LIGHTNING
Lowe's YMCA Competitive Swim Team
The YMCA is committed to offering a quality, Year-round swim team with emphasis on teaching the value of competition through teamwork, sportsmanship, and doing one’s best. The Lowe's YMCA program strives to offer a well-rounded, values-centered program for every member, from the youngest and newest members to our veteran senior swimmers.
•The Lowes Lightning is a competitive training group aimed at developing advanced technical skills and a strong aerobic foundation.
•The training emphasis of this group is centered on continuing to develop strong technical skills in all four strokes, starts, turns, and underwater work, as well as developing a strong aerobic base through gradually increasing the volume and intensity of their swimming work throughout the season.
•Cyclone and Tsunami swimmers will practice and compete from September – July. Typhoon swimmers practice September - March with the option of signing up through July.
•Practices/Meet attendance is enforced and commitment between coach and swimmer is established.
•Swim Meets offered may include Invitationals, Regional Meets, and/or National Meets with time standards as goals and requirements in some cases.
TYPHOON GROUP:
Swimmers in the Typhoon Group will exhibit legal strokes for all four competitive strokes. Basic stroke drills are introduced and repeated on a daily basis. Reinforcement of the importance of stroke technique is applied in practice on a daily basis along with stroke correction methods. Swimmers
begin to use interval training and increase distance. Typhoon group is for entry-level competitive swimmers up to age 13. Swim and dryland practices are held Monday- Thursday. Typhoon swimmers are encouraged to make a minimum of 3 practices per week.
CYCLONE GROUP:
Swimmers in the Cyclone Group will exhibit legal strokes and turns for all four competitive strokes. Advanced drills are introduced and basic stroke drills are reinforced. In addition, the importance of stroke technique is applied in practice on a daily basis along with stroke correction methods. Building and refining the swimmers' strokes and beginning an aerobic conditioning base are objectives for swimmers in this group. Interval training using the pace clock is utilized. Cyclone members are encouraged to attend 4 practices per week.
TSUNAMI GROUP
:
Swimmers in the Tsunami Group must exhibit legal strokes for all four competitive strokes and perform legal turns as well.
Swimmers exhibit a maturity level to handle the increased intensity required to gain the benefits of total body conditioning. Senior Group swimmers have gained an understanding of the basic fundamentals introduced to the Cyclone Group and are working towards continuing to develop strong technical skills in all four strokes, starts, turns and underwater work, as well as developing a strong aerobic base through gradually increasing the volume and intensity of both kicking and swimming work throughout the season. Cognitive learning of advanced swimming techniques, advanced pacing, goal setting, and team dynamics are goals for this group.
Tsunami and Advanced Cyclone groups are offered (6) practices per week and are encouraged to attend at least four (4) of these practices. A detailed training program is utilized in the water. In addition, swimmers participate in dry land conditioning emphasizing basic core body strength. Separate “Studio Sessions” and Cross-Training Workouts are offered, along with many other resources available to YMCA members. Average practices will consist of 30 minutes of dry-land and 1 1/2 hours of swimming.
Swimmers will also learn valuable skills necessary to be successful competitive swimmers – training etiquette, advanced stroke mechanics, training and race strategies, goal setting, proper nutrition, mental preparation, and the ability to handle increasing training workloads.
