Hilton Head Aquatics Training Group Criteria
H2A Group Descriptions:
Pre-Team:
A developmental group with a focus of introducing swimmers to fundamentals and technical instruction in a fun, positive environment. Swimmers will be taught basic skills such as: push offs, streamlines, breakouts, kicking (on the surface and underwater), and sculling. The main focus of the group will be for swimmers to learn proper technique in the competitive strokes of freestyle and backstroke with an introduction to breaststroke, butterfly and race starts. Once the swimmer is legal in freestyle and backstroke, the swimmer will be encouraged to enter and participate in team meets in those events/strokes.
As a developmental group, swimmers will be introduced to the following concepts:
They are part of a team and have respect for their teammates, facilities, environment and coaching staff.
Listen to recommendations from their coach and try to make the appropriate changes.
Understands team rules and consequences for breaking them
The swimmer will also be taught the value of work ethic and discipline by:
Putting away all equipment they used
Being ready to start practice on time
Giving coach their undivided attention
Showing respect for the facilities and equipment
Doing the workout in its entirety i.e. swimming all the way to the wall, not walking on the bottom, etc.
Attendance:
Pre-Team is offered 5 days a week. We would ask swimmers attend 2-3 days a week. When missing practices please email your coach.
Equipment:
Fins: Long and flexible: Fins
Long: https://www.swimoutlet.com/p/finis-f loating-swim-fins-13413/
Kickboard: I would suggest Speedo or TYR: They also make a Junior Size.
No holes in the kickboard please: https://www.swimoutlet.com/collecti ons/kickboards-20622
Bronze:
In continuation from Pre-Team, swimmers will be taught proper technique in the competitive strokes of breaststroke and butterfly in a fun, positive environment. They will also be introduced to more complex skills such as: flip turns, open turns, finishes, pull outs, racing starts and how to read the pace clock. Swimmers will begin to learn the science of training competitive swimming through the introduction of aerobic conditioning and gradually more complex sets using the pace clock. The goal of this group is for swimmers to train in the four competitive strokes and the Individual Medley. Swimmers are expected to attend team meets.
In addition to the concepts from Pre-Team, swimmers will be taught the following:
Doing sets in their entirety i.e. not stopping in the middle and skipping laps
The swimmer will also be taught the value of work ethic and discipline by:
Having all needed equipment with them each day
Being ready to start practice on time
Giving coach their undivided attention
Showing respect for the facilities and equipment
In addition to all characteristics above swimmers are expected to demonstrate following:
Demonstrates an understanding of sportsmanship
Treats teammates, parents, and coaches like he or she would want to be treated.
Talks to coach immediately before and after races
The swimmer will also be taught the value of work ethic and discipline by:
Leaving on time during sets
Leave five seconds behind the swimmer in front of them
Start and finish at the wall
Swims all sets in the prescribed manner (i.e. doesn’t pull on kicking sets, performs all turns legally, etc.)
Attendance:
Practice is 5 days a week. Swimmers are expected to attend 3-4 times a week. Please email the coach when not able to attend practices.
Dryland
Introduction to games and activities that include kicking, throwing, catching, hopping, jumping, skipping, running and crawling.
Equipment For Bronze:
2 types of Fins:
Short fins:
CAPAS Swim Training Fins only:
Long and flexible: Fins
Long: https://www.swimoutlet.com/p/finis-f loating-swim-fins-13413/
Kickboard: I would suggest Speedo or TYR: They also make a Junior Size.
No holes in the kickboard please: https://www.swimoutlet.com/collections/kickboards-20622
Pull Buoy: Either a JR or Regular size.
They have to look like this.
https://www.swimoutlet.com/products/tyr-jr-pull-float-pull-buoy-1237/?color=blackblue
Silver
Practice emphasis is placed on continuing stroke development as well as building an aerobic conditioning base needed for competition. Swimmers are introduced to more complex and detail-oriented training sets. Race training and strategy become a more important part of daily practices with an emphasis on improvement in the areas of technique, fundamentals, race IQ and a passion for competition. The goal of this group is for swimmers to gain experience and get introduced to training in all events that continue to encourage the growth mindset. Coaches will begin to introduce goal setting and seasonal planning to swimmers.
Swimmers will be taught to be knowledgeable about qualifying times for the highest level of competition they can attend as well as how finals work through a process that allows them to stay for finals for the Short course and Long course season ending meets.
Swimmers will be taught to avoid being affected by negative behavior and always showing positive behavior towards teammates
Swimmers will:
Take ownership of attendance, performance in practice and meets and habits that affect that performance
Demonstrate the traits of being a positive leader and the endeavors to become one
Act like a role model in a positive way in and out of the pool.
Dryland
Swimmers begin to expand on a wider variety of strength and flexibility exercises. Swimmers will be introduced to BridgeAthletic training and exercises.
For Silver: Paddles:
Flat please Strokemaster only.
For paddles:
https://strokemakers.com/collections/strokemakers
Most Silver will be .5
Fins:
Short fins:
CAPAS Swim Training Fins only:
Fins: Long and flexible: Fins
Long: https://www.swimoutlet.com/p/finis-f loating-swim-fins-13413/
Snorkel: Any forward facing snorkel will be good.
https://www.swimoutlet.com/collections/swim-snorkels-20628
Kickboard: I would suggest Speedo or TYR: They also make a Junior Size.
No holes in the kickboard please: https://www.swimoutlet.com/collections/kickboards-20622
Pull Buoy: Either a JR or Regular size.
They must look like this.
https://www.swimoutlet.com/products/tyr-jr-pull-float-pull-buoy-1237/?color=blackblue
Gold
Attendance: Practice is 6 days a week. Swimmers are expected to attend all practices. Please email the coach when not able to attend practices. Swimmers are expected to attend all meets.
Physical Development
This group is designed to prepare swimmers for Senior level swimming. Emphasis is to continue to improve stroke mechanics and endurance of all four competitive strokes and the individual medleys. Swimmers are training and preparing for all events and all strokes.
Swimmers will go through goal setting and seasonal planning with their coach to support swimmers in balancing daily obligations. Swimmers are expected to compete in all competitive events to gain experience and work towards determining the swimmer’s strongest events.
As a member of this group, swimmers will be taught the importance of being a role model and leader by example for the younger swimmers. Swimmers will be continuing the process of learning about qualifying times for the highest level of competition they can attend as well as how finals work through a process that allows them to stay for finals for the Short course and Long course season ending meets.
Work ethic and self-discipline:
Swimmers will learn the value of nutrition, hydration, rest, time management and the short term/long term effects they have on daily/seasonal performance
Dryland
Swimmers will be introduced to a variety of exercises rotated through a training plan with BridgeAthletic. Swimmers are taught good aquatic posture.
Senior
Attendance:
Swimmers in this group are expected to attend all practices and meets.
Physical Development
Emphasis of this group is to build and add upon the fundamentals and stroke techniques learned from the age group program. Swimmers will gain extensive knowledge in the science of training at daily practices and race strategy for peak performance at meets. Over time, swimmers will determine their strongest strokes/events by gaining experience in trying all races the sport has to offer.
Senior swimmers will go through goal setting, seasonal planning, nutritional analysis and a dry land program geared towards the swimmers’ specific needs. At this point, swimmers are expected to commit fully to the training program in order to see the full benefits.
As a member of the senior group, swimmers will be expected to demonstrate leadership responsibilities by working with younger swimmers.
Senior swimmers will:
Attend all team meets/functions each month and compete in all events designated by the coach
Be on time each practice
Maintain a positive ‘Can Do’ attitude
Act like a role model in a positive way in and out of the pool.
Thank you,
H2A
