Swim Groups

In order to accommodate athletes of all ability levels and aspirations, WHAT is divided into an organized set of groupings. These groups are provided for the benefit of each individual swimmer, so that he or she can receive the most personally effective workout. WHAT understands that we have many busy, multi-talented youths, and attempt to provide something that fits within each individual’s personal time constraints and parameters.

These guidelines are based on practice attendance expectations, age, and ability level. Each group’s season training scheme is specifically designed based on workouts per week. Not living up to attendance expectations could result in failure to execute drills and sets, fatigue, extreme discomfort, and perhaps injury. Sign up for the right group for you!

It is important that each swimmer discuss with his or her parents or guardian, which is the best group for them, and then communicate that to a coach. The coaching staff will ultimately have the final call on group placement.

As always, please discuss any question or concern with the Head Coach coachtaylor@whatswimming.org.

PRE-COMPETITIVE GROUPS

Mini WHATs-now part of the WHAT Swim School
This group provides the opportunity for young kids, ages 5 to 10, to learn the fundamentals of competitive swimming in a fun, no-pressure atmosphere. Swimmers must be able to complete the following: 

  • Swim one length of the pool freestyle or backstroke
This group meets two days per week with a total of 8 classes per session. Class duration is 45 minutes. Swimmers are not USA Swimming registered therefore they will not be competing in local meets.
Goals of Mini WHATs: 
  • Swim 25 yards of freestyle with rotary breathing
  • Swim 25 yards of backstroke
  • Jump into deep water and level off
Required Equipment: 
  • Suit
  • Goggles
  • Towel
COMPETITIVE GROUPS

Age Group 1
This is our entry-level competitive group. Swimmers must be able to complete the following:

