Groups

The SWAC Swim Team offers training and practice groups for swimmers of all ages and ability levels. It is the goal of the SWAC Swim Team to offer age specific training for all of our athletes geared towards challenging each individual and developing each individual to the best of THEIR abilities.

Please call us at 260-710-0879 to schedule a tryout, or Click Here to send us an email request for more information.

TRAINING GROUPS

SWAC uses a ‘progressive’ age group program designed to develop the child physically, mentally and emotionally in a systematic fashion. A well-defined, long-term approach of gradually increasing performance levels is crucial for optimal performance during a swimmer’s physiological and physiological prime. The emphasis in the early stages of participation must be placed on developing technical skills and a love for the sport. In the later years, a more demanding physical and psychological challenge must be introduced to the training program. In this respect, ‘too much too soon’ is more often the cause of failure to achieve maximum potential in a senior swimmer than in the reverse situation.

· All training groups emphasize skill development and self-improvement in a positive, character-building environment.

· At each level in the SWAC program, swimmers are instructed to strive for excellence. Excellence in this sense represents the achievement of that level at which you know that you have done your utmost to become the best you are capable of becoming. This philosophy is consistent throughout the program and every SWAC swimmer, novice to Olympian, is encouraged to ‘Be the Best You Can Be’.

· Swimmers are encouraged to attend as many practices as they wish. Self-improvement is closely linked to increased practice attendance, membership, however, is not.

· In addition to emphasizing long-term rather than short-term results, it is also important that SWAC establish training groups comprised of swimmers who are compatible in respect to physical, emotional and social abilities. At each level, the goals and objectives are specific and directed toward meeting the needs of the swimmer. The long-term goal of continued improvement and total excellence is always at the heart of every training group assignment.

Training Group	Typical Experience Level		Typical Ages	Practices and Recommended Time Commitment
Betta Fish	None	5-6		45 minutes – 2 days a week
Piranha	Little or none	6 – 8		45 minute practices ~ 4 times per week (recommended that you try to attend 3 or more practices per week)
Barracuda	1 to 3 years of competitive swimming	7 – 9		1 hour practices ~ 4 times per week (recommended that you try to attend 3 or more practices per week)
Tiger Sharks	2 to 4 years of competitive swimming	8-11		5 practices each week Approx. 6 hrs of swimming each week (recommended that you try to attend 4 or more practices per week)
Bronze	2 to 4 years of competitive swimming	9 – 11		6 practices each week Approx. 9 hrs of training each week (recommended that you try to attend 4 or more practices per week)
Silver	3 to 5 years of competitive swimming	11 – 13		6 practices each week Approx. 12 hrs of training each week (recommended that you try to attend 4 or more practices per week)
Gold	3 to 7 years of competitive swimming	13 - 14		8-9 practices each week Approx. 17 hrs of training each week (recommended that you try to attend 6 or more practices per week)
Senior	3 to 11 years of competitive swimming	15 - over		9-11 practices each week Approx. 22-25 hrs of training each week (recommended that you try to attend 6 or more practices per week)

Training Group	Desired Ability-Performance Level To Enter Each Group	Educational and Physical Expectations
Betta Fish	1. Coach’s discretion 2. Demonstrate a preliminary understanding of Freestyle and Backstroke 3. Be able to swim unaided for at least 12 yards (does not need to be a particular stroke)	1. Learn correct stroke, turn and dive technique. Form the technical foundations for successful competitive swimming.
Piranha	1. Coach’s discretion 2. 50 yd. Free (w/side breathing) 3. 50 yd. Backstroke 4. 25 yd. Butterfly and Breaststroke	1. Expand and refine technical skills (increase the consistency and duration a child can maintain proper technique) 2. Improve physical stamina enough to enable child to consistently complete a legal 50 of each competitive stroke.
Barracuda	1. Coach’s discretion 2. Successfully complete the National IMX Challenge for 8-unders (a legal 100 Free, 100 IM, 50 Fly, 50 Back and 50 Breast) 4. Achieve at least 1 National 10-under “B” time standard in competition	1. Expand and refine technical skills (increase the consistency and duration a child can maintain proper technique) 2. Learn how to interval train (use the pace clock) 3. Increase in aerobic training yardage
Tiger Sharks	1. Coach’s discretion 2. Successfully complete the National IMX Challenge for 10-unders (a legal 100 Fly, 100 Back, 100 Breast, 200 Free and 200 IM) 3. Achieve at least 3 National 10-under “BB” time standard in competition	1. Expand and refine technical skills (increase the consistency and duration a child can maintain proper technique) 2. Increase in aerobic training yardage 3. Continue to work on interval training skills
Bronze	1. Coach’s discretion 2. Be at least 9 years old 3. Achieve at least 3 National 10-under “A” time standards in competition	1. Continued refinement of technical skills 2. I��