Swimming

2026

Applications for the 2025/26 intake are now CLOSED

To be notified when the next intake opens, click here to register your interest

The Hunter Academy of Sport (HAS) Swimming Program, delivered in partnership with Central Coast Academy of Sport and supported by Swimming NSW, supports the development of identified competitive swimmers within the Talent phase of the FTEM pathway.

This program is designed to work alongside an athlete’s current coaching and training environment, providing additional performance enhancement rather than replacing existing squad programs. Support is delivered through targeted in water skill sessions, technical and video analysis, strength and conditioning, and functional movement screening to improve efficiency, power, and long term performance in the pool.

Athletes also receive education in key performance areas including nutrition, sports psychology, load management, and athlete wellbeing to support sustainable athlete development.

Athlete Benefits

The following benefits will apply to those selected in the Swimming program:

Strength and Conditioning Testing and Review
6 weeks of group Strength & Conditioning Program, followed by 12 weeks of High-Performance access.
6 Skill Development Sessions Focused on the Skills Specific to Swimming held at both The Forum and Mingara.
Athlete Education in Topics such as Nutrition, Sports Psychology, Motivation, Leadership and Load Management
Access to a Network of Specialised Coaches and guest
Access to recommended HAS providers such as Physiotherapy & Podiatry
HAS Merchandise

Eligibility

14 – 17 years of age (born in 2011, 20010, 2009 and 2008)
State level athlete
Currently reside within the Hunter Region
A current registered member of Swimming NSW

To be eligible for selection, athletes need to provide evidence of time/s at a sanctioned event or events (Event, Date and Venue).

Program Information

Program Details:

The program will run from June-October 2025 with specialised skill sessions approximately once per month run by our High Performance coaching staff. Sessions will be split between Hunter and Central Coast venues and a full schedule will be provided to selected athletes. Pool sessions are designed to compliment the athlete’s regular training environment, upskilling high performance attributes and best practice.
The program will also include a 6 week group Strength & Conditioning gym program based in the Hunter.

Cost: TBC in welcome pack once selected

Program Staff

HAS Head Coach : Sander Ganzevles

Bio:

Sander is an experienced swimming coach and sports scientist with a background in competitive swimming at the international level, having competed in both European and World Championships. After earning a degree in Human Movement Sciences in Amsterdam, Sander began coaching, leading a swimmer to the European Junior Championships in 2008. By 2010, he joined the Royal Dutch Swimming Federation as an embedded scientist and transitioned into coaching, supporting teams at the European, World, and Olympic Games.

Sander is currently pursuing a PhD, which he expects to complete in November 2024. Following the 2016 Olympics, he moved to Germany to coach at the National Performance Centre in Heidelberg, where one of his athletes claimed gold at the European Junior Championships. In 2019, Sander relocated to Cairns, Australia, where he coached the Cairns Stingrays, developing 15 swimmers who competed at junior and senior national levels. Since October 2022, he has served as the head coach of the NUSport Performance Centre for Swimming New South Wales.