Our swim team is divided into four groups based on age and experience. In the winter months, Blue and Bronze typically swim at the Walla Walla YMCA while the Silver and Gold groups practice at Whitman College's Harvey Aquatic Center. When the weather warms up, all groups practice outside at the Walla Walla Veterans Memorial Pool.
Tadpoles (Pre-Comp): Our Pre-Comp option is for swimmers who are not quite ready for competition-level swimming because they need a bit more stroke or technique practice. This option is designed ot convert to Blue Group membership once seimmer, family and coach are ready.
Blue: Our Blue program is our entry level, competion-level group of the Walla Walla Swim Club. This group is designed to accept swimmers at the younger ages who are new to swimming and meet the skill requirements above our pre-comp group. **
Bronze: The Bronze group is designed to accept swimmers ages 9-12 who meet the skill requirement for this group. Proficiency in Freestyle, Backstroke and Breaststroke. **
Silver: The Silver group is designed to accept swimmers ages 11-18 who meet the skill requirement for this group. Proficiency in all 4 Strokes, Starts and Turns. **
Gold: The Gold group is our highest training group and is designed to accept middle school and high school aged swimmers who meet the skill requirement for this group. Proficiency in all 4 strokes, Starts and Turns. **
** See specific stroke requirements in Advancement Criteria below.
WWSC GROUP ADVANCEMENT CRITERIA
Please note: This is a list of what swimmers should shoot for as they consider moving up to the next practice group.
Things we will also consider:
1. Maturity. Are they ready mentally? Can they engage without goofing off? Can they handle a bigger workload?
2. Physically: What is their age? What is their endurance like across the 4 strokes?
3. Socially: Will moving them up remove them completely from their friend group? Will waiting a bit so they can move up with a friend help or hinder?
4. Attendance: Do they have good practice attendance? Are they engaging when they’re practice or making excuses for not trying something (also goes to maturity)?
TADPOLE TO BLUE
Able to:
1.Swim 25 yards non-stop freestyle using side breathing.
2.Swim 25 yards non-stop backstroke (tall arms, head back)
3.Swim 25 yards non-stop breaststroke with mostly legal stroke
4.Swim 10 yards butterfly using dolphin kick and arms out of the water most strokes.
5.Ready to listen and engage
BLUE to BRONZE
1. Competitive experience (should have at least 3-4 meets).
2.All 4 strokes legal for 50 yards
3.Able to swim repetitive send offs….reading the pace clock intervals
4.Ready to compete 100 yards in at least 3 strokes (legal strokes)
5.Ready to compete 200 freestyle, try the 100 and 200 IM if ready.
6.Ability to focus and listen
7.Know at least 1-2 stroke drills for each of the 4 strokes
8.Consistent practice and meet attendance.
BRONZE to SILVER (the biggest leap)
1.Competitive experience (6+ meets)
2.Competitive experience legally swimming 100s of all strokes and the 100 and 200 IM
3.Able to set goals and work toward achieving them
4.Great practice and meet attendance
5.Independently able to read pace clock and make send offs
6.Ability to make repetitive send offs without losing focus.
7.Ability to communicate with coaches about technique and send offs
8.Maturity: Understands the importance of listening attentively during instruction
9.CONSISTENT: Regular meet and practice attendance.
10.Under 40 seconds in the 50 freestyle
11. At least 10 years old (rare exceptions may occur as per coach/parent/athlete discussion).
12. IES CHAMPS qualifying times or very close to one.
SILVER to GOLD (all of the above lists plus…)
1. Competitive experience (10+ meets)
2.IES champs qualifying time in at least 5 events
3.At least 13 years of age
4.Focusing on larger qualifying meets: WA Open, Zones, Sectionals…etc. and setting goals to make cuts.
5. TEAM oriented. Encouraging of teammates and showing leadership abilities (leading lane some sets, getting in on time, being on time to practice, encouraging others to be punctual and get into the water on time…etc.).
6.Ability to independently identify where a stroke feels “off” and communicate with coaches to get back on track.
7.Communicating any known practice absences ahead of time.
8.Maturity: Ability to engage and listen.
9.Compete the 500 free, 200 IM, 200s of all strokes, 1500/1650 free, 400 IM…etc.
10. Leadership abilities
11.Excellent practice and meet attendance.
PACE CLOCK EXPECTATIONS (not all inclusive, but basics for each group)
BLUE
- Learning about the pace clock, and able to count 5, 10, 15 seconds rest.
- Able to know where the minute and 30 second marks are.
BRONZE
- Able to count seconds rest in multiples of 5 (5, 10, 15, 20…etc).
- Independently able to know when they left the wall (on the top, on the 10….etc.) and what time they came back into the wall. LOOK AT THE CLOCK FIRST EVERY TIME YOU TOUCH THE WALL.
- Able to make send offs on 1:00, 1:10…etc. and knowing when they leave for the next interval. Should be working toward doing this independently.
SILVER
- All of the above.
- Also: Reading pace clock in multiples of 1 (1, 2, 3, ….etc.).
- Able to answer questions: When did you leave the wall? How long did that 50, 100….etc. take? (Should know their times coming into the walls)
- Able to count send offs 1:00 and in multiples of 5 .
- Should be able to do easily: 10x 100, or 10x50 on a send off and know how many seconds rest they got between intervals.
- Learning to descend and ascend intervals (get less and more rest).
GOLD
- All the above
- Able to descend and ascend throughout intervals
- Able to name send offs they’re easily able to make, and struggle to make across strokes and distances.
- Able to keep track of their times on longer swims (300s and up).
- Able to add and subtract easily for place in line leaving the wall to get accurate time.
- Able to announce time swum on an interval when asked.