  • Swim 25 yards of freestyle
  • Swim 25 yards of backstroke
  • Jump into deep water and level off.
Workouts are offered three days per week. It is recommended to attend at least twice per week for regular improvement. Practice duration is one hour. 45-50 minutes of practice time will be spent in the water and10-15 minutes will be dedicated to dryland/stretching exercises. There is no attendance requirement for this group, but athletes will improve more quickly and make more friends the more often they attend workouts.
Goals of Age Group 1:
  • Swim a 100 IM legally (regardless of time)
  • 4x50 free @1:30
  • Perform a freestyle and backstroke flip turn
  • Kick 4x25 @ :45
  • Push off and streamline to flags with dolphin kick
  • Acquire basic understanding of the pace clock
Required Equipment:
  • Suit
  • Goggles
  • Towel
Age Group 2
Swimmers must be able to complete the ’Goals of Age Group 1’ to move into Age Group 2. Workouts are offered three days a week. Athletes may be invited by their coach to swim with the Junior Group one day per week if they can keep up and have perfect attendance for the week. Practice duration is one hour and fifteen minutes. One hour of practice time will be spent in the water. Fifteen minutes will be dedicated to dry-land exercises.
As with Age Group 1, there is no attendance requirement for this group, but athletes will improve more quickly and make more friends the more often they attend workouts.
Goals of Age Group 2:
  • Swim 3x200 IM legally
  • Swim 500/400 free in a meet
  • Perform all turns and push-offs efficiently
  • Perform racing start and backstroke start effectively
  • Achieve USA Swimming 10&Under ’A’ time standards
  • Athlete is motivated to listen to coaches and try to improve
  • Courteous to other swimmers in pool
  • Athletes understand the ideas that their attitude affects how they swim and how others around them swim
  • Develop consistent practice attendance
Required Equipment:
  • Racing suit
  • Goggles
  • Towel
Junior Group
Swimmers entering the Junior Group level are usually at least 9 years old and must complete the ’Goals of Age Group 2’, plus three of the following five:
  • 10x50 @ 1:00
  • 8x25 @ :40 IM order
  • Swim under 8:30 in 500YD freestyle
  • Swim under 4:00 in 200YD IM
  • Kick 200 yards under 4:20
Workouts are offered five days a week. There is no practice attendance requirement for this group, but the recommended attendance is as follows:
AGE     Years of USA Swimming Experience     Weekly workout number
9                          1                                        3-4
9                          2                                        4-5
10                        1                                        3-5
10                        2-3                                     4-6*
11                        1-2                                     4
11                        2+                                      4-6*
12                        1-2                                     4-5
12                        2+                                      4-6*
*Athletes may be invited by their coach to swim with the Junior Training Group on Saturday morning if they can keep up and have perfect attendance for the week. If you cannot attend the prescribed number of practices, please attend at least three workouts per week to continue to build friendships with your teammates and to see improvement in stroke technique and ’feel’ of the water. Practice duration is approximately one and a half hours. One hour and fifteen minutes of that time will be spent in the water. Fifteen minutes will be dedicated to dry-land training.
Goals of Junior Group
  • Swim 400IM legally
  • 200IM under 3:30
  • 10x100 free on 1:40
  • Kick 500 yards under 10:30
  • Race in every distance, every stroke available over duration of season
  • Achieve 11-12 year old USA Swimming "A" time standards
  • Improve fluidity in turns and push-offs
  • Improve dive and backstroke entry into water
  • Begin learning how to manage effort and intensity through practice
  • Learn and improve goal setting skills
  • Improve on controlling attitude and focus within workout and understand that they affect teammates
  • Create a core group of ’training friends’
  • Sit with friends and teammates at swim meets
  • Listen to coaches! 
Required daily equipment:
  • Racing suit
  • Goggles
  • Towel
  • TYR flex fins
Junior Training Group
Minimum age for entry into this group is 10 years old. Requirements to enter Junior Training, candidates should complete 6 of the following 8:
  • Display intention of adhering to attendance requirement before moving into group
  • 11-12 USA Swimming "A" qualifying times in 5 or more events
  • Racing history in every event available
  • Show willingness to learn
  • 8x100 Free @ 1:30
  • 3x200 IM @ 3:20
  • Under 2:30 in 200yd freestyle
  • Kick 1x50 under :40 with fins
Junior Training practice is offered 6 times per week. Practice duration is 1.75 to 2.25 hours. The Junior Training Group is the first group within the WHAT program with an attendance requirement. This program is intended for age group swimmers that have made swimming their number one sport. The practice direction, structure and difficulty will be designed to help each swimmer meet his/her ultimate potential years down the road. Junior Training swimmers are expected to attend a minimum of 80% attendance to remain in the group. Special exceptions may be cleared with the Junior Training coach on an absence-by-absence basis.
Goals of the Junior Training Group
  • Achieve USA Swimming Top 16 time standard
  • Final in all events at Age Group Championship Meet
  • Achieve Age Group Championship time standard in every stroke
  • Continue to develop goal setting skills
  • Improve proficiency in turns
  • Use underwater fly kicking as a tool in racing
  • Continue becoming more fluid in swimming
  • Kick 50yd with fins under :30
