NCAC’s Competitive Swim Team is a year round program consisting of practice groups that serve different ages and skill level. Athletes in these groups are coached by a staff of professional coaches and are expected to compete in swim meets. Coaches and athletes will work together to set goals and implement training plans to achieve each goal. Training expectations vary based on group. Groups will train and compete in both short course and long course.

2025-2026 Year-Round Monthly Dues

2025-2026 Year-Round Tentative Practice Schedule

2025 Tentative Spring/Summer Meet Schedule

CLICK HERE for live google calendar. Any and all updates to weekly practice schedules or meet calendar will appear on this calendar. Check Calendar regularly.

CLICK HERE for NCAC's event calendar. Any and all updates to events (dates, meet flyers, info) will be made on our events page. Check EVENTS regularly.

Direct questions about your swimmer's practice schedule/meet calendar to your swimmer's Group Lead Coach

 

2024-2025 Criteria For Group Consideration

• NCAC coaches and staff will evaluate and assign placement. 
• Admittance to all groups is at the Coaching Staff’s Discretion based on the needs of individual, training group(s), overall organization. 
• If/when a coach determines that a transition to a different group is appropriate, the coach will work with the athlete/family to determine a transition plan.

 

NCAC's Competitive, Year-Round Swim Groups

 

JTE (6-10)

Expected to work towards achieving training and race competence in all four strokes, legal flip turns, and starts/dives. These athletes are working toward transitioning to Discovery or Exploration

Encouraged to attend 70% of practices

Encouraged to attend 70% of competitions

To be considered for this group, swimmers must be able to demonstrate the following skills: 

• Complete a 25 free breathing to the side
• Complete a 25 of backstroke legally
• Complete a 25 of breaststroke (or butterfly) legally
• Dive off the blocks
• Capable of flip turn, though does not have to be consistent yet

Focus/objective of the group: (what is the group working on)

This is a competitive training group with a focus on skill and race development and participation. In this group, swimmers will focus specifically on learning and the ability to consistently execute all four strokes legally. The objective of this group is to create a positive swimming experience in which swimmers continue to develop a love for training and competition.

 

 

 

Discovery (8-10)

Expected to work towards consistent meet participation and performance. These swimmers are also working towards transitioning to Journey or Challenge.

Encouraged to attend 70% of practices

Encouraged to attend 70% of competitions (including all home meets)

To be considered for this group, swimmers must be able to demonstrate the following skills: 

• Complete 50 freestyle breathing to the side
• Complete a 100 IM
• Flip turns consistently
•  Dive off the blocks

Focus/objective of the group: (what is the group working on)

This is a competitive training group with a focus on skill and race development and participation. The objective of this group is to create a positive swimming experience in which swimmers continue to develop a love for training and competition. 

 

 

 

Exploration (8-10)

Expected to work towards scoring at the AG Championships and AG Sectionals meets. These swimmers are also working towards transitioning to Challenge or Journey.

Expected to attend 80% of practices

Expected to attend 80% of competitions

To be considered for this group, swimmers must be able to demonstrate the following skills/experience: 

• 1 year of competitive swimming 
• Complete 200 IM legally
• Demonstrated positive attitude, a willingness to be coached, and being a supportive teammate

 

Focus/objective of the group: (what is the group working on)

This is an elite training group where swimming intensity increases. Swimmers learn to train in a group, effectively use the pace clock, and utilize a range of swimming equipment and training strategies. The objective of this group is to foster competitiveness and commitment to the sport.

 

 

 

Journey (11-12)

Expected to work towards achieving qualifying for AG Championships and excellence at Tar Heel States Championship meet. These swimmers are also working towards transitioning to Challenge, Nova, or Dynamo.

Encouraged to attend 70% of practices

Encouraged to attend 70% of competitions (including all home meets)

Training includes dryland

To be considered for this group, swimmers must be able to demonstrate the following skills: 

• The ability and willingness to handle 90 min swim workouts
• The capacity to handle IM training sets
• Demonstrated positive attitude, a willingness to be coached, and being a supportive teammate

Focus/objective of the group: (what is the group working on)

This is a competitive training group with a focus on skill and race development and participation. It provides a balanced approach to swimming that allows for schedule/training flexibility. The objective of this group is to develop all four strokes, starts, and turns. 

 

 

Challenge (11-12)

Expected to work towards scoring at the AG Championships and AG Sectionals meets. These swimmers are also working towards transitioning to Dynamo or Nova.

Expected to attend 85% of practices

Expected to attend 85% of competitions

Training includes dryland

To be considered for this group, swimmers must have already achieved 

• At least 2 AG Champs qualifying times
• Demonstrated training capacity
• Demonstrated maturity, coachability, focus, and consistent effort

Focus/objective of the group: (what is the group working on)

This is an elite training group where swimming intensity increases. The objective of this group is to prepare athletes for state and regional competition by setting and working towards time standard goals. 

 

 

Nova (13-14)

Expected to work towards achieving qualifying for AG Championships and excellence at Tar Heel States Championship meet. These swimmers are also working towards transitioning to swimming for their high school teams and NCAC Performance White or Performance Red. 

Encouraged to attend 70% of practices

Encouraged to attend 70% of competitions (including all home meets)

Training includes dryland

To be considered for this group, swimmers must be able to demonstrate the following skills: 

• The ability and willingness to handle 90 min swim workouts
• The capacity to handle 200 IM training sets
• Demonstrating a positive attitude, a willingness to be coached, and being a supportive teammate

Focus/objective of the group: (what is the group working on)

This is a competitive training group with a focus on skill and race development and participation. It provides a balanced approach to swimming that allows for schedule/training flexibility. The objective of this group is hone technical skills and development training acumen. Nova will learn more about weekly, monthly, and season training cycles.