Potomac Valley Swimming
Level 1

Herndon Aquatic Club

2025 - 2026 Group Descriptions

 

Our main swim program runs for 9 months from September through May. Registration opens May 1 for returning families and June 1 for new families.

 

Pre-Competitive Program

 

Age Group Mini

 

10 & Under

 

2 hours/week

  • Bridges the gap between swim lessons and competitive club swimming (USA Swimming)
  • Refine freestyle and backstroke and learn breaststroke, butterfly, racing dives, flip turns
  • 2 swim meet style racing opportunities during the season
  • Prepares swimmers for future placement in Age Group Bronze or Age Group Silver
  • Must be able to swim 25 yards of freestyle with rotary breathing and 25 yards of backstroke independently
 

 

Age Group Competitive Program

 

Age Group Bronze

 

9 & Under

 

2 hours/week

  • Introduction to competitive swimming - refine technique, race strategies, endurance building
  • Approximately 5 swim meets throughout the season
  • Prepares swimmers for future placement in Age Group Silver
  • Must be able to swim all four strokes legally and be able to complete one-hour long practices
  • Previous summer league experience or club experience is expected
 

Age Group Silver

 

Ages 9 - 12

 

3 - 4.5  hours/week

  • Continues to refine the four strokes, starts, and turns, with increased focus on endurance and race strategies
  • Expected to participate in 1 swim meet opportunity per month
  • Prepares swimmers for future placement in Age Group Gold 1 or 2
  • Must be able to swim all four strokes legally, dive, do flip turns, and participate in high intensity practices
  • Previous competitive swim experience expected
 

Age Group Gold 2

 

Ages 12 - 14

 

4 hours/week

  • Refines the four strokes, starts, and turns, while building endurance and race strategies
  • Regular swim meet participation is encouraged 
  • Prepares swimmers for future placement in Senior Bronze
  • Must be able to swim all four strokes legally, dive, do flip turns, and complete one-hour long practices

 

 

Age Group Gold 1

 

Ages 12 - 14

 

6 - 8 hours/week

  • Highly competitive, high intensity training
  • Required swim meet participation with the goal of qualifying for championship meets 
  • Minimum 80% practice attendance required 
  • Participation in the summer program is expected
  • Prepares swimmers for future placement in Senior Silver or Senior Gold
  • Previous competitive swim experience required
  • Swimmers must have achieved at least three B times across multiple strokes
  • USA Swimming 2024-2028 Motivational Standards
 

 

Senior Competitive Program

 

Senior Bronze

 

14 & Over

 

2 - 3 hours/week

  • Designed to keep swimmers in shape for high school swim team and summer league seasons
  • Swim meet participation encouraged 
  • Must be able to swim all four strokes legally, dive, do flip turns, and complete 1 hour practices
 

Senior Silver 2

 

13 & Over

 

6 hours/week

1 hr strength training

  • Senior Silver 2 is designed for swimmers ready to train at the level of Senior Silver 1 who can commit to no more than 4 days per week. (See Senior Silver 1 description)
 

Senior Silver 1

 

13 & Over

 

9.5 hours/week

1 hr strength training

  • Highly competitive, high intensity training + Afternoon strength training workouts
  • Required swim meet participation with the goal of qualifying for championship meets 
  • Minimum 80% practice attendance required - Participation in the summer program is expected
  • Prepares swimmers for future placement in Senior Gold or college level swimming
  • Previous competitive swim experience required
  • Swimmers must have achieved at least three BB times across multiple strokes
  • USA Swimming 2024-2028 Motivational Standards
 

Senior Gold

 

15 & Over

 

15 hrs/week

1 hr strength training

  • Our most advanced training group - swimmers are committed to training at the highest levels
  • Swim Meet participation is required - goal of qualifying for National Level competitions
  • Minimum 85% practice attendance required, including doubles practices and strength training
  • Required to participate in the summer program 
  • Designed to prepare swimmers to swim at high levels in college
  • Swimmers must have achieved at least three A times across multiple strokes and are expected to have qualified for PVS Championship meets
  • USA Swimming 2024-2028 Motivational Standards

 

Practice Schedule 2025 - 2026

 
 

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Senior Gold

5:00 - 7:00 am

Strength Training

4:00 - 4:30 pm

4:30 - 6:00 pm

 

5:00 - 7:00 am

5:00 - 7:00 am

Strength Training

4:00 - 4:30 pm

4:30 - 6:00 pm 

5:00 - 7:00 am

5:00 - 7:00 am

5:00 - 7:00 am

Senior Silver 1 AM

Senior Silver 2* AM

*Choose any 4 days

5:00 - 6:30 am

Strength Training

4:00 - 4:30 pm

5:00 - 6:30 am

5:00 - 6:30 am

Strength Training

4:00 - 4:30 pm

5:00 - 6:30 am

5:00 - 6:30 am

5:00 - 7:00 am

Age Group Gold 1 AM

5:00 - 6:30 am

5:00 - 6:30 am

5:00 - 6:30 am

5:00 - 6:30 am

 

5:00 - 7:00 am

Age Group Gold 2 AM

5:30 - 6:30 am

5:30 - 6:30 am

 

5:30 - 6:30 am

5:30 - 6:30 am

 

Age Group Silver AM

*FULL*

6:30 - 7:30 am

 

6:30 - 7:30 am

 

6:30 - 7:30 am

6:30 - 8:00 am

Age Group Bronze AM

 

6:30 - 7:30 am

 

6:30 - 7:30 am

   
Age Group Mini AM   6:30 - 7:30 am   6:30 - 7:30 am    
 

Senior Silver 1 PM

Senior Silver 2* PM

*Choose any 4 days

Strength Training

4:00 - 4:30 pm

4:30 - 6:00 pm

4:30 - 6:00 pm

Strength Training

4:00 - 4:30 pm

4:30 - 6:00 pm

4:30 - 6:00 pm

4:00 - 5:30 pm

5:00 - 7:00 am

Senior Bronze

7:30 - 8:30 pm

 

7:30 - 8:30 pm


 

7:30 - 8:30 pm

(Sept - Oct)

   

Age Group Gold 1 PM

7:00 - 8:30 pm

7:00 - 8:30 pm

7:00 - 8:30 pm

7:00 - 8:30 pm

 

5:00 - 7:00 am

Age Group Gold 2 PM

3:30 - 4:30 pm

3:30 - 4:30 pm

 

3:30 - 4:30 pm

3:30 - 4:30 pm

 

Age Group Silver PM *FULL*

6:00 - 7:00 pm

 

6:00 - 7:00 pm

 

5:30 - 6:30 pm

6:30 - 8:00 am

Age Group Bronze PM *FULL*

 

6:00 - 7:00 pm

 

6:00 - 7:00 pm

   

Age Group Mini

M/W or T/TH *FULL*

5:00 - 6:00 pm

5:00 - 6:00 pm

5:00 - 6:00 pm

5:00 - 6:00 pm