Groups

RAYS has swimming groups for novice to national level competitors.  Our precomp groups service swimmers who want to become competitive swimmers, but still need some basic instruction.  Our competitive swimmers are divided into age groups and then into ability subgroups.  Our professional staff is capable of helping every swimmer regardless of experience or ability to take the next step in their competitive swimming career. 

New swimmers must be evaluated before placement. 

Please call us at 616-885-5906 or click here to email us for more information.

Precompetitive Group

This group is for swimmers who aren’t quite ready to enjoy swimming as a sport.  Coaches focus on balance, breathing, sculling and rhythm to build effecient strokes.  We have a precomp group for 8&unders.  Sessions are offered 3 times per year: Oct - Dec, Jan - Mar and May - July.  We also have a 9&Over group which runs two sessions annually: Oct - Mar and again May - July.  Prerequisites: swimmers must be able to swim a length of the pool on their front and back, demonstrate rhythmic breathing and be able to tread water for :60.
 Coaches: Sue Mann, Nathan Manley, Anne Kukla, Elizabeth Stone, Nate Baker
 Workout Days/Times: Monday and Thursday 5:20 - 6:00PM at the Southeast YMCA

8&Unders

Our 8&Under group services swimmers who can swim proper freestyle and backstroke. Athletes in this group focus on improving freestyle and backstroke technique, learning butterfly, breaststroke, and proper start and turn technique and having fun.  Swimmers are divided into training groups according to ability.
 

Typical Workout Days/Times: Tuesday, Thursday  from 5:00 - 6:00PM and Sunday from 4:00 - 5:00PM.

9&10s

9&10 year olds who know the basics of all four competitive strokes, starts and turns swim in this competitive group (swimmers who do not know all four strokes should join the 9&Over Precompetitive Group).  At this age swimmers continue to focus on technical improvement as a means to improve times and are introduced, according to ability, to aerobic training.  Swimmers are divided into training groups according to ability.

Workout Days/Times: Sunday through Friday.  Practice times vary.  See our schedules section for a look at a typical pracitce schedule.

11&12s

11&12 year olds who can swim all four strokes train in this group (swimmers who do not know all four strokes should join the 9&Over Precompetitive Group).  Coaches will continue to emphasize technique with the 11-12s.  Swimmers will be appropriately challenged with training to ensure physiological development continues.  Swimmers are divided into training groups according to ability.

Workout Days/Times: Sunday through Friday.  Practice times vary.  See our schedules section for a look at a typical pracitce schedule.

13&Overs 

13 and overs who know all four strokes train with this senior most group (swimmers who do not know all four strokes should join the 9&Over Precompetitive Group).  With a firm foundation in technique and a solid aerobic base established in our 12 and under groups, teenagers are ready for more challenging training opportunities.  Aspiring championship level swimmers can train at the same time as our most accomplished swimmers.  Swimmers are still divided into ability groups at this level.

Workout Days/Times: Saturday through Thursday.  Practice times vary.  See our schedules section for a look at a typical pracitce schedule.