Life Time Swim Team – Houston (LIFE)
Team Structure
Developmental 1/2
This level, open to swimmers 4-9 years of age, is the first level of the competitive swim team. Eligible candidates will need to have passed the 601 Skills or be able to swim 50 yards of Freestyle and Backstroke, as well as posses an understanding of Butterfly and Breaststroke.
Pre-Team will be introduced to the major skill components that make up the four competitive strokes, seven competitive turns, three competitive starts and four competitive finishes. They will learn the mechanics of a competitive swim team with the primary purpose of preparing swimmers for the Bronze level.
Practice sessions will focus on technique through a series of stroke and turn progressions. In addition to improving the technical side of their strokes, there will be challenge sets during each practice designed to build overall endurance through kicking and timed endurance swims.
Age Requirement: 4-9 years-old
Automatic Entry Standard:
Nickel / Developmental Swim Team
Level One & Level Two (All four checks will go to Nickel and two to three checks in each will go to Pre-Team.)
Try-Out
50 Freestyle with flip turn
50 Backstroke with flip turn
25-50 Butterfly with open turn
25-50 Breaststroke with open turn
Look for the following items while the above try-out is being completed.
Bolded items are must haves.
A. Butterfly ____/4 (Level One: 2/4, Level Two: 4/4)
Swims 25 yard/meter Legal Butterfly (occasional flutter Kick ok)
Streamline dolphin kick 10 yards underwater off wall
Legal Finish: 2 hand touch
Open Turn with dolphin off wall
B. Breaststroke ___/4 (Level One: 2/4, Level Two: 4/4)
Swims 25 yard/meter Legal Breaststroke (occasional flutter/scissor kick ok) Legal Underwater Pullout
Legal Finish: 2 hand touch
Open Turn with underwater pull out
C. Backstroke ___/4 (Level One: 2/4, Level Two: 4/4)
50 yard/meter legal backstroke with good body position
Streamline dolphin kick 10 yards underwater off wall
Flip Turns
Finishes at wall on back
D. Freestyle ___/4 (Level One: 2/4, Level Two: 4/4)
50 yard/meter legal Freestyle
Streamline dolphin kick 10 yards underwater off wall
Rhythmic, Bilateral/Rotary Breathing
Flip Turns
E. Other ___/2 (Level Two Only & Site by Site Basis)
Backstroke Start o Developmental 1 = Pushes off on Back in Streamline o Developmental 2 = Racing Start
Front Start o Sitting Dive o Kneeling Dive o Straddle Dive o Racing Start
Number of Weekly Pool Sessions Offered: 2 (45 minutes/practice)
Level of Competition Requirements: No meets
Cost: $100/110/month Ratio: 1:8
Pre-Team Practice Schedule:
*Varies by location; see "Locations" tab at the top for practice times at each location.
Bronze
This level, open to swimmers 6-12 years of age, is the second level of the competitive swim team. Eligible candidates should be able to swim a 100-yard Individual Medley with legal strokes and turns as well as a 200-yard Freestyle.
Bronze will have a two-fold focus: to continue refining the major skill components of each stroke, turn and finish, and to develop swimming endurance. In addition, swimmers will participate in a basic dry-land training program designed to build general body strength, to enhance technique, and to improve overall flexibility. The emphasis with this group is to provide swimmers with the technique necessary to succeed at a higher level and to prepare swimmers for the Silver group.
Pool sessions will include a focus on technique through a series of stroke and turn progressions. In addition to focusing on improving the technical side of their strokes, there will be challenge sets during each practice designed to build overall endurance through kicking and timed endurance swims.
Age: 6-12 years-old
Automatic Entry Standard: 200m easy warm-up
3 X 50m Freestyle @ 1:20 interval
1 X 50m Breaststroke as recovery
100m Individual Medley @ 2:30 interval
1 X 50m Breaststroke as recovery
3 X 50m Backstroke @ 1:40 interval
1 X 50m Butterfly
USAS Dive Progression
Number of Weekly Pool Sessions Offered: 3 (60 minutes/practice)
Level of Competition Requirements : 1 meet every 2 months
Cost: $130/month Ratio: 1:15
Bronze Practice Schedule:
*Varies by location; see "Locations" tab at the top for practice times at each location.
