Group Placement Information
See 2024-2025 Criteria for Group Consideration
The “TITANS Tracks” program is geared toward the long-term development of each individual athlete. A well-defined, long-term approach of gradually increasing degrees of commitment is essential for attaining peak performance. In our younger age-groups, emphasis will be placed on developing a swimmer's technical skills and their love for the sport. As each swimmer grows through the sport, the physical and psychological demands of swimming will grow with them. If the physical and psychological demands out pace their development, any short-term gains will soon be negated and often result in athletes not reaching their maximum potential as senior swimmers.
To effect long-term results, proper training groups are essential. Swimmers need to be compatible in the following areas:
1. Age
2. Training Ability
3. Competitive Aspirations
4. Commitment Level
Please note that proper group placement is essential to each individual's development. Placement in a training group that is more advanced than a swimmer's current level of development will result in a slower rate of progression over the long-term. That said, just because a swimmer is physically capable of handling a higher level of training does not in and of itself justify participation at that level.
NOTE: Registration approval does not guarantee a placement in the group for which you registered. Each of the above four criteria will be taken into account when doing any Group Placement, Evaluations or Tryout periods (if required) for every group.
Try-Outs
In the event that the number of qualified registered athletes who meet a specific group's guidelines exceeds the size cap due to space limitations, the Lead Coach for that group will invite each of the qualified athletes to a two week practice trial period. At the conclusion of that trial period, the Lead Coach will notify the invited athletes. The notification date is determined by the Lead Coach. If the athlete declines the invitation, the invitation may then be extended to next athlete on the Lead Coach’s list. Athletes who do not receive or decline an invitation will be offered a place in the appropriate open group.
NOTE: Tryouts will typically occur during open registration periods. However, there may be individual tryouts during the season if an athlete is demonstrating the ability and characteristics for the next higher group.
Move-Ups
There are natural times in the swimming season during which group changes are typically made. The two most obvious ones are the interval between short-course and long-course season and then during the registration period when transitioning from long-course to short-course. There may also be times during a season when an athlete is consistently demonstrating, in both practice and competition, that he/she is ready to take the next step in development.
2024-2025 CRITERIA FOR GROUP CONSIDERATION
**All groups listed in RED require Coach invitation to join
SENIOR GROUPS
OLYMPIC ELITE (14&O) – As the top group in the program, Olympic Elite swimmers are expected to work toward achieving Olympic Trial qualifications. To be considered for this group, swimmers must achieve the following: Women - 1 USA Swimming Winter Junior National qualifying time OR 5 Futures cuts; Men - 1 USA Swimming Winter Junior National qualifying time OR 4 Futures cuts.
FUTURES (14&O) – Swimmers in the Futures group work toward scoring at the USA Futures Championships and achieving USA Swimming Junior National qualifying times. To be considered for this group a swimmer moving from a 13&14 group must have the following: 1 USA Swimming Futures qualifying time OR 6 Sectional cuts. A swimmer moving from a 15&O group must have 1 USA Swimming Futures qualifying time. In addition to the above criteria, swimmers must achieve the following time standard in the 200 IM or the 400 IM: Women: (Yards/Meters) 2:14.4/2:33.2 or 4:44.1/5:22.8, Men: 2:02.6/2:22.6 or 4:24.3/5:03.7.
NATIONAL (14&O) – Swimmers in the National group work toward scoring at the Senior Sectional meets and USA Futures Championships. To be considered for this group a swimmer must have 4 Senior Sectional qualifying time standards OR 1 USA Swimming Futures cut and maintain at least an 85% attendance rate.
SECTIONAL (14&O) – Sectional swimmers work toward scoring at Senior Championship meets and entering the National group. To be considered for this group a swimmer moving from a 15&O group must have at least 4 Senior Champs cuts. Swimmers moving from a 13&14 group must achieve the following: Women - 6 Age Group Champs cuts, Men - at least 6 USA Swimming “AA” time standards. All swimmers must maintain at least an 85% attendance rate.
SENIOR CHAMPS A (14&O) – The Senior Champs A group strives to get multiple swims at the NC Senior Championship meet. To be considered for this group a swimmer moving from a 13&14 group must have achieved 4 USA Swimming “A” times in two different strokes. A swimmer moving from a 15&O group must have at least 1 Senior Champs cut AND/OR 3 USA Swimming “A” qualifying time standards in two different strokes. Swimmers must maintain at least an 80% attendance rate.
