Vortex offers 8 group options: Lightning Thunder Hail Cyclone Storm Age Group Prep Elite Peak
Team Vortex Swim Club coaching staff makes the decisions on group placement of the swimmer based on the swimmer's daily practice habits and season-long progress. These are guidelines that the coaches use to place athletes in the appropriate practice group. All group assignments are subject to change throughout the swim season per coaches’ discretion and our group placement policy that can be found here - https://www.teamunify.com/team/cotvsc/page/swimmer-info/group-placement-policy
Below are the expectations and standards for each group.
Technique: Must be able to complete 25 yards (one length of the pool) for both free and back without touching the bottom or grabbing the lane line.
Attendance: 2x / week minimum
Practice: Lightning is our introductory swim group. We work to develop a love for the sport of swimming. We work on all 4 competitive strokes. Swimming 25’s with correct rest to work proper technique.
Equipment Expectations:
Suit
Cap - all swimmers regardless of hair length
Goggles
Water Bottle
Workout clothes - Shoes (closed toe), shorts - used for Dryland workouts
Kickboard - smaller
Fins - Speedo Switchblade
Technique: Must be able to swim 50s of Free and Back, 25s of Breast or Fly and have endurance to swim 1000 yards for a workout.
Attendance: 2x / week minimum
Practice: Thunder is a developmental swim group. We work on all 4 competitive strokes as well as starts and turns. We also work on increasing speed and endurance. We learn proper technique and skills necessary to move to Hail and Storm groups.
Competition Expectations: Meets are not required but they are encouraged.
Equipment Expectations:
Suit
Cap - all swimmers regardless of hair length
Goggles
Water Bottle
Workout clothes - Shoes (closed toe), shorts - used for Dryland workouts
Kickboard - smaller
Fins - Speedo Switchblade
Technique: Must be able to complete 50 yards or all strokes legally and the endurance to swim 1000+ yards for workouts.
Attendance: 3x / week minimum
Practice: Hail is the top of our developmental swim groups. We work on all 4 competitive strokes as well as turns and starts from the blocks. We complete several 25, 50, and 100’s during the workout. We also do a dryland workout with this group working core, coordination, mobility, and strength.
Competition Expectations: Meet participation is encouraged in this group. The District Championships meets are the end of season meets for this group.
Equipment Expectations:
Suit
Cap - all swimmers regardless of hair length
Goggles
Water Bottle
Workout clothes - Shoes (closed toe), shorts - used for Dryland workouts
Equipment Wet Bag W/:
Pull Buoy - smaller size
Kickboard - smaller
Fins
Speedo Switchblade
Snorkel - must be a swimmer's snorkel
Optional items:
Nose Plug
Technique: Must be able to complete 100 yards of all strokes legally and the endurance to swim 1500+ yards for workouts.
Attendance: 3x / week minimum
Practice: This is the top of our developmental swim groups. We work on all 4 competitive strokes as well as turns and starts from the blocks. We complete several 50, 100, and 200’s during the workout. We also do a dryland workout with this group working core, coordination, mobility, and strength.
Competition Expectations: Meet participation is highly encouraged for this group. The District Championship meet is the end of season meet for this group.
Equipment Expectations:
Suit
Cap - all swimmers regardless of hair length
Goggles
Water Bottle
Workout clothes - Shoes (closed toe), shorts - used for Dryland workouts
Equipment Wet Bag W/:
Pull Buoy - smaller size
Kickboard - smaller
Fins
Speedo Switchblade
Snorkel - must be a swimmer's snorkel
Optional items:
Nose Plug
Technique: Must have 4 legal strokes that can be swam for 50’s and 100’s and the endurance to swim 2000+ yards for a workout.
Attendance: 4x / week minimum
Training: 6 in water and dryland practices a week
Practice: Storm is an age group level swim team that meets 6 times a week. We work on all 4 competitive strokes as well as starts and turns. We work on specific goals for each meet in the season such as specific technique, challenging events and achieving age group state times.
Set Examples: 6x 100's on 2:20, 10x 25's kick on :45
Competition Expectations: 2-3 meets a season, Districts are highly recommended.
