Practice Groups

PSL practice groups are Prepteam, Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Seniors. The minimum requirements listed below do not guarantee a child will be placed in a particular practice group.  Each swimmer will be placed in the appropriate swim group according to their needs and abilities.  Over the course of the season, swimmers may advance to a higher group.  Move-ups are not based on hard-&-fast science; it will be at the coaching staff’s discretion when a swimmer advances to the next level.  

 

Prep-team 

  • Minimum requirements: 5 yrs old; not afraid of the water, has been through basic level swim lessons or completed 6-weeks PSL Summer Pre-team.  Can safely swim 25 yards in deeper water
  • Practices up to 3 times per week
  • Prep-team consists of noncompetitive swimmers seeking to be on the competition team.  Focus is on body balance, basic swimming technique, and both freestyle and backstroke.
  • Prep-team is non-continuous enrollment program with 4 week sessions.  

 

Bronze 

  • Minimum requirements: 6 yrs old; swim 50yd freestyle and 50yd backstroke without stopping
  • Practices 3-4 times per week
  • Bronze is designed for entry level swimmers.  Swimmers will learn stroke fundamentals and racing basics.  These swimmers should have been through intermediate level swimming lessons and/or Pre-team and be ready to learn in a group environment. 

 

Silver

  • Minimum requirements: 9 years old; legal in 3 strokes
  • Practices 4-5 times per week
  • Silver is for more advanced swimmers; this group focuses equally on technique, speed work, and distance swims.  Swimmers are also introduced to interval training. Swimmers in this group must have a good work ethic and a true desire to improve their strokes.  

 

Gold

  • Minimum requirements to be Gold: 13 years old; Legal in all strokes
  • Selected at Coaches’ discretion: maturity, “coachability,” listening skills, proper swimming details 
  • Practices 5 to 7 times per week

 

Seniors

  • Minimum requirements:  (1) 15 years old

                                           (2) “BB” or better time in at least two events

                                           (3) Completes goal and commitment contract.

  • Selected at Coaches’ discretion: maturity, “coachability,” listening skills, proper swimming details 
  • Practices 7 to 8 times per week