SENIOR CHAMPS B (14&O) – The Senior Champs B group strives to get multiple swims at the NC Senior Championship meet. To be considered for this group a swimmer moving from a 13&14 group must have achieved 1 USA Swimming “A” time standard and 2 USA Swimming “BB” time standards. A swimmer moving from a 15&O group must have at least 1 USA Swimming “A” standard and 3 USA Swimming “BB” qualifying time standards in two different strokes. Swimmers must maintain at least an 80% attendance rate.
SENIOR CHALLENGE (14&O) – Swimmers in the Senior Challenge group strive to achieve a NC Senior Championship Cut. To be considered for this group, swimmers must have achieved 2 USA Swimming “B” time standards and 1 USA Swimming “BB” time standards or be recommended by a coach. All swimmers must maintain at least a 70% attendance rate.
13 & 14 AGE GROUPS
TAG 1 (13&14) – The TAG 1 group strives to final at NC AG Group Championships and AG Sectionals. To be considered for this group: Boys - must have 5 USA Swimming “A” time standards with 2 AG Champs cuts, Girls - have 5 USA Swimming “AA” time standards with 2 AG Champs cuts in 2 different strokes.
TAG 1.5 (13&14) – Coaches expect swimmers to work toward entering the TAG 1, Futures, Sectional, or National group. To be considered for TAG 1.5: Boys - must have 3 13&14 USA Swimming “BB” time standards and 1 USA Swimming “A” time standards, Girls - must have 4 13&14 USA Swimming “A” time standards. All swimmers must maintain at least an 80% attendance rate.
PLATINUM (13-14) – The Platinum group is a steppingstone to TAG 1, TAG 1.5, and Senior Groups with the goal of achieving USA Swimming "A" and "AA" time standards. To be considered for the Platinum group a swimmer moving up from an 11&12 group must have achieved at least 2 11&12 USA Swimming “BB” time standards and 2 USA Swimming “B” time standards. A swimmer coming from a 13&14 group must have achieved at least 4 13&14 USA Swimming “BB” standards. Race meet times only considered for 100's and 200's of Strokes and the 200 IM.
GOLD (13-14) – The Gold group is a steppingstone to Platinum and Senior Groups with the goal of achieving USA Swimming "BB" and "A" time standards. To be considered for the Gold group a swimmer moving up from an 11&12 group must have achieved at least 2 11&12 USA Swimming “B” time standards. A swimmer coming from a 13&14 group must have achieved at least 2 USA Swimming “B” 13&14 time standards. Race meet times only considered for 100's and 200's of Strokes and the 200 IM.
11 & 12 AGE GROUPS
TAG 2 (11&12) – The TAG 2 group strives to compete and score at NC Age Group Championships. To be considered for this group a swimmer moving from a 10&U group must achieve 6 10&U USA Swimming “AA” time standards AND a USA Swimming “A” time standard in the 100 or 200 IM. A swimmer moving from a 11&12 group must achieve 6 USA Swimming “BB” time standards AND 2 11&12 “A” time standards including 1 Age Group Champs cut.
TAG 2.5 (11&12) – The TAG 2.5 group is expected to work toward entering TAG 2, TAG 1.5, or TAG 1 group. To be considered for this group a swimmer moving from a 10&U group must achieve 4 10&U USA Swimming “A” time standards AND a USA Swimming “BB” time standard in the 100 or 200 IM. A swimmer moving from a 11&12 group must achieve 4 11&12 USA Swimming “BB” time standards.
SILVER 1 (11&12) - The goal of this group is to achieve USA Swimming “A” time standards and strive to qualify for Age Group Championships. To be considered for this group a swimmer moving from a 10&U group must have achieved 4 USA Swimming “BB” time standards in two different strokes AND 1 USA Swimming “BB” time standard in the 100 or 200 IM. Swimmers moving from a 11&12 group must have achieved 1 USA Swimming “BB” time standard AND 3 USA “B” time standards in two different strokes AND a “B” time standard in the 200 IM.
SILVER 2 (11&12) – The goal of this group is to achieve USA Swimming “A” time standards. To be considered for this group a swimmer moving from a 10&U group must have 1 10&U USA Swimming “BB” time standard OR 2 10&U “B” time standards in two different strokes. Swimmers moving from an 11&12 group must have 2 11&12 USA Swimming “B” times in 2 different strokes.
