Understanding Growth. Supporting Development. Keeping Swimmers in the Sport.
Project H2grOw is a long-term research initiative developed through a collaboration between Swimming Australia, The University of Sydney, and our wider community. The project aims to better understand how growth and maturation influence youth swimmer development and to provide practical, research-informed guidance that supports swimmers, parents, coaches, and administrators.
As swimmers move through adolescence, they experience rapid physical changes at different times and rates. These changes influence technique, coordination, strength, performance, motivation, and overall participation. Project H2grOw helps demystify this process – ensuring young swimmers are supported, understood, and empowered throughout their developmental years.
What is Project H2grOw?
Project H2grOw is designed to:
- Track growth and maturation in developing swimmers aged 9 – 16 years.
- Examine how growth, maturation and relative age shape physical development, training responses, skill acquisition, and long-term progression.
- Develop solutions to better support athletes during key periods of physical and emotional change.
- Enhance coaching practices through evidence-based insights and practical tools.
- Provide educational resources that help the community understand growth and maturation, fostering healthier expectations and stronger retention.
The project supports the Swim Well Strategy and Sport Growth Action Plan by elevating participation, wellbeing, and long-term engagement in the sport.
Why H2grOw Matters
Adolescence is a critical period where swimmers often experience fluctuating performance, increased pressure, and uncertainty about their development. Heightened expectations, combined with physical changes outside their control, can impact confidence and long-term involvement.
H2grOw aims to create:
- Supportive environments that recognise individual developmental pathways
- Realistic and personalised goal-setting for swimmers and families
- Informed coaching practices that reflect athlete growth
- Improved retention, ensuring more young people stay in sport and enjoy the lifelong benefits of swimming
Research consistently shows that continued participation in youth sport enhances physical health, social connection, skill development, and emotional wellbeing. H2grOw helps keep these benefits within reach for every young swimmer.
Introducing H2grOw Retain
A new initiative connecting Junior Excellence (JX) swimmers to long-term development pathways.
Building on the momentum of Project H2grOw, Swimming Australia and The University of Sydney have introduced H2grOw Retain – a dedicated initiative aimed at improving participation, engagement, and retention among youth swimmers.
H2grOw Retain establishes a clear link between the Junior Excellence (JX) program and the research-driven insights of H2grOw. Recognising that athletes grow and mature at different rates, the initiative allows JX swimmers to track their development and better understand how their bodies and performances evolve over time.
What H2grOw Retain Provides:
- Tailored growth and maturation reports
- Educational resources for athletes and families
- Clear explanations of developmental changes and how they influence swimming
- Tools to support motivation, resilience, and long-term engagement
- Support for the Swim Well Strategy’s vision for safe, effective, lifelong swimming
By equipping families with evidence-based insights, H2grOw Retain helps reduce confusion, manage expectations, and foster a more positive and informed youth sporting experience.
How to Get Involved:
Whether you are a:
- Boy aged 10–16 years
- Girl aged 9–14 years
- Parent
- Coach
you are invited to participate in Project H2grOw and H2grOw Retain.
Upcoming Events
Our team will be on-site at selected meets:
- 29–30 November 2025 – NSW Junior Metropolitan Championships
- 13–14 December 2025 – Victorian Age LC Championships
- 13–16 December 2025 – Queensland Championships
- TBC February 2026 – WA Junior Challenge / National Prep Meet
- 14–15 February 2026 – NSW Senior Metropolitan Championships
- 21–22 February 2026 – NSW Country Championships
- 6–8 March 2026 – SA State LC Age Championships
Can’t make it to an event? You can still participate. Swimmers and families from Western Australia, Northern Territory, and Tasmania are encouraged to join the project online through our self-report survey portal.
Email: h2grow@swimming.org.au to register and receive instructions.
Watch the H2grOw Story
Watch: H2grOw Narrative
Watch: H2grOw Advert 2025-26
Project H2grOw Team Members:
Project H2grOw is made up of the following team members from respective institutions:
| Gary Barclay | EGM HP Pathway, Coaching & Participation – Swimming Australia |
| Prof. Stephen Cobley | Project Founder and Lead – The University of Sydney |
| Matthew Simpson | National Participation Manager – Swimming Australia |
| Dr. Shaun Abbott | Project Lead and Coordinator – The University of Sydney |
| Giovanni Postiglione | PhD Candidate – The University of Sydney |
| Joshua Wooldridge | PhD Candidate – The University of Sydney |
| John Eisenhuth | IT Technician – The University of Sydney |
| Dr. Michael Romann | Swiss Institute of Sport, Switzerland |
| Drew McGregor | Swimming Queensland |
| Dr. Lachlan Mitchell | Victorian Institute of Sport |
| Jamie Salter | Project Founder – formerly Swimming Australia |
Post-Graduate Contributions:
| Kylie Moulds | PhD – The University of Sydney |
| Clorinda Hogan | MRes – The University of Sydney |
The project team includes experts in athlete development, sport science, growth and maturation research, and youth swimming pathways.
