Life Time Kansas 

 

Our team is a year-round competitive USA Swimming team offering high quality, professional coaching and technique instruction for all ages and abilities. The goal of our team is to promote a lifetime of wellness through the sport of swimming.

The following descriptions are considered basic guidelines and are subject to change and coaches' discretion.  The team is broken into levels designed to better facilitate skill development, training, coaching efficiency, lower athlete to coach ratios and pool management.  All Life Time Swim Kansas athletes are required to become members of USA Swimming.

Level descriptions are:

Copper:  

This is the entry level for our team.  Athletes focus on stroke technique and kicking with an emphasis on breathing, balance and having fun. Swimmers will have the ability to swim 50 yards of Freestyle (including side breathing) 25 yards of backstroke and breast stroke, or have passed the 601 level of Life Time swimming lessons. The age range is 9 and under and competition distances are primarily 25 yards in length, and 100 yards for an individual medley.

*Clean freestyle and backstroke with good body position
*Flip turns for freestyle and backstroke
*Swim breaststroke and butterfly legally
*Underwater pullout
*Underwater push starts
*Correct finishes for each stroke

This group will participate in select US Swimming competitions.

Bronze:  

This group is the next level and will see an increase in expectations and training.  Athletes will learn to "read" a clock and understand time standards.  Swimmers will have the ability to swim 50 yards of freestyle (including side breathing), 50 yards of backstroke and breaststroke, and 25 yards of butterfly.  The age range is 12 and under and competition distances will be 50 and 100 yards in individual strokes and 100 yards for an individual medley.

*Can swim in deep water
*Can swim 50 yards freestyle demonstrating breathing to the side and good body position
*Can swim 50 years backstroke demonstrating good body position
*Can swim 50 yards butterfly and breaststroke legally.

Silver: 

This group will exhibit a higher level of expertise than Bronze.  Practice times are 30 minutes longer and 4 days per week.  Athletes will see an increase in endurance training with continual focus on stroke technique.  The age range is 13 and under and competition distances will include the 50 and 100 yard individual strokes, 100 & 200 yard individual medleys and longer distance freestyle (200+ yards).

*9-12 years of age
*Has demonstrated legal technique in all four strokes..
*Has strong attendance record (4 - 5 days a week)
*Has demonstrated on a daily basis the desire and ability to perform at a higher level.
*Has coaches recommendations
*10 & Under swimmers can be promoted to Silver if they have a strong attendance record (4 days a week), have demonstrated on a daily basis the desire and ability to perform at higher level and have shown the maturity to work with older swimmers

Gold: 

This is the first of our higher level group in regards to skills and training.  Swimmers should be capable of swimming longer distances with correct techniques.  Their training schedule will reflect a higher level of commitment.  The age range is 11 and over.

*11 years of age or older.

*Has a demonstrated on a daily basis the desire and ability to perform at a higher level.

*Has Coaches’ recommendations

*10 year olds can move if they have strong attendance (4 - 5 days a week), have demonstrated on a daily basis the desire and ability to perform at a higher level and have shown maturity to work with older swimmers.

Seniors:  The practice time and expectations will reflect a higher level of commitment including weekday and Saturday mornings.  Dry land workouts will also be included.  Practice times may be up to 2 and 1/2 hours.  Athletes must understand training, energy systems, pacing and race strategies, goal setting, and national time standards.

*Tryouts are offered on a continual “open” basis, and need to be scheduled with a coach.  Future move-ups or progressions, are up to the coaching staff – but generally occur at the end/beginning of a new season.