Age Group/Development Program
Developmental Policy
- We want IM’ers not I AM’ers
- IM’ers are multi-stroke swimmers that strive to be their best at all 4 strokes. These swimmers are not afraid of their “weak” events. They typically demonstrate a growth mindset and accept failures as a learning experience.
- I AM’ers are single or double stroke swimmers that fear their weak events, ask not to swim them at meets, and often avoid working hard on them at practice. These swimmers typically demonstrate a fixed mindset where failure leads to a negative outlook…and often quitting!
We are interested in long-term success, not overnight stardom. We are not pushing athletes to win NOW and at all costs
Training Dynamic
Age Group Swimming
- “How will your swimming look at age 18?”
- Not expected to perform/train like senior swimmers
- Age appropriate: “10 year old's need to be 10 years old”
- Highly instructional/skill based
- Focus on learning, not being perfect
Attendance
- Age Group Swimming (14 and under) We recommend your child partake in various activities and develop a wide variety of skills.
- If you are going to be gone or will be missing practice, please let the coaches know ahead of time.
Resources for Development Groups Families
2023-2024 Meet & Events Schedule SMST DEV
DEV groups meet warm up Fall 2023
USA Swimming Requirements Coaches
GEAR for SMST Dev Groups 23-24
2023-2024 Integrity Program Info Sheet
2023-2024 Varsity Program Information
2023-2024 Junior Varsity Information
2023-2024 Imagination Program Information
2023-2024 Discovery Program Information
2023-2024 Explorer Program Information
2023-2024 Mini Marlins Program Information
Progression Path for the Marlin Groups:
Required Gear for all Development Groups
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_ayAWD_s3hDfOiTg5Udzm7PANw5PwrG-0KA5z0Ha47k/edit
Mighty Marlins
Development Coaching Staff - Coaches rotate groups daily
Congratulations! Your child has been invited to begin an incredible swimming journey. The Mighty Marlins group on the Marlins is one of ten Marlins dynamic training groups. This is a fun, dynamic, energetic entry into one of the top USA Swimming clubs in the US. Practice times and number of swimmers in each group is based on the needs of the entire team.
Entry requirements: Ability to swim freestyle with some side breathing and ability to swim on back
Skills taught: Strong kicking basesd program. Kick is used for cardiovascular conditioning, teaching circle swimming, teaching intervals, teaching learning in a fast-paced setting. Arm pulls for freestyle and backstroke are taught using drills to create strong "muscle memory."
Gear needed for practice each day
- Kickboard
- Floating fins
- Cap
- Goggles
- Water bottle
- Competitive style swim suit
Meets: Athletes in Mighty Marlins training group will not attend swim meets
Athletes in Mighty Marlins training group will promoted to Explorer group when children demonstrate the skills and meet the kicking intervals for Explorer Group
Short Axis (butterfyl and breaststroke) kicking is introduced. Legal breaststroke and legal butterfly kicking is required to promote to Explorer Group (coaches may require breaststroke fins for swimmers that do not have a legal breaststroke kick)
Explorer
Development Coaching Staff - Coaches rotate groups daily
Grade: Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd (3rd) - Maximum age 10 years (5th grade)
Daily Training: 5 days/week, 45 minutes in water
Practice Location: Vista Del Lago
Attendance: Strongly encouraged to attend at least 3 times per week
Entry to Discovery: kicking on :45-40 interval/25 yards x20, with ability to maintain :35 interval at times
Entry to Explorer: kicking is based on a :40-:45 second interval. Swimmers will starte and end each practice with a kick set to form the building block of competitive swimming. Freestyle and Backstroke strokes are taught via drills on intervals. Short Axis (breaststroke and butterly) kicking is introduced.
Dives, wall pushoffs and turns are introduced
Gear for Explorer Group
- Marlins cap
- Competition swim suit – endurance fabric encouraged for practices
- Athletic clothing/shoes for dry land
- Kickboard
- Long floating fins
- Swim strap
Meets
- Athletes in Explorer will swim short course meets
- Meet attendance is not required for this group, however swim meets are encouraged for long axis strokes (back, free)
Annual promotion consideration
- Grades K, 1 will only be considered for promotion to Discovery in September. Promotions are based on attendance and mastery of skills.
Quarterly promotion consideration
- 2nd and 3rd graders may be considered for promotion to Discovery three times annually. Promotions are based on attendance and mastery to skills.
Discovery
Development Coaching Staff - Coaches rotate daily
Grade: 2nd, 3rd (4th), Maximum age 10 years (5th grade)
Daily Training: 5 days/week - 60 minutes in water
Practice Location: Vista Del Lago High School
Attendance: Strongly encouraged to attend at least 4 times per week
Entry to Discovery: kicking on :40 interval/25 yards with ability to maintain :35 interval at times
50 freestyle with strong kick and proper side breathing, 50 backstroke, 25 breaststroke kick with proper (legal) technique, 25 breaststroke swim, 25 butterfly. Ability to kick 20 x 25 freestyle on :40 second interval and ability to make :35 second interval for shorter kick sets
Skills Coached:
- Skills from Explorer group will be performed faster and with precision
- Kicking for all strokes – intervals and speed will be increased
- Drills for all strokes with emphasis on precision while increasing speed
- Distance per stroke will be emphasized for all strokes
- Competitive turns will be coached
- Swimming sets will be introduced while stroke integrity is maintained
Gear for Discovery Group
- Marlins cap
- Water bottle
- Competition swim suit – endurance fabric encouraged for practices
- Athletic clothing/shoes for dry land
- Kickboard
- Long floating fins
- Swim strap
- Catch paddle
- Breaststroke fins (at coach direction)
Meets
- Athletes in Discovery will swim short course meets and long course meets at coach discretion
- Meet attendance is strongly encouraged but not required
Annual promotion consideration
- 3rd graders may be considered for annual promotion to Imagination in September. Promotions are based on attendance and mastery of skills.
