Since many swimmers have similar, if not identical, equipment, it's crucial to clearly label your items. Everyone is responsible for their own gear.
- Equipment you will need: Short Blade Fins, Pull Buoy, Band, Kick Board, Snorkel, Goggles x2, Drink Bottle.
Interested in joining the team?
Complete a New squad swimmer form to express your interest and a trial session will be arranged with the most suitable group.
Trial sessions: $5 per session/person (parent and swimmer require to pay on entry)
Enrolment is via monthly direct debit, complete Direct Debit Agreement Form and submit to the Swim School office at swimschool@sopa.nsw.gov.au
Entry cards
Once enrolment has been confirmed swimmers and parents will be issued with an entry card. This card enables access to the Aquatic Centre on your designated training day and times.
Entry cards need to be presented at the Service Desk to gain entry for your squad session. Your entry cards cannot be used for access to the Centre outside the training times. Lost or stolen cards are the responsibility of the cardholder and a $5 fee will be charged for a replacement card.