DISCOVERY LEVEL – These are our foundation groups that will give each swimmer the skills and courage for the next level. Ages within each swim group are a general map and exceptions are at the discretion of coaches. Coaches reserve the right to move a swimmer into the appropriate training group based on skill, age, development, and attendance. The team reserves the right to remove a swimmer due to lack of attendance. Move ups occur at the end of each competition season.
WHITE ($90/$100) – Beginner level. Swimmers will receive instruction with a focus on improving freestyle and backstroke and introduction to starts and turns. There will be some introduction to breaststroke and butterfly and underwater dolphin kicks.
Expectations of White Group
- 8 yrs. & under
- Must attend at all practices.
- Swimmers should have basic skills in freestyle and backstroke and be able to swim 25 yards without stopping.
- Must have a continuous flutter kick in both strokes as well as side breathing without lifting their head in freestyle and/or pausing the stroke to breathe.
Equipment needed: PAC cap, goggles, competition style suit (one piece for girls and jammers for boys), fins and kick board
BLACK ($95/$105) – Advanced beginner level. Swimmers should have solid technique for freestyle and backstroke, and some familiarity with breaststroke and butterfly. Swimmers will work to refine technique in all four strokes, as well as diving, underwater kicking, and racing turns. Only home swim meets are required for this level, and swimmers are highly encouraged to attend other meets.
Expectations of Black Group
- 10 yrs. & under.
- Must attend all practices each week.
- Must swim 50 yards of breaststroke, butterfly, backstroke and 100 yards of freestyle.
- Swimmers will focus on improving freestyle and backstroke and improve butterfly and breaststroke, as well as competitive race turns and starts.
Equipment needed: PAC cap, goggles, competition style suit (one piece for girls and jammers for boys), fins and kick board
JR BRONZE ($100/$110) – Swimmers should have well-developed, legal strokes, and stamina to complete every practice. Must demonstrate desire to improve and focus on coach’s instructions; must make interval times set by coach.
Expectations of JR Bronze Group
- Primarily 9-11 years old
- Must attend at least 4 practices per week.
- Must be able to swim the 100 Individual Medley “IM” (Fly-Back-Breast-Free) legally.
- Participation in at least half of all scheduled meets is required; swimmers are encouraged to attend all meets for which they qualify.
- Families and swimmers are required to participate and help run home meets.
PAC swim cap x 2, Mesh gear bag, competition style suit (1piece for girls, jammers/speedo for boys), goggles x 2, kickboard, pull buoy, snorkel, fins (short), paddles (size of hand), nose clip (optional)
JR SILVER ($100/$110) – Swimmers should have well-developed, legal strokes, and stamina to complete every practice. Must demonstrate desire to improve and focus on coach’s instructions; must make interval times set by coach and learn to keep track of interval send offs on their own. Swimmers should work to incorporate underwater kicking off every wall and starts.
Expectations of JR Silver Group
- Primarily 10-12 years old.
- Swimmers must attend 4 practices per week.
- Must be able to swim all 4 legal strokes.
- Participation in at least 70% of all scheduled meets is required; swimmers are encouraged to attend all meets for which they qualify.
- Families and swimmers are required to participate and help run home meets.
PAC swim cap x 2, Mesh gear bag, competition style suit (1piece for girls, jammers/speedo for boys), goggles x 2, kickboard, pull buoy, snorkel, fins (short), paddles (size of hand), nose clip (optional)
JR GOLD ($100/$110) – Swimmers should have well-developed, legal strokes, and stamina to complete every practice. Must demonstrate desire to improve and focus on coach’s instructions; must make interval times set by coach and keep track of interval send offs on their own. Swimmers should incorporate underwater kicking off every wall and starts.
Expectations of JR Gold Group
- Primarily 12-14 years old.
- Swimmers must attend 4 practices per week.
- Must be able to swim all 4 legal strokes with legal turns.
- Participation in at least 75% of all scheduled meets is required; swimmers are encouraged to attend all meets for which they qualify.
- Families and swimmers are required to participate and help run home meets.
