The Kennett & Jennersville Area YMCAs Program

 

                                                     

The KJAY Swim Team is a year-round competitive program. The year is divided into two seasons, the short course and long course season. The short course season runs from the beginning of September through the YMCA Short Course Nationals in April for those that qualify. During this time, competitions are held in short course pools, either 25 yards or meters. The short course season begins with practices in September concentrating on stroke technique, and progressing through various training phases as the season progresses. Beginning in late October/ early November KJAY Swimming typically begin their competitive schedule of dual meets and invitational meets.

The long course season starts in April and runs through YMCA Long Course Nationals in August. The Long Course program is aimed at preparing swimmers to compete in a 50 meter pool (however, we practice in a 25 yard or 25 meter pool on site). The KJAY Swim Team participates in YMCA and USA Swimming long course meets.  After YMCA Long Course Nationals, the program takes a break until the next winter season that begins in September.

Our team subscribes to the YMCA of the USA guidelines for competitive swimming and is also a registered member of USA Swimming. Our athletes, who qualify, will be able to compete in dual meets, mini meets, invitational meets, including Winter Classic and the Charlie Hartley meet, as well as, District, State and National competitions. We also participate in a YMCA Championship meet for swimmers who are not yet at a level that qualifies for the YMCA District Championships and beyond.

Practices

  • Our program offers weekly practices. The main focus of regular practice is stroke development, speed and endurance training, and of course fun. Each practice group balances these factors through the VASA trainer, dryland and water training to maximize the development of each swimmer as appropriate for his or her level of experience and commitment. It is our goal to have at least two coaches on deck at all times to ensure that proper attention is given to each and every swimmer and that the safety of all participants is maintained.
  • KJAY Swimming offers several practice groups for swimmers to gain the maximum benefit from each practice session. Practice groups are based on both age and ability; however, in response to the varying ability and experience of our swimmers some swimmers may practice outside of the typical age groupings.   Please refer to the descriptions and practice schedule for time and pre-requisites.  

Meets

  • YMCA Dual Meets
    • The KJAY Swim Team competes in the Penn Del swim league against other local YMCA teams.  The YMCA Dual Meet season begins in late October and continues through the end of January. A dual meet is usually held on a Saturday with home meets at the Kennett Area YMCA pool and away meets at the opponent’s pool.
    • A swimmer will swim against swimmers within his or her age group. The age group for the winter dual meet season is determined by the swimmer’s age on December 1.  The coaching staff will determine what a swimmer will swim in all YMCA Dual meets with the aim of developing well-rounded swimmers in all four strokes.
  • Invitational Meets
    • KJAY also travels to a number of invitational meets, ranging in competitiveness from mini-meets to YMCA National Championships. Invitational meets typically require swimmers to either meet a qualifying time or be below a cut-off time. These meets vary in format, travel time, entry fees, and swimmer qualifications.  Information on invitational meets is distributed throughout the season in the swimmer mailboxes and via email, and they are always optional for individual swimmers.
    • For swimmers wishing to increase their level of competition, the KJAY Swim Team also offers the option of competing in USA meets.   USA meets typically follow a similar format to YMCA invitational meets; however, the field of competition is larger and membership in USA Swimming is required to compete in these meets.
  • Meet Attendance
    • The KJAY swim team swims its meets as a team. 
    • Swimmers will be required to participate in THREE dual meets in order to be on the team.  If your swimmer is not ready to compete we have the Stroke and Conditioning that will allow your swimmer to work on their stroke technique and endurance.  This program will be run by the KJAY coaching staff. 
    • The team earns points for the top finishers in each event. All scores are added for each age group. The team that wins the most age groups wins the meet. One swimmer's attendance at a meet can make a difference!
    • All swimmers must be signed up by Thursday for that weekend's dual meet or they will not be included in the line up.  Swimmers can be signed up at any time on the KJAY website.  Every effort is made by the coaching staff to give each swimmer an opportunity to compete which is why it is so important that the coaches have an accurate account of who will be competing.

Relay Policy

  • Deciding who swims on a relay is certainly not easy. There are several factors which are involved in the decision making process. Relays for YMCA Dual Meets, YMCA League Championships, YMCA Eastern Districts, YMCA East – West Championships, and YMCA Nationals will be decided by the following:
  1. Individual times 
  2. Past performance in meets
  3. Practice habits and positive attitude
  4. The coaches’ decision is final.

 

  

~Updated July 9, 2025.