The Sea Dragons practice groups are divided into three areas: Developmental, Competitive - Age Group, and Competitive - Senior. The parameters and requirements for each group are explained below. We are an "IM Team," meaning all swimmers will learn and compete in each of the four competitive swimming strokes and a variety of distances.

The Sea Dragon's coaches and team director take group placement seriously. The coaching team collectively reviews each swimmer's stroke development, endurance, maturity, and commitment to learning and growing in the sport. Additionally, the group considers whether a particular group's training is appropriate for the athlete's age and/or physical development. Coaches observe swimmers in groups other than their own so they are familiar with the swimmer's practice performance. Changes to group placement occur once a year prior to our Short Course season. If the coaches observe what they consider exceptional progress from an athlete, the coaches may consider the athlete for an early group change.

---

 

Developmental Practice Groups

 

Our Developmental Practice Groups are not a learn-to-swim or swim lesson program. All those who want to join the Sea Dragons must know how to swim freestyle and backstroke and be confident in deep-water (13-foot depth) swimming.

 

Mini Dragons

 

Mini Dragons are first-time and returning eight-and-under swimmers who want to experience a swim team and learn the fundamentals of each stroke, starts, and turns. Before joining Mini Dragons, swimmers must be able to complete the following:

• Swim confidently in a water depth of 13 feet.

• Swim 25 yards of freestyle without assistance or stopping to hold on to the wall or lane line.

• Swim 25 yards of backstroke without assistance or stopping to hold on to the wall or lane line.

• Be comfortable in a group setting without parents or guardians.

Participation in our team-hosted meet, the Dan Ave Memorial, and an end-of-season championship meet is required. Competing in additional meets for this group is not required but is strongly encouraged.

 

Aqua Dragons

 

Aqua Dragons are first-time and returning swimmers aged eight to eleven who want to experience a swim team and learn the fundamentals of each stroke, starts, and turns. Before joining Aqua Dragons, swimmers must be able to complete the following:

• Swim confidently in a water depth of 13 feet.

• Swim 25 yards of freestyle without assistance or stopping to hold on to the wall or lane line.

• Swim 25 yards of backstroke without assistance or stopping to hold on to the wall or lane line.

• Be comfortable in a group setting without parents or guardians.

Participation in our team-hosted meet, the Dan Ave Memorial, and an end-of-season championship meet is required. Competing in additional meets for this group is not required but is strongly encouraged.

 

Age Group 1

 

Age Group 1 is for eight- to ten-year-old swimmers who have competed on a summer league, USA, or YMCA swim team. Swimmers entering this group must have mastered freestyle rotary breathing and swim 100 yards of freestyle and 50 yards of legal backstroke. This group will continue to learn drills and techniques for the four competitive swim strokes, starts, and turns. They also learn the skills necessary to compete in swimming, such as working with teammates, following directions, listening to the coaches, and reading the pace clock.

Participation in our team-hosted meet, the Dan Ave Memorial, and an end-of-season championship meet is required. Competing in additional meets for this group is not required but is strongly encouraged.

 

Age Group 2

 

Age Group 2 is for 9–12-year-old swimmers who have swim team experience on a summer league, USA, or YMCA swim team, can swim 200 yards of freestyle and 100 yards of backstroke, and demonstrate the fundamentals of breaststroke and butterfly. Swimmers in this group will continue to improve their techniques in the four competitive strokes and starts and turns. They will also learn team-building skills, listening to coaches, using a pace clock, racing strategies, and goal setting.

Participation in our team-hosted meet, the Dan Ave Memorial, and an end-of-season championship meet is required. Competing in additional meets for this group is not required but is strongly encouraged.

 

Age Group 3

 

Age Group 3 is for our 11–15-year-old swimmers who may be newer to competitive swimming or those who have competitive swimming experience on a summer league, USA, or YMCA swim team but would benefit from additional stroke technique and race training. Swimmers entering this group should be able to swim 200 yards of freestyle, 100 yards of backstroke and demonstrate either legal breaststroke or butterfly. In Age Group 3, swimmers will continue to refine and develop each stroke, turn, start, race training, strategies, and goal setting.

Participation in our team-hosted meet, the Dan Ave Memorial, and an end-of-season championship meet is required. Competing in additional meets for this group is not required but is strongly encouraged.

---

 

Competitive Practice Groups - Age Group

 

In addition to the parameters below for each group, swimmers must have year-round swimming experience competing for a USA Swimming or YMCA Swimming team to be considered for our Competitive Practice Groups.

 

Green Group

 

The Green group is for our 8–11-year-old swimmers with previous USA or YMCA year-round swimming experience. Swimmers entering this group should be legal in three of the four competitive strokes and have good start and turn technique. An example training set that swimmers entering this group should be able to complete is (8 x 50 freestyle @ 1:00). Swimmers must be ready and willing to accept higher levels of swim training and challenges. Even though this group will primarily focus on technique, swimmers will learn about goal setting, endurance, and race pace training. The requirements of this group are:

• Good practice attendance is 80% or greater.

