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Training
Groups
The
following is a brief overview of the training groups within Solo
Aquatics. These
guidelines are general descriptions only, as the make-up of each
group will change on a yearly basis.
The coaching staff
will make all final decisions regarding group placements.
Placement decisions are made in the best interest of the
individual swimmer and
his/her long-term development. Please
note: although there are no structured attendance policies for any
groups, ALL athletes are encouraged to attend ALL offered practices
to ensure continued improvement and advancement into the next levels
within our program.
Intro
Tuesday, Thursday (1 hour sessions)
We offer this program to our
younger and least experienced swimmers. Ideally, these
swimmers have completed a series of swim lessons and have the
ability to swim at least 25 yards of freestyle and
backstroke. The basics of all four competitive strokes will be
taught, in addition to racing starts and flip-turns.
This program will enable the swimmer to improve their
swimming skills, and provide an introduction to the sport of
competitive swimming in a fun environment. The opportunity to
compete in meets will also be offered.
Age
Group 1
Monday,
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday (1 hour sessions)
This program is intended for
younger swimmers with less than three years of competitive
experience. Swimmers
have demonstrated the ability to swim all four competitive strokes
legally. Concentration
will be on the fundamentals of the four competitive strokes and
continuing to improve racing starts and turns. Swimmers will
begin to develop an endurance base in addition to extensive
technique work. In this program, swimmers will gain the skills
and confidence to prepare for competition in a fun and low intensity
environment. The opportunity to compete in meets will also be
offered and encouraged.
Age
Group 2
Monday
- Friday (1 – 1.5 hour sessions)
This program is intended for
younger swimmers with good basic swimming skills and less than three
years of competitive experience.
Concentration will be on further developing the four
competitive strokes, while introducing interval training and race
strategies. Swimmers will enhance their skills and confidence to
prepare for competition in local and regional meets.
Swimmers in this program have demonstrated the ability to
begin training on a more consistent basis and will be offered
practices 5 consecutive days per week.
Juniors
Monday
- Friday (1.5 hour sessions)
This
program is designed for the more experienced age group swimmer with
three or more years of experience in competitive swimming.
Extensive stroke technique and fundamentals of competitive swimming
will be stressed. Training sessions will focus on a
progressive system of endurance development while preparing for a
more advanced level of competition. Swimmers advancing out of
this group will be placed in either the Senior or Senior Elite
training groups based on age, ability, and commitment level.
Senior
Monday
- Saturday (2.5 - 3 hour
sessions)
This program is designed for
the high school age swimmer that (a) may be involved with other
sports/activities throughout the year, or (b) may not be able or
willing to meet the practice expectations of the Senior Elite group.
In this program, we will stress the establishment of proper stroke
technique and solid fundamentals as a base on which we build a
program of intense and diverse endurance training. Training
will focus on preparing these swimmers for local and regional
competitions, as well as competing collegiately after their high
school years. Senior
practices are offered six times per week on an average.
Dryland sessions are offered in addition to the in-water
training.
Senior
Elite
Monday
- Saturday (2.5 – 3 hour sessions)
This program is designed for
swimmers who have extensive experience in competitive swimming and
have demonstrated the ability to make a serious commitment to
achieving their full potential. Swimmers in this group are
expected to be positive, hard-working representatives of Solo
Aquatics and USA Swimming. The
goals and actions of Senior Elite swimmers should reflect the core
objectives of USA Swimming: to build, promote, and achieve
competitive success.
In this program, we will
stress the establishment of proper stroke technique and solid
fundamentals as a base on which we build a program of intense and
diverse endurance training. Training will focus on preparing
these swimmers for an advanced level of competition, including
sectional and national level meets; as well as competing
collegiately after their high school years.
Senior Elite practices are offered nine times per week on an
average. Dryland
sessions are offered in addition to the in-water training.
Practices
are not mandatory; however, Senior Elite swimmers are expected to
miss no more than one practice every two weeks.
During the high school swim season, Senior Elite swimmers are
expected to miss no more than 3 practices every two weeks.
These expectations are guidelines that are meant to ensure
continued improvement for each swimmer and a Senior Elite team that
consists of athletes with common goals and common levels of
dedication. The coaching
staff reserves the right to reassign Senior Elite swimmers to the
Senior program if attendance expectations are continually not met
over an extended period of time and/or goals and dedication levels
have changed.
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