Age Group Swim Teams
EGRA Age Group Swimming
The EGRA Waves program has 6 different groups that swimmers are assigned to based on ability, age, maturity and goals. Each group will have a range of ages and abilities. Our goal is provide a progressive, challenging and rewarding environment that helps all Waves swimmers reach their goals.
Swimmers are assigned to groups based on ability and move to the next level when they acquire and demonstrate the necessary skills.
For a detailed description of each level, please read our Team Handbook.
Overview of Programs
Swimmers are placed in groups based on ability. Coaches will make all decisions on group placement and move-ups.
- The underlying philosophy for all groups is progression. The goal is to have swimmers acquire specific, competitive swimming skills and characteristics at each level. The outcome will be well-rounded swimmers with exceptional skills. All swimmers will progress at different rates, and this is taken into consideration when designing practices.
- Swimmers progress to the next level when they exhibit the necessary skills. The following are taken into consideration: proficiency of skills, attendance at practice and meets, age, maturity and goals. Each group may have a range of ages and abilities. Placement in a group is the sole discretion of the coach. Coaches will put swimmers into lanes based on their ability.
- The first three levels of our club (Pre-competitive, Blue and Bronze) emphasize learning all four competitive strokes proficiently. Being proficient in all four strokes at a young age is beneficial for many reasons. It allows for more options later in his or her career, lays a solid muscular and neurological foundation, and helps the team when he or she can do more than one stroke. It isn't until later in a swimmer's career that he or she may begin to specialize in a certain stroke. While swimmers may excel at certain strokes and distances, the emphasis is on swimming the Individual Medley (IM - a race in which all four strokes are swum by the individual).
- The next two groups of club, Silver and Gold, begin to emphasize the benefits of training and how it relates to performance. The emphasis of conditioning will still be the Individual Medley. Silver will spend more time than Gold on technique, but training cycles also become a part of practice. Once swimmers reach the Gold group, the emphasis begins to shift toward conditioning for peak performance in meets and training to reach the Senior level. The season is systematically planned with specific phases to maximize swimming potential. Swimmers in this group are motivated to improve his or her own skills, and this is reflected by a high level of attendance.
- Senior swimming is for the committed athlete, who places a high priority on training for peak performance. Swimmers in this group are placed into lanes/groups based on his or her goals and commitment levels.
Below is a brief description of each group and expectations:
Pre-Competitive (Age 6-8)
The emphasis of this group is to teach beginning swimmers and parent about competitive swimming. At the coach’s discretion, swimmers are welcome to sign-up for specified meets.
| Incoming Expectations | Outgoing Expectations |
|---|---|
| Swim a 25 Free and Back | Swim a 100 Free breathing to the side |
| Swims with face in water | Swim a 25 Backstroke |
| Desire to learn about swimming | Execute a dive from the side or blocks |
| Attend at least 2 practices a week | Execute a backstroke start |
| Somersault in water | |
| Desire to improve in swimming by moving to the next level |
Blue (Ages 7-9)
The emphasis of this group is to learn the basic skills necessary for competitive swimming: legal four strokes, flip turns, starts, etc, and strive for WMSL A Meet time standards.
| Incoming Expectations | Outgoing Expectations |
|---|---|
| Swim a 100 Free breathing to the side | Swim a 200 free breathing to the side, with flip turns |
| Swim a 25 backstroke | Swim a 25 of each stroke legally (50 of backstroke and breaststroke) |
| Execute a dive from the side or the blocks; execute a backstroke start | Execute a competitive start from the blocks; execute a competitive backstroke start |
| Streamline 5 yards | Streamline 5 yards |
| Attends at least 2 practices/week | Execute a flip turn and a touch turn |
| Desire to improve in swimming by moving to the next level | Attends at least 2 practices/week |
| Attends and competes in meets at a WMSL A/B level | |
| Understands general swim etiquette such as circle swimming, leaving 5 seconds apart, etc. |
Bronze (Ages 7-10)
The emphasis of the Bronze group is to expand upon the skills and progressions learned in Blue; eventually learning how to swim all four strokes legally, and be able to compete in the 100 IM (individual medley). Swimmers in this group should be striving for WMSL A Meet time standards as well as Junior Olympic (Q2) time standards.
| Incoming Expectations | Outgoing Expectations |
|---|---|
| Swim a 200 free breathing to the side, with flip turns | Swim a 400 free with flip turns, streamlining off every wall |
| Swim a 50 backstroke, 50 breaststroke and 25 butterfly legally | Swim a 100 backstroke, 100 breaststroke, 50 butterfly and 100 IM legally |
| Execute a competitive start from the blocks; execute a competitive backstroke start | Swim 8x100 Free @2:00 -holding under 1:50 on all 8 |
| Streamline 5 yards | Execute a competitive start from the blocks; a competitive backstroke start; has a basic understanding of relay exchanges |
| Execute a flip turn and a touch turn | Execute a flip turn and a touch turn |
| Attends at least 2-3 practices/week | Attends 3 practices/week |
| Attends and competes in meets at a WMSL A/B level | Attends and competes in both USA and WMSL Meets - strives for WMSL A Meet and Junior Olympic Meet cut times |
| Understands general swim etiquette such as circle swimming, leaving 5 seconds apart, etc and has a desire and willingness to learn and improve | Ability to read a pace clock and follow practices written out on the board |
Silver (Ages 9-11)
The emphasis of the Silver group is to expand upon what is learned in the Bronze group, and learning to progress stroke technique and endurance to the longer pool and longer events. Swimmers will work on competing in IMX events (200 IM, 200 free, 100 back, 100 breast and 100 fly) and be striving towards Junior Olympic (Q2) and State (Q1) time standards.
