Practice Groups

Competitive Program

These groups are the best avenue for swimmers of all ages, development, and levels of commitment to excel and enjoy the world of competitive swimming.  Swimmers in these programs are expected to attend swim meets.

Mini Group 
(for swimmers 8 years old and younger)

A swimmer who has completed swim lessons, demonstrates a clear working knowledge of the four strokes, and a curiosity to explore the competitive side of the sport is ready to join our Mini Program.

The basics of all four competitive strokes are taught by coaches who are in the water with the swimmers. This group, designed for children 8 years old and younger, provides an internal focus on mechanics, while maintaining a fun, friendly, and interesting environment that focuses on advancing each swimmer’s grasp of the skills that are needed for competition.

Junior Group
(for swimmers ages 9 to 13)

This program is for swimmers, ages 9-13, who can legally complete 25 yards of all four competitive strokes, perform basic flip turns, and have the ability to dive. An enhanced approach to stroke mechanics, along with skill appropriate conditioning and race preparation activities are the focus at this level of our program.

Each swimmer in this program will develop a consistently advancing skill set, a healthy desire to pursue the various levels of competitive swimming, and a positive approach towards participation in a structured practice environment. Regardless of age or skill development, each swimmer will develop an enhanced grasp of stroke technique, fitness, race strategy, and goal setting.

Senior Group
(for swimmers 13 years and over)

This program is aimed at high school aged swimmers, 13 –18 years old, with strong technical development, a desire to enhance their skills, a willingness to participate in local competition, and the physical capability to train in a structured practice environment.

The highest training level offered in DST’s Competitive Program, this group is designed to offer High School age swimmers the opportunity to participate in an advanced training and competition environment. It is also a transitional group for those swimmers displaying the commitment and desire to advance on to the National Program. A balanced training program is designed to prepare athletes to set and achieve goals through heightened physical, mental, and time commitments.

 

 

Keep Your Feet Wet Program

These groups provide local swimmers the opportunity to participate in organized swimming practices and activities without the commitment of our Traditional and National programs.  Swimmers who do not plan on attending meets should consider these groups.

High School Prep 
(Early September through mid-November)

This program is designed to prepare High School age swimmers for the upcoming scholastic season. Coaches begin the season with a strong focus on stroke mechanics, and gradually complement that instruction with a progressive training program. The group can accommodate all levels of skill development, individual commitment, and offers a fall sports/activity friendly practice schedule.

Winter Training
(early September through late May)

This program is intended to give Summer League and other non-competitive swimmers an avenue to stay active and get training consistent with the groups in the Traditional Program, without the commitment to obtaining a USA Swimming membership, attending Delaware Swim Team meets, or have parents volunteer at the swim meets. Practices will include mechanics to allow strokes to continuously improve, but focus is on training and endurance. Training will generally be as intense as the Traditional Program’s Age Group practices.

Winter Instructional
(early September through late May)

The Instructional program offers grade school-age swimmers the opportunity to participate in organized swimming practices and activities without the commitment of our Traditional program.  This program is intended for swimmers who are late to organized swimming and need considerable help with stroke technique, and for swimmers looking primarily for mechanics.  Practices are low-intensity and heavily mechanics-oriented, with a light introduction to training included for those who may be interested in the Traditional Program in the future.

Spring Conditioning 
(early April through late May)

This program is designed to prepare swimmers of all ages for the upcoming summer league season. Coaches begin the season with a strong focus on stroke mechanics, and gradually complement that instruction with a progressive training program. The group can accommodate all levels of skill development and individual commitment with a spring sports/activity friendly practice schedule.