SOUTHWEST STARS TRAINING GROUPS
The SouthWest Stars offers training and practice groups for swimmers of all ages and ability levels. It is the goal of the SouthWest Stars to offer age specific training for all of our athletes geared towards challenging each swimmer and developing each individual to the best of THEIR abilities. Training groups are designed for gradual progression as the coaching staff recognizes improvement. Initial group assignment is determined by the swimmer's age, skill level, and training goals.
Please call us at (407) 905-0999 to learn more, or Click Here to send us an email request for more information.
| PRIVATE STARS SWIM LESSONS: These swim lessons are designed for children who are interested in joining the swim team, but who are not quite ready for the levels listed below. These are private lessons with one of the team’s elite coaches, designed specifically to meet the individual swimmer’s needs.
AGE 10 and Under Groups(Bronze, Silver, and GOLD) Bronze: This group offers an introduction to competitive swimming that encompasses ages 10 years old and younger, all are beginners and have a very basic knowledge of the four competitive strokes. An emphasis is placed on the basic stroke development and stroke technique. Swimmers also learn to improve start technique and perform the proper turns. Swimmers are offered 3 practices per week of 1 hour duration. Coaching emphasis is on correct strokes and not distance. Swimmers have fun with swimming games and drills. Swimmers can still compete at the developmental mini-meets and with the direction of the coach, compete at the United States Sanctioned Meets. Minimum Requirements
SILVER: The Silver group takes the four strokes to the next level by introducing the athlete to interval, endurance, and speed training while still maintaining strong form and balance in the water. Swimmers will also be introduced to invitational swim meets and an expectation on committing to competitions is required.
Minimum Requirements
GOLD: The GOLD group is an advanced group that takes the athlete's ability to use interval, endurance, and speed training to the next level, while still maintaining strong form and balance in the water. Swimmers will be introduced to goal setting and nutritional education and build upon their understanding of race strategy and dryland strength training.
Minimum Requirements
AGE 11-14 YEAR OLD GROUPS (BRONZE, SILVER, GOLD)
BRONZE : This group is for swimmers who want to improve their stroke technique and/or their conditioning level, but desire a more flexible training environment with less focus on required time commitments. This group's main goal is to teach proper stroke technique and learn how to start training for competitive swimming. Minimum requirements
SILVER: The Silver 1 group is the top level for our 12 & under age group swimmers. More advanced racing strategies are taught through pacing and goal sets as well as increasing all training aspects out of the water including goal setting, visualization, nutritional education and strength training.
Minimum Requirements
GOLD: This group is designed for advanced age group swimmers who have developed firm basic swimming proficiencies in all four strokes and area ready to make more of a commitment to the sport. A desire to improve and the willingness to take the steps necessary for competitive progress are expected. Proper stroke technique is emphasized along with speed work, interval training, and aerobic and anaerobic conditioning, along with dry land and stretching, race planning, nutrition, mental attitude, video stroke analysis, and swimmer-coach conferences on goal setting and individual training progressions. These swimmers are willing to train at a higher level than before in order to achieve goals such as achieving 13-14 Florida Age Group Championships (FLAGS), Florida Senior Championships, Southern Sectionals, Zone Championships, and National Age Group Top 10 times.
Minimum Requirements
HIGH SCHOOL TRACK (13-19 YEARS): SENIOR DEVELOPMENT 2: This group is for swimmers who want to improve their stroke technique and/or their conditioning level, but desire a more flexible training environment with less focus on required time commitments. The group’s main goal is to teach proper stroke technique and train on a higher level than one can achieve on their own or by swimming with the area high school teams. Minimum Requirements: • Age: 13 & Over • Skill level will be evaluated by the coach. • Required to attend 3 out of 5 practices per week. SENIOR DEVELOPMENT 1: This group is for swimmers that are ready to make more of a commitment to the sport and seeking to progress to the Senior level. Minimum Requirements: • Skill will be evaluated by the coach. • Must attend 90% of monthly practice and strength and conditioning. • Meet attendance is mandatory and swimmers will be signed up for every session. ****Swimmers will be expected to attend all SouthWest practices during their high school season August to November. Swimmers will be excused from workout for a high school meet only. There will be no exceptions. SENIOR: This group is designed to prepare athletes for competition in Senior Championships, Sectional, Junior Nationals, and other selected meets. Selection to this group is by invitation only and is based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, talent, work ethic, a desire to train and compete, attendance, and a commitment to personal and team excellence. Coaching equally emphasizes conditioning and fundamentals offering the determined swimmer an excellent opportunity to improve. Athletes will compete in local Florida Swimming events, STARS hosted events, and travel meets. Swimmers who meet the prerequisites and choose to enter this group will be presented with a challenging training program geared towards future success. Minimum Requirements • Coaches Discretion • Must attend 95% of monthly practice and strength and conditioning. • Work ethic and attendance taken into serious consideration. • Meet attendance is mandatory and swimmers will be signed up for every session. Swimmers will be automatically signed up for every meet and every session. Please e-mail Coach Mike T for any conflicts. ****Swimmers will be expected to attend all SouthWest practices during their high school season August to November. Swimmers will be excused from workout for a high school meet only. There will be no exceptions |
