Group Description and Skill Improvement Goal

Group 1

To be able to join the team at this level, your swimmer should be able to swim across the pool on their own. Group 1 is an introduction to competitive swimming. Once in Group 1, the focus is:

  • Build on the confidence of the swimmers' own ability 
  • Become proficient in Freestyle and Backstroke
  • Ability to Dive and do streamline
  • Work on Butterfly and Breaststroke, as well as turns.

Development Goals of Group 1:

  • Proficient in all four Strokes (Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke, and Freestyle)
  • Ability to do all turns with each Stroke
  • Dive and hold streamline until swimmer surfaces
  • Side Breathing mastered
  • Be able to follow Start commands as needed in a swim meet setting
  • Should be able to swim a 100 free with turns and side breathing
  • Should be able to do a 50 of Butterfly, Backstroke, and Breaststroke

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Group 2

Minimum standards to move up to Group 2:

  • Proficient in diving off the blocks with Commands
  • Hold streamline until the surface
  • Introduction to  the use of a pace clock with sets
  • Can do a 100 Freestyle, 50 Butterfly, Back, and Breast

Development Goals of Group 2:

  • Introduction to aerobic conditioning
  • Advance technique skill in all 4 strokes
  • Advance swimmer’s proficiency in turns of all four strokes
  • Dives focus on competitive edge, tight streamlines, farther, faster
  • Develop all 4 strokes breakouts
  • Consistently does turns correctly
  • Consistently does streamline off all walls
  • Ability to swim a 500 free/200 IM/200 choice of stroke

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Group 3

Minimum Standards to Promote to Group 3:

  • Be able to do an 800 Free without stopping
  • Can do a 200 Back, Breast, and IM
  • Expected attendance is 75%
  • Enter at least 3 meets per year (All our Piranha Meets)
  • Can use a pace clock to accomplish workout

Development of Goals of Group 3:

  • Strong aerobic base
  • High Proficiency understanding of all the strokes, turns, and dives for high-level racing
  • Ability to develop an individual race strategy
  • Development of Goalsetting and mental fortitude to handle the highs and lows of the sport
  • Development of individual preparation process (race ready and warm down)
  • Understand season planning and participate in Goal setting accordingly

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Junior Group

Minimum standards to promote to Juniors:

  • Can swim a 1.5-hour workout
  • Expected attendance is 85%, and Higher
  • Regularly competes in local swim meets
  • The goal is to be Top Age Group and/or strong High School swimmers
  • Minimum age 11, unless otherwise approved by Head Coach

Development Goals of Juniors:

  • Increase aerobic training capacity and introduction of anaerobic training
  • Continue Goal setting and advance individuals understanding of the process
  • Introduction taper phase for peak swimming
  • Clear development of individual needs for warm-up, warm-down, nutritional, and sleep requirements
  • Improve individual time standards in most of the swimmers' age group events ("B time" or better). See age group time standards.

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Pre-Senior

Minimum Standards to Promote to Pre-Senior Group:

  • It is possible to promote to the Pre-Senior group from Group 3
  • Can swim for 2 hours 
  • Can swim sets on intervals such as 6 x 50 @:55, 10 X 100 @ 1:30
  • 85% attendance or higher expected
  • Regularly swims in local meets and regional meets
  • Goal to be a strong club or High School swimmer

Development Goals of Pre-Senior Group:

  • Increase aerobic and anaerobic capacity
  • Individual sets their own goals and implement individual preparedness for races
  • Goal to achieve several B and A time standards in age group events
  • Participates in season planning and all phases of training
  • Regularly participates in local swim meets
  • Partakes in nutritional learning to improve workout ability and swim meet energy needs
  • Participation in Dryland to develop swimmers understanding of cross-training and improve swimmer’s overall strength and core strength
  • Minimum age 14, unless approved by Head Coach

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Senior

Minimum Standards to Promote to Senior Group:

  • Advanced understanding of all 4 strokes
  • Strong development of race strategies
  • Strong understanding of Goal setting procedures
  • Can swim strongly for the length of the workout (2 hrs)
  • Strong High School swimmer and/or Club swimmer
  • Goal to participate in Junior Nationals, Senior Nationals, Olympic trials, Futures, Sectionals, and Senior meets
  • 90%or better attendance expected
  • Regularly competes in local and National meets
  • Minimum age 14, unless approved by Head Coach

Development Goals of Senior Group:

  • Highest aerobic and anaerobic capacities achieved
  • Highest and best race strategies developed
  • Strong mental fortitude developed to deal with the highs and lows of competing
  • Development of leadership and time management skills
  • Highest participation in Season and Goal Planning
  • Understands all phases of training from Base to Peak/Taper phase
  • Will achieve peak performances 2-3 times per year
  • Improve individual time standards in as many age group events as desired
  • The overall goal is to achieve lifetime best standards to advance to the collegiate level or end on the Highest note possible
  • Maximize marketability to achieve scholarship