WWSC Practice Group Objectives and Move-up Requirements
Wasilla Waves Swim club is organized into six different practice groups ranging from our most novice swimmers to our most advanced and experienced. These groups are put together based on a combination of specific performance, technique, practice, and soft skill elements. However, as there is always the factor of the individual, the head coach and coaching staff have the final and ultimate decision to move a swimmer up or to keep him or her in the existing practice group.
Competition is strongly encouraged after your swimmer is comfortable. It plays a large role in how the groups' practice and training are developed and executed, especially in our top 3 groups. Additionally, it is used to shape the guidelines for the skills, fundamentals, and training taught by coaches in the younger groups. Competition allows swimmers to tangibly see their progress and ensure they are swimming the strokes legally as viewed by USA Swimming officials.
Wasilla Waves entry and exit skills of practice groups
In order for swimmers to move up into the next group, they must complete the following requirements and demonstrate the necessary abilities. It is to your swimmer's advantage to strive for the next group, but they will only be moved up if they are mentally and physically ready. Moving up too quickly will have a negative reaction, and all group placement is decided by the coaching staff. The coaching staff will use the following requirements as a guideline in regard to group placement.
Droplets
Entry requirements: Able to swim 25 yards of freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke (with whip kick), and butterfly (with dolphin kick)
Equipment: kickboard, zoomers, pull buoy
Swim meet requirements: encouraged after two months of practicing
Wavelets
Entry requirement:
Butterfly is legal for a 25
Freestyle with bilateral breathing as well as a flip turn Backstroke with a legal flip turn as well as legal finish Breaststroke with a legal whip kick and legal arm pull
Able to swim 10x50 FR @1:30
Equipment required: kickboard, zoomers, buoy, water bottle
Swim meet requirements: encouraged after 2 months of swimming, and must complete one meet per year
Ripples
Entry requirements:
Legal butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle Legal flip turns as well as legal finishes
Able to dive off the block
Read intervals
10x50 Freestyle @1:30
3x100 Freestyle @2:15 without stopping and using flip turns
1x100 IM legal turns and strokes
Equipment Requirements: kickboard, zoomers, buoy, water bottle
Swim Meet Requirements: make goals to compete in Alaska Age Groups Championships and compete in 3 meets per year.
Surgers
Entry Requirements:
Legal technique in all 4 strokes as well as legal flip turns, open turns, and transition turns
10X50 Freestyle @1:15
6x100 Freestyle @1:45
2x100 IM @2:00
Equipment Requirements: kickboard, zoomers, buoy, water bottle, paddles, snorkel
Swim Meet Requirements: compete at our local swim meets and work toward qualifying for Alaska State Championships and Age Group Championships
Breakers
Entry Requirements:
Legal and perfect technique in all 4 strokes as well as legal flip turns, open turns, and crossover turns
10x50 Freestyle @50
10x100 Freestyle @1:30
2x100 IM @1:45
2x200 FR @3
Equipment Requirements: kickboard, zoomers , buoy, water bottle, paddles, snorkel, pacemaker (suggested but not required)
Swim Meet Requirements: complete the IMX Alaska Swim Meet, look to qualify for Alaska Senior Championships as well as have goals for out-of-state swimming
Tsunamis
Entry Requirements:
Legal and perfect technique in all 4 strokes as well as legal flip turns, open turns, and crossover turns
Have goals that are competitive goals in the group and goals to succeed in swimming
10x50 Freestyle @45
10x100 Freestyle @1:20
Equipment Requirements: kickboard, zoomers , buoy, water bottle, paddles, snorkel, pacmaker (suggested but not required)
Swim Meet Requirments: complete the IMX Alaska Swim Meet, look to qualify for Alaska Senior Championships as well as have goals for out-of-state swimming
