All Swimmers will be tested in the fall and in the spring for appropriate group placement. Any questions should be directed to the Head Coach.
YDSC Training Groups/Placement Guidelines
Revised August 2021
All placements are at the sole discretion of the Head Coach.
These Guidelines give an idea of what we are looking for when making placements.
Swim Lessons
Decatur Family YMCA offers lessons for non-swimmers, either in small groups or private lessons. We use specialized YMCA learn to swim levels. The goal is to develop basic water safety skills and to begin building the basic strokes. Class participants can start as young as infants and need only a desire to learn and have fun in the water. Membership at the YMCA is encouraged, but not required. More information can be found on the lessons portion of the YMCA website. Pre-Team/Competitive group lessons are available for registration.
Attendance Expectations: Attendance is not mandatory, but we encourage swimmers to come as often as they are able. Swimmers must be members of Decatur Family YMCA to participate.
Competition Expectations: Beginner swimmers are not required to attend meets; however, they may attend YDSC Home meets and local meets with approval of the head coach.
Technical Requirements:
- Must be able to swim safely in deep water.
- Must be able to swim 25 yards Freestyle with rotary breathing.
- Must be able to swim 25 yards Backstroke.
- YMCA Head Coach must conduct the evaluation and approve placement in the group.
Performance Requirements:
- There are no performance requirements for the Beginner group.
Group Emphasis: This group focuses primarily on building proficient freestyle and backstroke. . Swimmers will also learn basic racing starts and turns. Practices are designed to continue to develop water safety skills in a fun environment.
Attendance Expectations: Attendance is not mandatory, but we encourage swimmers to come as often as they are able. Swimmers must be members of Decatur Family YMCA to participate.
Competition Expectations: Beginner swimmers are not required to attend meets; however, they may attend YDSC Home meets and local meets with approval of the head coach.
Technical Requirements:
- Must be able to swim safely in deep water.
- Must be able to swim 25 yards Freestyle with rotary breathing.
- Must be able to swim 25 yards Backstroke legally.
- Must be able to swim 25 yards Butterfly legally.
- Must be able to swim 25 yards Breaststroke legally.
- YMCA Head Coach must conduct the evaluation and approve placement in the group.
Performance Requirements:
- There are no performance requirements for the Beginner group.
Group Emphasis: This group focuses primarily on building proficient freestyle and backstroke. Swimmers will also begin learning basic breaststroke and butterfly. Much of their time in the pool will be spent developing a strong and consistent kick in all four strokes. Swimmers will also learn basic racing starts and turns. Practices are designed to continue to develop water safety skills in a fun environment.
Attendance Expectations: There will be a minimum expectation of 50% practice attendance. Swimmers must be members of Decatur Family YMCA to participate.
Competition Expectations: Green swimmers will be expected to compete in all YDSC hosted meets. Additionally, appropriate meets will be suggested on the seasonal meet schedule and swimmers may attend travel meets as approved by the head coach. Any Green swimmer qualifying for Illinois YMCA/USA Swimming Championship meets as an individual or relay swimmer will be expected to compete.
Technical Requirements:
- Must be technically proficient in all four (4) strokes.
- Must be able to swim a 200-yard Individual Medley without stopping.
- Must be proficient in short (open turns) and long axis (flip turns) turns and be able to perform a basic breaststroke pull-out.
- Must meet requirements for USA Swimming certified racing starts.
- Must have competed in all 4 strokes in a meet
- YMCA Head Coach must conduct the evaluation and approve placement in the group.
Performance Requirements:
- Must be IM Ready Eligible based on meet results.
- 100 Free, 50 Back, 50 Breast, 50 Fly, 100 IM in SCY (10 & under)
- 200 Free, 50 Back, 50 Breast, 50 Fly, 100 or 200 IM (11 & older).
Group Emphasis: Swimmers will continue to develop proficiency and efficiency in all four strokes, as well as starts and turns. Athletes will be introduced to higher levels of competition. There will be continued emphasis on developing a strong and consistent kick in all four strokes. This group will also have a strong emphasis in developing the underwater dolphin kick. Practices are designed for swimmers to LEARN TO TRAIN.
Attendance Expectations: There will be a minimum expectation of 70% practice attendance. Swimmers must be members of Decatur Family YMCA to participate.
Competition Expectations: Advanced swimmers will be expected to compete in all YDSC hosted meets. Swimmers are expected to plan with head coach to travel to several other meets throughout the year to seek out more competition. Any swimmer qualifying for Illinois YMCA/USA Swimming Championship meets as an individual or relay swimmer will be expected to compete.