PAC swim cap x 2, Mesh gear bag, competition style suit (1piece for girls, jammers/speedo for boys), goggles x 2, kickboard, pull buoy, snorkel, fins (short), paddles (size of hand), nose clip (optional)
EXPLORATION LEVEL - Coaches will expect more commitment from families and swimmers. Swimmers will use their skills learned in the discovery levels and will be introduced to conditioning and how to train. Ages within each swim group is a general map and exceptions are at the discretion of coaches. Coaches reserve the right to move a swimmer into the appropriate training group based on skill, age, development, and attendance. The team reserves the right to remove a swimmer due to lack of attendance. Move ups occur at the end of each competition season.
BRONZE ($115/$125) – This group is our introductory competitive group. Swimmers in this group begin to prioritize swimming over other sports and activities (may still compete in other sports). Swimmers must attend a minimum of 4 practices per week. Must demonstrate a strong desire to improve and put the team's needs first; must make interval times set by the coach. Coaches strongly recommend attending all practices offered to excel.
Expectations of Bronze Group
- Primarily 9 - 11 year-olds.
- Attend a minimum of 4 practices per week.
- Must be able to swim the following:
- 6 x 100 free @ 2:00 interval
- 4 x 100 IM @ 2:30 interval (with legal strokes and turns)
- 5 x 100 kick @ 2:30 interval
- 1 x 500 freestyle in practice breathing every 3 strokes with no stopping.
- Time standard achievements:
- 1 x 10 & under A time OR
- 5 x 10 & under B times
- These can be in yards or meters but cannot be the same event (i.e., 100-yard backstroke OR 100-meter backstroke)
- Swimmers are expected to participate in all meets assigned to this group.
- Families and swimmers are required to participate and help run home meets.
Equipment Needed: PAC swim cap x 2, Mesh gear bag, competition style suit (1piece for girls, jammers/speedo for boys), goggles x 2, kickboard, pull buoy, snorkel, fins (short), paddles (size of hand), nose clip (optional)
SILVER ($135/$145) – This group is our next step competitive group. Swimmers continue to prioritize swimming over other sports and activities. Swimmers must attend a minimum of 4 practices per week. However, coaches strongly recommend attending all practices offered to excel. Must demonstrate a strong desire to improve and put the team's needs first; must make interval times set by coach. Swimmers demonstrate responsibility for their own swimming and begin to develop leadership skills within their group and on the team.
Expectations of Silver Group
- Primarily 11–12-year-olds.
- Attend at least 4 practices per week.
- Must be able to swim the following:
- 6 x 100 free @ 1:40 interval
- 4 x 100 IM @ 2:00 interval (with legal strokes and turns)
- 5 x 100 kick @ 2:00 interval
- 1 x 1000 freestyle in practice breathing every 3 strokes with no stopping.
- Time standard achievements:
- 1 x 11-12 A time
- OR 5 x 11-12 B times
- These can be in yards or meters but cannot be the same event (i.e., 100-yard backstroke OR 100-meter backstroke)
- Swimmers are expected to participate in all meets assigned to this group.
- Families and swimmers are required to participate and help run home meets.
Equipment Needed: PAC swim cap x 2, Mesh gear bag, competition style suit (1piece for girls, jammers/speedo for boys), goggles x 2, kickboard, pull buoy, snorkel, fins (short), paddles (size of hand), nose clip (optional)
GOLD ($155/$165) – This group represents our highest-level of age group swimming. Coaches expect full commitment to this group and there is a minimum average requirement of 5 FULL practices attended per week. Swimmers must have a strong desire to train and improve. Swimmers must make the interval times set by the coach; must have a positive attitude and be a team leader with a commitment to training. Proper stroke technique is emphasized. Longer events such as 200’s of each stroke, 400 IM, and 800/1000 Freestyle are added into training and meets. Swimmers will learn proper pacing for these longer events.
Expectations of Gold Group
- Must be at least 12 - 14 years old
- Must attend an average of 5 FULL practices a week
- Able to maintain 4 to 6 dolphin kicks off of every wall on butterfly, backstroke, and freestyle
- Must be able to swim the following:
- 6 x 100 free @ 1:30 interval
- 4 x 100 IM @ 1:45 interval (with legal strokes and turns)
- 5 x 100 kick @ 1:45 interval
- 1 x 1650 freestyle in practice breathing every 3 strokes with no stopping.
