The Basics

This is basic information regarding practice attendance and expectations and equipment needs for each group.  Full group information can be found below:

All swimmers should have their own equipment that is clearly labeled.  Click here to visit the Team Store.

Tiger Age Group 1 (7-9 years old) / TAG1

TAG 1 swimmers are at an early stage of their swimming journey, focusing on developing technical skills, efficiency and kicking in all four strokes. Parents play a significant role in encouraging and supporting them, assisting with swim bags, equipment, caps, goggles and swimsuits.

TAG 1 swimmers should participate in home meets. Parents and swimmers may request events in Team Unify. Coaches will make any needed changes based on development and season progression and have final approval of their events.

Swimmers need to demonstrate the ability to swim 50 yards of both freestyle and backstroke and have a working knowledge of Breaststroke and Butterfly. We encourage TAG 1 swimmers to work toward IMR events which include 100 Free, 50 Back, 50 Breast, 50 Fly, 100 IM (SCY) or 200 IM (LCM).

Practice Recommendations: 2-3 practices per week
3 practices offered per week: 60 minutes per practice, Dryland 1-2 times / week

Equipment Requirement: Cap, goggles, swimsuit, fins, mesh bag

Tiger Age Group 2 (9-10 years old) / TAG2

TAG 2 swimmers are enhancing their strokes, technical skills and kick development through engaging and progressively challenging sets. Swimmers are working to achieve IMR and IMX milestones to ensure comprehensive stroke development.
IMR events include 100 Free, 50 Back, 50 Breast, 50 Fly, 100 IM (SCY) or 200 IM (LCM).

IMX events include 200 Free, 100 Back, 100 Breast, 100 Fly, 200 IM.
Parents play a supportive role in the athletes' journey, fostering independence and teaching responsibility. They

may need some assistance with swim bags and equipment.

Participation in home meets is expected. Parents and swimmers may request events through Team Unify, and coaches will adjust based on progress and season development, approving their selections.

Practice Recommendations: 3-4 practices per week
4 practices offered per week: 90 minutes per practice, Dryland 2- 3 times / week

Equipment Requirement: Cap, goggles, swimsuit, fins, snorkel, mesh bag

Tiger Age Group 3 (11-12 years old) / TAG3

TAG 3 swimmers are enhancing their stroke and kicking abilities by tackling progressively longer and more challenging sets. Most swimmers will have completed their IMR events: 200 Free, 50 Back, 50 Breast, 50 Fly, 100 IM (SCY) or 200 IM (LCM) and are working toward completing IMX events: 400 Free (LCM) or 500 Free (SCY), 100 Back, 100 Breast, 100 Fly, 200 IM. Well-rounded stroke development is crucial as they transition to training as older age group swimmers.

Parents play an active role in supporting the athletes by building independence and promoting positive relationships between athletes and coaches. Swimmers should be responsible for their equipment and begin to take more ownership over their sport.

Swimmers are encouraged to take part in both home meets and nearby travel meets. Through Team Unify, parents may assist swimmers in selecting preferred events. Coaches will adjust the events according to the swimmer’s development and the current season plan.

Practice Recommendations: 3-4 practices per week
4 practices offered per week: 90 minutes per practice, Dryland 2-3 times / week

Equipment Requirement: Cap, goggles, swimsuit, fins, snorkel, buoy, and mesh bag

Tiger Age Group 4 (11-12 years old) / TAG4

TAG 4 swimmers are continuing their stroke and kicking development and skills with increasingly longer and challenging sets. TAG 4 swimmers have completed IMX events to ensure all strokes are developed adequately as they train as older age group swimmers. The TAG 4 age group strives to compete and score at Southeastern Championships.

Parents are supportive of athletes and coaches. TAG 4 swimmers have independence and show responsibility for coming to practice prepared.

TAG 4 swimmers should participate in home meets and travel meets. Parents and swimmers may request events in Team Unify. Coaches will make any needed changes based on development and season progression and approve their events.

