Athlete Move-up Policy

Purpose

The MAKOS organization and its National Governing Bodies embrace the ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT PRINCIPLES that allow American youth to utilize sport as a path toward an active and healthy lifestyle, while creating opportunities for athletes to maximize their full potential. These five key principles include:

  • General access to create OPPORTUNITY for all athletes

  • Developmentally appropriate activities that emphasize MOTOR AND FOUNDATIONAL skills

  • Multi-sport or multi-activity participation (i.e. cross-training)

  • Fun, engaging and PROGRESSIVELY CHALLENGING atmosphere

  • Quality coaching at all age levels

 

Basic Philosophy

In order to protect the swimmer’s physiological, mental, and emotional well-being and the integrity of the next group; our coaches will take into consideration the following criteria when considering a swimmer for the next higher group:

1) Participation: A swimmer should be attending the recommended or required number of practices listed per training group. When in practice the swimmer should be:

a) Present, engaged and coachable.

b) Actively participating in all facets of the daily workout.

c) Having fun during practice.

2) Attitude: A swimmer should have an overall positive attitude at practice, in the locker room, and while on deck. Spreading negativity, gossiping, bullying, and not being a team player shows the coach you that are not mentally ready or do not have the maturity to take on the higher expectations in of the next group. These are also violations of our code of conduct.

3) Level of swimming: A swimmer should be able to meet the expectations of daily workouts and levels of technique for their group to ensure proper development towards the goal of the reaching next level.

4) Technique: Technique is the most important items for physical development and future success. Moving a swimmer to the next group before the swimmer has the technique down, may cause injury. It also makes it harder to break the incorrect muscle memory, ultimately compromising the swimmer’s future success in the sport.

5) Age / Peer group: Our groups have been structured to provide athletes an opportunity to participate with their peers. Because we are an ability based club, we understand some athletes in the groups may be on the outside ages of the majority. For instance, a 13-14 year-old in Silver.

 

Transparency

NSAC believes move ups should not be a surprise to a swimmer. The process should be laid out and a clear plan to move to the next level developed for each athlete. If you have questions about the next level or where the swimmer is in the current plan, it is best to have an in-person conversation with the coach. We highly recommend scheduling time OFF DECK to have these discussions. Please follow the Order of Communication below:

1) Athlete to Lead Coach – in person

2) Parent to Lead Coach – email

3) Parent to Lead Coach – in person

4) Lead Coach to Asst. Head Coach or Head Coach – In person

 

Evaluation Periods

To prevent disruption of the training plans for each group, NSAC has set up specific times of the year coaches will look at moving a swimmer up.

1) At the beginning of each session (short course and long course). There will be a 2 week period at the beginning of each session where the coaches will evaluate and communicate to the swimmers their performance plans which include swimmer’s goals, and a plan for moving up.

2) When an athlete comes back from High School season.

a) The athlete will come back to the group they left before the high school season for a period of approximately one month to enable coaches to re-evaluate the athlete.

b) After the evaluation period the coach will talk with the athlete and let them know if they are moving up. If they are not moving up, the coach will outline the items the swimmer needs to work on before being considered for moving up.

c) High school season performance will not be taken into account for NSAC groups.

 

Probationary Period

For 2 weeks after the swimmer has moved into the next group, they will be in the group as a probationary athlete. This time is to ensure the athlete and the coach is in agreement the next group is right for them. If, at this time, it is deemed the athlete is not ready for the move; the coach will have a meeting with the athlete to discuss the items the athlete will need to work on in their original group and when they will consider them for a move up.

 

Training Standards

To be considered for move ups the athlete should be able to complete following standards:

 

Move Up Test Sets

Bronze

Requirements to Join

  • 50 yds FR

  • 25 yds NFR

Expectations while in Bronze

  • Recommended attendance 3 of 4 practices.

  • Demonstration of coachability.

  • Willingness to learn and have fun.

  • Minimum 18 months of participation.

  • Attendance at mini meets is strongly encouraged.

  • Participation in NSAC hosted meets is required.

  • Participation in championship meets is recommended.

  • Ages 6-12

Goals while in Bronze

  • Basic Competitive Swimming Etiquette.

  • Learn and Compete – All four strokes and all turns.

  • Learn Fundamentals of basic dryland exercises.

  • The athlete understands that they are a part of a team and has respect for their teammates.

  • The athlete listens to recommendations from the coach and tries to make appropriate changes.

  • The athlete understands appropriate behavior and the consequences of breaking the rules.

  • Begins to read a pace clock.

  • The athlete communicates with their coach.

 

Silver

Requirements to Join

  • 3 x 100 IM @ 2:30

  • 3 x 100 FR @ 2:00

  • 6 x 50 K FR @ 1:15

  • 6 x 50 F NFR @ 1:30

  • Competes in all 50s and either 100FR or 100IM

Expectations while in Silver

  • Recommended attendance 4 of 5 practices.

  • Demonstration of coachability.

  • Willingness to learn and have fun.

  • Minimum 12 months participation.

  • Participation in mini meets is strongly encouraged.

  • Participation in NSAC-hosted meets is required

  • Participation in championship meets is recommended.

  • Ages 9-13

Goals while in Silver

  • Continuing to learn strokes and turns.

