Some notes on Nutmeg Aquatics groups and training goals:
All swimmers in all groups are expected to consistently demonstrate Nutmeg Aquatics’ core values: focus, dedication, and good sportsmanship.
All swimmers in all groups will learn strategies to cope with peer pressure and parent pressure; to balance swimming, family, school, and their social life; and to effectively communicate their commitment to their parents, coaches, and teammates.
All swimmers in all groups will learn to accept responsibility for their performance and to understand the relationship between their personal commitment level and results.
Once swimmers are fully grown and promoted as far as the senior groups, they must train more and better than they did when they were younger to continue to improve.
Senior I - Head Coach Wesley Crozier
Senior I practice is offered six to eight times per week. Practice will consist of both dryland and swimming workouts. This group provides a demanding and comprehensive training program for athletes intending to build Nutmeg Aquatics’ national program. Senior I swimmers are expected to attend ninety percent of workouts and communicate with Coach Crozier about their training schedule. With rare exceptions made at the discretion of the coaching staff, swimmers entering Senior I must be at least 13 years old. Goals and expectations of the Senior I group include but are not limited to: (1) striving to be competitive with any other Senior I group in the region; (2) preparing for both competency at a U.S. Open, Sectional, or State level; (3) consistently improving commitment level and training/racing ability from season to season; (4) actively improving distance per stroke; and (5) learning leadership skills.
SR I: Swimmer must be at least 13 years old and complete six of the following seven.
· Display intention of adhering to attendance requirement before moving into group (90%)
· 10x100@ 1:25
· 8x50@ 50 kick
· 4x50@ 45,45,50,40 IM order
· Swim under 1:05 in 100YD freestyle for girls/ 1:00 for boys
· Swim USA Swimming BB qualifying times in three events for 13 & Overs
Senior II practice is offered six times per week. Practice will consist of both dryland and swimming workouts. This group provides a stepping stone for athletes intending to be successful in the Nutmeg Aquatics Senior I group or for those athletes who cannot meet the attendance and/or training requirements of the Senior I group. Swimmers are strongly encouraged to attend all practices as skills and progressions build from one practice session to another. Goals and expectations of the Senior II group include but are not limited to: (1) continuing to become more fluid in swimming (no splashing); (2) actively improving distance per stroke; (3) translating power and athleticism developed in dryland training to speed in the water; (4) learning leadership skills; and (5) learning to actively monitor and improve their stroke technique.
SR II: Swimmer must be at least 13 years old and complete four of the following six.
· 8x100@ 1:40 Free Swim
· 6x50@ 1:00 Kick
· 4x50@ 50,50,55,45 IM order
· Swim under 1:10 in 100YD freestyle for girls/ 1:05 for boys
· Swim USA Swimming BB qualifying times in one event for 13 & Overs
Gold practice is offered five times per week. Swimmers are strongly encouraged to attend all practices as skills and progressions build from one practice session to another. This group is intended for the age group swimmer who has goals of pursuing his or her swimming career as far as possible. The practice direction, structure, and difficulty will be designed to meet that end years down the road. With rare exceptions made at the discretion of the coaching staff, swimmers entering the Gold group are usually at least 11 years old. Goals of the Gold group include but are not limited to: (1) achieving 11/12 Connecticut Age Group Championship time standards; (2) finaling at all events at the Connecticut Age Group Championships; (3) continuing to develop goal setting skills; (4) improving proficiency in turns; and (5) using underwater butterfly kicking as a tool in racing.
Gold: Swimmer must be able to complete four of the following five.
· 6x100@ 1:55 Free Swim
· 8x25 @ :35 IM order
· Swim under 1:25 in 100YD freestyle for girls/ 1:20 for boys
· Swim under 1:40 in 100YD IM
· Kick 1x50 with fins under :45
Silver-
Silver practice is offered four times per week. Swimmers entering the Silver group are at least 8 years old and must demonstrate a legal 50 yards in all four strokes: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle. There is no practice attendance requirement for this group, but swimmers are strongly encouraged to attend as many practices as possible in order to ensure steady improvement. Goals of the Silver group include but are not limited to: (1) swimming a 200 IM legally; (2) racing in every distance, every stroke available over the course of the season; (3) improving fluidity in turns and push-offs; and (4) improving dive and backstroke entry into the water; (5) consistent attendance.
Silver: Swimmer must be able to complete three of the following five.
· 8x50@ 1:05 Free Swim
· 8x25 @ :45 IM order
· Swim under 1:45 in 100YD freestyle
· Swim under 2:10 in 100YD IM
· Kick 1x50 with fins under :50
Bronze -Age Group Coach Cecilia Emblidge
Bronze practice is offered three days a week. Athletes may be invited by the coach to attend an additional practice with the Silver group if they have demonstrated that they can keep up and have had perfect attendance for that week. Swimmers entering the Bronze group are at least 8 years old and must demonstrate proficiency in all four strokes: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle. There is no attendance requirement for this group, but athletes will improve more quickly the more they come. Goals of the Bronze group include but are not limited to: (1) swimming a 100 IM legally; (2) attending meets as often as possible; (3) mastering fundamentals of turns and push-offs; (4) mastering fundamentals of forward dive and backstroke start; (5) consistent attendance.
Bronze
· Graduate from Advanced Stroke School
· Complete a legal 100 IM
Click here to send an e-mail to Diane Letendre, our Swim Lessons Coordinator. The lessons program precedes the Gold, Silver, and Bronze groups.
