The Life Time Minnesota Swim Team offers training and practice groups for swimmers of all ages and ability levels. It is the goal of the Life Time Minnesota Swim Team to offer age specific training for all of our athletes geared towards challenging each individual and developing each individual to the best of THEIR abilities. Swimmers are placed into a group after a try-out with the coaching staff. They move up to the next group when the expectations are met AND when the coach suggests that it is time. Age in moving up is a factor, but more so is competence in stroke skills and the ability to handle a larger workload as well as the commitment to attend more practices.
Please call the Aquatics Office at your club of choice to schedule a tryout.
Developmental Team
Kids in the Developmental team are exploring the possibility of competitive swimming. They have completed the Life Time 601 lesson program or some equivalent and want more than 30 or 45 minutes of swimming in a week. They learn the basics of freestyle, and develop a foundation for competitive breaststroke and backstroke, along with the racing turns.
Requirements:
- 25 butterfly with legal finish
- 25 breaststroke with legal finish
- 50 legal backstroke with proper body position and finish on back
- 50 legal freestyle with rhythmic, bilateral breathing
Age: 7-10 years old (possibly younger)
Practice: Up to 2x per week for 45 minutes
Bronze
This is the entry level to the competitive team. They are expected to become proficient in the four swimming strokes. Most of the practice time is specifically aimed at stroke technique with fun sets designed to develop some endurance. One big piece about the Bronze group is the introduction to racing. Sets are designed to start getting swimmers excited about racing! Swimmers in this group are expected to participate in at least one Minnesota Swimming, Inc sanctioned swim meet per season.
Requirements:
- 3 x 50 freestyle on 1:20 interval
- 100 IM on 2:30 interval
- 3 x 50 backstroke on 1:40 interval
- Legally complete a 50 of every race
Age: 7-13 years old
Practice: Up to 4x per week for 1 hour
Silver
Swimmers in the Silver Group continue to work on stroke technique, with the biggest addition to their training being the addition of race strategy. The race strategy becomes important as Silver members are starting to look towards competing more often. A typical practice will run between 1,500 - 2,000 yards and cover every racing stroke and distance (including the 500 yard freestyle).
Requirements:
- 3 x 100 freestyle on 1:50 OR 5 x 100 freestyle on 2:00
- 200 IM on 4:15 OR 3 x 100 im on 2:10
- 100 backstroke on 2:10 OR 2 x 50 backstroke on 1:15
- Racing start
- Understands intervals and reads pace clock
Age: 7-13 years old
Practice: Up to 4x per week for 75 minutes
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Gold
Swimmers in Gold have considerable experience in swim meets. They may swim up to 4,500 yards in a 90-minute practice time and prepare for longer races like the 400 IM, 1000 free, and 200 back, breast, and fly.
Requirements:
- 8 x 100 freestyle on 1:40
Age: 11-18 years old
Practice: Up to 5x per week for 90 minutes for Gold 2
Senior 1
Swimmers are 13 years of age and very highly experienced and motivated to attend meets with the goal of getting faster, with the drive to achieve state champ times. They are expected to manage a practice of 6000 yards and be at 5-6 practices per week. They will do dryland activities beyond the two-hour swim practice and utilize fins, paddles, and snorkels. Swimmers that are 12 years of age may join this group by recommendation from the Head Senior coach (expected to have Champ times already).
Requirements:
- 8 x 100 freestyle on 1:25
Age: 13-18
Practice: Up to 6x per week for 2 hours
College Team (Plymouth and Maple Grove Location Only)
