We’re a newly formed club and recently gained our Swim Club Affiliation with Swim England allowing our swimmers to race under the club name: AC East London (ACEL).
Training Overview
At AC East London, our Squad Training program is built around one purpose: to prepare swimmers to race—not just train for fitness.
We run 5 coached sessions per week and host targeted workshops throughout the year. These are designed to sharpen racing skills and improve competition performance.
In May, for example, we ran pre-meet workshops on block starts and race protocols ahead of our first ever Open Meet competing as AC East London.
Masters Competitive Pool based
- Competitive training for Masters Swimmers who love to race
- Weekly Development session for returning or new to racing Masters
You don’t need to join us with a ‘brimming’ ‘skills bucket. If you’re committed to learning, we’ll coach you to take your swimming to Performance level—whether your goal is take part in your first Masters Meet, or QT for Nationals and beyond.”
We are a Train to Race program. Our focus is not on general fitness swimming, but on developing skill, speed, and stamina for racing.
➡️ Check our contact page for entry-level info.
Open Water & Long Distance Training
Our sessions are tailored for swimmers training for open water up to 10K and endurance events, including:
- T100
- Aquathlon
- 70.3
- Full Ironman
Training includes structured distance sets alongside racing skills so you’re prepared for both outdoor challenges and multi-sport competition environments.
Is Squad Training Right for You?
If you’re looking for a swim group focused on general fitness or long aerobic A1–A2 freestyle sets, we might not be the best fit.
Our squad members don’t just swim laps — they train with purpose. They’re here to be coached to race. During the racing season our swimmers typically race once a month and take on open water challenges in the UK and abroad.
Where & When we train
Tiller Leisure Centre
Wednesdays
19:20-19:45 » pre-pool mobility
19:45-21:00 » Fitness session for both Open Water and Competitive Pool Swimmers
(The ratio of Vo2: Skills ratio is dependent on where we are in the racing season )
This high-energy session targets aerobic power (VO₂ max) while developing technical efficiency across all strokes — with a main focus on freestyle. Expect a mix of challenging sets, skill work, and short recovery designed to build fitness without losing form.
As more swimmers join us we will look to timetable another session in the week at Tiller – will keep you posted👍
Wavlengths, Deptford
Thursdays
20:00 – 21:00 » Power/ Resistance training. SD sprinters by HC invite only.
Will expand the session to 21:30 as more advanced sprinters join us.
A power-based session designed for short-distance specialists. Using resistance tools and sprint-specific sets, we’ll develop explosive speed, strong starts, and maximum effort over short distances. Strictly for sprinters looking to level up their performance.
Fridays
18:30-19:30 » Masters Skills Development – open to all swimmers
This session is all about building up your skills bucket for pool racing. We’ll focus on the technical elements that make a big difference on race day — think starts, turns, pacing, and efficient stroke work. Perfect if you’re aiming to race for the first time or want to sharpen your skills before your next meet.
19:30-21:00 » Sprint Performance – Advanced Race Skills/ Aerobic Power Session
This session is for experienced swimmers looking to fine-tune the details that matter in sprint racing. We’ll work on advanced technical skills: starts, turns, breakout efficiency, and stroke timing — alongside pacing strategy and race planning. Perfect for swimmers targeting peak performance in short-distance events.
London Fields
Sundays
17:00 – 18:30 » Endurance Training & Open Water Racing Skills/mid-long distance focus.
This session is ideal for swimmers training for middle to long-distance events, whether in the pool or open water. We’ll focus on pacing, rhythm, efficiency, and building aerobic strength — alongside technical work to keep your form sharp, even under fatigue.
As more swimmers join we will increase our lanes and expand our timetable.
This is reviewed on a monthly basis.