Our Swim Team Mission:

Having fun, Swimming Fast,

and Developing Community Leaders.

The Great Falls Swim Team Rapids  offers training and practice groups for swimmers of all ages and ability levels. It is the goal of the Great Falls Swim Team Rapids  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.

Please contact Coach Patrick King at [email protected] for more information.

 

Criteria, Placement & Advancement to the next practice group

These are the Great Falls Swim Team Rapids list of practice groups and requirements to be able to move up to the next group.  As swimmers progress their Coach will determine when they are allowed to move into more advanced training groups. Swimmers are placed into training groups according to each group’s criteria and Coach’s recommendations (not parents or swimmers).  Below is a basic description of criteria and requirements for each group.

All Groups

  • Swimmers must be ON TIME unless otherwise communicated with their coach.

  • Must have endurance to swim the full duration of that groups practice.

  • MUST demonstrate the Maturity, Desire, and Swimming Technique before being able to move onto the next group!

Pre-Team

  • MUST be able to do a 25 of Freestyle and a 25 of Backstroke

  • MUST listen to instructions and respect everyone around them

Bronze

  • Must be able to swim a 50 of Freestyle and a 50 of Backstroke uninterrupted

  • Must be able to complete a 25 of Butterfly and a 25 of Breaststroke

  • Minimum 6 years old

Silver 2

  • Knowledge and willingness to swim all 4 strokes

  • Minimum 7 years old

  • Must be able to complete 100s of Freestyle and Backstroke along with a 50 of Breaststroke and a 25 of Butterfly.

  • These swimmers must also demonstrate working knowledge of swim drills.

Silver 1

  • Must be able to legally complete a test set of 5x50s Free @ :50, 5x50s Back @ 1:00 and a 100 IM @ 2:00

  • Minimum 9 years old

Gold

  • Must be able to complete a test set of 10x100’s Free @ 1:35 and 10x100s IM @ 1:55

  • Must be working towards state qualifying times, have understanding of intervals and timing within a practice set, and must have swimming goals mapped out.

  • Minimum age 12 years old

Senior

  • This is our group designed for High Schoolers.

  • They will be working on goal setting, dryland, technique, and racing.

  • Swimmers MUST be in High School for this group.

Sectionals

  • This is our newest group of the team designed for swimmers going to Northwest Age Group Regionals/Senior Sectionals/Zones
  • Must be in High School
  • Must have USA Motivational AA times for 15-16 year olds.

 

Criteria Explanation

 

 

These criteria were developed carefully and critically for several reasons.  First, it is important to have set standards that must be achieved before a swimmer moves to the next level.  This will ensure his/her success at the new level and sets an equal playing field for everyone. Second, when swimmers know what they need to achieve in order to progress in the program they have an easier time setting goals for themselves.  Third, it is a goal of the program that each swimmer reaches his/her full potential through technique training and enjoyment of the sport. Swimmers may be promoted to the next training group at any time during the season and ultimately the COACH has the final say as to when a swimmer is ready for the next level.  An important point to remember is that the Coaches want to insure the success of each swimmer as they move from one practice group to another.  It is not advisable to move a swimmer up to the next level when that swimmer is not ready, regardless of mastering the above outlined skill requirements.