10 & UNDER AGE GROUPS
TAG 3 (9&10) – The goal of TAG 3 is to place swimmers in the top sixteen at Age Group State Championships and Age Group Sectional Championships. To be considered for this group a 9 year old swimmer must have USA Swimming “BB” time standards in three different strokes events AND the 100 or 200 IM. If the swimmer is 10 years old, they must have Age Group Champs qualifying times in two events AND a “BB” time standard in the 100 or 200 IM.
TAG 3.5 (9&10) – The goal of TAG 3.5 is to qualify swimmers for Age Group State Championship. To be considered for this group a 9 year old swimmer must have USA Swimming “B” time standards in five different events which must include the 100 or 200 IM. If the swimmer is 10 years old, they must have USA Swimming “BB” time standards in four strokes AND the 100 or 200 IM.
TITANIUM (9&10) – Swimmers in this group strive to improve with a competitive spirit and progress to TAG 3, TAG 3.5, Silver 1, or Silver 2. To be considered for Titanium, swimmers should have achieved a USA “B” qualifying time standard in two different strokes OR a "B" time in 100IM as well as be legal in all four strokes. The potential Titanium swimmers should have knowledge of basic swimming technical concepts such as streamlining, breathing, kicking, turns, and starts. A record of 70% attendance or better, including summertime, would be beneficial. Also, any potential Titanium swimmers should display good focus, discipline, work ethic, ability to make and maintain stroke changes, and respect for teammates.
BRONZE (9&10) – Swimmers in this group should have previous competitive swimming experience, so they are ready to commit to a year-round swimming program. Swimmers must be able to legally race 50 yards in all four strokes and should be familiar with flip turns and starts. To be considered for this group a 9 year old swimmer should meet the following time standards: 50 FL at 1:00.0, 50 BK at :50.0, 50 BR at :55.0, and 50 FR at :45.0. If the swimmer is 10 years old, they should have achieved 1 USA Swimming “B” standard. High practice attendance is recommended.
COPPER 1 (7&8) – The goal of this group is to achieve USA Swimming “B” & “BB” time standards. To be considered for this group swimmers should have previous competitive swimming experience in a year-round program. Swimmers must legally race 50 yards in all 4 strokes plus 100 yards in freestyle and backstroke. They must be able to dive headfirst from the starting blocks and legally complete flip turns and open turns. The time standards for this group are as follows: 50 fly at 1:05; 50 backstroke at :55, 50 breaststroke at 1:00, and 50 freestyle at :50.
SEASONAL & DEVELOPMENTAL GROUPS
TEEN TITANS (14-18) – This group is designed for those swimmers who prefer a five day a week program on a month-to-month commitment level. This is a perfect program for swimmers wanting to excel at high-school swimming. An evaluation is recommended for any swimmers new to the team.
Jr. TITANS (10&U) - JR. TITANS is a bridge program between TITANS PREP and the TITANS Challenge and Elite tracks. JR. TITANS are age specific for swimmers who have expressed a beginner level of interest in competitive swimming and want to participate in USA Swimming meets. Swimmers will work on developing their technique in all four competitive strokes. Swimmers must be able to swim two of the 4 competitive strokes proficiently and have a working knowledge of the other 2 competitive strokes. JR. TITANS practice 3 days/week for an hour. An evaluation is required before registering for the group.
JR. TITANS (8&U) - JR. TITANS is a bridge program between TITANS PREP and the TITANS Challenge and Elite tracks. Jr. TITANS are age specific for swimmers who have expressed a beginner level of interest in competitive swimming and want to participate in USA Swimming meets. Swimmers will work on developing their technique in all four competitive strokes. Swimmers must be able to swim two of the four competitive strokes proficiently and have a working knowledge of the other two competitive strokes. JR. TITANS practice 3 days/week for an hour. An evaluation is required before registering for the group.
TITANS PREP (6-10) - Titans Prep focuses on the 10&U beginning competitive swimmer interested in developing all four competitive strokes. The Titans Prep swimmer must successfully swim 25 yards proficiently of both freestyle and backstroke along with being comfortable in a pool with a depth over seven feet. A swim evaluation and coach recommendation are required before registering for the group. An evaluation is necessary before registering for the group.
