Elementary-Bronze

This group is for children who LOVE to be in and around the water. Our bronze swimmers should be able to blow bubbles and fully submerge their head under water. They need to be comfortable in water that is over their head and be able to swim at least 25 yards. These kids need to laugh when they make huge splashes with their feet when kicking while holding onto the wall. Bronze swimmers need to be willing to try floating on both their back and their front.

To be considered "ready" for Elementary-Silver they should have the understanding of what all 4 strokes are but not at all perfect. Back and Free will be their main strokes to know. The goal for swimmers from Bronze to Silver can swim a 100 IM not perfect and no fear of dives and turns. This swimmer should also display a great attitude and can do a 100 free and back. 

This is not a swim lesson group. This is a club to gain strength and confidence to become a competitive swimmer. 

Elementary-Silver

This group is for elementary school-aged athletes (1st grade through 5th grade) who are able to swim 50 yards of Freestyle and Backstroke without stopping. Our goal is to continue to help swimmers be water-safe and begin helping them understand the four competitive strokes. Swimmers are still working on making friends, having fun, establishing fundamentals, and learning what competitive swimming is like! The focus is primarily on body awareness and technique, deeper discipline, and fun for learning! The goal in silver will be to do a 200 IM/ 200 Free with strong dives and turns at the end of the season! 



To be considered ready for the next group (Elementary-Gold), swimmers need to be able to swim 100 yards of freestyle, backstroke, and breaststroke, 50 fly, and 100 IM. No fear of dives and turns, have a good attitude and are ready to learn! This athlete shows readiness with a good coachable attitude and heart to discipline themselves to be better at the sport. 

Elementary-Gold

This group is for elementary school-aged athletes (1st grade through 5th grade) who have a legal of all four competitive strokes. This is our high elementary performance group. We strive for divisional and state cuts with personal goals. They will master techniques for all four strokes and expect to compete in 90% of meets. Athletes in this group are working on listening, basic reading of the pace clock and intervals, breathing to the side on freestyle, flip turns, open turns, and improving in each stroke. 

Once swimmer reaches 6th grade they will be ready to move to the Middle School group. 

Must make it to divisionals and have legal strokes for all four. Must also compete in most events including the 500 free and the 200 free/IM 

**Legal means that they must have attended a swim meet and have a time in each of the above events.

Middle School

The Middle School group is for Middle School aged athletes (6th grade through 8th grade) and is divided into 3 lanes based on their motivational times that they make at meets. Athletes in this group focus on mastering all four main strokes. They are continuing to refine their technique while incorporating new aspects of training like dryland exercises. The amount of time in the pool and the yards that they swim is greatly increased. Middle School group athletes are deciding that swimming is a sport they want to be successful with in the future. The goal for Middle School group athletes is to begin being responsible for their attendance, to continue to have fun with swimming, learn to set goals, make friends from other teams, learn new training techniques, and master intervals on a pace clock. Middle School swimmers are expected to attend multiple swim meets a month, being competitive in those meets. Athletes will be guided to set long-term goals, and taught what it will take to achieve those goals.



Once swimmers reach 9th grade they will be ready for the High School group, though swimmers must consistently compete in swim meets and swim challenging events. Swimmers should have a legal time in the 200 IM and have completed the 500 at least once in a meet. Middle School group swimmers should achieve at least one divisional level cut and compete in the divisional meet. Swimmers need to be able to understand and read complicated sets and pace clock intervals before making it to the High School group.

High School

The High School Group is for those swimmers who have become serious about swimming and are ready to concentrate on swimming as their primary sport. High School Group swimmers are expected to attend swim meets and compete at a high level. Practices have greatly increased yardage and intensity. Swimmers in this group learn to push themselves harder than they ever thought they could and find that they CAN do it. High School group swimmers are expected to be semi-self motivated, set short-term and long-term goals, and understand the commitment needed to achieve those goals.



In the High Schoool Group, swimmers must be able to race 500 yards of Freestyle with confidence, 200 yards of Backstroke and Breaststroke, 100 yards of Butterfly, understand how to race the 200 Individual Medley with efficacy, know what their goals are in swimming, and have a positive attitude with effort and high practice attendance. By the time swimmers are done with the High School Group they should have swum the mile, 400 Individual Medley, and the 200 Butterfly in a meet, understand what it will take to achieve their goals in swimming, and only miss 1 practice a week.

Note:

The decision to move a swimmer to a more advanced group is not strictly based on the criteria outlined at the end of each groups description. It is mostly a discussion between the coaches of both groups involved as well as the head coach. Factors such as work ethic, leadership skills, attendance, and being a good teammate can greatly affect a swimmer’s placement.