Prehawk Group
Group Requirements:
- Swimmers must be able to swim multiple 25-yard laps unassisted
- Swimmers must be comfortable in all depths of water
- Swimmers must be comfortable (or able to swim) on their backs
- Swimmers must have a general idea of freestyle and backstroke
- Swimmers are encouraged to come to at least 3 practices per week
- Competition is NOT required
Group Description:
- We begin to develop Freestyle and Backstroke
- And we introduce Breaststroke and Butterfly techniques
Equipment Needed:
Suit, Goggles, Swim Cap (encouraged), Fins, Kickboard, and mesh/wet bag (encouraged)
White Group
Group Requirements:
- Swimmers in this group are strong in Freestyle
- Swimmers are legal in Breaststroke and Butterfly
- Swimmers are encouraged to come to at least 3 practices per week
- Competition is Encouraged
Group Description:
- Aerobic Training is introduced for Freestyle and Backstroke
- We begin to strongly Backstroke, Breaststroke, and Butterfly
- The pace clock is introduced for send-offs
Equipment Needed:
Suit, Goggles, Swim Cap, Fins, Kickboard, Pull Buoy, and mesh/wet bag (encouraged)
Red Group
Group Requirements:
- Swimmers in this group are proficient and legal in all the competitive strokes
- Swimmers have a strong aerobic base in all strokes
- Swimmers know how to use the clock for training and can compute their times and send-offs using the pace clock
- Swimmers are able to hear a set and understand what is being asked of them
- Swimmers are encouraged to come to 4-5 practices per week
- Competition is Highly Encouraged
Group Description:
- We begin to develop in-depth stroke technique and stamina
- A higher level of aerobic training is introduced for all strokes
- Basic race strategies are introduced and practiced
- Continue to introduce the pace clock for send-offs and more complex intervals
Equipment Needed:
Suit, Goggles, Swim Cap, Fins, Kickboard, Paddles, Pull Buoy, and mesh/wet bag
Blue Group
Group Requirements:
- Very High Level of Commitment
- Must attend 6 Practices per Week and communicate any practice conflicts with your coach
- Competition is required
- Swimmers must be able swim all strokes and distances legally
- Swimmers must be able to make the training paces required by this group level
Group Description:
- Swimmers in this group begin the transition to intensively training all strokes and all distances
- We aggressively develop stroke technique and stamina
- Swimmers begin to learn more race specific race strategies
- The pace clock is used for all send-offs and intricate interval training is introduced
- Dryland training is introduced
Equipment Needed:
Suit, Goggles, Swim Cap, Fins, Kickboard, Pull Buoy, Hand Paddles, Snorkel, and Mesh/Wet Bag
Senior Group
Group Requirements:
- Very High Level of Commitment
- Must attend all scheduled practices including mornings (9 practices per week)
- Must communicate schedule conflicts with your coach
- Competition is Mandatory
- Swimmers must be able to make the training paces required by this group level
Group Description:
- Aggressive Training and Dryland Work (including weights)
- Training is geared towards National Caliber Competition
Equipment Needed:
Suit, Goggles, Swim Cap, Fins, Kickboard, Pull Buoy, Hand Paddles, Snorkel, and Mesh/Wet Bag
High School Training Group
Group Requirements:
- High School Level
- Must know how to swim and be comfortable in all depths of water
- No try-out required for this group
- No practice attendance requirement
Group Description:
- Moderate training for fitness and stroke improvement
- Preparation for the High School Season (Swim and Water Polo)
- Great conditioning for other non-aquatic sports
Equipment Needed:
Suit, Goggles, Swim Cap, Fins, Kickboard, and Pull Buoy
Masters Group
Group Requirement:
- Age 18 or over
- Must know how to swim and be comfortable in all depths of water
- All abilities welcome
- No try-out required
- No practice attendance requirement
- Come to any practice that works in your schedule
Group Description:
- Fitness and Competitve level training for ages 18+
- Focus on training and stroke technique
- Great for beginning swimmers, fitness swimmers, competitive swimmers, and triathletes
Equipment Needed:
Suit, Goggles, Swim Cap, Fins, Kickboard, Pull Buoy, Hand Paddles, Snorkel (recommended), and Mesh/Wet Bag
Group Move-ups
When will my swimmer move up group levels?
The great thing about swimming is that there is no “starting line-up” or “first string” and no one has to “ride the bench”. Everyone gets their opportunity to participate and contribute their performance to the team, no matter what group you are in.
The group that you are in does not define your value to the club. Rather, you are placed in your group to maximize your development towards reaching your potential. Each group goes through a process of development that makes moving up at random times of the year inappropriate.
As a whole, our swim club does not have very many group levels (we have 6 to be exact). Our first 4 group levels (Prehawk, White, Red, and High School) are designed to give each swimmer the appropriate stroke technique and endurance training for each given level. Beyond those, we have our high-level groups (Blue and Senior). These groups are focused on intense training and competition. Please know that our advanced groups (Blue and Senior) have specific requirements as well. Swimmers in those groups must come to practice, must compete in meets, and be willing to train at a higher level. Commitment, self-motivation and competition become the standard to which these groups strive to develop themselves as athletes, teammates and people.
Often swimmers are eager to move-up, which is understandable. However, we want all our swimmers to be successful in their given groups. Attitude, Attendance and Ability are all strong indicators of when an athlete is poised to move up. Throughout each and every practice, all swimmers are being evaluated and when those determining factors coincide with a good calendar date/cycle of training, then the coaches can make decisions on moving a swimmer up.
Again, group level does not mean one swimmer has more value than another swimmer. Swimming is a lifetime sport. Competitively, we want our swimmers to be competing throughout high school, college, and beyond. We also want our swimmers to enjoy swimming. Within each group, all swimmers will be pushed to maximize their potential and we will put them in the best position to improve. Ultimately, swimming fast is fun. For swimmers, the more often they come, the harder they push, the better they will become, and the more fun they will have.