2019 Summer Long Course Group Descriptions

Mini Marlins-  Our final 8 week session will begin on April 1 and run until May 25. This group is for our littlest marlins (ages 6 and under) who are working on learning the four competitive strokes, plus starts and underwater push offs. 

Developmental-  Session 3 will run alongside exploring on Tues, Thursday and Saturday. This group is for our developmental swimmers who are still working on developing legal strokes and turns, and developing good kick and practice skills. Developmental swimmers placed in exploring who do not wish to swim through the summer should sign up for this group. This session will run April 1 through May 24. There will be a break for the summer. Swimmers are encouraged to swim on their summer league team and return in the fall! 

Exploring - This is a combination of our developmental and bronze groups. This group is our primary long course program for 10 and under swimmers. This group will focus on technique while developing a love for swimming and racing! Proper starts, turns, steamlines, underwater kicking, and stroke development will be the focus, while learning to swim some longer distances and build confidence. Swimmers in this group are offered 4 to 5 x 1 hour practices per week. We recommend at least 3 practices per week for this level. Some days offer a morning long course option OR an evening short course option. We strongly recommend evening practices for developmental swimmers and long course practices for more advanced bronze swimmers, but welcome swimmers to either. Please choose only one practice per day. This schedule is meant to compliment your child’s summer league program. We strongly encourage summer league participation at this age as it encourages a love for racing and the sport. Swimmers advancing out of this group in the future will feed into Learning 1 or 2. Swimmers in this group should register for USA swimming and plan to compete at our SMAC summer classic meet in June and Virginia Summer Awards meet in July. All other meets are optional.

Learning 1- This is a combination of advanced bronze and silver swimmers (ages 9-11) who are working towards perfecting the skills they have learned, while building more endurance. Swimmers in this group have met minimum requirements set forth by coaches to prove they are ready for more advanced training. Focus in this group will be on consistently maintaining skills such as proper streamlines, breathing patterns, underwater kicking and stroke technique, while being introduced to longer sets. Swimmers in this group must be able to complete 16 x 50s on the 1:00 (short course) or have at least two 9-10 BB times in two different strokes to be considered. The focus of this group will be achieving 9-10 BB and A time standards and qualifying for age group champs. This group offers 3 x 1.5 hour practices and 2 x 1.25 hour practices per week at the long course pool. It is highly recommended swimmers attend as many as possible. For those not able to make AM practices, a PM option is offered for Learning1 and 2 at the short course YMCA pool. Swimmers may only attend one practice per day. Doubles as a make-up are not an option.This schedule is meant to compliment your child’s summer league program. We strongly encourage summer league participation at this age as it encourages a love for racing and the sport. Swimmers advancing out of this group in the future will feed into Learning 2 or Dreaming. Swimmers in this group should plan to attend our SMAC summer classic, Virginia summer awards, and Age group championships if qualified. All other meets are strongly encouraged, but optional.  Full participation in championship meets is expected at this level. Coaches will select events.

Learning 2- This is a combination of our bronze and silver swimmers (ages 11-14). Swimmers in this group are working towards perfecting the skills they have already learned while building more endurance. Swimmers in this group are older and ready for more complex stroke explanations and equipment use. Focus in this group will be on consistently maintaining skills such as proper streamlines, breathing patterns, underwater kicking and stroke technique, while being introduced to longer sets. The focus of this group will be on achieving 11-12 B/BB times. This group offers 3 x 1.5 hour practices and 2 x 1.25 hour practices per week at the long course pool. It is highly recommended that swimmers attend as many as possible. For those not able to make AM practices, a PM option is offered for Learning 1 and 2 at the short course YMCA pool. Swimmers may only attend one practice per day. Doubles as a make -up are not an option. This schedule is meant  to compliment your child’s summer league program. We strongly encourage summer league participation at this age as it encourages a love for racing and the sport. Swimmers advancing out of this group in the future will feed into Dreaming or Performing 1. Swimmers in this group should plan to attend our SMAC summer classic, Virginia summer awards, and Age group championships if qualified. All other meets are strongly encouraged, but optional. Coaches will select events.

Dreaming- This group, previously known as Gold, is for 10-14 year olds who have mastered basic technique and are ready to work on more advanced skills including race strategy. Swimmers in this group will continue to work on basic technique, but will also prioritize building endurance and race strategies.  Swimmers in this group will work alongside Learning1, Learning2 and Performing and are expected to develop exemplary leadership skills in and out of the pool. This group will be working towards 11-12 A times and age group cuts and 13-14 B/BB/A times. This group offers 6 x 1.5 hour AM practices per week at the outdoor pool. At least 4 practices per week are recommended for this group. This may also be an ideal group for older swimmers who are trying to manage additional sports schedules. Swimmers advancing out of this group in the future will feed into Achieving or Performing 1.  Swimmers in this group should plan to attend our SMAC summer classic, Virginia summer awards, and Age group championships if qualified. All other meets are strongly encouraged, but optional. Swimmers will swim all events over the course of the season. Coaches will select events. 

Achieving - This group, previously known as Elite, is for advanced age group swimmers between the ages of 12 and 15. This is the most advanced level of our age group program. Swimmers in this group are committed to the sport of swimming and prioritize practice and meet participation. Swimmers in this group are expected to apply proper swimming technique at all times while training for the highest level of competition. Focus of this group will be age group champs qualification, finaling top 8, and qualifying for the Virginia Zone team.  Positive attitude towards coaches and other swimmers is a must to participate in this group. Swimmers will be expected to learn and demonstrate strong leadership skills in and out of the pool. This group will be offered 6 x 1.75/2 hour practices per week as well as additional dryland training. A minimum of 5 practices per week is required. Swimmers advancing out of this group in the future will feed into Performing 1 or 2. Swimmers in this group should plan to attend all meets offered our SMAC summer classic, Virginia summer awards, Age group championships, and Zones if qualified. All other meets are strongly encouraged, but optional. Swimmers will swim all events over the course of the season. Coaches will select events.

Performing 1- This is the first level of our senior program. Swimmers in this group are in high school, have mastered basic technique, and are ready to work on more advanced skills including race strategy. This group will continue to work on basic technique, but the focus will be on building endurance, changing speed and race strategies. Swimmers in this group will work alongside achieving and performing 2 and are expected to demonstrate exemplary leadership skills in and out of the pool. This group will be working towards 15-16 B/BB/A times and 13/14 Age group cuts. This group may be perfect for high school swimmers who juggle multiple sports or commitments, yet wish to continue swimming. This group offers 6 x 1.5/2 hour practices per week. Swimmers should aim to attend at least 3 practices per week.

Performing 2 -  This group is our top group of high school swimmers. Swimmers in this group are committed to the sport of swimming and are pursuing YMCA National qualifying times or faster. This group has demonstrated exemplary leadership skills in and out of the pool, and are committed to setting the highest examples for our younger swimmers. Swimmers in this group will continue to practice foundational skills while perfecting race strategies, reaction time, strength and endurance. This group will be offered  6x 1.5/2 hour practices per week with occasional doubles in the afternoon as well as dryland training. Swimmers are encouraged to attend as many practices as possible.