Des Moines Swimming Federation training groups help each athlete find their own path to developing swimming skills and confidence. Training is tailored to age and ability. Talk to a coach or attend a swim try out session to get a recommendation on the training group that's right for your athlete.

Platinum: 

Elite level training group. USA Swimming Sectional cut required.  Prepares athletes for competitions at the zone, national, and college levels. Platinum athletes hone their competitive edge with challenging swimming and dryland workouts. Required meets include IASI Championships, Sectionals, and USA-Swimming National level events.  Swimmers agree to attend at least 6 of the 8 workouts per week. 

Practices: Workouts are offered 7 days per week. Training duration is 2 hours each session (plus dryland sets).   

Gold:  

Senior level training group for those dedicated to the sport of swimming. 
Emphasis on endurance and racing with constant improvement on stroke technique. Required meets include IASI Championships and DMSF home meets. 

Practices: Workouts are offered 7 days per week. Athletes should attend 5+ workouts per week. Training duration is 2 hours each session (plus dryland sets). 

Blue: 

Pre-Senior level training group.
Blue emphasizes building aerobic capacity as athletes transition from age-group to senior-level training programs. Athletes learn to focus on refining technical aspects as intensity and training frequency increases. Required meets include IASI Championships and DMSF home meets. 

Practices: Workouts are offered 7 days per week. Athletes should attend 4+ workouts per week. Training duration is 1.75 to 2 hours (plus dryland sets). 

Silver: 

Intermediate level training group. 
Silver athletes build strength and technique in each of the four competitive swimming strokes. Athletes focus on the development of their strokes, kicking and body position, and seasonal training patterns. Required meets include IASI Championships and DMSF home meets. 

Practices: 6 workouts per week are offered, athletes should plan to attend 3+ workouts per week.  Training duration is 1.25-1.5 hours (plus light dryland).

Bronze: 

Getting started in competitive swimming.

Bronze athletes learn the fundamentals of all four competitive strokes. This group prepares swimmers to start racing in meets and training on a seasonal basis. 4 to 6 in season meets are offered along with ISI Championship level events (for qualified athletes).  

Practices: 4 workouts are offered per week. Athletes should attend at least 3. Training sessions are 1 hour in duration. Light dryland is included.

Pre-Competitive Group: 

Open to swimmers ages 5+. Super group is a pre-competitive program to learn about the basics of competitive swimming. This is the group to step-up from swimming lessons to learning about training and techniques for racing. Super group athletes work on kicking, drills, proper body position, and other fundamental aspects to enhance their abilities and confidence before moving into the Bronze level training group. 

Practices: 3 days per week, 45 minutes each workout