Albany Armada Aquatics
Albany Armada Aquatics (AAA) is a competitive youth USA swim team, co-founded in 2012 by Head Coach Helen Garcia and Head Age Group Coach Jesus Salcedo. AAA participates in USA Swimming-sanctioned meets nationwide, offering swimmers opportunities to compete at various levels.
Our team fosters a safe, healthy, and positive environment where members can develop their swimming skills through expert coaching and technical instruction. AAA provides a structured progression of skill groups, accommodating swimmers ages 6-18+ of all levels, from beginners to competitive athletes.
For information about swimming opportunities for adults, please visit our Armada Masters page.
Here’s a polished version of your training group overview for clarity and flow:
Training Groups Overview
Mini Blue
The Mini Blue Group is all about learning, having fun, and improving swimming skills! Designed for swimmers aged 6-10, this group focuses on developing all four strokes—freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly—while introducing essential competitive skills. Through engaging drills and practice, swimmers will refine their technique, build confidence, and prepare for swim meets in a positive and supportive environment. Click here for more information
Blue
The Blue Group is for swimmers aged 11 and younger who are continuing to master the competitive strokes. In this group, swimmers learn how to train like competitive athletes while enjoying the process of setting goals and working hard to achieve them. It’s all about experiencing the joy of improvement, becoming a stronger swimmer, and discovering how rewarding hard work can be! Click here for more information
Yellow
The Yellow Group is tailored for upper elementary and middle school swimmers, ages 9-13, who already have a solid foundation in stroke technique and racing skills. This group focuses on refining stroke mechanics, building endurance, understanding training cycles, and applying these skills effectively in races. Click here for more information
Juniors
The Junior Group is designed for middle school and early high school athletes who are committed to advancing their swimming journey. Athletes in this group work on proficiency in all four strokes, the individual medley (IM), and distance events. The group emphasizes personal responsibility for athletic progress, introduces advanced training techniques, and focuses on meet preparation and race strategies to compete at a higher level. Click here for more information
Navy
The Navy Group is for high school and middle school athletes who are dedicated to prioritizing their swimming goals. This group emphasizes mastering all four strokes, refining technique, and developing a comprehensive understanding of training and meet preparation. Navy athletes also serve as leaders within the Armada community, embodying the qualities of champions both in and out of the pool. Click here for more information
Gold
The Gold Group is for advanced athletes who have chosen swimming as their primary sport and are committed to reaching the highest levels of competition in USA Swimming. The focus is on refining stroke technique, optimizing speed and power, and maintaining precision during intense training. Gold Group swimmers also develop essential life skills, including time management, balancing responsibilities, and fostering a culture of excellence through high standards for themselves and their teammates. Click here for more information
For more detailed descriptions, requirements, and additional information, please explore the sub-tabs for each training group.
