BASH Group Expectations and Equipment Requirements

 

Dolphin /Pre-Competitive

  • 6 to 9 year old inexperienced swimmers who can swim freestyle and backstroke.
  • Emphasis on teaching the fundamentals, and on learning new strokes and starts.
  • Swimmers sign up for 1 or 2 days per week, 10 week program sessions.
  • Will have the opportunity to swim in beginner swim meets. 

Age Group 4

  • 7 to 10 year old swimmers who can swim 3 of the 4 competitive strokes
  • Emphasis will be to learn all 4 competitive strokes and turns; improving starts and learning turns will also be incorporated.
  • Swimmers are recommended to attend 2 practices per week.
  • Equipment:
    • ​Fins - TYR Flexfins 2.0
    • Kickboard -TYR Classic Kickboard (please write name upon)
    • Goggles - 2 Pairs (for summer it's nice to have a mirrored pair, and an extra pair just in case) 
    • Water Bottle - Swimmer's Choice
    • TYR Meshbag - Not required for this group, but a great way to carry wet equipment.

Age Group 3

  • 8 to 10 year old swimmers who can swim all 4 competitive strokes and dive from the starting blocks.
  • Emphasis will be on improving stroke fundamentals, as well as starts and turns
  • Swimmers will be expected to swim a 400 Freestyle and a 200 IM in practice and learn how to read a pace clock.
  • Swimmers are expected to swim in YMCA swim meets and they will swim IM events in meets.
  • Swimmers are recommended to attend 3 practices per week.
  • Equipment:​
    • Fins - TYR Flexfins 2.0
    • Kickboard -TYR Classic Kickboard (please write name upon)
    • Goggles - 2 Pairs (for summer it's nice to have a mirrored pair, and an extra pair just in case) 
    • Water Bottle - Swimmer's Choice
    • TYR Meshbag - Not required for this group, but a great way to carry wet equipment.

Age Group 2

  • 9 to 12 year old swimmers who can swim all 4 strokes
  • Swimmers in this group still focus on refinements in stroke mechanics and improve turns and starts
  • Swimmers are expected to swim an 800 Free and 200’s in practice.
  • Dryland training will be introduced and swimmers will be expected to participate in the “out of the water” training
  • Swimmers are expected to swim in YMCA swim meets, and will swim some distance events  (200’s & 500’s) in meets
  • Training paces per 100 – Free/ 1:45, IM/2:00, Kick/2:00
  • Swimmers are recommended to attend 3 to 4 practices per week.
  • Equipment:
    • ​Fins - TYR 'Stryker Silicone Fin'
    • Hand Paddles - Catalyst Stroke Training Paddles (1/2" longer than middle finger)
    • Pull Bouy - TYR Classic Pull Bouy 
    • Kickboard - TYR Classic Kickboard (please write name upon)
    • Snorkel - TYR Ultralite Snorkel Elite 
    • TYR Meshbag - Color of Choice
    • Goggles - Swimmer's Choice, 2 pairs 

 Age Group 1

  • 10 to 12 year old swimmers and some YMCA Zone level 9-10 year old swimmers who are ready for a challenging swimming and training experience
  • Swimmers are selected by the coaching staff for this group.
  • Must swim in YMCA and USA Swimming Meets (90% of those offered), and are expected to swim all their age group’s distance events in meets.
  • Winter YMCA AA time standards are required (current or previous winter season)
  • Stroke mechanics will be improved and an increase in training will be offered
  • Advanced dryland training and conditioning will be incorporated in the practice sessions.
  • Training paces per 100 – Free/1:30, IM/1:45, Kick/1:50
  • Swimmers are required to attend 5 practices per week.
  • Equipment:
    • ​Fins - TYR 'Stryker Silicone Fin'
    • Hand Paddles - Catalyst Stroke Training Paddles (1/2" longer than middle finger)
    • Pull Bouy - TYR Classic Pull Bouy 
    • Kickboard - TYR Classic Kickboard (please write name upon)
    • Snorkel - TYR Ultralite Snorkel Elite 
    • TYR Meshbag - Color of Choice
    • Goggles - Swimmer's Choice, 2 pairs

 Senior Group

  • Description Pending
  • Equipment:
    • ​Fins - TYR Hydroblade Fins 
    • Hand Paddles - TYR Catalys Stroke Training Paddles (1/2" longer than middle finger)
    • Pull Bouy - TYR Classic Pull Bouy 
    • Kickboard - TYR Classic Kickboard
    • Snorkel - TYR Ultralite Snorkel Elite 
    • TYR Meshbag - Color of Choice
    • Goggles - Swimmer's Choice, 2 pairs

 National Group

  • In order to development a truly competitive ‘National’ Level Team, it has become apparent
    that the creation of a ‘NEW’ Training and Competition Group needs to be developed and
    implemented, one that is based not only on competitive standards, but one that reflects the
    highest commitment levels and aspirations to achieve at YMCA National Meets, and at the
    highest levels of USA Swimming through the USA Swimming Sectional, Futures, Junior
    Nationals, Senior Nationals, and U.S. Olympic Trials Meets. Athletes who are offered the
    opportunity to become Members of this Group reflect the drive, focus, and desire to achieve
    at these levels of competition. This Training and Competition Group is by the ‘invitation’ of
    the Blue Ash Coaching Staff. Generally speaking, Swimmers ‘invited’ into the Group will be in
    the 13-18 year-old range, both female and male, and have exhibited a high level of
    commitment to training, achieving an ever-increasing competitive excellence, and desire to
    commit to the on-going processes of hard work, determination, and focus on self-evaluation
    of goals and re-evaluation of goals, as they are met. This Training and Competition Group will
    set the ‘Standard of Excellence’ for future Blue Ash Y Swimmers!
  • Criteria Considered for Invitation and Maintaining Group Membership:
    - 85% Attendance at Practices, based upon 9 In-Water Workouts/Week, 3 Dryland
    - Compulsory Attendance at Targeted Meets, ie. Y Nationals and beyond, as well as,
    certain Meets throughout the Long Course and Short Course Seasons
    - Exhibit a High Level of Self-Motivation and ‘Team Oriented’ Mindset
    - Willingness to Actively Engage in the Goal-Setting Process
    - Desire to help raise the ‘National Level of Visibility’ of Blue Ash Swimming
    - Resilience in Demanding Training and Competitive Scenarios
    - Be acutely aware of Nutritional Needs, as well as, Study/Rest Habits
    - Attentive to Academic Responsibilities, Short and Long Range
    - Versatile Approach to Both ‘Strong’ and ‘Weaker’ Events
    - Willingness to ‘Openly’ Communicate with Coaching Staff
    - Attend and Participate in Out-of-Water Team Meetings/Race Evaluations
    - Exhibit ‘Good Peer and Younger Athlete’ Mentoring
  • Equipment:
    • ​Fins - TYR Hydroblade Fins 
    • Hand Paddles - TYR Catalys Stroke Training Paddles (1/2" longer than middle finger)
    • Pull Bouy - TYR Classic Pull Bouy 
    • Kickboard - TYR Classic Kickboard
    • Snorkel - TYR Ultralite Snorkel Elite 
    • TYR Meshbag - Color of Choice
    • Goggles - Swimmer's Choice, 2 pairs