Vortex offers 8 group options: Lightning Thunder Hail Storm Age Group Prep Elite Peak
Team Vortex Swim Club coaching staff makes the decisions on group placement of the swimmer based on the swimmers’ daily practice habits and season long progress. These are guidelines that the coaches use to place athletes in the appropriate practice group. All group assignments are subject to change throughout the swim season per coaches’ discretion and our group placement policy that can be found here - https://www.teamunify.com/team/cotvsc/page/swimmer-info/group-placement-policy
Below are the expectations and standards for each group.
Lightning Ages 5 - 8
Technique: Must be able to complete 25 yards (one length of the pool) on both the front and the back.
Attendance: 1x / week minimum
Practice: Lightning is our introductory swim group. We work to develop a love for the sport of swimming. We work on all 4 competitive strokes. Swimming 25’s with correct rest to work proper technique.
Equipment Expectations:
Suit
Cap - for longer hair
Goggles
Water Bottle
Kickboard - smaller
Fins - Speedo Switchblade
Thunder Ages 6 - 9
Technique: Must have at least 3 legal strokes and endurance to swim 1000 yards for a workout.
Attendance: 2x / week minimum
Practice: Thunder is an age group prep swim group. We work on all 4 competitive strokes as well as starts and turns. We also work on increasing speed and endurance. We learn proper technique and skills necessary to move to Hail and Storm groups.
Competition Expectations: Meets are not required but they are encouraged.
Equipment Expectations:
Suit
Cap - for longer hair
Goggles
Water Bottle
Kickboard - smaller
Fins - Speedo Switchblade
Hail Ages 8 - 11
Technique: Must be able to complete 25 yards (one length of the pool) in both freestyle and backstroke.
Attendance: 2x / week minimum
Practice: Hail is an age group prep swim group. We work on all 4 competitive strokes as well as turns and starts from the blocks. We complete several 25, 50, and 100’s during the workout. We also do a dryland workout with this group working core, coordination, mobility, and strength.
Competition Expectations: Meet participation is encouraged in this group. The District Championships meets are the End of season meets for this group.
Equipment Expectations:
Suit
Cap - for longer hair
Goggles
Water Bottle
Equipment Wet Bag W/:
Pull Buoy - smaller size
Kickboard - smaller
Fins
Speedo Switchblade
Snorkel - must be a swimmer's snorkel
Storm Ages 9 - 13
Technique: Must have 4 legal strokes that can be swam for 50’s and 100’s and the endurance to swim 2000+ yards for a workout.
Attendance: 2x / week minimum
Training: 5 in water and dryland practices a week
Practice: Storm is an age group level swim team that meets 5 times a week. We work on all 4 competitive strokes as well as starts and turns. We work on specific goals for each meet in the season such as specific technique, challenging events and achieving silver state times.
Set Examples: 6x 100's on 2:20, 10x 25's kick on :45
Competition Expectations: 2-3 meets a season, Districts are highly recommended.
Equipment Expectations:
Suit
Cap - for longer hair
Goggles
Water Bottle
Equipment Wet Bag W/:
Pull Buoy - smaller size
Paddles - Just a bit larger than the hands (stroke Maker, Finis)
Kickboard - smaller
Fins
Speedo Switchblade
Snorkel - must be a swimmer's snorkel
Workout clothes - Shoes, shorts - used for Dryland workouts
Age Group Ages 11 - 14
Technique: This group has achieved silver state and state times. Swimmers have goals to swim in finals at the end of season championship meets.
Attendance: 75%
Training: 5 in water and dryland practices a week
Practice: This is the top age group swim team. It is preparing swimmers for the elite level groups. This team meets 5 times a week. We work on all 4 competitive strokes as well as starts and turns. We work on specific goals for each meet in the season and work towards championship meets.
Set Examples: 6x 100's on 2:00, 10x 25's kick on :40
Competition Expectations: Meet participation is required to maintain group status. Swimmers are encouraged to compete in the highest qualifying meet as well as the District Championships.
Equipment Expectations:
Suit
Cap - for longer hair
Goggles
Healthy Snack
Water Bottle
Equipment Wet Bag W/:
Pull Buoy - smaller size
Paddles - Just a bit larger than the hands (stroke Maker, Finis)
Kickboard - smaller
Fins
Speedo Switchblade
Arena Powerfin Pro Swim Fins
TYR Hydroblade Fins
Snorkel - must be a swimmer's snorkel
Optional items:
Nose Plug
Fulcrum
Workout clothes - Shoes, shorts - used for Dryland workouts
Elite Prep Ages 13 & up
Attendance: Consistent attendance is required to maintain group status.
Training: 6 in water and dryland practices a week
Test Sets: 6x 200's on 3:15, 6x 100's kick on 2:15
Competition Expectations: Meet participation is required to maintain group status. Must compete in the highest qualifying meet as well as the District Championships.
Equipment Expectations:
Suit
Cap - for longer hair
Goggles
Healthy Snack
Water Bottle
Equipment Wet Bag W/:
Pull Buoy - smaller size
Paddles - larger than the size of the hand -
Finis AGILITY PADDLES
Kickboard - smaller
Fins
DMC Elite Fins
Arena Powerfin Pro Swim Fins
TYR Hydroblade Fins
Snorkel - must be a swimmer's snorkel
Optional items:
Nose Plug
Fulcrum
Various other Paddles
Workout clothes - Shoes, shorts - used for Dryland workouts
Elite Ages 13 & up
Attendance: 90%
Training: 6 in water and dryland practices a week including weight training
Test Sets: 6x 200's on 2:40, 6x 100's kick on 1:50
Performance: Must have State Level qual times -
Competition Expectations: Must compete in the highest qualifying meet. Meet participation is required to maintain group status.
Equipment Expectations:
Suit
Cap - for longer hair
Goggles
Healthy Snack
Water Bottle
Equipment Wet Bag W/:
Pull Buoy - smaller size
Paddles - larger than the size of the hand -
Finis AGILITY PADDLES
Kickboard - smaller
Fins
DMC Elite Fins
Arena Powerfin Pro Swim Fins
TYR Hydroblade Fins
Snorkel - must be a swimmer's snorkel
Optional items:
Nose Plug
Fulcrum
Various other Paddles
Workout clothes - Shoes, shorts - used for Dryland workouts
Peak Senior Travel Group, Ages 13 & up
Attendance: Attendance is required for this group
Training: 6 in water and dryland practices a week including weight training
Performance: Must have Senior Zones qual times
Competition Expectations: Must compete in the highest qualifying meet. Meet participation is required to maintain group status.
Equipment Expectations:
Suit
Cap - for longer hair
Goggles
Healthy Snack
Water Bottle
Equipment Wet Bag W/:
Pull Buoy - smaller size
Paddles - larger than the size of the hand -
Finis AGILITY PADDLES
Kickboard - smaller
Fins
DMC Elite Fins
Arena Powerfin Pro Swim Fins
TYR Hydroblade Fins
Snorkel - must be a swimmer's snorkel
Optional items:
Nose Plug
Fulcrum
Various other Paddles
Workout clothes - Shoes, shorts - used for Dryland workouts