Technical Requirements:
- Must be technically proficient in all four (4) strokes.
- Must be able to swim a 200 Individual Medley without stopping.
- Must be technically proficient in all starts, turns and breaststroke pull-outs.
- Must be proficient in the underwater dolphin kick.
- Must be able to read basic workout sets and clock intervals independently.
- YMCA Head Coach must conduct the evaluation and approve placement in the group
Performance Requirements:
- Swimmers must be IM Eligible based on meet results
- 200 Free, 100 Back, 100 Breast, 100 Fly, 200 IM (10 & under)
- 400/500 Free, 100 Back, 100 Breast, 100 Fly, 200 IM (11 & older)
- Must be able to swim 10x50 Free on 1:00, kick 10x50 on 1:10, swim 4x100 IM on 2:45.
Group Emphasis: This group will emphasize more advanced technique in all strokes, including refined starts and turns. Swimmers will improve the underwater dolphin kick. Goal setting and mental preparation will be introduced. Swimmers will be encouraged to qualify for Illinois/YMCA Swimming Regional and State Championship meets. Practices are designed for swimmers to TRAIN TO TRAIN.
Attendance Expectations: There will be a minimum expectation of 80% practice attendance. Swimmers must be members of Decatur Family YMCA to participate.
Competition Expectations: Elite Swimmers will be expected to participate in YDSC hosted meets, and travel meets as discussed and planned with the head coach. Any swimmer qualifying for Illinois YMCA/USA Swimming Championship meets as an individual or relay swimmer will be expected to compete. Additional meets with qualification times will be planned with the expectation that the swimmer will compete when qualified.
Technical Requirements:
- Must be able to understand all training sets, terminology, drills and interval reading.
- Must be technically proficient in all starts, turns and breaststroke pull outs.
- Must excel in performing the underwater dolphin kick.
- Must be able to read all workout sets and clock intervals independently.
- YMCA Head Coach must conduct the evaluation and approve placement in the group
Performance Requirements:
- Time Standards:
- 3 NAG A standard times, one of which must be the 200 IM (12 & under).
- 3 NAG AA standard times, one of which must be the 400 IM (13 & over)
- Must be able to swim 10x50 Free on :55, kick 10x50 on 1:00, swim 4x200 IM on 4:00 and kick 10x25 under water dolphin with fins on :45. Swim 500n free nonstop.
Group Emphasis: This group will emphasize perfecting advanced technique in all strokes, including advanced starts and turns. Swimmers will perfect the underwater dolphin kick. Goal setting and mental preparation will become a larger emphasis. Dryland will be an increased part of training with 2 sessions per week. Swimmers will be encouraged to qualify for Illinois/YMCA Swimming State meets. Practices are designed for swimmers to TRAIN TO COMPETE.
Attendance Expectations: There will be a minimum expectation of 90% practice attendance. Swimmers must be members of Decatur Family YMCA to participate.
Competition Expectations: Senior swimmers will be expected to participate in YDSC Home meets, and travel meets as discussed and planned with the head coach. Any Swimmer with qualification times will be expected to compete at Illinois/YMCA Championship meets, YMCA Nationals, and other elite meets as scheduled for the team/individual.
Technical Requirements:
- Must be able to swim a 400 IM and 1000 Free without stopping.
- Must be technically proficient in all strokes, starts and turns, including the breaststroke pull out.
- Must excel in performing the underwater dolphin kick.
- Must be able to read all workout sets and clock intervals independently.
- YMCA Head Coach must conduct the evaluation and approve placement in the group.
Performance Requirements:
- Must be able to swim 10x100 Free on 1:20, kick 10x50 on :50, swim 3x400 IM consecutively on 8:00 and kick 10x25 underwater dolphin with fins on :30 no breath.
- Must be working with the head coach to consistently achieve the next motivational time standard for their age.
- Work towards National Age Group AAA and AAAA times in more than one stroke.
Group Emphasis: This group will emphasize perfecting advanced techniques in all strokes, including advanced starts and turns. Swimmers will perfect the underwater dolphin kick. Goal setting and mental preparation will become a larger emphasis. Dryland will be an increased part of training with 2 sessions per week. Swimmers will be encouraged to qualify for Illinois/YMCA Swimming State meets, as well as Speedo Sectionals and YMCA Nationals. Zones, Grand Prix, Futures and Junior/Senior National Championship Qualifiers will also compete. Any swimmer with aspirations of swimming in college will work with the coaches to make that a practical reality. Practices are designed for swimmers to COMPETE TO ACHIEVE.
If you are interested in joining our team, please contact [email protected].
