While training groups may be assigned primarily upon age and ability, other factors may be used to help determine final placement. The Training Groups are based upon the USA Swimming American Development Model for Swimming which focuses on the USA Swimming American Development Model emphasizing Competence - Character - Confidence - Connection. ** Guidelines below are fluid and allow for accommodations as coaches see fit based on their experience and expertise. Coaches may place swimmers where they feel they will perform the best based on maturity and athletic desire and dedication. **

The Stuttgart Piranhas consists of five main groups which correspond to the USA Swimming ADM Guidelines:

• Level I
• Level II
• Level III (non high school swimmers)
• Level IV & V (high school swimmers) 

 

Level II

This group is usually composed of swimmers ages 9-12.  This group is designed for more advanced younger swimmers and older swimmers who are dedicated to working quickly to improve their strokes.

Swimmers ages 9-12 should be able to complete all four competitive strokes, 400 and 200 Free, 100 and 200 IM, as well as all competitive turns and starts. They must be willing to work hard, pay close attention to the coach, with a determination to improve and have learned how to use the pace clock. They are Level 2 and developing Level 3 swimmers according to USA Swimming Developmental Guidelines and can complete the following practice sets with good technique:

• 6 x 50 Free
• 6 x 50 Back
• 6 x 50 Breast
• 6 x 50 Fly
• 6 x 100 Kick
• 1 x 200 IM (with all turns & UW work)
• 400 Free (and will train for 800 Free)

All swimmers in this group must:

Basic Technical Skills

• Swim all four strokes
• Perform Relay Exchanges
• Execute a start from the blocks, hold the underwater streamlined position for 1-½  body lengths, initiate a kicking action for one body length and progress to the surface of the water with a pull
• Butterfly:
  • Demonstrate correct timing of the pull, kick, and breath during the butterfly
  • Complete one length of the pool with legal butterfly form.
• Breaststroke:
  • Complete one length of the pool with legal breaststroke form.
  • Demonstrate correct timing of the pull, kick, and breath during the breaststroke.
  • Complete legal breaststroke pullout with the dolphin kick
  • Performs 100 meters of individual medley with legal technique and turns
• Dolphin Kick and More:
  • Performs prescribed underwater dolphin kicks for freestyle, backstroke and butterfly on starts and turns; and breaststroke on pullout
  • Breathes within the rhythm of stroke in all four strokes

Cognitive Skills

• Understand and demonstrate good sportsmanship (congratulates competition, does not throw fits when goals aren't achieved and does not speak negatively about competition or teammates) and takes pride in being part of the team.
• Treat teammates, parents, coaches and pool staff the way they want to be treated. Understands the importance of giving the coach their undivided attention, listens to the coach and tries to make the appropriate changes. Respectful.
• Talk to the coaches before and after each race, understand the role of failure and the importance of learning from one's mistakes.
• During practice, the swimmer leaves on-time for all sets, starts and finishes at the wall, swims the sets in the prescribed manner, swims the entire set (Does not walk on the bottom of the pool, "lose" equipment, or go to the bathroom in the middle of difficult sets. This swimmer doesn’t complain about the difficulty of a set and counts their repetitions accurately).

 

Level III

These are advanced swimmers, who qualified for Long Distance and/or have B or better times in multiple events. This is a fluid group based on skill rather than age. These will be swimmers that are advanced beyond black team requirements but not yet of high school age. The most advanced Silver swimmers may at times be combined with the more novice Gold swimmers to promote performance and accommodate pace oriented lanes in training.

• Perform a legal 100 of each stroke
• Perform a legal 200 individual medley and the age appropriate distance event (400 and/or 800 Free)
• Increase number of underwater dolphin kicks with increased speed and efficiency for freestyle, backstroke and butterfly
• Perform effective finishes
• Perform correct timing for relay exchange
• Breathes within the rhythm of stroke under race conditions in all four strokes
• Short sprints of all strokes at maximum velocity working on racing skills, coordination, starts and finishes
• Aerobic endurance
  • Performs threshold set one time per season (T-20, 10X200, etc.)

All swimmers in Level III must:

Basic Technical Skills

• Maintain consistent stroke rates and times in training sets
• Performs the 200’s of stroke and a 400 individual medley
• Kicks to 10 meters using underwater dolphin kicks faster than in previous level
• Improve speed, power and distance to 15 meters in each stroke
• Performs a relay exchange with advanced technique

Cognitive Skills

• Demonstrate a high level of sportsmanship (respects competitors and gets along with teammates and friends, regardless of ability level)
• Works to learn the names of their competitors
• Attends recommended meets and understands the importance of warm-up and cool down
• Meet the established attendance requirements
• Challenges him/herself to perform at the utmost of his or her ability in practice
• Ability to balance school and practice
• Understands the benefits and uses of positive self-talk and monitors negative self-talk
• Understands the importance of concentration in practice and meets and can regularly recognize a faulty focus and bring oneself back to proper focus
• Understands and takes responsibility for attendance, performance and habits in practice
• Is able to accept constructive criticism from the coach and understands that criticism is a critique of skills, not of them as an individual
• Effectively communicate commitment to parents, coach and teammates
• Understands the need to sacrifice self-interest for team goals
• Understands the importance of goal setting, sets goals for the entire season
• Understands the importance of visualization and imagery to enhance performance and works to utilize these techniques

 

Levels IV & V

This group is composed of our advanced ability swimmers. Please note, that swimmers may train with other groups to accommodate space limitations and pace lane set ups.

If swimmers are dual athletes, they will need to set up a practice schedule with the coach. Swimmers in this group have or are pursuing "BB" times or better in multiple events, according to EFSL standards and can complete a 200 and 400 IM, 400, 800 and 1500 Free.

All swimmers in Levels IV & V should

Basic Technical Skills

• Maintain consistent stroke rates and times in training sets
• Performs the 200’s of stroke and a 400 individual medley
• Kicks to 10 meters using underwater dolphin kicks
• Improve speed, power and distance to 15 meters in each stroke
• Performs a relay exchange with advanced technique

 

Cognitive Skills

• Demonstrate a high level of sportsmanship (respects competitors and gets along with teammates and friends, regardless of ability level)
• Works to learn the names of their competitors
• Attends recommended meets and understands the importance of warm-up and cool down
• Meet the established attendance requirements
• Challenges him/herself to perform at the utmost of his or her ability in practice
• Ability to balance school and practice
• Understands the benefits and uses of positive self-talk and monitors negative self-talk
• Understands the importance of concentration in practice and meets and can regularly recognize a faulty focus and bring oneself back to proper focus
• Understands and takes responsibility for attendance, performance and habits in practice
• Is able to accept constructive criticism from the coach and understands that criticism is a critique of skills, not of them as an individual
• Effectively communicate commitment to parents, coach and teammates
• Understands the need to sacrifice self-interest for team goals
• Understands the importance of goal setting, sets goals for the entire season
• Understands the importance of visualization and imagery to enhance performance and works to utilize these techniques