  • The athlete understands maturation, physical development, nutrition: begins to understand relationship between them; and accepts individual differences in physical size within their age group i.e. 10u, 11-12, 13-14, 15 & over.

  • The athlete demonstrates a higher level understanding of sportsmanship-championship behavior

  • The athlete talks to their coach IMMEDIATELY before and after their races.

  • The athlete knows meet procedures, including how to use and read a heat sheet.

  • The athlete understands the role of failure and the importance of learning from one’s mistakes; understands failure is a part of long-term success.

  • Has a general understanding of the effect that negative self-talk plays in performance. (GARBAGE IN equals GARBAGE OUT)

  • The athlete understands the value of setting goals and the process for achieving those goals.

  • The athlete regularly communicates with their coach.

 

Gold

Requirements to Join

  • 6 x 100 IM @ 2:00 – hold under 1:50

  • 6 x 100 FR @ 1:40 – hold under 1:30

  • 8 x 50 K FR @ 1:00

  • 8 x 50 K NFR @ 1:10

  • Competes in all 100s and either 200FR or 200IM

Expectations while in Gold

  • Required attendance 4 of 6 practices.

  • Demonstration of coachability.

  • Shows interest in the competitive side of swimming.

  • Willingness to learn and have fun.

  • Minimum 12 months of participation.

  • Recommended competitions – one per month.

  • Participation in NSAC hosted meets is required.

  • Participation in championship Meets required.

  • Ages 11-15.

Goals while in Gold

  • Compete in all events offered in the athletes’ age group.

  • Expand knowledge of list of drills.

  • Continue to have fun while increasing the work load.

  • Work toward proper dryland exercise technique to develop

    • Flexibility

    • Athletic development

    • Balance

    • Coordination

  • The athlete understands maturation, physical development, nutrition: begins to understand relationship between them; and accepts individual differences in physical size within their age group i.e. 10u, 11-12, 13-14, 15 & over.

  • The athlete demonstrates a higher level understanding of sportsmanship-championship behavior

  • The athlete talks to their coach IMMEDIATELY before and after their races.

  • The athlete knows meet procedures, including how to use and read a heat sheet.

  • The athlete understands the role of failure and the importance of learning from one’s mistakes; understands failure is a part of long-term success.

  • Has a general understanding of the effect that negative self-talk plays in performance. (GARBAGE IN equals GARBAGE OUT)

  • The athlete understands the value of setting goals and the process for achieving those goals.

  • The athlete regularly communicates with their coach.

 

Juniors

Requirements to Join

  • 5 x 200 IM @ 3:15 – hold under 3:05

  • 8 x 100 FR @ 1:30 – hold under 1:20

  • 5 x 100 K FR @ 1:55

  • 5 x 100 K NFR @ 2:05

  • Competes in all 200s and either 500FR or 400IM

Expectations while in Juniors

  • Attendance 4 of 6 practices.

  • Demonstration of coachability.

  • Continues to train all strokes and all events.

  • The athlete has identified swimming as their sport.

  • Demonstrates commitment to swimming and pursuit of swimming goals.

  • The athlete takes ownership of technical skills, both in water and during dryland.

  • The athlete understands and takes responsibility for attendance, performance, and habits in practice; understands the relationship between this and meet performance.

  • Minimum 12 months of participation.

  • Recommended competitions – one per month.

  • Participation (volunteering or competing) in NSAC hosted meets is required.

  • Participation (volunteering or competing) in championship meets is required.

  • 13 and over

Goals while in Juniors

  • The athlete adds college swimming to list of long term goals

  • The athlete learns how to use time management skills for their day to day life as a student-athlete

  • The athlete regularly revisits and re-evaluates their goals

  • The athlete works with coach in developing short term and long term goals

  • The athlete can combine self-talk and slow breathing for peak performance management

  • Start to develop the leadership skills needed to be a leader and role model in the group

  • Understands the role of “tapering” and how it applies to seasonal training from the start

  • The athlete understands the role of failure and the importance of learning from one’s mistakes; understands failure is a part of long-term success

  • Demonstrates progress over the course of the season through test sets

 

Seniors

Requirements to Join

  • 6 x 200 IM @ 3:00 – hold under 2:50

  • 10 X 100 FR @ 1:20 – hold under 1:15

  • 8 x 100 K FR @ 1:45

  • 8 x 100 K NFR @ 1:50

  • 13 and over

  • Competes in all Events 500FR and under

Expectations while in Seniors

  • Attendance 4 of 5 evening practice plus 1 morning practice.

  • All of the above

  • Athlete takes full responsibility for their role in all areas of training and competition.

  • The athlete is a leader on the club and in the community.

  • Participation (volunteering or competing) in NSAC hosted meets is required.

  • Participation (volunteering or competing) in championship meets is required.

  • Has official times in all USA Swimming Events. 

Goals while in Seniors

  • Achieve the highest level of competition.

  • Athlete commits to college swimming.

  • Develops plan with coach for achieving goals.

  • Identifies negative self-talk and redirects focus.

  • Understands how important the mental aspect of swimming is.

 

National

  • Attendance at 5 of 5 evening practices plus 2 morning practices

  • By Invitation Only