Practice Groups
The RYD Swim Team is broken into ability based practice groups. Please see the below explanation of the practice groups:

Senior – The senior group is for high school age swimmers. There will be a heavy emphasis on training while continuing to develop and refine stroke mechanics and skills. At the senior level, the training will be more event specific, with more emphasis on race pace training. Swimmers are encouraged to attend at least five practices per week.

Pre-Senior – The pre senior group is for middle school aged swimmers who have mastered the basic fundamentals of each stroke and are physically and mentally prepared for more rigorous training. Swimmers will spend their ninety minute long practices refining their technique, maximizing speed, and maintaining endurance. Practices are extremely rigorous, and swimmers must be able to complete these sets without stopping.  It is encouraged that swimmers attend four practices per week in the Pre-Senior group.

Age Group 2- The Age Group 2 level is for elementary and middle school aged swimmers that are proficient in all strokes, starts, and turns, and have shown the ability to take on longer and more rigorous practices. Swimmers will spend their ninety minute long practices continuing to hone racing techniques and building endurance. Practices will include rigorous sets, and swimmers must be able to fully complete those sets without stopping. It is encouraged that swimmers attend three practices per week in the Age Group level.

Age Group 1– The Age Group 1 level is for elementary and middle school aged swimmers that are proficient in all strokes, starts, and turns. Swimmers will spend their seventy five minute long practices developing racing techniques and building endurance. The coaches will place the emphasis on stroke development and learning in this group, with some aerobic individual medley work. Skills and drills will be worked on at all practices and basic race strategies will begin to be taught. It is encouraged that swimmers attend three practices per week in the Age Group level.

Discovery – So, you have taken swim lessons or participated on a recreational team? Now it is time to discover the world of competitive swimming! Swimmers will spend their one-hour long swim team practices refining stroke technique and learning about racing basics. This group is appropriate for swimmers who either: a) have swam on a rec team in the past, or b) are confident in their ability to legally swim at least two of the four strokes

*The Head Coach has the final decision on all practice group placements.

 Junior Dolphins offer two levels of swimming opportunities for athletes with a disability who may wish to pursue the sport of swimming to its highest levels. Swimmers from these classes may be identified to move into competitive programs, if they wish to go further in the sport, where there are many opportunities to take the athlete to the highest levels of competit

Training Equipment
Our swimmers must have specific training equipment for each group. Team equipment can be conveniently purchased through our team vendor, Swimville USA, or via the links below.

ALL SWIMMERS are required to bring a water bottle to each practice with water only. Swimmers are not to bring energy drinks, soft drinks, or smoothies to drink during practice. It is incredibly important to hydrate throughout the duration of a swimmers' workout! The pool deck and pool both get very hot, and if a swimmer does not have water they may not be permitted to practice.

In swimming, training requires different tools to grow and develop technique.  Different groups require different equipment.  Outlined below are the essentials that swimmers need to become the best athlete possible.  All gear purchased should be labeled with your swimmer's name. Any materials marked with an asterisk, we have extras in limited quantities to borrow if needed. 

Discovery: 

        -Goggles: 

             Recommended brand: JR Speedo Vanquisher  

        -Mesh Bag:

             Recommended brand: Sporti 

        -Fins:

                Recommended brand: Sporti Floating Fins  

        -Kick Board*:

            Recommended brand: Any

Age Group:

         -Goggles: 

             Recommended brand: Speedo Vanquisher (available in Jr size)

        -Mesh Bag:

             Recommended brand: Sporti 

-Fins:

                Recommended brand: Sporti Floating Fins  

        -Pull Buoy*:

                 Recommended brand:Sporti Pull Buoy (available in Jr size)

        -Kick Board*:

            Recommended brand: Any

Pre Senior:

         -Goggles: 

             Recommended brand: Speedo Vanquisher or Speedo Speed Socket 

*Coach Mary will be REQUIRING all Pre-Seniors purchase competition-grade goggles, as recreational goggles do not hold up and are not suitable for our level of practice. If you have questions, please email her at [email protected]

        -Mesh Bag:

             Recommended brand: Sporti 

-Fins:

             Recommended brand: Sporti Floating Fins or Arena Powerfin orTritan 

        -Paddles*:

             Recommended brand: Finis Agility Paddle (Small or Medium)  

        -Pull Buoy*:

             Recommended brand:Sporti Pull Buoy 

        -Kick Board*:

            Recommended brand: Any

Senior:

         -Goggles: 

             Recommended brand: Speedo Speed Socket or Speedo Vanquisher 

        -Mesh Bag:

             Recommended brand: Sporti 

-Fins:

             Recommended brand: Arena Powerfin or Tritan Silicone 

-Snorkel:

  Recommended brand: Finis Snorkel

    (if new to snorkel use and/or cannot flip turn with one, add on Finis Snorkel DRY TOP)     

          -Paddles*:

             Recommended brand: Finis Agility Paddle (Small or Medium)  

        -Pull Buoy*:

     Recommended brand:Sporti Pull Buoy   

-Tempo Trainer*

     Recommended brand:Finis Tempo Trainer Pro  

        -Kick Board*:

            Recommended brand: Any