Valdosta Aquatics envisions a world in which everyone uses swimming as a conduit to recreation, competition, and a healthier life. This process begins with water safety and continues through a lifetime of skill development, personal improvement, social interactions, competitive opportunities and just plain fun!
We Value All Swimmers Together. Guided by our core values of character, excellence, communication, positive mindset, and presence; we teach everyone to become better swimmers, athletes, teammates, and individuals, who are more than capable to give back to our communities and sport.
Bronze
This is our entry level group. An athlete needs to be able to swim one length of freestyle, one length backstroke, and either breaststroke or butterfly kick on a kick board in order to join this group. This is our entry level group. This is a Swim For Fun (SFF) group that mixes technique and games to develop the basic skills of competitive swimming. There is no attendance minimum for practices or competitions with group although attending is highly encouraged.
Practice Equipment: swimsuit, kick board, goggles, and water bottle.
Bronze Coach: Haley Helms
Workout Days/Times: SEE GROUP SCHEDULE
Silver
From the bronze group, athletes who can swim the four competitive strokes (proficiently with freestyle and backstroke; a legal stroke of breaststroke and butterfly) and basic starts and turns. Athletes in this group focus mainly on learning four legal competitive strokes, start and turn technique and having fun. Athletes in this group are usually at least 8 years old and have completed the gold group move-up sets (10x50 [email protected]:00; 5x100 [email protected]:30). Each day starts with 30 minutes of dry land practice (not mandatory) and one hour of swimming. Competing at swim meets is not mandatory, but highly encouraged; see coaches for recommendations. There is no attendance minimum for practices or competitions with group although attending is highly encouraged. Minimum training sets must be accomplished to qualify for this group.
Practice Equipment: swimsuit, goggles, mesh bag, fins, kick board, pull bouy, and water bottle.
Age Group Coaches: Kate Morgans and Paige Raines
Workout Days/Times: : SEE GROUP SCHEDULE
Gold
From the silver group, athletes who can swim all four strokes and perform all turns proficiently can move into this group. Athletes in this group are usually at least 10 years old and have completed the gold group move-up sets ([email protected]:30; 5x200 [email protected]:20). Two days per week contains 90 minutes of swimming with the remaining two with 30 minute of dry land followed by 60 minutes of swimming; Saturdays contain 120 minutes of swimming (See schedule). This group is exposed to training for the first time to prepare for longer competitive races. There is a balance between training for competition and continuing to develop technique in all aspects of stroke, turns and races. Swimmers are expected to attend four competitions per season and at least three practices per week. Minimum training sets must be accomplished to qualify for this group.
Practice Equipment: swimsuit, goggles, mesh bag, fins, kick board, dry-land clothes, paddles, buoy, snorkel, old pair of sneakers, drag socks, pulling strap, and water bottle.
Gold Coach: Matthew Grant and Kate Morgans
Workout Days/Times: : SEE GROUP SCHEDULE
Senior Development
From the gold group, athletes in this group are usually at least 11 years old and have completed the gold group move-up sets ([email protected]:20; 5x200 [email protected]:00). Two days per week contains 90 minutes of swimming with the remaining two with 30 minute of dry land followed by 60 minutes of swimming; Saturdays contain 120 minutes of swimming (See schedule). This group is exposed to training to prepare for longer competitive races. There is a balance between training for competition and continuing to develop technique in all aspects of stroke, turns and races. Swimmers are expected to attend four competitions per season and at least three practices per week. Minimum training sets must be accomplished to qualify for this group.
Practice Equipment: swimsuit, goggles, mesh bag, fins, kick board, dry-land clothes, paddles, buoy, snorkel, old pair of sneakers, drag socks, pulling strap, and water bottle.
Senior Development Coach: Matthew Grant
Workout Days/Times: : SEE GROUP SCHEDULE
Senior
Minimum age for entry into this group is normally 12 (girls) or 13 (boys) and have completed the senior group move-up sets ([email protected]:10; 5x200 [email protected]:45). Two days per week contains 120 minutes of swimming with the remaining two with 30-60 minute of dry land followed by 120-150 minutes of swimming; Saturdays contain 120 minutes of swimming (See schedule).Athletes entering the senior group must display a strong desire to perform at the highest level of which they are capable. Training is geared towards developing individual talents with strong focus on aerobic endurance and muscular power. Swimmers are expected to attend at least four practices per week and all competitions. Minimum training sets must be accomplished to qualify for this group.
Practice Equipment: swimsuit, goggles, mesh bag, fins, paddles, buoy, snorkel, kick board, drag suit, dry-land clothes, old pair of sneakers, drag socks, temp trainer, 5-gallon bucket, ping pong balls, parachute, and water bottle. Additional items might be required by coach.
Senior Coach: Matthew Grant
Workout Days/Times: : SEE GROUP SCHEDULE
Masters
This group is for adult swimmers of any ability level who want to development stroke technique. An athlete needs to be able to swim in order to join this group. This group mixes technique and training to develop the competitive swimming skills as well as developing a community of swimmers that support and encourage each other.
Practice Equipment: kick board, pull buoy, and water bottle.
Masters Coaches: Morgan Wright
Workout Days/Times: Tuesday - Thursday 5:00-6:00am
Summer League
This is the start of swimming. With a focus on building technique and understanding swimming, this group introduces all the strokes, skills, and sportsmanship found in our sport.
Season - end of May through July