Practice Requirement: 4-5 practices per week
5 practices offered per week: 105 minutes per practice, Dryland 3 times / week

Equipment Requirement: Cap, goggles, swimsuit, fins, snorkel, buoy, paddles, and mesh bag

Junior / JR (13-14 years old)

JR swimmers are continuing their stroke and kicking development and skills with increasingly longer and challenging sets, preparing them for our Senior training groups. JR swimmers complete 13-18 year old IMX events. JRs are competing and striving to score at Southeastern Championships. 

Parents are supportive of athletes and coaches. JR swimmers are independent and take responsibility for coming to practice with dedication and preparedness with an intense desire to compete.

JR swimmers participate in all meets. Parents and swimmers may request events in Team Unify. Coaches will make any needed changes based on development and season progression and approve their events. 

Practice Requirement: 5-6 practices per week
6 practices offered per week: 105 minutes per practice, Dryland 3 times / week

Equipment Requirement: Cap, goggles, swimsuit, fins, snorkel, buoy, paddles, and mesh bag

Junior1 / JR1 (13 and older)

JR1 swimmers are continuing their stroke and kicking development and skills with increasingly longer and challenging sets, preparing them for the next level of training. JR1 swimmers are working to complete 13-18 year old IMX events to ensure all strokes are developed adequately as they train as older age group swimmers. JR1 swimmers are also working to qualify for Southeastern Championships. 

Parents are supportive of athletes and coaches. JR1 swimmers have independence and show responsibility for coming to practice with dedication and preparedness.

JR1 swimmers are expected to participate in all home meets and travel meets when possible. Parents and swimmers may request events in Team Unify. Coaches will make any needed changes based on development and season progression and approve their events. 

Practice Requirement: 3-5 practices per week
5 practices offered per week: 105 minutes per practice, Dryland 3 times / week

Equipment Requirement: Cap, goggles, swimsuit, fins, snorkel, buoy, paddles, and mesh bag

Senior1 (14 & Up)

The Senior1 group is designed for athletes who are in high school and are either working their way to be able to eventually train with the Senior Group or cannot or do not wish to commit to meeting the attendance and effort expectations of the Senior Group.

Athletes in the Senior 1 group will continue to build on the skills and training base developed at the Junior group level, with shorter practices than the Senior group that are focused on technique, power, speed, and endurance.  The focus for the Senior 1 group will be to compete at the highest possible level in both High School and USA Swimming competitions.   

The Senior 1 athletes will be invited to attend weekend practice with the Senior group.  Senior 1 members wishing to transition into the Senior group will have to demonstrate consistent practice attendance, strong practice performance, and the ability to train well with the Senior group on during joint practices.

Upon entering the Senior 1 group swimmers should:

  • Have swum on a competitive team in the past
  • Be able to swim all four strokes legally
  • Be willing to work hard to improve in all 4 strokes
  • Practice Recommendations: 2-6 practices per week
  • Equipment: Fins, Paddles, Snorkel, Pull Buoy, Equipment Bag

 

Senior (13 & Up)

The Senior group is the top group at Ensworth Aquatics.  Senior swimmers should be committed to swimming as their top athletic priority.  Senior level swimmers must be self-disciplined enough to prioritize their academics and athletics effectively to be successful at each without having to sacrifice either. The Senior group may be split into two groups depending on the make-up of the group during any given season and the number of coaches available to the group.  Any split of the group would still follow the same practice schedule.

Athletes interested in training with the Senior group must:

  • Be committed to participate in all scheduled practices and competitions.  Athletes are responsible for communicating with their coaches prior to missed practices.
  • Be able to add to the overall success of the group through commitment, positive attitude, willingness to work hard, and support of teammates
  • Be realistically working to achieve either Sectional, Futures, Junior National, or National time standards
  • Be consistently on time for practice
  • Be able to specialize in events as they get older while being willing to train all energy systems and distances during any given season
  • Practice Recommendations: All scheduled practices
  • Equipment: Fins, Paddles, Snorkel, Pull Buoy, Equipment Bag

A NOTE ON MORNING PRACTICE and DOUBLES

There will be times during the school year, holidays, and the summer when athletes will be expected to participate in two practices a day.  Athletes in the Senior group will be responsible for communicating with coaches about their individual expectations regarding morning practices.  Athletes will also be responsible for living up to their individual expectations with regards to morning practices.