Saint Joseph Aquatics Group Descriptions

It will be the discretion of the SJA coaching staff to determine if a swimmer is to advance from one group to another during the course of the season. Each swimmer will be evaluated on an on-going basis and placed in a group based on performance.

It is the goal of the Saint Joseph Aquatics Swim Club to offer age- and performance-specific training for all of our athletes geared towards challenging each individual, developing each individual to the best of his or her abilities. The SJA swim groups are designed around four levels with developmentally appropriate expectations at each level. Swimmers may start at any level as designated by the coaches after the trial period. Coaches will make decisions depending on a swimmer's prior experience, skill, background, and age.

If a swimmer is new to SJA, then coaches will use the swimmer's age and previous swim times and experience to establish an initial group in which they will swim during the trial period.  Once the trial period is over, the swimmer will then be placed in the appropriate group based on abilities, determination, and commitment. If a swimmer does change groups after an initial group fee is paid, this will be communicated to the swimmer and parents. The Executive Board will make the appropriate fee structure changes based on that change at the appropriate time. As always, if you have questions please contact your group coach.

Trial Program: New members who are 18 years old and under

  • This is a short-term, two-week trial membership so that swimmers and their parents can try out Saint Joseph Aquatics and decide if it is right for them. If a swimmer does decide to continue with Saint Joseph Aquatics, he or she will be placed in the appropriate practice group based on the coach's assessment.

 

Blue Group: Swimmers aged 6-8, Practice M-TH, 5:30-6:00

  • Athletes in this group are new to competitive, year-round swimming.
  • Athletes must be able to swim at least a 25Y Free and Back. *This is not a learn to swim program
  • Blue swimmers are becoming comfortable with swimming lengths of the pool.
  • Emphasis is on stroke development throughout all practices.
  • This group will teach the swimmer the basics of the four strokes, introduce starts and turns and teach basic lane etiquette.
  • Encouraged to attend 2/week.

Bronze Group: Swimmers aged 8-13, Practice M-TH, 5:30-6:15

  • Swimmers in this group will progress to swim at least four lengths of the pool without stopping for at least    two out of the four strokes.
  • Swimmers are expected to attend 60% of practices and a minimum of three meets throughout the season, with a championship meet counting as one of the three.
  • This group will move quickly in the beginning of the season from learning the four strokes, starts and turns to how to do each of them without getting disqualified in a meet.
  • This group will also begin to grow in distance training and in effort during a workout.
  • League meets are recommended, but USA Swimming meets are encouraged!
  • Enocouraged to attend 3/week.

Silver Group: Swimmers aged 11-15, Practice M-TH, 6:15-7:30

  • Swimmers in this group should know of and be able to swim all 4 strokes, and be proficient at starts and turns.
  • Athletes in this group swim competitively and often have experience on a year-round swim team. 
  • Swimmers in this group are expected to attend 70% of practices (in a month) and a minimum of four meets throughout the season.
  • This group is for the age-group swimmer that is ready to start competing at a higher level.
  • Swimmers in this group will master proper stroke technique, starts, and turns.
  • Swimmers in this group will also learn to self direct interval-based workouts.
  • Coaching focuses in this group will be on technique improvement, racing strategies, racing pace, and mental toughness.
  • Workouts will still be heavily technique-oriented but will physically challenge the swimmer to get in competition shape.
  • League and USA Swimming meets are recommended to begin to show the swimmer what they are capable of achieving, to inspire them to work towards those goals, and to know that they could become a champion within his or her disciplines.
  • Encouraged to attend 3-4/week.

Gold Group: Swimmers aged 13+, Practice M-TH, 6-7:30 p.m

  • Swimmers in this group have qualified for or are working towards a Michigan Junior Olympic qualifying cut or higher.
  • Swimmers in this group are expected to attend 80% of practices and all available USA meets including championship meets.
  • Having learned and mastered the four strokes, starts and turns, swimmers in this group will be physically challenged to reach their highest potential.
  • Swimmers will be learning to master workouts and to compete effectively.
  • Coaching focus will be on perfecting and tweaking techniques for optimum efficiency in the water, race strategies, race paces, and mental toughness to get those goals.
  • Emphasis will be placed on swimmers' setting goals at the beginning of the season and working towards those goals every day in both little and big ways.
  • Encourged to attend 4/week.

* Friday practice for ALL LEVELS will be from 5:15 pm - 6:15 pm with an emphasis on team-building.                   

High School Group:

  • Swimmers in this group are looking to train in the off-season leading up to or following their high school seasons.
  • These individuals are working to better themselves, their stroke technique, their endurance, and future high school swimmers by joining SJA as a high school member.
  • They are expected to be positive role models to the younger SJA community, showcasing: 
    • Hard Work,
    • Self discipline,
    • Positive leadership skills, and
    • Growth mindset.
  • Coaching focus is on perfecting technique, race pace, racing strategies and taking lessons learned from the past high school season to better themselves a little bit every day.

Spring Stroke Clinic: All members 18 and under, typically runs in the month of April for three weeks.

This is a short-term, once-a-year enrollment period. During this time, swimmers and coaches focus on taking lessons learned during the season about where the swimmer needs to improve their strokes, turns, and starts. This knowledge is then transferred to the 3-week training camp to establish good swimming habits and techniques that build on the past season and launch a swimmer into the Summer Long Course Season.

Summer Long Course Season: All members 18 and under, typically runs from the end of Stroke Clinic to mid-August

This is a short season focused on training a swimmer for Long Course meets and seasons. While a majority of practices are held at Saint Joseph High School, SJA also has two practices per a week where swimmers travel to a Long Course meter pool to train. This training allows for a swimmer to learn what it feels like to race in a Long Course pool as it is a very different mental and physical race than Short Course yards. The goal of swimmers who spend time with SJA during the summer is to become recognized on a national and international level, and they work every day to do so.