Silver
This level, open to swimmers 8-14 years of age, is the third level of the competitive swim team. Eligible candidates should be able to swim a 200-yard Individual Medley with legal strokes and have at least 2 BB Time Standards in two different strokes. These time standards are attached.
Silver will have a two-fold focus: to provide swimmers with both the technical and the physical fitness necessary to compete at the Texas Regional level and beyond. In addition to an extensive in-water program, Silver will offer a year-round dry-land training program. This program is designed to build general and specific swimming strength, enhance technique, to prevent injuries and to improve overall flexibility.
The emphasis with the Silver group will be to provide swimmers aerobic conditioning while holding proper technique throughout a challenge set. The primary purpose of this group is to prepare swimmers for the Gold Level.
Pool sessions will include low, medium and high intensity endurance training, technical-sprint sets and quality kick sets. Sessions will also focus on building endurance and speed. There will be a continued emphasis put on technique through a series of stroke and turn progressions. Each challenge set will be driven by quality swimming versus the quantity of the swim.
Age: 8-14 years-old
Automatic Entry Standard: 300m easy warm-up
3 X 100m Freestyle @ 1:50 -OR- 5 X 100m Freestyle @ 2:00
200m Individual Medley @ 4:15 -OR- 3 X 100m Individual Medley @ 2:10
1 X 100m Backstroke @ 2:10 -OR- 2 X 50m Backstroke @ 1:15
USAS Racing Start
Reads Pace Clock
Understand Intervals
Number of Weekly Pool Sessions Offered: 4 (90 minutes/practice)
Level of Competition Requirements : 1 meet a month
Cost: $150 month Ratio: 1:15
Silver Practice Schedule:
*Varies by location; see "Locations" tab at the top for practice times at each location.
Gold/ Senior
This level, open to swimmers 13-18 years of age, is the fourth level of the competitive swim team. Eligible candidates will have at least two A Time Standards in two different strokes as well as all B Times throughout.
Gold/Senior will have a two-fold focus: to provide swimmers with both the technical and the physical fitness necessary to compete at the Texas State level and beyond. In addition to an extensive in-water program, Gold will offer a year-round advanced dry-land training program. This program is designed to build general and specific swimming strength, to enhance technique, to prevent injuries and to improve overall flexibility. The dry-land training program is an integral part of the Gold level curriculum.
The main point of emphasis with the Gold group will be improve endurance, refine stroke skill and gain competitive experience. As this is the 2nd most advanced group of the swim team, the focus shifts from an aerobic base to faster swimming in practice while holding proper stroke technique.
Pool sessions will include low, medium and high intensity endurance training, technical-sprint sets and quality kick sets. Sessions will also focus on building endurance and speed. There will be a continued emphasis put on technique through a series of stroke and turn progressions. Each challenge set will be driven by quality swimming versus the quantity of the swim.
*A mental skills program and nutritional program may be added to the Gold Level curriculum.
Age: Gold/ 13-18 years-old Senior/ 15-18 years-old
Automatic Entry Standard: Gold: 300m easy warm-up
Demonstrates two of the following:
1 X 100m Backstroke @ 1:45
1 X 100m Butterfly @ 1:35
1 X 100m Breaststroke @ 2:00
1 X 100 Freestyle @ 1:20
400m Individual Medley @ 8:00
Senior: Demonstrate one of the following:
400m Individual Medley @ 6:45
400m Freestyle @ 6:00
Demonstrates the following:
100m Butterfly @ 1:30
100m Backstroke @ 1:30
100m Breaststroke @ 1:40
100m Freestyle @ 1:15
Number of Weekly Pool Sessions Offered: 5/ Gold 1hr 45 min and Sr. 2 hrs.
Level of Competition Requirements : 1 meet a month
Cost: $175 month / $200 month Ratio: 1:15
Gold Practice Schedule:
*Varies by location; see "Locations" tab at the top for practice times at each location.
Please note that a swimmers are placed into the group that the Coaches feels is best for the individual swimmer. This is at the Coaches discretion and may change based on what the Coach feels best for the individual swimmer and the group as well.