Monthly promotion consideration
- 4th and 5th graders may be considered for promotion to Imagination three times annually. Promotions are based on attendance and mastery to skills.
Imagination I
Development Coaching Staff - Coaches rotate daily
Daily Training: 5 days/week 60-75 minutes in water
Practice Location: Vista Del Lago High School
Attendance: Strongly encouraged to attend at least 4 times per week
Entry to Discovery: kicking on :35 interval/25 yards with ability to maintain :30 interval at times
- 8 & Under 50 meter back, breast, fly and 100 meter freestyle standards
- Legal 100 individual medley, Ability to swim all strokes 10 x 50 on 1:25 interval - with proper streamlines, turns, stroke mechanics
Imagination II
Development Coaching Staff - Coaches rotate daily
Daily Training: 5 days/week 60-75 minutes in water
Practice Location: Vista Del Lago High School
Attendance: Strongly encouraged to attend at least 4 times per week
Entry to Discovery: kicking on :30 interval/25 yards with ability to maintain :25 interval at times
- Legal 200individual medley, Ability to swim all strokes 10 x 50 on 1:20 interval - with proper streamlines, turns, stroke mechanics
Skills Coached:
- Skills from Discovery group will be performed faster and with precision
- Kicking for all strokes – intervals and speed will be increased
- Drills for all strokes with emphasis on precision while increasing speed
- Distance per stroke will be emphasized for all strokes
- Competitive turns will be used with all sets in practice
- Swimming sets will be expanded while stroke integrity is maintained.
Gear for Imagination Group
- Marlins cap
- Water bottle
- Competition swim suit – endurance fabric encouraged for practices
- Athletic clothing/shoes for dry land
- Kickboard
- Long floating fins
- Front swimmer’s snorkel
- Swim strap
- Catch paddle
- Breaststroke fins (at coach direction)
Annual promotion consideration
- 4th graders may be considered for annual promotion to Integrity in September. Promotions are based on attendance and mastery of skills.
Monthly promotion consideration
- 5th, 6th graders may be considered for promotion to Integrity when coaches determine athletes are ready to meet the workload. Promotions are based on attendance and mastery to skills.
Integrity
Coach: Kathleen Kinsey
Grades: 5th, 6th
Daily Training: 5 days/week - 90-105 minutes in water
Practice Location: Vista Del Lago High School
Attendance: Strongly encouraged to attend 5 times per week
Entry to Integrity
- Legal 200 individual medley, Ability to swim all strokes 10 x 50 on 1:10 interval, Ability to swim 10 x 100 on 1:40 interval with turns and stroke integrity
- Ability to kick 40 x 25 freestyle in body line at :30 interval
Skills Coached:
- Skills from Imagination group will be performed faster and with precision
- Kicking for all strokes – intervals and speed will be increased
- Drills for all strokes with emphasis on precision while increasing speed
- Distance per stroke will be emphasized for all strokes
- Competitive turns will be used with all sets in practice
- Swimming sets will be expanded while stroke integrity is maintained.
Gear for Integrity Group:
- Marlins cap
- Water Bottle
- Competition swim suit – endurance fabric encouraged for practices
- Athletic clothing/shoes for dry land
- Kickboard
- Long floating fins
- Front swimmer’s snorkel
- Swim strap
- Catch paddle
- Breaststroke fins (at coach direction)
Annual promotion consideration
- 6th graders may be considered for annual promotion to Pre-Senior in September. Promotions are based on attendance and mastery of skills.
Junior Varsity
Coach: John Branson
Grades: 7th and 8th
Daily Training: 5 days/week
Practice Location: Vista Del Lago High School
Attendance: Strongly encouraged to attend 4 times per week
Entry to Junior Varsity
- Some swimming experience on a team. Ability to swim all 4 competitive strokes. Ability to swim legal 100 individual medley, ability to swim 10 x 100 freestyle on interval
- This group is ideal for busy teens who cannot maintain the rigorous practice schedule required for competitive senior swimming or swimmers that have not achieved the time standards necessary for the Marlins Senior program. Swimmers may attend meets if desired, but meet attendance is not mandatory.
Skills Coached:
- Kicking for all strokes
- Drills for all strokes with emphasis on precision while increasing speed
- Distance per stroke will be emphasized for all strokes
- Competitive turns will be used with all sets in practice
- Swimming sets will be expanded while stroke integrity is maintained.
Gear for Junior Varsity:
- Marlins cap
- Water Bottle
- Competition swim suit – endurance fabric encouraged for practices
- Athletic clothing/shoes for dry land
- Kickboard
- Long floating fins
- Front swimmer’s snorkel
- Swim strap
- Catch paddle
- Breaststroke fins (at coach direction)
Quarterly promotion consideration
- Swimmers with greater than 75% attendance and those meeting the entry requirements for Pre-Senior (7th and 8th only) may be considered for promotion three times annually.
- All swimmers will promote to Varsity when they enter 9th grade