Equipment Expectations:
Suit
Cap - all swimmers regardless of hair length
Goggles
Water Bottle
Equipment Wet Bag W/:
Pull Buoy - smaller size
Paddles - Just a bit larger than the hands (stroke Maker, Finis)
Kickboard - smaller
Fins
Speedo Switchblade
Snorkel - must be a swimmer's snorkel
Optional items:
Nose Plug
Workout clothes - Shoes (closed toe), shorts - used for Dryland workouts
Technique: This group has achieved age group state times. Swimmers have goals to swim in finals at the end of season championship meets.
Attendance: 75%
Training: 6 in water and dryland practices a week
Practice: This is the top age group swim team. It is preparing swimmers for the elite level groups. This group meets 6 times a week. We work on all 4 competitive strokes as well as starts and turns. We work on specific goals for each meet in the season and work towards championship meets.
Set Examples: 6x 100's on 2:00, 10x 25's kick on :40
Competition Expectations: Meet participation is required to maintain group status. Swimmers are encouraged to compete in the highest qualifying meet as well as the District Championships.
Equipment Expectations:
Suit
Cap - all swimmers regardless of hair length
Goggles
Healthy Snack
Water Bottle
Equipment Wet Bag W/:
Pull Buoy - smaller size
Paddles - Just a bit larger than the hands (stroke Maker, Finis)
Kickboard - smaller
Fins
Speedo Switchblade
Arena Powerfin Pro Swim Fins
TYR Hydroblade Fins
Snorkel - must be a swimmer's snorkel
Optional items:
Nose Plug
Fulcrum
Workout clothes - Shoes (closed toe), shorts - used for Dryland workouts
Elite Prep High School Age Swimmers
Attendance: Consistent attendance is required to maintain group status.
Training: 6 swimming / dryland practices a week
Competition Expectations: Meet participation is highly encouraged.
Equipment Expectations:
Suit
Cap - all swimmers regardless of hair length
Goggles
Healthy Snack
Water Bottle
Equipment Wet Bag W/:
Pull Buoy - smaller size
Paddles - larger than the size of the hand -
Finis AGILITY PADDLES
Kickboard - smaller
Fins
DMC Elite Fins
Arena Powerfin Pro Swim Fins
TYR Hydroblade Fins
Snorkel - must be a swimmer's snorkel
Workout clothes - Shoes (closed toe), shorts - used for Dryland workouts
Ages 13 & up
Attendance: 85%
Training: 6 swimming / dryland practices a week
Performance: Must compete in both short and long course seasons. Must meet attendance requirements to maintain group status. Swimmer must complete an assessment that involves a written self assessment and a meeting with the coach and be approved to move groups.
Competition Expectations: Must compete in the highest qualifying team meet. Meet participation is required to maintain group status.
Equipment Expectations:
Suit
Cap - all swimmers regardless of hair length
Goggles
Healthy Snack
Water Bottle
Equipment Wet Bag W/:
Pull Buoy - smaller size
Paddles - larger than the size of the hand -
Kickboard - smaller
Fins - Must be one of:
DMC Elite Fins
Arena Powerfin Pro Swim Fins
TYR Hydroblade Fins
Snorkel - must be a swimmer's snorkel
Optional items:
Nose Plug
Fulcrum
Various other Paddles
Workout clothes - Shoes (closed toe), shorts - used for Dryland workouts
Senior Travel Group, Ages 13 & up
Attendance: Attendance is required for this group
Training: 6 x Swim / Dryland practices, 3 Weight Trainings a week
Performance: Must have Senior State Qualifying times
Competition Expectations: Must compete in 4 corners Sectionals Meet in March and the highest qualifying team Championship meets. Meet participation is required to maintain group status.
Equipment Expectations:
Suit
Cap - all swimmers regardless of hair length
Goggles
Healthy Snack
Water Bottle
Equipment Wet Bag W/:
Pull Buoy - smaller size
Paddles - larger than the size of the hand -
Kickboard - smaller
Power bags - need 2 sets for arms and legs - 1 x PB-25 and 1 x PB-40
Fins - Must be one of:
DMC Elite Fins
Arena Powerfin Pro Swim Fins
TYR Hydroblade Fins
Snorkel - must be a swimmer's snorkel
Optional items:
Nose Plug
Fulcrum
Various other Paddles
Workout clothes - Shoes (closed toe), shorts - used for Dryland workouts
