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The Montclair YMCA Dolphins Swim Team offers training and practice groups for swimmers of all ages and ability levels. It is the goal of the Montclair YMCA Dolphins 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.

The coaching staff is constantly improving the Dolphins Swimming program. It is the swimmers’ and parents’ responsibility to make the most of the excellent opportunity this program provides for success in swimming and in life.

MYM Swimming uses a “progressive” age group program designed to develop each child physically, mentally and emotionally in a systematic fashion. A well-defined long-term approach of gradually increasing degrees of challenge and commitment is essential to reach peak performance levels at a swimmer’s physiological prime.

The emphasis in the early stages of participation must be placed on developing technical skills and a love for the sport. FUN is emphasized at this level. In the later years, more demanding physical and psychological challenges will 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 senior swimming than in the reverse situation.

In addition to emphasizing long-term rather than short-term results, it is also important that we establish training groups of swimmers who are compatible with respect to abilities, commitment levels and goals. At each level, the goals and objectives are specific and directed toward meeting the needs of the swimmer. The long-term goal of total excellence is always in mind. As each child is different, he/she will progress at his/her own rate. The coaching staff recognizes this fact by making team assignments based on a swimmer’s physical, mental and emotional development. 

 

White Group

This is the entry level group for the Dolphins. It is primarily designed for athletes age 9 and under who have limited or no experience in the sport but have already mastered at least two strokes. The focus of this group is to learn the competitive swimming skills necessary to have a solid foundation in the sport or improve upon the skills already obtained. We encourage the athletes in this group to attend at least two but not more then three practices a week and strongly encourage spring participation. Summer participation is optional, but talk to your coaches in the spring to determine a plan for continuity. Appropriate competitions are strongly recommended for this group. 

White Group Lead Coach:  Matt Garifo
 

Flippers Group

This group is primarily designed for athletes age 9 and under who have limited experience in the sport but have already mastered between two and three strokes. The focus of this group is to learn the competitive swimming skills necessary to have a solid foundation in the sport or improve upon the skills already obtained. Additionally the athletes in this group will begin to explore some conditioning elements of the sport. We encourage the athletes in this group to attend at least two but not more then three practices a week and strongly encourage spring participation. Summer participation is optional, but talk to your coaches in the spring to determine a plan for continuity. Participation in certain meets by swimmers in this group is mandatory and swimmers will be automatically entered in those meets. 

Flippers Group Lead Coach: Megan Felber
 

Red Group

This group is primarily designed for athletes aged 9 through 12 who have limited experience in the sport but have already mastered between two and three strokes. The focus of this group is to learn the competitive swimming skills necessary to have a solid foundation in the sport or improve upon the skills already obtained. Additionally the athletes in this group will begin to explore some conditioning elements of the sport. We encourage the athletes in this group to attend between three and four practices a week and strongly encourage spring and summer participation. Appropriate competitions are strongly recommended for this group. 

Red Group Lead Coach: Matt Garifo
 

Novice Group

This group is primarily designed for athletes aged 9 through 12 who have a solid competitive swimming foundation and background. The focus of this group will be refining competitive swimming skills and developing a strong aerobic base along with developing race technique. We encourage the athletes in this group to attend between three and four practices a week,  September through July. This group will have required meets, most of which will be local. 

Novice Group Lead Coach: Chris Hanson
 

Black Group

This group is primarily designed for athletes aged 11 and older who have limited experience in the sport but have already mastered between two and three strokes. The focus of this group is to learn the competitive swimming skills necessary to have a solid foundation in the sport or improve upon the skills already obtained. Additionally the athletes in this group will begin to explore some conditioning elements of the sport along with race technique. We encourage the athletes in this group to attend between three and four practices a week, September through July. Appropriate competitions are strongly recommended for this group. 

Black Group Lead Coach: Matt Garifo
 

Junior Prep Group

This group is primarily designed for athletes aged 11 and older who have a solid competitive swimming foundation and background. The focus of this group will be refining competitive swimming skills and developing a strong aerobic base along with developing race technique. We encourage the athletes in this group to attend between three and four practices a week, September through July. This group will have mandatory meet participation, some of which will involve some travel. 

Junior Prep Group Lead Coach:  Matt Garifo
 

Junior Advanced Group

This group is primarily designed for athletes aged 11 and older who have a very strong competitive swimming foundation and the desire to participate in a highly competitive group. The focus of this group will not only be able to master competitive swimming skills that will prepare them for Senior level swimming, but to teach athletes the importance of being committed to the sport in order to help achieve their goals. In this group, athletes are required to attend between four to five practices a week, September through July. All athletes are required to attend Great Turkey Invitational meet, Strong Kids Invitational, Holiday Classic (if athlete qualifies), and the highest championship meet in NJ plus any travel meets for which they qualify. 

Junior Advanced Group Lead Coach: Matt Garifo
 

Senior Group

This group is primarily designed for high school aged athletes who have a very strong competitive swimming foundation and background. The focus of this group will be mastering competitive swimming skills, maintaining a strong aerobic base and preparing for high level swimming. We expect the athletes in this group to attend five or more practices a week, September through July. This group will have required meets, some of which will involve travel. 

Senior Group Lead Coach: Lesly Mendoza
 

National Group

This group is primarily designed for high school aged athletes who have a very strong competitive swimming foundation and have made a large commitment to the sport. The focus of this group will be training at a level where swimming at regional and national competitions is expected. We require the athletes in this group to attend more than five practices a week, September through July. This group will have required meets, many of which will involve travel. 

National Group Lead Coach: Paulo Madeira