Practice Groups

Practice Groups

We offer practice groups for swimmers of all ages and ability levels. It is our goal to offer developmentally specific training for our athletes geared towards challenging and developing each individual to the best of their ability.

Splash

  • General Age Range | 5 - 10
  • Previous Swim Experience
  • This group is designed to teach the foundations of competitive swimming. Building on the skills the swimmer already has and teaching them how to learn and practice in a competitive team environment. 
  • Skills will be taught with an emphasis on fun and teamwork in order to continue to ensure that all athletes develop a long-term love for the sport. Swimmers will focus on developing the four competitive strokes, starts, turns, and the fundamentals of swim practice.

Tidepool

  • General Age Range | 6 - 10
  • Previous Swim Experience [competitive swimming a bonus]
  • This group will continue swimmers on their competitive journey by helping them develop the technical skills necessary for a strong competitive foundation. 
  • Skills will be taught with an emphasis on fun and teamwork in order to continue to ensure that all athletes develop a long-term love for the sport. 
  • Swimmers will focus on learning how to practice while refining their starts, turns, underwaters, and stroke skill development. 
  • Swimmers will also participate in dryland conditioning that emphasizes body movement and strength.

Riptide

  • General Age Range | 10 - 13
  • Previous Competitive Swim Experience 
  • This group is designed to prepare swimmers for training and competition at the next level.
  • The emphasis of this group is on mastering the skills necessary to pursue excellence – training etiquette and systems, advanced stroke mechanics, race strategies, beginning goal setting, mental preparation, and learning to handle increasing workloads (time, distance and intensity). 
  • Swimmers participate in a dryland program to help develop core body strength, basic strength in the shoulders and legs, and overall body control and coordination.

Breakers

  • General Age Range | 13 +
  • Previous Competitive Swim Experience 
  • This group is designed for teenagers looking to develop technical skills in all four strokes and continue to build their training base. The emphasis of this group is on further building their training etiquette and systems, stroke mechanics, race strategies, goal setting, mental preparation, and learning to handle increasing workloads (time, distance and intensity).

Surge

  • General Age Range | 13 +
  • Previous Competitive Swim Experience
  • This group is designed to further develop what the swimmer has already learned and prepare them to compete at all levels of competition. 
  • The emphasis of this group will be on increasing their capacities, both physically and mentally, to handle the rigors of swimming at a Senior level and beyond
  • Swimmers will be given increased control over their own training and expected to become more accountable for their effort and performance
  • Swimmers will continue to enhance stroke mechanics and underwater ability with advanced techniques, and work to master concepts related to race strategies, nutrition, goal setting, and mental preparation. 
  • Swimmers will be challenged to develop a work ethic that allows them to balance their responsibilities on and off pool deck.

Senior Surge

  • Age | 15 & Older
  • At least (1) full year in the Surge Group practice group (or equivalent)
  • At least one 15 & Older ‘A’ time standard
  • This group is for swimmers willing to challenge themselves and represent their team at the highest level in and out of the pool. 
  • Swimmers have decided that swimming is their primary activity and will work toward competing at the highest level. 
  • This group will build on everything the swimmer has done and push them to take it to the level. 
  • The focus is on commitment and accountability to themselves, their teammates, families, community, and coaches. 
  • Swimmers are expected to engage in the preparation necessary, both in and out of the water, to reach their goals, to lead their teammates, and to be the example of what NSEA Swim stands for to both their teammates throughout the community.
  • Swimmers will have outside educational opportunities on a range of topics throughout the year
  • Swimmers are expected to complete a self-assessment and goal assessment prior to each season