Swimming Groups

The Minnows is a learn-to-swim group where the main focuses are learning the basic technique of the competitive strokes and having fun in swimming. What we hope to build in that group is a sold base, either for swimmers who hope to swim competitively in the future, or just for swimmers who want to learn how to swim for safety.”

The Bronze 1 group is for children with previous swimming experience who may not have had any competitive experience. Bronze 2 is for swimmers who have competitive swimming experience and are more advanced in their stroke techniques and ability to train. The training is expanded in both of these groups with the introduction of interval training. The main emphasis is stroke technique as that is the foundation for future success in swimming. However, there will be emphasis on improving the aerobic base, or basic endurance, of the swimmers in this group. Sprints will allow the swimmers to learn how to swim at race pace with proper stroke technique. We also try to instill a love for the sport in the Bronze groups. This is continued in the other groups, but this is where we would like for swimmers to “fall in love with swimming”. We try to make practice fun every day for the swimmers to encourage them to continue swimming.

Expectations of Bronze swimmers

1. Be a good teammate. Support each other and do not put other teammates down. Being rude to other members of our team is not tolerated.
2. Listen to the coaches, and give an honest effort in practice every day. We want to teach the swimmers that it isn’t enough to just show up and go through the motions of practicing. Great things are accomplished through hard work and determination.
3. Learn what a leader is. This is something that will be taught by the coaches, as well as our older swimmers. We want to stress that a leader is someone who leads by example and encourages his/her teammates. A leader does not have the right to put down teammates who are struggling in practice, but encourages instead.
4. Bronze 1 swimmers are expected to attend 3 practices a week during school, and 4 practices a week during the summer. Bronze 2 swimmers are expected to attend 4 practices a week during both the school year and the summer. Both groups are encouraged to attend up to five practices a week during the summer. Bronze 2 is encouraged to attend five during the school year as well. To make it easier to attend this number of practices during school, we offer Saturday morning practices that can be used in place of a practice during the week.
5. Start attending team meets. Bronze swimmers are not required to attend meets, as we realize that several younger swimmers on our team may not feel ready for competition. Our job as coaches is to encourage the swimmers to compete and to build their confidence to a level where they feel comfortable in competition.

The focus of the Silver group is split between developing stronger stroke mechanics and developing endurance in the swimmers in these groups. The number of laps swam during practice will increase in this group as it is a training based group. Sets are swum for training the swimmer’s aerobic capacity. Stroke technique continues to be emphasized. Strokes are refined while swimming at a pace regularly swum in practice.

Expectations of Silver swimmers

1. Be a good teammate. Support each other and do not put other teammates down. Being rude to other members of our team is not tolerated.
2. Listen to the coaches, and give an honest effort in practice every day. We want to teach the swimmers that it isn’t enough to just show up and go through the motions of practicing. Great things are accomplished through hard work and determination.
3. Start to show signs of being a good leader. While we realize that some people are natural leaders and others prefer to follow, we would like for all swimmers to show the characteristics of good leaders. This expectation ties in with the first expectation as being a good teammate is part of being a leader.
4. All swimmers in the Silver group are expected to attend four practices a week. They have the option of attending up to six practices a week with Saturday morning practice being an option. Silver swimmers are not required to practice on Saturdays.
5. Attend 1 – 2 team meets per quarter and attend any championship meets for which they qualify. Swimmers who regularly attend swim meets develop a stronger bond with other swimmers from our team who also attend meets.

The Gold 1 group is a transition group from Silver to Gold. Gold 2 is for the swimmers who have advanced to tougher intervals. The main focus of the Gold groups is training. Stroke mechanics and refining the strokes to be as efficient as possible in the water is also emphasized.

Expectations of Gold swimmers

1. Be a good teammate. Support each other and do not put other teammates down. Being rude to other members of our team is not tolerated.
2. Listen to the coaches, and give an honest effort in practice every day. We want to teach the swimmers that it isn’t enough to just show up and go through the motions of practicing. Great things are accomplished through hard work and determination.
3. Continue showing signs of being a team leader. Demonstrate that they have the characteristics of a good leader, even if they do not take an active leadership role.
4. Gold 1 swimmers are expected to attend at least four practices a week. Gold 2 swimmers are expected to attend five practices a week. Both groups have the option of swimming on Saturday morning.
5. Attend 1 – 2 team meets per quarter and attend any championship meets for which they qualify. Swimmers who regularly attend swim meets develop a stronger bond with other swimmers from our team who also attend meets.
6. 6. Keep a log book. The information should included amount swam at practice, morning resting heart rate, self-grades on workouts, stroke corrections made during workouts, any performances on timed swims or test sets during practice, and splits from meets. Swimmers are welcome to include anything else in these books that they would not mind the coaching staff reading.

Movement between groups is more than swim at a designated speed or demonstrating appropriate techniques. It is also about the athlete’s ability to handle (physically and mentally) the training, the increased responsibilities that come with promotion to the next group, and the higher commitment level that is required. So, while an age group athlete may be physically able to train at the senior level, if they do not yet possess the maturity and attitude to train at that level, they will remain at the age group level to allow time and experience for those necessary skills to develop.

• Level of commitment to the sport of swimming
• Practice attendance
• Training ability
• Stroke and skill development
• Level of maturity and personal responsibility
• Age and previous experience. Disclaimer – We will NOT move a swimmer up to a higher group based on their age alone.
• Meet performance and best times

• Meets attendance expectations for current group and demonstrates the ability to make attendance requirements for the next level
• Consistently trains above the level of their current group
• Demonstrates ability to train successfully on base intervals at the next practice level
• Has mastered stroke and skill expectations of current practice group
• Exhibits level of maturity and responsibility typical of swimmers at the next level
• Fits age and experience parameters of the next group

• Has demonstrated that he/she is not willing to make the commitment level expected of the practice group
• Attends practice consistently less often than the group expectation
• Is not training successfully on base intervals for team level
• Needs injury rehabilitation at a less strenuous level

• Discuss potential move with coach at the next level
• Discuss and receive approval for desired movement with Head Coach
• Discuss group change and expectations at the next level with the swimmer and parent