Great Waves Aquatics Groups
Coaches will place your swimmer into the below groups, this is a progressive process, that will be thoughtful and in the teams best interest.
National Group: This group is our highest level. To become a National Level Swimmer.. you must achieve a USA Sectional Cut (this is considered a "National" Meet). You are expected to dedicate yourself to your craft, by attending 80% of practices per season, set goals of improvement, being a well rounded swimmer, person, team mate and member of the community. IT does not stop with swimming. National Level Swimmers represent Great Waves Aquatics on a National, State, and Local Level. They are expected to follow team rules, mentor our younger swimmers, dedicate themselves to self and team improvement, as well as becoming an intregual part of their community, school and family. This group is expected to train 6 days a week, sometimes do double practices (summer) as well as lift with our Strength Coach. This group is also expected to help mentor, teach and guide our younger swimmers to become the next generation of "Great Waves". This group will swim 5,000-6,000 yards each practice, with focus on stroke mechanics, stroke drills, efficiency, race strategies, willingness to make the changes to perform at peak level, and on their own time: continue work on strength and conditioning. This group will swim from day 1 to the end of the season with focus and energy into the selected meets that coaches select and deem suitable. This group will also continue into the summer long course season (there will be break from mid March-April) again with focus on the above and summer long course meets.
Great Group: This group ages 12-18, who swim at least 2 sesons a year, train with competition and bettering their swimming goals in mind, and ultimatly the goal of being a USA Sectional Team Qualifier, or a OHSAA State Qualifer as a goal. Usually these swimmers are committed to swimming 2 hours a day for 4-6 days a week. Proficient in all four strokes, and also can swim any event on the USA docket (mile, 1000, 400 IM, 200s stroke etc.). This group will swim 5,000-6,000 yards each practice, with focus on stroke mechanics, stroke drills, efficiency, race strategies, willingness to make the changes to perform at peak level, and on their own time: continue work on strength and conditioning. This group will swim from day 1 to the end of the season with focus and energy into the selected meets that coaches select and deem suitable. This group will also continue into the summer long course season (there will be break from mid March-April) again with focus on the above and summer long course meets. This group usually qualifies for Age Group or Senior Champs, meaning BB-AAAA swimmers. This group is encouraged to start our Dryland Program with our Strength Coach.
Waves Group: This is our third tier group. This group will swim 4 days a week. This group again will focus on stroke mechanics, stroke drills, efficiency, race strategies, willingness to make the changes to perform at peak level, and on their own time research swimming and how to become the best swimmer they can be. Proficient in all four strokes, and also can swim most events on the USA docket (500 free, 200 IM, 100s stroke etc.) This group will swim between 2,000-4,500 yards per practice. Waves Group is starting to consider themselves swimmers, and dedicating more time to improving and climbing the ladder to become the best swimmer they can. Starting to set goals, learn about being a better team mate, better themselves, values and character .
Tidal Wave Group: This group is our introductory or beginner group. FUN + EFFICIENCY are the focus. This group will train 2 times per week, with focus on stroke technique, learning how to race, starts, turns and everything that will set them up for a great swimming future. But most importantly, this group will learn to love swimming: the training, racing, and being part of a team (something higher than individual). This group ranges from 5-8 years old. This group also learns from our coaches but also older more experienced swimmers, what it means to be a Great Wave.
Practice Sites: Univeristy School, Euclid, Spire or Perry HS (depending on the season). Please see above for descriptions.
Meets: Each group will do 1-2 meets per month (which the coaches will pick). Meets vary: for instance some have qualifying times, some you can pick events, some coaches will pick events: PLEASE READ MEET INFO : this will have Date, Location, Prices, Registration Deadline, etc. We may travel for meets outside of the Cleveland Area.
GWA offers 4 seasons :
Fall: Sept + Oct
WInter: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, March (partial)
Spring: April + May
Summer: June + July
We set up the practice + meet schedules to allow families to focus on family time as well as getting the most out of our Great Waves Aquatics. (for Great + National Level swimmers: the ideal time for you to vacation is Spring Break, + August)
