SKATES GROUP
The Skates Group is part of the Swim School Program. The Skates group is for new swimmers ages 9-12 and introduces them to swimming. Skates focuses on teaching the basic swim skills and 4 competitive swimming strokes.
Practice Schedule (See the Practice Schedule & Fees Tab for Up to Date Practice Times)
During the Fall, Winter, and Spring, Skates practice 3x a week for 45 minutes/practice.
During the Summer Skates practices 5x a week for 60 minutes/practice.
Group Equipment
The Basics: Swim Suit, goggles, swim cap (optional but recommended for swimmers with long hair), and a water bottle
Swim Gear: Long Fins + Kickboard (optional but recommended)
Click here to visit our team store.
Eligibility for Skates
In addition to basic water safety, Swimmers must complete the following to the coaches' satisfaction to join the Skates:
- Ability to demonstrate basic freestyle and backstroke swimming strokes
- "Age-In" by being in the age group range of 9-12 years old
Moving Up to the Next Group
For swimmers to move out of the Skates and into the Bat Rays group, they must meet the following criteria:
- Legal competition of 50 yards or meters of each of the 4 strokes, plus 100 yards or meters of Freestyle and Individual Medley (IM).
Swimmers are only allowed to move between groups at the end of one season and the beginning of the next. Late March to early April is the first such period. Late July to early August is the next such period. The purpose of this is to ensure that swimmers who move up are fully prepared to do so. Holding swimmers back to finish out the season also helps everyone else in the group to be challenged by their faster peers before they move up.
