Group Descriptions Fall PVST 2025
ELEMENTARY AGE PRACTICE GROUPS:
LITTLE SQUIDS
Little Squids are our youngest swimmers, age six to ten. This is an introduction to swim team and will have a 1 to 4 instructor to swimmer ratio. Swimmers need to be mature enough to take instruction and be comfortable being in the water.
KRAKEN KIDS
This is our entry-level group for elementary age swimmers. It includes kids who have developed beyond local lesson programs and are ready for the next level. Entry requirement is the ability to swim 25 yards unassisted. In this group, swimmers learn the four competitive strokes. Competitive starts and turns are introduced. Kraken Kids are introduced to competition at practice/fun meets, as well as local USA Swimming meets. Swimmers may attend up to four practices per week. Competitions are NOT required.
BLUE
This group is for swimmers elementary age and the group that the Kraken Kids may progress to with coach permission needed. Entry requirements include the ability to swim 25 yards of each of the four competitive strokes. This group will work on refining technique of the four competitive strokes, starts, and turns. Competition is introduced with practice meets, as well as USA Swimming sanctioned meets held locally. Swimmers may attend up to four practices per week. Competitions are NOT required.
GRAY
This is our top training group for swimmers elementary age seeking higher performance goals through more training time, effort and positive attitude. This group is limited to eight swimmers and must have head coach approval before joining. To be considered for this group swimmers must have the ability to swim 10 x 50 Freestyle on 1:15, attend at least 75% of all practices offered, work to their potential at ALL practices and commit to attend both Winter and Summer Snake River Championship meets as well as any home meets. Swimmers may be asked to move down a group if any of the above criteria is not being met.
MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL AGE PRACTICE GROUPS:
JUNIOR II
This is our entry-level group for middle and high school age swimmers. In this group, swimmers learn the four competitive strokes. Competitive starts and turns are introduced. There are no mandatory attendance or competitive requirements for this group-swimmers choose what they would like to get out of swimming. Swimmers may attend up to four practices per week.
JUNIOR I
This group is for middle and high school age swimmers and offers training for all abilities, from athletes looking to improve fitness to swimmers wanting to hone their technique for the high school season, to committed swimmers focused on breaking into the sectional scene. There are no mandatory attendance or competitive requirements for this group--swimmers choose what they would like to get out of swimming. Swimmers may attend up to five one hour practices a week.
SENIOR
The Senior groups are for our Middle and High School age swimmers who are seeking higher performance goals through more training time, effort and positive attitude. These groups are limited, and swimmers must have head coach approval before joining. To be considered for these groups swimmers must have the ability to swim 10 x 100 Freestyle on 1:40 and 6 x 100 IMs on 1:55, they must attend at least 75% of all practices offered, work to their potential at ALL practices and commit to attend both Winter and Summer Snake River Championship meets as well as any home meets.
NATIONAL
This is our highest training group for those swimmers who aspire to compete at the highest levels in swimming. The expectation for attendance is close to 100% and head coach permission to participate in this group is required. Swimmers must be able to swim 10 x 100 Free on 1:30 and 6 x 100 IMs on 1:45. Swimmers will be expected to work to their potential at ALL practices and commit to attend both Winter and Summer Snake River Championship meets as well as any Regional and/or National level swim meets they qualify for.