- Time standard achievements:
- 13/14-year-olds:
- 2 x 13-14 A times
- OR 6 x 13-14 B times
- These can be in yards or meters but cannot be the same event (i.e., 100-yard backstroke OR 100-meter backstroke)
- 11/12-year-olds:
- 4 x 11-12 A times
- OR 8 x 11-12 B times
- 13/14-year-olds:
- Swimmer must have a legal time in 1 of the following 200’s
- Butterfly
- Backstroke
- Breaststroke
- Swimmers are expected to participate in all meets assigned to this group and all meets for which they qualify.
- Families and swimmers are required to participate and help run home meets.
Equipment Needed: PAC swim cap x 2, Mesh gear bag, competition style suit (1piece for girls, jammers/speedo for boys), goggles x 2, kickboard, pull buoy, snorkel, fins (short), paddles (size of hand), nose clip (optional).
SENIOR LEVEL
SENIOR Dev ($150/$160) – This group is for high school swimmers who are looking to work on developing their stroke technique and improve their endurance and racing. Swimmers should have at least 3 legal strokes and stamina to complete every practice. Coaches strongly recommend every swimmer attend all practices each week.
Expectations of Senior Dev
- Primarily H.S. swimmers.
- Must attend all practices each week
- Legal and well-developed techniques for all 4 strokes
- Swimmers are strongly encouraged to participate in meets.
- Families and swimmers are required to participate and help run home meets.
Equipment needed for Senior Dev
- Swim Cap x 2
- Mesh bag
- 1 piece suit (boys can be briefs or jammers)
- Goggles x 2
- Kickboard
- Pull Buoy - Arena
- Snorkel - Arena or Finis
- Nose clip (optional)
- Fins - Arena Powerfin Pro
- Paddles - Strokemaker (size 3 or 4)
- Drag Socks
SENIOR 2 ($160/$170) - Senior 2 group is for our high school swimmers who are training for Districts, Regionals, State, and focusing on getting to Senior 1. Swimmers Swimmers in this group should represent the PAC Principles that define our team. They should be leaders both in and out of the pool. Swimmers are expected to attend all practices offered. Must have the will to train and compete on a consistent basis. Most swimmers' focus should be Sectionals working towards Futures cuts. Swimmers in this group must maintain 85% attendance or higher.
SENIOR 1 ($175/$185) – The Senior 1 group represents the highest level of training and racing on our team. Swimmers in this group should represent the PAC Principles that define our team. They should be leaders both in and out of the pool. Swimmers are expected to attend all practices offered. Must have the will to train and compete on a consistent basis. Most swimmers' focus should be Sectionals working towards Futures cuts. Swimmers in this group must maintain 85% attendance or higher.
Expectations of Senior 1
- Primarily 14 & over.
- Able to maintain 4 to 6 dolphin kicks off of every wall on butterfly, backstroke, and freestyle.
- Must be able to swim the following:
- 8 x 100 free @ 1:20 interval
- 6 x 100 IM @ 1:30 interval (with legal strokes and turns)
- 6 x 100 kick @ 1:40 interval
- Time standard achievements:
- 2 x 15-16 or 17-18 A times
- OR 6 15-16 or 17-18 BB times
- These can be in yards or meters but cannot be the same event (i.e., 100-yard backstroke OR 100-meter backstroke)
- Swimmers are expected to participate in all meets assigned to this group and all meets for which they qualify.
- Families and swimmers are required to participate and help run home meets.
Equipment needed for Senior 1
- Swim Cap x 2
- Mesh bag
- 1 piece suit (boys can be briefs or jammers)
- Goggles x 2
- Kickboard
- Pull Buoy - Arena
- Snorkel - Arena or Finis
- Nose clip (optional)
- Fins - Arena Powerfin Pro
- Paddles - Strokemaker (size 3 or 4)
- Drag Socks
