The following are the practice groups for the Helena Family YMCA Dolphins Swim Team. Swimmers are placed in groups based on a combination of age, ability, and maturity.

Rip Tide
JR. SWIM (Pre-Comp)
Y Member Rate: $55 /mo
Community Rate: $125 /mo
Practices: 2x per week, 1 hour

(Ages 6+) Swimmers will learn the fundamentals of competitive swimming through fun filled drills in a positive atmosphere! The Rip Tide level is designed to slowly move swimmers from jr. swim (pre-comp) level to the competitive levels. Swimmers will focus on correct stroke form on all four competitive strokes (fly, backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle), as well as understanding how to use starting blocks.

Penguins
BEGINNER (Must have a Y membership)
Y Member Rate: $55 /mo
Practices: 2x per week, 1 hour

The Penguins are for swimmers transitioning from the rip-tide level. The penguins will focus on learning to breathe for control and strokes, build endurance, proper kicking, stroke technique, starts, turns, and speed drills.

Prerequisites:

-Be able to swim the entire length of the pool (25 yards) without stopping and be comfortable on their back without assistance.
– Feel and have command of the water through sculling

Gators
INTERMEDIATE (Must have a Y membership)
Y Member Rate: $65/mo 
Practices: 4x per week, 1.5 hour
 

Swimmers in the Gator levell will focus on refining the four competitive strokes, starts and turns, and begin interval and endurance training. Prerequisites: -Able to repeadetly swim a distance of 100 yards - Increase number of underwater dolphin kicks with increased speed and efficiency for freestyle, backstroke, and butterfly -Breathes within the rhythm of stroke in all four competitive strokes.

Tridents
ADVANCED (Must have a Y membership)
Y Member Rate: $65/mo
Practices: 4x per week, 1.5 hour

The Trident Team will improve physical condition through progressive, strenuous training both in the pool and through dryland and strength training. Recommendation is that swimmers take full advantage of all practice available in order to qualify for higher level meets such as B-C Championships, State Championships, Y Regionals, Northwest Age Group Regionals, Y Nationals, Zones, Futures, Junior Nationals, Futures, and Olympic Trials.

Prerequisites:
- Proficient in all four competitive stroke, starts, and turns