West Shore YMCA Swim Team

This practice group is a NEW practice group that is designed for swimmers that may be new to competitive swimming and can demonstrate the four competitive swimming strokes and are 10-14 years of age. This group is one of our beginning levels of our competitive team for swimmers not ready for AGB (Orange Group) or AGC (Red Group).

Prerequisites:

• Swimmers must be able to swim 25 yards freestyle (with rotary breathing) and backstroke
• General understanding of breaststroke and butterfly
• Swimmers must be comfortable in deep water and in a group setting away from parents

Training Goals:

• Complete a legal 100 IM in a meet
• Complete a flip turn
• Streamline past the flags underwater with dolphin kicks
• Flutter kick as well as proper turn at the walls and start from a starting block

Practice Frequency:

• Three (3) days per week

Green group, formerly know as Age Group A, is our beginning level of our competitive team. Swimmers will learn the 4 competitive strokes. Proper technique of body position, arm-strokes, kicking and breathing skills will be the focus.

Prerequisites:

• Swimmers must be able to swim 25 yards freestyle (with rotary breathing) and backstroke
• Have a general understanding of breastroke and butterfly.
• Swimmers must be comfortable in deep water and in a group setting away from parents

Training Goals:

• Complete a legal 100 IM in a meet
• Complete a flip turn
• Streamline past the flags underwater with dolphin kicks
• Flutter kicking as well as proper turns at the walls and starts from a starting block

Practice Frequency:

• Three (3) days per week (Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday)

Swimmers should be comfortable with training up to 75-90 minutes per day with good listening skills. Swimmers who are comfortable with all four competitive strokes will learn competitive readiness, practice discipline and developing proper stroke technique and forming correct practice habits.

Prerequisites:

• Swimmers must be able to demonstrate a legal 100 IM
• Swimmers must be able to swim at least 300 yards non-stop with flip turns

Training Goals:

• Swimmers will learn to read a pace clock as well as understand practice performances and how they relate to swim meet performances
• Specific training goals include:
  • Flutter kick 10 x 25 :35
  • Swim 10 x 50 :55
  • Swim 3 x 200 IM legally
  • Attain YMCA District qualifying times

Practice Frequency:

• Swimmers in this level will have the opportunity to practice four (4) days per week
• 1-2 swim meets per month in addition to end-of-year championship meet

Swimmers who are comfortable with all four competitive strokes will learn competitive readiness, practice discipline and developing proper stroke technique and forming correct practice habits. All swimmers in this practice group will be members of USA Swimming.

Prerequisites:

• A commitment to improve skills and conditioning
• Swimmers should be comfortable with training up to 90 minutes per day with good listening skills
• Flutter kick 10 x 25 :35
• Swim 10 x 50 :55
• Swim 3 x 200 IM legally

Training Goals:

• YMCA District Qualifying time in the 200 Free and 200 IM
• Swim a 500 freestyle properly with 6 underwater kicks off all walls
• Swim 8 x 100 1:40 freestyle
• Swim faster than 1:15 in 100 yard free in practice

Practice Frequency:

• Swimmers in this level practice five (5) days per week
• 1-2 swim meets per month in addition to end-of-year championship meet

All swimmers in this practice group will be members of USA Swimming. This is the top level for our Age Group swimmers that will prepare the athletes for our Senior program.

Prerequisites:

• Swimmers must be able to perform freestyle repeats up to 500 yards
• 100+ yards of all strokes (Fly/Back/Breast) with strong technique
• Swimmers in this group must have (at minimum) the YMCA District Qualifying time in the 200 Free and 200 IM
• Swim 1,000 yards properly
• Endurance and technique to handle practices confidently with a strong commitment

Training Goals:

• Proper skill development and good training habits

Practice Frequency:

• Swimmers will have an opportunity to practice six (6) days per week
• 1-2 swim meets per month in addition to expected attendance in YMCA Districts, States, or Nationals if they qualify

This practice group meets at the Y from September–May and in June and July at the Hampden Township pool (50 meters). Swimmers will be assigned to this practice group based on meeting with Director of Competitive Swimming Mike Gobrecht, or assigned based on advancement from the Purple (Pre-Senior) practice group. Swimming in college is an objective of swimmers in this practice group and assistance with the recruiting process is offered to all group members. Swimmers must be entering 9th grade to be in this group.

Prerequisites:

• Must be able to train at a high level for at least two hours
• Proper stroke mechanics are necessary

Training Goals:

• Time management relative to academics and training
• Further emphasis is placed on intense training, mental preparation, and advance race strategy
• The goals of this group are the championship meets in March and July.

Are you looking for a fun and safe activity to get out of the house? What about keeping the kids active, while helping them learn essential life-saving skills? Our West Shore YMCA homeschool competitive swimming program provides a unique opportunity for homeschooled children to join our swim program during the “low-traffic” daytime slot in a nurturing, close-knit, positive environment. 

Though the goals for each individual swimmer will vary, it is our intention to provide exceptional coaching focused on the whole person.  Homeschool swimmers are not required to compete in meets but will be coached to the same standard as a swimmer who will (this is not lap swimming or swimming lessons). Prerequisites for this program include being comfortable swimming one length of the pool on your stomach and one length of the pool on your back.

The West Shore YMCA Homeschool Swim Team is a program for homeschool swimmers that focuses on skill development in the four competitive strokes as well as learning competitive swimming terminology, stroke drills, turns, starts, and developing physical fitness and endurance in a fun, less competitive environment. This group will practice twice a week for 75 minutes. The age group ranges between 8-18 years old. 

Current Session

Schedule:

• August 13, 2024–May 29, 2025
• Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:15-1:30 PM

Fees:

• YMCA Members: $100/month
• Community Guests: $150/month