• When the coaches feel a swimmer is ready, the swimmer will begin working on completing the USA Swimming IMR events.

  • 8–10-year-olds: 100 Free, 50 Back, 50 Breast, 50 Fly, 100 IM (SCY) or 200 IM (LCM)

  • 11–12-year-olds: 200 Free, 50 Back, 50 Breast, 50 Fly, 100 IM (SCY) or 200 IM (LCM)

• Compete in our team-hosted meet, the Dan Ave Memorial, and two additional meets.

• Compete in all qualifying finals of prelims/finals meets.

• Compete in the end-of-season championship meet for which the swimmer qualifies.

 

White Group

 

The White group is for experienced competitive swimmers, 11–14-year-old swimmers. This group focuses on race strategy, work ethic, endurance, and high performance in both practices and competitions. Athletes will continue to refine and improve their stroke technique. An example training set that swimmers entering this group should be able to complete is (5 x 100 freestyle @ 1:30). The requirements of this group are:

• Good practice attendance is 80% or greater.

• When the coaches feel a swimmer is ready, the swimmer will begin working on completing the USA Swimming IMR or IMX events.

  IMR

  • 11–12-year-olds: 200 Free, 50 Back, 50 Breast, 50 Fly, 100 IM (SCY) or 200 IM (LCM)

  • 13–14-year-olds: 200 Free, 100 Back, 100 Breast, 100 Fly, 200 IM

  IMX

  • 11–12-year-olds: 400 Free (LCM) or 500 Free (SCY), 100 Back, 100 Breast, 100 Fly, 200 IM

  • 13–14-year-olds: 400 Free (LCM) or 500 Free (SCY), 200 Back, 200 Breast, 200 Fly, 200 IM, 400 IM

• Compete in our team-hosted meet, the Dan Ave Memorial, and three additional meets.

• Compete in all qualifying finals of prelims/finals meets.

• Compete in the end-of-season championship meet for which the swimmer qualifies.

 

Orange Group

 

Orange group swimmers are 12–14 years old and demonstrate the ability to achieve Junior Championship time standards and/or present the ability to practice at a high level. If appropriate, those who have achieved (11–12) AAA Zone cuts may be considered for this group. The Orange group is the highest level for Sea Dragon age-group swimming. An example training set that swimmers entering this group should be able to complete is (5 x 100 @ 1:20). These athletes are expected to set realistic goals based on Ohio Swimming and USA Swimming time standards and work to attain them, demonstrating time management, maturity, and commitment to training. The requirements of this group are:

• Excellent practice attendance of 90% or greater

• Work to complete the USA Swimming IMX Challenge

  IMX

  • 12-year-olds: 400 Free (LCM) or 500 Free (SCY), 100 Back, 100 Breast, 100 Fly, 200 IM

  • 13–14-year-olds: 400 Free (LCM) or 500 Free (SCY), 200 Back, 200 Breast, 200 Fly, 200 IM, 400 IM

• Compete in our team-hosted meet, the Dan Ave Memorial, and three additional meets.

• Compete in all qualifying finals of prelims/finals meets.

• Compete in the end-of-season championship meet for which the swimmer qualifies.

---

 

Competitive Practice Groups - Senior

 

 

Senior Group

 

Senior group swimmers must be in high school or an incoming freshman during the long-course season before their freshman year. Athletes are expected to set goals for higher-level meets within the USA, such as Sectionals and Futures. Swimmers in this group should have swim team experience and must exhibit the maturity and ability necessary to train at a high level. Athletes will commit to year-round practice and competition. An example training set that swimmers entering this group should be able to complete is (5 x 100 @ 1:20). The requirements for this group are:

• Excellent practice attendance of 90% or greater

• Work to complete the USA Swimming IMX Challenge

  IMX

  • 14–18-year-olds: 400 Free (LCM) or 500 Free (SCY), 200 Back, 200 Breast, 200 Fly, 200 IM, 400 IM

• Compete in our team-hosted meet, the Dan Ave Memorial, and three additional meets.

• Compete in all qualifying finals of prelims/finals meets.

• Compete in the end-of-season championship meet for which the swimmer qualifies.

 

High School Club

 

This group is for current Sea Dragon Senior group swimmers not selected for their high school team following high school swimming tryouts. Swimmers on a high school team who must "swim out" will also be considered for this group. During the high school swim season, members of the high school club group will train in the evening with the Orange group and on Saturdays with the Senior Group Saturday practices.

 

Senior National Group

 

The Senior National Group is for those Senior Group swimmers who have achieved USA Swimming Sectionals, Futures, or Olympic Trials cuts. Swimmers in this group will train with the Senior group and may have additional training opportunities outside of Senior Group practices. Additional requirements for this group are:

• Competitive swimming is the athlete’s primary or only sport.

• Attendance at all practices, including the optional early start.