The team's
groups are designed as a stepping-stone process; each group prepares swimmers
to train and compete at the next level. The same technique and philosophies are
taught and reinforced at all levels.
Remember
that group assignments are always a work in progress. Some swimmers may develop
quickly within the first few weeks of practice and need to move to an advanced
group. Please see our Registration page for group assignments and practice
schedules and contact a coach with any questions.
|
Orange (Competitive Lessons) |
|
For
swimmers who have already participated in a local swim lessons program, and
who would like to explore the possibility of joining the swim team, we offer
a Competitive Lessons program. This program is offered in four Six Week
sessions throughout the year. The focus of the group will be to introduce all
aspects of competitive swimming, including all fours strokes, racing dives,
and competitive turns. This program is designed for the swimmer who has
progressed through swim lessons and is ready for the next step of learning.
The group meets twice a week.
|
|
Blue |
|
The Blue
group the team's first level of competitive swimming. It is intended for
swimmers between the ages of 6 and 10 years old, who are new to competitive
swimming but are interested in competing in Novice Level competitions.
Swimmers in this group will begin to learn the basics of all aspects of
competitive swimming throughout the season, and should be able to swim one
length of the pool using the freestyle or backstroke techniques. Swimmers in
this group have little previous swim team experience, came through a lessons
program, or swam on some other type of team (summer league etc) on a limited
basis. Swimmers in this group should be confident in the water and work well
with others in a group setting. One day a week will be dedicated to a one
hour "starts and turns" practice. The group meets three times a
week in the spring and four to five times a week in the summer.
|
|
Bronze |
|
The
Bronze group is intended for swimmers between the ages of 6 and 10 years old.
Swimmers in this group will have the basics of all aspects of competitive
swimming reinforced to them though out the season, and should be able to
demonstrate one length of the pool of 3 of the 4 competitive strokes..
Conditioning will be added as the group progresses. Swimmers in this group
have little previous swim team experience, came through a lessons program, or
swam on some other type of team (summer league etc) on a limited basis.
Swimmers in this group should be confident in the water and work well with
others in a group setting. One day a week will be dedicated to a one hour
"starts and turns" practice. The group meets four to five times a
week.
|
|
Silver |
|
The
Silver group is intended for the swimmer between the ages of 7 and 10 years
old. Swimmers in these groups will have the basics aspects of competitive
swimming reinforced to them though out the season. As the group is ready,
more and more aerobic conditioning will be added to practices to prepare them
for the Gold group. Swimmers in these groups should have previous swim team
experience. One day a week will be dedicated to a one hour "starts and
turns" practice. The group meets five to six times a week.
|
|
Gold |
|
The Gold
group is intended for swimmers between the ages of 8 and 12 who have several
seasons of competitive swimming experience. The Gold group will focus on
stroke technique and race strategy with the addition of a consistent
conditioning program. In this group swimmers begin to truly master practice
habits such as understanding group dynamics, lane etiquette, pace clock
reading, and much more. Swimmers in this group will also learn the basics of
weekly and season training cycles which they will apply to the rest of their
careers. The group meets five to six times a week in the spring and six to
seven times per week in the summer.
|
|
Pre-National |
|
The
Pre-National group is designed to provide a smooth transition for those
swimmers in the gold training group as they move onto the Junior National team.
New members who are interested in this group should be 13 & Under and
have several years of USA or YMCA experience. This group will continue to
focus on technique while increasing yardage. The group meets six to seven times
a week in the spring and nine times per week in the summer.
|
|
Junior National (previously known as “12 & Under National”) |
|
This
group is for the exceptional 14 & Under swimmer who swim as their main
sport and who are mature enough to handle a large portion of the National team's
training. Swimmers must qualify by participating in Wheaton Swim Club's winter
12 & Under National group or
similar USA or YMCA program. The majority of this group will compete at the
Junior Olympic (Age Group State) level with goals of making the USA Sectional
meet as older swimmers. Only those swimmers who show an unusual balance of
maturity and commitment will be considered for this group throughout the
year. This group meets six times per
week in the spring and eleven times per week in the summer.
|
|
National Team |
|
Any
athlete who competed with the Wheaton Swim Club National Team in the past, or
new members with similar experience in other USA or YMCA programs. The National
team is for the committed athlete, but continues to focus on all aspects of
swimming, including technique, psychology, nutrition, and race strategy, in
addition to its heavy training load and dryland exercises. The group will
train once a day during the school year, and two times a day during the
summer and other holidays in preparation for the Illinois Swimming
Championships, USA Sectionals, Jr. Nationals and Senior Nationals. This group
includes Jr and Senior National qualifiers, over 15 High School state
qualifiers, over 25 Sectional qualifiers, and over 40 Senior State
qualifiers. Participation in this
group will be determined by the coaching staff and based upon swimmers’ past
season attendance and practice performance.
|
|
Senior Team |
|
This
group is designed for the "renaissance athlete" who participates in
many sports or activities, wants to maintain conditioning or stroke work for
their high school swimming season or summer club team, or for the triathlete
who is interested in improving technique and conditioning for the swimming
leg of their race. This group is also intended for the 13 & Over swimmer
who does not qualify for the National Team but is intent on improving their
practice skills in an effort to move into the national team. This group meets four times per week in the
spring and six times per week in the summer.
|