The term swimming training camp is used a lot — but exactly what it involves varies enormously by organiser. In this article we explain what a good swimming training camp really is, which swimmers it's worthwhile for, and what to look out for when choosing one.
What is a swimming training camp?
A swimming training camp is a multi-day period in which swimmers, often away from their own club, train intensively under a specialised coaching team. The three core differences from normal club training:
- Volume: 2 sessions per day instead of 4 per week — often a doubling of training hours in a single week.
- Specific focus: usually on one or two technical themes (for example turns, or building out the second half of a 100m).
- Coach attention: 1 coach per 6 swimmers at most — impossible in an ordinary training group of 25.
Which swimmers is it worthwhile for?
A swimming training camp is not a 'nice day out' — it's an investment. It mainly pays off when:
- The swimmer does at least 4 sessions per week at a club
- There is a technical challenge the club coach can't address in enough depth (time, group size)
- The swimmer has a specific competition they want to peak for
For grassroots swimmers or beginning competitive swimmers a training camp is often counterproductive — too much volume in too short a time without the right foundation can cause injuries.
What should you look out for when choosing?
Here are the 5 things we advise parents to ask before booking:
- What is the coach-to-swimmer ratio in the water? Below 1-to-6 is good; 1-to-12 is a holiday with some swimming on the side.
- 50m pool or 25m pool? For competitive swimmers who race long course, a 50m pool is a serious advantage.
- Who exactly are the coaches? Ask for names and backgrounds. Olympic experience, national-championship coaching, an international staff role — these are signals of quality.
- Video analysis included? A good camp records every swimmer and discusses the footage one-on-one.
- What do you take home afterwards? An end report with areas for improvement = important; just a 'nice week' = not enough.
What does a swimming training camp cost?
Price ranges vary widely. In the Netherlands a weekend camp is usually around €350-€500. A week abroad with flight, hotel and all meals falls in the €1,500-€2,500 range. ZwemExpert camps sit in the upper segment — not because we want to be expensive, but because we reserve a lot of coach time per swimmer and train exclusively in 50m pools.
How often per year is it worthwhile?
For most serious competitive swimmers: one training camp of 5-7 days per year, scheduled 6-10 weeks before an important competition. Twice is possible, but then the rest of the season needs enough rest and recovery time. Our International Swim Camp 2027 – Tuscany, Italy is set up for exactly that — the May half-term as a build-up block towards summer competitions.
Next step
Want to know whether a training camp fits your situation? Try our free 3-day Parent Challenge, in which we explain how to get serious without it taking over your family life — or go straight to the full camp overview.