| Incoming Expectations | Outgoing Expectations |
|---|---|
| Swim a 400 free with flip turns, streamlining off every wall | Swim a 500 free with flip turns, streamlining off every wall |
| Swim a 100 backstroke, 100 breaststroke, 50 butterfly and 100 IM legally | Swim IMX events - 100 fly, 100 back, 100 breast, 200 IM and 200 Free (12&U) |
| Swim 8x100 Free @2:00 -holding under 1:50 on all 8 | Swim 8x100 Free @1:40 -holding under 1:30 on all 8 |
| Execute a competitive start from the blocks; a competitive backstroke start; has a basic understanding of relay exchanges | Execute a competitive start and breakout from the blocks and backstroke start; understands proper relay exchanges |
| Execute a flip turn and a touch turn | Execute a flip turn and a touch turn |
| Attends 3 practices/week | Attends practice ~4 times/week (75% practice attendance) |
| Attends and competes in both USA and WMSL Meets - strives for WMSL A Meet and Junior Olympic Meet level | Attends and competes in both USA and WMSL Meets - strives for Junior Olympic and State level |
| Ability to read a pace clock and follow practices written out on the board | Ability to do sets without direction of coach; knows what intervals are appropriate and when to leave on pace clock |
| Desire to learn and improve | Sets goals for their season and is committed towards progress and improvement |
Gold (Ages 11-14)
The emphasis of the Gold group is to expand the training of the Silver group; getting more repeition in longer events, learning race strategy, goal setting, and understanding training cycles. Gold swimmers should be striving for Junior Olympic (Q2), State (Q1) and Zone (AAA) time standards, and improving upon their IMX Score.
- 11-12 IMX Score: 200 IM, 200 free, 100 back, 100 breast, and 100 fly.
- 13-14 IMX Score: 200/400 IM, 400/500 free, 200 back, 200 breast and 200 fly.
| Incoming Expectations | Outgoing Expectations |
|---|---|
| Swim a 500 free with flip turns, streamlining off every wall | Swim a 1000 free with flip turns, streamlining 5 yards off every wall |
| Swim IMX events - 100 fly, 100 back, 100 breast, 200 IM and 200 Free (12&U) | Swim IMX events: 12&Unders: 100 Fly, 100 Back, 100 Breast, 200 IM and 500 Free 13&Over: 200 fly, 200 back, 200 breast, 200/400 IM, 500 Free |
| Swim 8x100 Free @1:40 - holding under 1:30 on all 8 | Swim 8x 100 Free @1:20 -holding under 1:15 on all 8 |
| Execute a competitive start and breakout from the blocks and backstroke start; understands proper relay exchanges | Execute a competitive start and breakout from the blocks and backstroke start; understands proper relay exchanges |
| Execute a flip turn and a touch turn | Execute a competitive flip turn, touch turn, and IM turn |
| Attends practice ~4 times/week (75% practice attendance) | Attends practice 4-5 times/week (80-90% practice attendance) |
| Attends and competes in both USA and WMSL Meets- strives for Junior Olympic and State level | Attends and competes in both USA and WMSL Meets - strives competitive finishes at the State and Zone level |
| Ability to do sets without direction of coach; knows what intervals are appropriate and when to leave on pace clock | Ability to do sets without direction of coach; knows what intervals are appropriate and when to leave on pace clock |
| Sets goals for their season and is committed towards progress and improvement | Sets goals for their season and is committed to increasing levels of practice and competition |
Click here to check out some of our Silver or Gold practices, or if you are looking for something to do on your own!
Senior (Ages 14+)
Our Senior program is designed for the athlete who wants to achieve a high level of excellence. Progression and preparation are key components as our goal is to swim at the highest level at championship meets. To prepare for peak performance, swimmers are expected to commit to a serious training program and balance other activities and school with swimming.
Swimmers will determine their short and long-term goals when enrolling. The coach may make changes to the swimmer’s placement based on his or her commitment and progress. The swimmer may also make a change to his or her goals and should do so by communicating with the coach.
The key here is that there is open communication between coaches, swimmers, and parents. Plans change, unexpected situations arise, and schoolwork may get heavy. It is reasonable to expect that the coach is understanding of such situations and that swimmers will communicate with the coach and find a suitable solution.
Please see our Senior Page for more information.
Join EGRA Waves
Whether your swimmer is new to the sport or looking to advance their competitive training, EGRA Waves provides a positive, structured environment to help them succeed.