Reno Aquatic Club’s mission is to Develop Champions in Life Through Excellence in Swimming. This process starts as soon as your child joins the team. Our goal is to have your child develop and progress in the water and at the same time learn many valuable life lessons that will be beneficial outside of the pool
Currently, RENO offers seven different training groups based on ability and age. The minimum requirement for a child 12-under to join RENO is the swimmer must be able to complete 25-yards (one length) of freestyle. Unfortunately, due to lack of pool space, we currently do not have a group for those who can’t swim 25-yards. If this is the case, we can point you in a direction where your child can improve and, once ready, we’d be happy to have him/her join RENO.
RENO Groups
- Mini
- Blue
- White
- Orange
- Pre-Senior
- Senior
- National
Moving Up to the Next Group
The coaching staff assigns swimmers to specific groups based on many variables. These include:
- Age
- Technique – does your child have proper technique for all four strokes?
- Ability – how fast your child is in the water?
- Coachability – can your child take stroke feedback from his/her coach and apply it in the water?
- Listening skills – does your child listen to and process the information from his/her coach properly?
- Maturity – is your child physically and mentally ready to move up to the next group?
Above is general criteria that has helped us develop specific criteria to advance to the next group. The criteria is listed below in the group descriptions.
It is important to note that move-ups can happen with a coach's recommendation even if the child does not meet 100% of the listed criteria.
Group Descriptions
Mini
Mini RENO is our Novice Group and a introductory group to Reno Aquatic Club. It’s designed to give novice swimmers an introduction to the sport of competitive swimming. A prerequisite to join the group is a swimmer must be able to independently swim 25 yards and side breathing. The group focuses on developing the foundational skills of the four competitive strokes while helping build confidence in the water. Instruction will center around developing proficiency in freestyle, backstroke, and breaststroke; swimmers will also learn fundamental aspects of the butterfly stroke to prepare them for advancement into the Mini Plus program. The group is ideal for swimmers aged 5 - 10.
Criteria to Move into Blue group:
- Proficiency in freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly
- Strong understanding of legal competitive swimming strokes and techniques
- Displays excellent listening skills
- Ability to understand feedback and make the appropriate corrections
- Coach’s recommendation
Blue
The Blue group is the first group in our Age Group program. Swimmers in Blue will begin to develop their aerobic conditioning and a major emphasis is placed on proper stroke technique. Swimmers will learn how to do legal starts and turns. Swim meets are recommended. The group is ideal for swimmers aged 7 - 11.
Requirements to move into White group:
- 8 x 50 free @ 1:15
- 5 x 100 free @ 2:30
- 3 x 100 IM @ 3:00
- 12 x 25 kick @ :40
- Legal 100 IM in all 4 strokes
- Legal dives and turns
- 80% attendance
- Coach’s recommendation
Orange
The Orange Group is part of our Age Group program. Technique is still a main focus but a greater emphasis is placed on training to prepare athletes to race at Club and HS meets. Swimmers in this group attend local swim meets. The goal is to have swimmers in Orange Group to attend our Championship and State Meet. The ideal age for this group is 12- 15years.
Criteria to move into Pre-Senior:
- 16 x 100 free @ 1:40
- 20 x 50 free @ 1:00
- 8x200 free @ 3:10
- 10 x 100 IM @ 1:50
- 5x200 [email protected]:20
- 10 x 50 free kick @ 1:10
- *Seperate criteria to move to Senior Group
- Coach’s recommendation
White
The White Group is our top younger swimmers in the Age Group program. A focus is placed on continued improvement of technique and legality of all four strokes. Swimmers will continue to develop their aerobic conditioning and are encouraged to compete in local and Championship swim meets. This Group will be working on qualifying for our State and Championship meets.The group is ideal for swimmers aged 7-11 years old.
Criteria to move into Pre-Senior:
- 16 x 100 free @ 1:40
- 20 x 50 free @ 1:00
- 8x200 free @ 3:10
- 10 x 100 IM @ 1:50
- 5x200 [email protected]:20
- 10 x 50 free kick @ 1:10
- *Seperate criteria to move to Senior Group
- Coach’s recommendation
Pre-Senior
The Pre-Senior group is for RENO’s top Age-Group swimmers. The swimmers in this group are training and preparing for higher level meets in and out of our area. The expectation for the Pre-Senior group is to have swimmers competing at the highest Age Group level. Swimmers are introduced to more demanding training while still focusing on technique. This group prepares swimmers to advance to the Senior and National groups. Swimmers in this group range from 11-14 years old.
A swimmer may move in two directions after the Pre-Senior group. He/she can move to the Orange Group or the Senior group depending on ability, age, and attitude.
Senior / National
Group Foundations:
Senior Group strives to represent RENO at State and beyond
National Group strives to represent RENO at Sectionals and beyond!
- Be Present
- Be Prepared and On Time
- Be Honest
- Honor your teammates through hard work
- Seek Knowledge through Experience
What it means:
•Be Present- focus on the task at hand, and do your skills with proper form
•Be Prepared and On Time- you can’t get back wasted time
•Be Honest- trust is built on honesty
•Honor- when you try your best it positively affects your teammates
•Seek- never think you know it all, trying new things could unlock a whole new possibility
Brain, Body, and Balance scores:
Weekly check-ins will be emailed to each group member. Fill out the form out within 24 hrs. 100% participation is the expectation. Score yourself 1-10 on these five categories:
-Mental Health
-Physical Health
-Hydration and Nutrition
-Time Management
-Leadership (5 foundations above)
Add the five numbers and divide by five to get an average.
8 = Great 9 = Better 10 = Best
Fill the bucket and carry my weight commitment:
I understand that filling all my buckets is a challenge and life is hard to balance. I agree to follow the Reno Aquatics Club Code of Conduct, and be an ambassador of our team within the local community. I am committed to do my best to be a positive role model for our team by filling other team members' buckets and carrying my weight!
Senior Group Time Standards and Advancement Goals:
*Must have at least 2 times from the Left Column, and highlight at least two times to be working towards in the Right Column.
**Coaches Discretion can be used to make exceptions.
Attendance, Taper and Dryland:
Starting 12/12/22 All Group members should strive for 4-6 practices a week, one meet a month, and taper meets in March, May HS State, July Championships, and November Championships. Dryland will be available- Monday Yoga, Wednesday Strength, and Sunday Aerobic.
National Group Time Standards and Sectional Goals:
*Must have at least 2 times from the Left Column, and highlight at least one time to be working towards in the Right Column.
**If you achieve a Sectional Time, then you are expected to attend this meet to represent RENO’s National Team.
***Coaches Discretion can be used to make exceptions.
Attendance, Taper and Dryland:
Starting 12/1/22 All Group members should strive for 6-8 practices a week, one meet a month, and taper meets in March Sectionals, May HS State, July Sectionals, December Sectionals. Dryland will be available, Monday Yoga, Wednesday Strength, and Sunday Aerobic.
