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Senior Program

SENIOR            

Group Overview: This is an advanced group for high school and college swimmers. Swimmers in this group should be proficient in all four competitive strokes and have a training capacity for practices up to 6,000 yards. They also must be capable of training for and competing in ALL events.

Practice Attendance Expectations: These swimmers are offered 8 practices per week, and they are required to attend a minimum of 5 practices per week. 

Meet Participation Expectations: USA Swimming competition IS a requirement for this group. Swimmers are expected to attend a minimum of one meet per month, including championship meets such as the Holiday Swim Festival (Arizona), Juanita Allington, high school sections (if applicable), the Bill Rose Classic (Summer JO’s), and USA Swimming Sectionals or higher national level meets if qualified. When swimmers participate in USA swimming meets, a parent or guardian volunteering is required. 

 

NATIONAL TEAM

This group trains with the Senior Group, but has national level cuts (Futures and up) and will be expected to participate in additional training and meets during parts of the year.  

 

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Pre-Senior Program

PRE-SENIOR 1

Group Overview: This is an advanced group for ages 11-15. Swimmers in this group must be proficient in all four competitive strokes and have a training capacity for practices up to 5,000 yards. They also must be capable of training for and competing in events up to 500 yards. 

Practice Attendance Expectations: These swimmers are offered practices 6 days a week for 1 hour and 45 minutes each day (2 hours on Saturday), and they are required to attend a minimum of 5 practices per week, with one of those practices being Saturday morning. Multiple days a week, practice will begin with dryland training, for which swimmers are always to be prepared with proper available attire.  

Meet Participation Expectations: USA Swimming competition IS a requirement for this group. Swimmers are expected to attend a minimum of one meet per month, including championship meets such as the Holiday Swim Festival (Arizona), SNS Short Course Championships (Spring JO’s), and the Bill Rose Classic (Summer JO’s). When swimmers participate in USA swimming meets, a parent or guardian volunteering is required. 

 

PRE-SENIOR 2

Group Overview: This is an upper Intermediate group for ages 11-15. Swimmers in this group should be familiar with all four competitive strokes and proficient in multiple strokes. They must have a training capacity for practices up to 3,500 yards. They also must be capable of training for and competing in events up to 200 yards. 

Practice Attendance Expectations: These swimmers are offered practices 5 days a week for 1 hour and 15 minutes each day, and they are required to attend a minimum of 3 practices per week.

Meet Participation Expectations: While USA Swimming competition is not a requirement for this group, it is highly encouraged. An ideal Fall season would consist of participation in at least three meets, including the two STAS-hosted meets. If swimmers participate in USA swimming meets, a parent or guardian volunteering is required. 

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Age Group Program

HAMMERHEAD SHARKS

Group Overview: This is an intermediate group for ages 9-12. Swimmers in this group must exhibit good swimming skills and proficiency in multiple strokes. Practices will be spent equally between stroke technique and training skills that will prepare them for the Pre-Senior program.They also must be capable of training for and competing in events up to 100 yards. 

Practice Attendance Expectations: These swimmers are offered practices 5 days a week for 1 hour each day. While there is no minimum attendance requirement in this group, we encourage swimmers to attend a minimum of twice a week. The more you put in, the more you’ll get out!

Meet Participation Expectations: While USA Swimming competition is not a requirement for this group, it is highly encouraged. An ideal Fall season would consist of participation in at least three meets, including the two STAS-hosted meets. If swimmers participate in USA swimming meets, a parent or guardian volunteering is required. 

 

BLUENOSE SHARKS

Group Overview: This is a comp-ready beginner group for ages 6-10. Swimmers in this group must have some proficiency in Freestyle and Backstroke, and they must have some familiarity with the short axis strokes. The majority of practice time will be spent working on refining stroke mechanics and learning training skills. 

Practice Attendance Expectations: These swimmers are offered practices 4 days a week for 45 minutes each day. While there is no minimum attendance requirement in this group, we encourage swimmers to attend a minimum of twice a week. The more you put in, the more you’ll get out!

Meet Participation Expectations:This group will ideally be introduced to low-level USA Swimming competitions, but meet participation is not a requirement for this group. If swimmers participate in USA swimming meets, a parent or guardian volunteering is required. 

 

SHARK PUPS

Group Overview: This is a pre-comp beginner group for ages 5-8. Swimmers in this group must be water safe and able to swim a half lap, unassisted, before joining. The majority of practice time will be spent on technique and skills related to Freestyle and Backstroke, but the short axis strokes will be introduced as well.      

Practice Attendance Expectations: These swimmers are offered practices 4 days a week for 30 minutes each day. While there is no minimum attendance requirement in this group, we encourage swimmers to attend a minimum of twice a week. The more you put in, the more you’ll get out!

Meet Participation Expectations: USA Swimming competition is not a requirement for this group. If a swimmer would like to participate in a fall meet, their parent/guardian should discuss with STAS coaches. If swimmers participate in USA swimming meets, a parent or guardian volunteering is required. 

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