GROUP DESCRIPTIONS

(Revised 8/10/2009)

Group Definitions have been created to define each group by ability, and set standards for practice commitments. All move-ups are to the coaches’ discretion:

Novice - This is first level of our swim team. Novice is for 6-11 year-old swimmers who are just starting out with competitive swimming. These swimmers know freestyle and backstroke. This group spends 90% working on technique and 10% on training with the proper technique. Although there are no practice attendance requirements for this group, two to three practices a week are recommended.

Age Group 3 will be for all of the swimmers that are 6-11 year-old and can complete 25 yards/meters of all four strokes. This group is mainly instructional in nature, but will consist of a very small amount of interval training and endurance work. There will be intensive work done on starts, turns, finishes, stroke drills and techniques. Swimmers are expected to compete in one competition per month, Novice or USA Swimming meets. Although there are no practice attendance requirements for this group, two to three practices a week are recommended.

Age Group 2 is for the 9-12 year-old swimmers with B and below times, plus advanced 8-year-old swimmers. Age Group 2 will concentrate on developing a solid technical background while learning to do consistent interval training and endurance work. There will be a major focus on the techniques for each of the four competitive strokes including turns and IM transitions. The basic concepts of this group will also include developing good racing fundamentals and strategies for a variety of distances and events. Swimmers are expected to compete in one competition per month, Novice or USA Swimming Meets. Although there are no practice attendance requirements for this group, three to four practices a week are recommended.  This group has base interval of 8x100 on the 3:00.

Age Group 1 is for 10-11 year-old swimmers with B+ or above times, and 12-13 year-old swimmers that do not meet the time standards or requirements to be in the Junior squad. Swimmers in this group also need to show a certain degree of commitment to the sport of swimming. Age Group 1 will have a high emphasis on stroke and technique work, starts and turns work as well as IM and distance training. Age Group 1 will also do consistent interval training and endurance work. Swimmers are expected to compete in at least one competition per month. There are no attendance requirements for this group, but four to five practices a week are recommended.  This group has base interval of 8x100 on the 2:10.

Junior – The Junior group is a select group of 12-14 year old athletes committed to reaching their full potential. Group members must show the ability to train IM and distance freestyle on rigorous cycles. They must have the ability to handle the physical demands to uphold a rigorous training regimen to allow them the opportunity to move up to the Elite group. The coaching staff will make invitations into this group after evaluating training performance, attitude and time standards attained during the course of the previous season. Swimmers will be required to compete in at least one competition per month. No less than 12 hours a week are required from the swimmers in this group. This group has base interval of 10x100 on the 1:30 and 5x200 IM on the 3:45. For a swimmer in this group to swim in the State or Sectional meet they MUST have a practice attendance of at least 90%.

Senior Maintenance- This group is for 13 and older and high school swimmers who wish to stay in shape. This group will have 4 practices per week. This is the group for athletes who also play other sports, but still want to stay in shape. This group can swim all meets except for Sectionals and Travel Meets. This group will swim in ISD 196 pools and the STA pool.

Senior Gold This group is for the high school athletes committed to reaching their full potential, but do not want to join the Elite Program. Swimmers must be at least 14 years of age. Year-round training is highly recommended. Training will be geared toward preparing the swimmer for state competition and a collegiate career. Swimmers will be required to compete in at least one competition per month. 14 hours per week are required to stay in this group. This group has base interval of 20x100 on the 1:35and 10x200 IM on the 3:30.

Senior Elite - The Senior Elite group is a select group of athletes committed to reaching their full potential. This group is NOT for the High School swimmer who just wants to stay shape or think that High School swimming is the most important part of the season. This group will be for the athlete who is 100% committed to their training both in and out of the pool Athletes must have coach’s permission to join this group. Year-round training is required. This is a high-level training group with both practice and meets requirements. Training will be geared toward preparing the swimmer for national competition and a collegiate career. Swimmers will be required to compete in at least one competition per month. 18 hours per week during the school year and 22 hours per week in the summer are required to stay in this group. This group has base interval of 20x100 on the 1:25 and 10x200 IM on the 3:15. All members of this group will swim in all team meets and championship meets.