GTSA Group Descriptions

Greater Tampa Swim Association offers training and practice groups for swimmers of all ages and ability levels. It is the goal of the Greater Tampa Swim Association to offer age specific training for all of our athletes geared towards challenging each individual and developing each individual to the best of THEIR abilities.

Our goal is to develop and instill sportsmanship, dedication, and physical fitness by providing a family oriented program of instruction, training and competition.

Please call us at 813-254-5012 to schedule a tryout, or Click Here to send us an email request for more information.

 
Dolphin Group
This group is composed of the newest competitive swimmers in the GTSA program. An athlete will need to swim 25 yards free and back to enter this group. The main emphasis of this group is teaching the basic fundamentals of the competitive strokes. This consists of kicking, drilling, and the development of the skills necessary for competitive swimming. Athletes in this group focus mainly on learning four legal competitive strokes, learning starts and turn techniques and having fun.

Entry Skills: 25 yard Freestyle & 25 yard Backstroke

Practice Info: 45 minute workouts, offered 4 days a week

Swim Meet Recommendation: Attend GTSA mini meets

General Info: This group will learn the fundamentals of competitive swimming - the basics of all 4 competitive strokes, kicking, drilling, starts and turns. It is the coaches discretion to move swimmers to the next level while following assessment guidelines.

The next level of GTSA’s group structure is our “Ribbon Groups.” Swimmers will progress through White, Red, and then to Blue.  As they progress, groups skill development will change as will practice and meet attendance requirements.

 

 
White Group
From the Dolphin group, athletes move into the White group and continue to focus on learning four legal competitive strokes, perfecting starts and turn techniques and having fun. Drill work and kicking will continue to make up a large portion of this group; however, swimming sets will be added with the pace clock. Consistent practice attendance is necessary for continued improvement and advancement to the next group. Competing at swim meets is highly encouraged in the White Group.

Entry Skills: 25 yard Freestyle, 25 yard Backstroke, 12.5 breaststroke and 3 strokes of butterfly

 

Practice Info: 1 hour practice, offered 4 times a week

 

Swim Meet Requirements: attend GTSA mini meets and GTSA swim meets (April & October meet). Other swim meets are strongly encouraged.

 

General Info: Swimmers will continue to learn and strengthen the fundamentals of competitive swimming. They are introduced to practice sets while using a pace clock and learn to use fins & snorkels. It is the coaches discretion to move swimmers to the next level while following assessment guidelines.

 

 
Red Group
From the White group, athletes move into the Red group and continue to focus on learning four legal competitive strokes, perfecting starts and turn techniques and having fun. Drill work and kicking will continue to make up a large portion of this group, but even more sets will be introduced into their training. It is strongly encouraged to swim at least 1 meet per quarter (3 months) in the Red Group.

Entry Skills: 50 yard Freestyle, 50 yard Backstroke, 25 yard Breaststroke & 12.5 yard Butterfly with a comprehension of each stroke and basic knowledge of starts & turns. 

 

Practice Info: 1 hour practices, offered 5 times a week

 

Swim Meet Requirements: at least 1 meet per quarter (3 months) plus GTSA swim meets (April & October). Other swim meets are strongly encouraged.

 

General Info: Building on skills learned in the white group, swimmers will continue to strengthen and learn to legally perform the 4 competitive strokes. Each practice is made up of sets using the pace clock, while focusing on drilling and kicking to become stronger swimmers. It is the coaches discretion to move swimmers to the next level while following assessment guidelines.

 

 
Blue Group
From the Red group, athletes move into our final “ribbon group” the Blue group. At this point we are perfecting the four competitive strokes, improving starts and turn techniques and having fun. Drill work and kicking will continue to make up a large portion of this group, but even more challenging sets will be introduced into their training. A minimum of 65% practice attendance, as well as participation in 2 meets per quarter (3 months) is expected in the Blue Group.
Entry Skills: 50 Freestyle, 50 Backstroke, 25 Breaststroke & 25 yard Butterfly with the ability to complete a legal turns for each stroke

Practice Info: 1 hour practices, offered 5 times a week. Minimum of 65% attendance is required.

