Individual Group Promotion Criteria

Advancing to the next swim group involves a comprehensive coaching decision, considering factors such as a swimmer's age, maturity, and the average age of both current and upper groups. Crucially, swimmers must possess a core skillset to ensure they can handle the demands of the higher group.

Bronze Skillsets to Advance

To move from the Bronze group, swimmers should meet the following criteria:

  • Practice Attendance: Consistently attend and complete practices without needing unscheduled breaks.
  • Freestyle & Backstroke (50 yards):
    • Legally complete a full 50-yard swim in both strokes.
    • Be able to attempt and largely execute flip turns.
  • Breaststroke & Butterfly (25 yards):
    • Demonstrate legal kick technique.
    • Exhibit mostly legal full strokes for 25 yards.
  • Endurance:
    • Complete a 100-yard Freestyle and 100-yard Backstroke without stopping.
    • Finish a 100-yard Individual Medley (IM) with minimal to no stopping.

Silver Skillsets to Advance

For promotion from the Silver group, swimmers are expected to:

  • Practice Attendance: Consistently attend and complete practices without needing unscheduled breaks.
  • Freestyle (200 yards): Be able to complete a 200-yard Freestyle without stopping.
  • Individual Medley (200 yards): Be able to complete a 200-yard IM without stopping.
  • All Strokes (100 yards): Swim all four strokes legally for 100 yards in a meet or race setting.
  • Meet Participation: Regularly attend swim meets, especially those hosted by Mexico Tiger Sharks.

Gold Skillsets to Advance

To advance from the Gold group, swimmers should demonstrate:

  • Event Legality: Legally complete all regularly offered USA Swimming events, including:
    • 100 and 200 yards of each stroke.
    • 200 and 400 Individual Medley.
    • 500-yard Freestyle.
  • Stroke Understanding: Possess a full understanding of the legality of all strokes and have initiated discussions with their coach regarding race-specific technique.
  • Practice Stamina: Be fully comfortable completing a 1 hour and 30 minute practice without stopping or requiring additional rest beyond what is provided to the entire group.

 

Junior Skillsets to Advance

Promotion from the Junior group to the Senior group primarily depends on a swimmer's commitment level:

  • After one or two sessions in the Junior group, swimmers will have a discussion with the Junior/Senior coach.
  • This conversation will focus on the swimmer's desired level of commitment to the sport, which will be the determining factor for advancing to the Senior Group, more so than specific skill advancements at this stage.
  • Be able to complete a 1:30 time base for 100's freestyle, and 1:40 for strokes.