  • Kick 1000 yards under 9:30
  • Begin to actively improve distance per stroke
  • Learn leadership skills
Required daily equipment:
  • Racing suit
  • Goggles
  • Towel
  • TYR flex fins
  • Strokemaker paddles (small green #1)
High School Pre-Conditioning
High School Pre-Conditioning is geared toward the high school only swimmer. Technique is the primary focus with speed, power and explosiveness playing large roles. Swimmers are strongly encouraged to attend all practices as skills and progressions build from one practice session to another.
Goals and Expectations for the High School Pre-Conditioning Group:
  • Learn and improve technique in the four competitive strokes, starts and turns.
  • Continue becoming more fluid in swimming (no splashing)
  • Actively improve distance per stroke
  • Learn leadership skills
  • Understand and take responsibility for attendance and performance, work habits in practice and how these three relate to meet performance
  • Show respect to coaches, teammates, officials and other teams
Required daily equipment:
  • Racing suit
  • Goggles
  • Towel
  • TYR flex fins
Senior Group
Senior practice is offered 6 times per week. This program is intended to provide both a stepping-stone for athletes intending to be successful in the Senior Training Group and also provide a demanding and comprehensive training program for those athletes who cannot meet the attendance and/or training requirement of the Senior Training Group. Senior swimmers are expected to attend 80% of workouts and communicate with the senior coach about their training schedule. At the senior level you get what you give. Practice attendance and effort are directly related to meet performance. Older swimmers must train more and better than they did when they were younger to continue to improve. Practice duration is approximately 2-2.5 hours. Practice will consist of both dryland and swimming workouts.
Swimmers entering the Senior Group must be in high school and complete four of the following six:
  • 10x100@ 1:25
  • 8x50@ :55 kick
  • Swim under 1:05 in 100YD freestyle for girls/ 1:00 for boys
  • Swim 13-14 AMS qualifying times in main events (2)
  • Kick 1x50 under :35 with fins
  • 30 pushups in 1:00
Goals and Expectations of the Senior Group
  • Consistently improve commitment level and training/racing ability from season to season
  • Continue becoming more fluid in swimming (no splashing)
  • Actively improve distance per stroke
  • Learn leadership skills
  • Attendance should improve, not decline as the athlete matures
  • Training attitudes should be more productive and supportive as the athlete gets older
  • Athletes must conduct themselves in a manner appropriate to actions needed to promote and support the goals of the team
  • Participate in club fundraising
  • Display ability to train appropriately for the athlete’s experience and stated goals
  • Parental involvement in "wet side" decreases but increases on "dry side"
Required daily equipment:
  • Racing suit
  • Goggles
  • Towel
  • TYR flex fins
  • Strokemaker paddles (see coach for size)
Senior Training Group
Senior Training practice is offered 6-10 times per week. This program is intended to provide a demanding and comprehensive training program for those athletes who have chosen swimming as their primary sport. Senior swimmers are expected to attend 85% of workouts and communicate with the senior coach about their training schedule. Practice duration is approximately 2-3 hours. Practice will consist of both dryland and swimming workouts.
Swimmers entering the Senior Training Group must be at least 13 years old and complete 5 of the following 7:
  • 10x100@ 1:20
  • 8x50@ 50 kick
  • Swim under 1:00 in 100YD freestyle for girls/ :55 for boys
  • Swim 15-16 AMS qualifying times in 6 or more events
  • Kick 1x50 under :30 with fins
  • 5x200IM @ 3:00
  • 30 pushups in 1:00
Goals and Expectations of the Senior Training Group:
  • Strive to be competitive with any other Senior group in the region
  • Make region and national time standards
  • Become prepared for competency at a LSC, regional and national level.
  • Consistently improve commitment level and training/racing ability from season to season
  • Continue becoming more fluid in swimming (no splashing)
  • Actively improve distance per stroke
  • Learn leadership skills
  • Athletes must conduct themselves in a manner appropriate to actions needed to promote and support the goals of the team
  • Must conduct themselves with honor and selflessness at all competitions regardless of circumstances
  • Attend all meets prescribed by coaching staff unless Senior coach agrees to absence
  • Active in club fundraising and/or clinics offered for younger club members
  • Display ability to train appropriately for the athlete’s experience and stated goals
  • Parental involvement in "wet side" decreases but increases on "dry side."
Other areas of swimmer accountability:  
  1. Swimmer learns to accept the responsibility for his/her performance
  2. Swimmer learns coping strategies to deal with peer pressure
  3. Swimmer learns coping strategies to deal with parent pressure
  4. Swimmer understands and performs personal race strategies
  5. Swimmer demonstrates an ability to balance school, social, swimming and family
  6. Swimmer can effectively communicate her/his commitment to her/his parent, coach and teammates
  7. Swimmer knows the team goals and will take an active part in developing specific and attainable practice group goals
  8. Swimmer understands the relationship between his/her personal commitment level and results
Required daily equipment: 
  • Racing suit
  • Goggles
  • Towel
  • TYR flex fins
  • Strokemaker paddles (see coach for size)
  • Running shoes
  • Dryland clothes
Ultimately all group placement is at the discretion of the coaching staff. Please contact the Head Coach with questions at coachtaylor@whatswimming.org.