SSCD Group Descriptions and Requirements:
Coaches have sole discretion on group and lane placement.
South Snohomish County Dolphins’ training levels have been created for your swimmer to excel at the pace they need to achieve their potential. We emphasize individual and team progress with competition at the highest individual level.
Age Group swimmers will be placed in groups that challenge but don’t discourage them as they learn to set realistic goals, and then work through a training plan to reach those goals! Ensuring proper mechanics are achieved early in a swimming career, both in dryland exercises and in the water, promotes optimal neuromuscular conditioning and patterning for a lifetime of correct swimming.
Our group structure is aimed at providing the best opportunities for all our athletes to grow and improve, as well as allow them to practice in groups with peers that are of the same relative age, maturity, and ability levels. We believe that as swimmers progress through the program, the motivation to move to the next group will make ALL the groups stronger. As this occurs, swimmers in every group will be pushed to new heights.
Placement in a practice group is not guaranteed for an entire season. If a swimmer is failing to fulfill their obligation to the group, they may be reassigned to a different training group. Conversely, if a swimmer is exceeding expectations, and their coach feels they need more challenges, advancement to the next group will occur after a coach/parent meeting has taken place.
Summer Program
June 26 - August 4 2023
SSCD provides a fun filled environment for 6- 18 year old swimmers who want to try a USA Swim team.
Focus is on the competitive stroke skills that are important to beginning a lifetime of efficient swimming.
While learning swim team skills and increasing your swimmers’ technique and endurance base, your swimmer will have the opportunity to compete in summer meets! This can also open the door to swimming on SSCD in the fall.
Swimmers should be able to complete 25 yards of freestyle and backstroke and be familiar with breastroke and butterfly to start the team.
Bronze
7-13 years old.
Introduction to a “USA Swimming” team for swimmers.
Swimmer should be able to swim 50 yards (2 lengths) each freestyle & backstroke, and have foundational skills in breaststroke & butterfly to be able to swim 25 yards (1 length) of each.
1 hour practices. Minimum 3x week - welcome to train 5x a week.
Attend home meets and other meets qualified for.
Focus: To have a positive experience learning about USA Swimming! Proper “level appropriate” stroke mechanics towards legal strokes in the four competitive strokes, starts, and turns, the beginnings of “learning to train” swim sets, lap lane etiquette, swim coach “lingo”, team drills, basic pace clock reading skills, learning and introducing our new swimmers to swim meets and having fun and making friends!!!
Silver
Mon - Fri 1 hour 15 minutes Minimum 4x week - welcome to train 6x per week
9-13 years old.
Move up standard: Complete 20 x 50 Freestyle @ 1:00 and perform a legal 200 IM.
Attend ALL home meets and champ meets qualified for / attending all other meets qualified for strongly encouraged.
Focus: Silver swimmers have reached the stage where swimming is clearly becoming more of a priority for them. Silver group is the bridge from novice swimming towards more endurance and more commitment to the water. Stroke refinement and swimming athleticism with continued attention to correct timing in strokes, turns and starts becomes more finely tuned. Swimmers begin to understand how a team atmosphere can help them not only become a better individual swimmer, but how they can become a supportive teammate.
Gold
Mon - Sat. 1.5 hrs per day 6 practices per week is expected, (unless arrangements have been made with your coach)
Be able to complete 15 x 100 @ 1:30 and a 400 IM.
Attend ALL meets qualified for.
Focus: Gold swimmers are looking towards becoming top age group swimmers in the Pacific NW and the Region. More advanced training techniques, endurance and stroke strategies are taught as this athlete excels through the program. Preparing athletes to compete at high levels with competent racing strategies are studied and encouraged . Swimmers start to find out what they are capable of as an age group swimmer and what it takes to get ready to be a quality High School and Senior swimmer.
High School and Senior Development Training Group
M-F 1.5 hours
HS - For swimmers 14 & over who want to stay in shape for HS teams or summer teams but need time for other activities, or are not ready for Senior Team training.
Sr D - swimmers training with the intent of progressing towards becoming a Senior level swimmer.
Swim Meets encouraged.
Senior Group
Mon- Sat. 1.75 hrs / day
13 & over, can swim 10 x 200 Free @ 2:30
Coach Recommendation* 90% attendance required / Attend all meets prescribed by Head Coach.
Senior Team members are learning to shift focus and take responsibility for their own training as they become young adults and are competing at the highest level possible. With this comes the ability to actively make time management a priority and learn how to master / modulate the highs and lows of training at a more elite level. These swimmers learn the importance of enthusiastic commitment to reach Regional/Sectional finalist levels and National qualifying levels.
High Performance Group
Mon- Sat 2 - 2.5+ hrs / day
100% Attendance Goal / Attend all meets prescribed by Head Coach
Coach recommendation*
For swimmers invited by the Head Coach to train towards National and International goals.
* Coach recommendation is from your current coach of record. Your coach will look for signs of leadership, age appropriate swimming/training skills, sportsmanship, commitment, and respect towards fellow teammates and coaches.