Swim Meet Requirements: 2 swim meets per quarter (3 months) plus GTSA swim meets (April & October). Other meets are strongly encouraged.

 

General Info: The 4 competitive strokes become proficient with a focus on legal turns for each stroke. Challenging sets will be introduced to begin building competitive endurance. It is the coaches discretion to move swimmers to the next level while following assessment guidelines.

From the “Ribbon Groups” swimmers will progress into our “Medal Groups.”  At this point athletes will need to start deciding where they plan to take their swimming. From Bronze swimmers will be able to progress to Silver and then Gold, or to Silver 1 and then Senior.  Practice and meet attendance requirements become a big part of these groups requirements.
 
Bronze Group
The primary goal of this group is to teach the same skills and training as the Blue Group while increasing the physical demands placed upon the swimmers. Athletes in this group are 9 & older. This group expands on their out of water dry land training and learn more advanced and complex drills to improve on their swimming technique. The swimmers will need to know how to use a pace clock with some guidance from the coaches as interval training is an important aspect of this group. A practice attendance percentage of at least 70%  and 90% attendance at meets is expected in this group!  Before a swimmer is considered to move to the next group there are exit requirements that the swimmer will need to accomplish before being accepted to the next group.

 

 
Silver Group
The primary goal of this group is to expand on the skills and training from the Bronze Group while increasing the physical demands placed upon the swimmers. Athletes in this group are 11 & older. The swimmers will need to know how to use a pace clock as interval training is an important aspect of this group. Workouts in this group may be given in verbal and/or visual format.  A practice attendance percentage of at least 75% and 100% attendance at meets is expected in this group! Swimmers not meeting these requirements will be moved to Silver 1.  Before a swimmer is considered to move to the next group there are exit requirements that the swimmer will need to accomplish before being accepted to the next group.

 

 
Silver 1 Group
This group consists of mostly middle school aged swimmers who would like to take their swimming more on the Senior track rather than National Group. They will work on very similar skills to Silver, but have less expectations in regards to commitment level. If commitment changes the coach will have the discretion to move a swimmer from Silver 1 into Silver. There is no practice or meet attendance requirements in this group!

 

 
Gold Group
Minimum age for entry into this group is 11 years old. Athletes entering this group must display a desire to begin training on a more committed basis. Competition at swim meets is required in this group. Training takes precedence over technique work for the first time in the athlete’s development. This group expandson their out of water dryland training and learn more advanced or complex drills to improve on their swimming technique. A practice attendance percentage of at least 80%, and 100% attendance at meets is expected in this group!  Before a swimmer is considered to move to the next group there are exit requirements that the swimmer will need to accomplish before being accepted to the next group.
The next level of GTSA’s group structure is our “Senior & National Groups.” Swimmers will be placed in these groups as they progress.

 

 
Senior Group
The group will offer a Year-Round Training Program for swimmers wishing to prepare for any upcoming swim season. Senior is a bridge to competitive swimming that will consist of training; which will focus on drills, technique, and conditioning for any future swimming requirements. This group will have no attendance requirement.

 

 
National Group
This is the highest level of training at GTSA. Athletes entering the Senior Elite group must display a strong desire to perform at the highest level they are capable of training. Training is geared towards individual talents, although a strong aerobic endurance factor is present. Swimmers in this squad are focused on maximizing their training for the purpose of competing at the highest levels of swimming including state, regional, and national competitions. The senior group will incorporate strength training, dry land, goal setting, and personal accountability as well as use the most advanced methods of swimming technique and training to accomplish team and individual goals. A practice attendance percentage of at least 90%, and 100% attendance at meets is expected in this group!  If a swimmer does not meet the required practice attendance they will be removed from the group!

The GTSA coaching staff has the final say when swimmers move up and to what group. An Athlete’s age, experience, goals, and work ethic will be evaluated, not just their best times.