REQUIREMENTS

Black Stingrays is for a seasoned swimmer who is serious about training and competing year-round. Rigorous in-water conditioning and endurance as well as competing at a top YMCA/USA level is a major priority of this group. Black Stingrays should aim to attend all 5 practices a week. Optional YMCA Coaching Connection is available for athletes 12 & older. **Training/competing at a Black level is by coach’s discretion. **

Orange Stingrays is for a competitive junior level swimmer emphasizing on building stroke technique, endurance and racing skills for the competitive swim season. All strokes, turns, dives and conditioning will be the main focus of this group and steadily increased throughout the season. Orange Stingrays should aim to attend 4-5 practices a week. **Training/competing at an Orange level is by coach’s discretion. **

Pre-Competitive Swim Team Pathways

Phase 1 

“Take your Mark” program   2x week - Must be a member of the RGS YMCA  . The Take Your Mark participants will learn the fundamentals of competitive swimming through fun-filled drills in a positive atmosphere. This program is the first of a two-part program designed to slowly move swimmers from the pre-competitive level to the competitive levels.  Pre-Requisites for this program include being comfortable swimming one length of the pool Freestyle (on your stomach) and one length of the pool Backstroke (on your back).

This program is great for summer league swimmers or children coming out of swim lessons. Our concentration will be on correct stroke form of all four (4) competitive strokes, as well as understanding how to use starting blocks. There are no swim meets.  

Max of 24 in the group or 2 groups This program is open to youth ages 4-14 years of age.

PHASE 2

Mini Swim Team -   Must have completed the “Take Your Mark Program” to be eligible for the Mini Swim team.  This group meets 3x week - Must be a member of the RGS YMCA

The RGSY Mini Team is the second part of a two-part program designed to slowly move swimmers from the pre-competitive level to the competitive levels. We will introduce Pre-Competitive Mini Swim Team participants to the experience of a swim meet and will continue to work on the fundamentals of competitive swimming. 

 This program is great for summer league swimmers or children advancing out of swim lessons.  In addition to working on correct stroke form of all four (4) competitive strokes and using starting blocks, swimmers will have the opportunity to participate in two (2) inter-squad swim meets at the YMCA.  Prerequisites for this program include the ability to swim one length of the pool (25 yards) on your stomach with rotary breathing and one length of the pool on your back for backstroke.