STARS TRAINING GROUPS
The STARS offers training groups for all ages and levels of competitive swimmers. Below is an outline of each of our training groups. Click here for a group progression diagram.
Starfish Group
Age range: 6-8
Practices per week: 2-3
Coach:
The first level of the STARS program emphasizes building a strong foundation of all four competitive strokes - butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle – along with starts, turns, and an introduction to interval training. Starfish swimmers learn the importance of correct body position, strong kicks and basic technique in all four strokes. The basic skills and drills learned in the Starfish Group are used consistently throughout the STARS program.
Equipment needed: kickboard, fins, mesh bag, water bottle
Red Group
Age range: 9-11
Practices per week: 3-4
Coach:
The Red Group is still considered an introduction level to the sport of swimming and competition. Red Group swimmers focus on stroke skill and technique development, while introducing endurance training for longer swims. The Red Group begins to develop strategic swimming skills through focus on goal setting and attainment. The Red Group uses USA Swimming Mental Toolbox skills and practices them in benchmark sets. This group also learns to use the clock to support swim development and execution in practice and meets.
For swimmers to succeed in the Red Group, they need to attend a minimum of three practices each week. Red Group also incorporates a voluntary dry land session prior to workout.
Equipment needed: kickboard, fins, pull buoy, mesh bag, water bottle
White Group
Age range: 9-13
Practices per week: 3-4
Coach:
The White Group is designed as a developmental group for swimmers ages 9-13 starting the STARS team with less competitive swimming experience. White group swimmers work to develop their skills and aerobic ability with the goal of transitioning into the age appropriate group as soon as the coach and athlete feel it feasible.
Equipment needed: kickboard, fins, pull buoy, snorkel [no purge valve], mesh bag, water bottle
Black Group
Age range: 11-12
Practices per week: 4-5
Coach:
The Black Group is intended for age group swimmers with goals of pursuing their swimming career as far as possible. The practice direction, structure and difficulty is specifically designed for long-term development of all strokes and all events. Mental training is also incorporated into the Black Group training to increase self-awareness, mental toughness and self-discipline while focusing on personal goals. Dry land training is also incorporated into the Black Group overall training and development plan.
Black group practice is offered 5-6 times per week and swimmers are expected to attend 75% of offered workouts to stay on track with the group progression. Some athletes in the Black Group will still do multiple sports, but most athletes make a decision in this group to concentrate on swimming.
Equipment needed: kickboard, fins, pull buoy, snorkel [no purge valve], mesh bag, water bottle
Silver Group
Age range: 13-14
Practices per week: 5-7
Coach: Eric Eikenbary
The Silver Group program is intended for swimmers 13-14 years old, not yet in high school, with goals of pursuing their swimming career as far as possible. The practice direction, structure and difficulty will be designed for the long-term development of all strokes and all events. Mental training will also be incorporated into the Silver Group program.
Silver Group practice is offered 6 - 7 times per week and swimmers are expected to attend a minimum of 80% of offered workouts to progress with the group. Dry land training is also incorporated into the Silver Group overall training and development plan.
Equipment needed: kickboard, fins, pull buoy, snorkel [no purge valve], hand paddles, mesh bag, water bottle
High School Prep Group
Age range: high school
Practices per week: 3
Coach:
This High School Prep Group is designed for high school age swimmers preparing for their high school swim season or unable to commit to the Senior or High Performance Groups. Practices are held 3 times per week, for an 8 week session.
Equipment needed: kickboard, fins, pull buoy, mesh bag, water bottle
Senior Group
Age range: high school
Practices per week: 6-9
Coach: Eric Eikenbary & Todd Schmitz
The Senior Group consists of high school age swimmers of varying stroke and speed abilities. Athletes in the Senior Group range from High School Top 16 and sectional qualifiers to athletes trying to make their varsity high school team. This is a very diverse group in which all swimmers work well together in a consistent and similar way. In the Senior Group swimmers work to perfect their technique, learn more fundamentals of high-level swimming and increase the knowledge and ability to swim fast.
The Senior Group provides a stepping-stone for athletes intending to join the High Performance Group as well as providing a demanding and comprehensive training program for athletes who cannot meet the attendance and/or training requirements of the High Performance Group.
Senior Group practice is offered 6-9 times per week. Dry land training is also incorporated into the Senior Group overall training and development plan.
Equipment needed: kickboard, fins, pull buoy, snorkel [no purge valve], hand paddles, mesh bag, water bottle
High Performance Group & High Performance-International
Age range: 15+
Practices per week: 6-9
Coach: Todd Schmitz
The High Performance Group provides the curriculum and atmosphere necessary for success at all levels of state, regional/sectional, national and international competition. The High Performance Group swimmer is a positive, hard-working example not only for the STARS program, but also for Colorado Swimming and USA Swimming as a whole.
High Performance-International denotes those athletes that came from teams abroad and are currently training with Colorado STARS.
High Performance Group practice is offered between 6 – 9 times per week* and swimmers need to attend 85%+ of offered workouts to see continued success at this level.
*Depending on season and training. Additional practices may be added at coach’s discretion. Dry land training is also incorporated into the High Performance Group overall training and development plan.
Equipment needed: kickboard, fins, pull buoy, snorkel [no purge valve], hand paddles, mesh bag, water bottle
Please note: the Head Coach has final discretion as to which training groups athletes will train in.
