What is the Junior XLR8 Programme?

  • XLR8 is a motivational programme designed for our junior competitive and club swimmers (aged 12 and under) to encourage them to focus on acquiring skills across all competitive strokes and distances, thus providing a balanced foundation for our young swimmers. The programme recognizes versatility and all-round ability, rewarding correct application of the processes necessary for long-term athlete development.

  • The initial (and ultimate) method of gauging progress for a swimmer is the times they swim for an individual event. To maximise long-term athlete development we believe it is better to reward swimmers aged 12 and under by their versatility and all-round ability, rather than performance in a single event.

    The XLR8 programme was developed to rank and track swimmers over four events rather than just one.

  • 1. Ensure you are a registered, competitive or club swimmer with a SCWC affiliated club.

    2. Swim the 4 event combination required for an XLR8 score (see below).

    3. After the swim meet, the meet administrator will send the meet results to the NZ meet results database. XLR8 points are calculated and rankings are compiled. 25m performances are converted to 50m using standard SNZ conversion factors.

    4. Check our database to see all XLR8 rankings and track your progress.

The Four XLR8 Events

Racing a range of events is recommended as the XLR8 programme chooses your best 4 scoring races automatically and gives you the maximum point combination possible.

The four event combination is made up from:

  1. One distance freestyle event

  2. One individual medley event

  3. One 200m “form” event.

  4. Your next best event (not used previously).

The four event requirement encourages swimmers to participate in a variety of strokes and distances. This aligns with the principles of the “Balance is Better” philosophy.

XLR8 Squads

The XLR8 Squad Programme recognises swimmers that have achieved key milestones in the XLR8 Points System. These squads are revised every four months:

  • January - April 2024:

    • Konrad Artz (Ashburton)

    • Brad Khemarangsan (Dragon)

    • Leo Chai (Dragon)

    • Enzo Wang (Jasi)

    • Ben Smith (Jasi)

    • Benjamin Crawford (Jasi)

    • Catherine Shao (Jasi)

    • Jenna Borea (Jasi)

    • Tyrone Xu (Jasi)

    • Josie Herbert (Timaru)

    • Louis Tian (Triton)

    • Ethan Han (Triton)

    • Deborah Son (Waitaha)

    • Kathy Gai (Waitaha)

    • Charlotte Dunne (Wharenui)

    • Keira Watt (Wharenui)

    • Kelicia Purcell (Wharenui)

    • Lily Dunne (Wharenui)

    • Lyla O'Sullivan (Wharenui)

    • Olivia Vivian (Wharenui)

  • January - April 2024:

    • Matthew Callow (Aquagym)

    • Archie Cave (Aquagym)

    • Tyronne Northcott (Aquagym)

    • Declan Ashby (North Canterbury)

    • Chase Edwards-Tucker (Selwyn)

    • Hayley Menzies (Selwyn)

    • Lauren Crawford (Timaru)

    • Chloe Garner (Timaru)

    • Delilah Mehlhopt-Bretzke (Timaru)

    • Elise Groot (Timaru)

    • Charlie Jordan (Triton)

    • Bozan Wang (Triton)

    • Jayden Shu (Triton)

    • Peter Jordan (Triton)

    • Youyou Tang (Triton)

    • Mason Lee (Waitaha)

    • Brooke Henderson (Waitaha)

    • Gemma Scott (Waitaha)

    • Idriz Musliu (Wharenui)

    • Maddie Ericson (Wharenui)

  • January - April 2024:

    • Jessie Davidson (Ashburton)

    • Renny Jones (Hokitika)

    • Munro Kerr (Mackenzie)

    • Toby Dougherty (Temuka)

    • Mackenzie Thompson (Timaru)

    • Ada Zhang (Wharenui)

    • Penny O'Sullivan (Wharenui)

    • Sharnara Butler (Wharenui)

Swimmers who achieve these point requirements will receive an XLR8 Badge for their appropriate squad. These will be awarded by coaches at club training sessions upon appointment and promotion within three weeks of announcement.

Note: Replacement badges will be provided at a cost of $10.00

Programme Partners

We acknowledge the exceptional work of Swimming Waikato in the development of this programme.