Swim Team

Swimmers are placed in the appropriate training groups by the coaching staff. Our goal is to structure training groups with swimmers of similar ability and age. Within each training group we try and divide each lane by ability with separate lanes for boys and girls, provided there is enough space.

Developmental: Swimmers should be comfortable practicing for 1 to 1.5 hours in a 25-yard pool. They should be able to swim one length of backstroke and freestyle with proper side breathing. Swimmers coming from the Swim America Learn to Swim program need to have at least eight stickers on their chart or be able to demonstrate the equivalent skills. The more advanced developmental swimmers (Dev II) should be able to swim all four competitive strokes legally. Swimmers on the Developmental Team are expected to compete in the Summer Rec league meets with the goal of continuing swimming in the fall in our fun and challenging practices to prepare for competitions at USA swim meets. During the school year, swimmers are expected to attend up to three practices per week and occasionally up to four for Dev II on holidays or days off from school. Swimmers in this group will focus primarily on developing exceptional stroke technique, starts and turns, and will have the opportunity during practice to “practice racing”.

Bronze: Swimmers should be able to legally swim the four competitive strokes and have the ability to practice at least 1.5 hours, 4 days a week during the school year, swimming 3-4,000 yards per practice. The Bronze Team will continue focusing on stroke technique, starts, turns, finishes, and will spend more time working on longer repeat sets and distance swims to improve their endurance. Understanding and practicing the use of the pace clock is an important goal for this group. Qualifying for and competing at the USA regional and championship meets should be a goal for the advanced swimmers in the Bronze group.

Criteria:

· 10 X 50s FR on the 1:15

· 4 X 100s IM on the 3:30(legal strokes)

Silver: Swimmers are categorized as either Silver-AG (Age Group) for 11-14 year olds, or Silver-SR (Senior) for the high school swimmers ages 15-18. The Silver group will receive the appropriate mix of stroke work, aerobic conditioning, and interval swimming appropriate for their age and ability level. Six practices per week are offered during the school year, eight during the summer. Some swimmers in this group may be invited to attend early morning practice before school depending on each swimmer’s ability level and attendance at practice. Depending on the level of commitment, swimmers should plan on making 5 to 6 practices per week and swimming between 5,000 to 7,0000 per practice. Swimmers in the Silver group should include competing at the Regional, State, and Zone meets in their goal setting program.

Criteria:

· 10 X 50s FR on the :50

· 10 X 100s FR on the 1:45

· 4 X 200s IM on the 4:15

Gold: The Gold group is for those who have chosen to make swimming a priority on a year-round basis over all other athletic and school activities. Training at this level is very difficult both physically and mentally and requires a high level of commitment to the sport by both swimmers and parents. Swimmers in the Gold group are expected to attend 90% of the scheduled practices per week on a year –round basis, including any early morning practices scheduled during the school year. Swimmers in the Gold group should be confident in their ability to become role models for the entire team by leading by example and communicating directly with the younger age-group swimmers at practice and meets.

Criteria:

· 90% attendance (no late arrivals and leaving early)

· Participation in USA Meets Short and Long Course

· 20 X 100s FR on the 1:15

· 5 X 200s IM on the 3:00

· Year-round commitment to training and competitions

Rob Knight's Swim America
510 E. Washington
Bloomington, IL 61701
Phone: (309) 828-7946