BLUEFISH SWIM CLUB- Group Descriptions
Senior Group: – This is the top level within our program with swimmers aged 14 & Up (Select 12 & 13 year olds may be offered a spot in this group at the request of the head coach) who have achieved a minimum of (1) New England Swimming Senior Championship qualifying time. Swimmers in this group will train in a wide array of methods centered around swimming all distances for all competitive strokes including the 200/400 IM. All athletes in this group will compete in both local competitions and LSC Championships such as Age Groups and New England Seniors along with competitions hosted around the country including such events as USA Sectionals, Futures, Junior Nationals, Nationals, US Opens, Pro Series Meets, and Olympic Trials. Athletes in this group have achieved at all levels of the sport including receiving the honor to compete as a member of Team USA (and other home countries) at international competitions. Swimmers in this group are goal centric, motivated, and internally driven individuals who hope to achieve at the highest level of the sport. Practices are offered 7 days a week for 150-195 minutes and may also include additional training opportunities outside of the standard schedule. Swimmers are encouraged to attend as many practice sessions as possible to keep their development in line with their specific goals. Swimmers graduating from this program will be prepared to swim at the highest competitive levels in the sport including collegiate and professional ranks.
Black Group: Tradition of Excellence - The top level of our age group program is for advanced swimmers from the 12 year old age group swimmers who have qualified for zones, 13-14 athletes qualified for age groups and fifteen and older silvers qualifiers or high school team swimmers. Athletes in this group will have shown complete understanding in all four competitive strokes while maintaining proper technique while swimming regular repeats of 100-200 yards and above. Swimmers at this level will consistently work on developing aerobic capacity and begin further anaerobic development through an IM based training model with heavy amounts of kicking. Technique is still a top focus and will be touched on daily while preparing the athletes to handle the rigors of training at our senior level. All athletes in the group will be required to compete in a wide array of USA meets in all events offered for their age group including 200s of stroke, 200/400 IM, and Freestyle in distances up to 1650 yards. Athletes in this group are encouraged to set lofty goals for themselves that include qualifying for not only New England LSC Championships (Age Groups) but also Zone and Sectional Level Championships, and some Senior Competitions. Practices are offered 6 days a week for 105-150 minutes with swimmers being encouraged to attend 80 percent or more to maintain steady progression throughout the program. Swimmers in this group will graduate to our Senior group when they are ready to move up.
Red Group: 400 IM - The second level of our age group program is for athletes 10-11 years old who have qualified for zones, 11-12 year old swimmers qualified for age groups and 13-14 year old silvers qualifiers. Athletes in this group will have shown great understanding of all four competitive strokes and are able to perform repeats with great consistency of technique at distances of 100/200 and above. Swimmers at this level have demonstrated an understanding of interval training and the skill of reading a clock and are ready for more advanced training sets. While technique is still a primary focus of this group swimmers will also begin to see more aerobic training sets along with some anaerobic sets that are both swimming and kicking. All participants in this group will be required to compete in both 50s and 100s of all 4 competitive strokes, 200s of primary and complimentary strokes, and Freestyle events of 500 yards and up, as well as the groups namesake, the 400 IM. Athletes in this group are competing regularly in swim meets striving to qualify for end of season meets such as Silvers, Age Group Championships, and Zones. Practices are offered 5-6 days a week for 90-105 minutes each, swimmers should attend 75 percent of practices or more a week to maintain steady progression throughout the program. Swimmers in this group will graduate to Black Group when they are ready to move up.
Blue Group: Great Opportunity - The first level of our age group program is for athletes 10 & Under qualified for Age Groups, 11-12 swimmers qualified for silvers, and any new swimmers twelve or older. At this level, swimmers will still primarily work on stroke development in a more structured fashion while kicking for aerobic development also begins to become a primary focus. Swimmers in this group will also be introduced to intervals and learn to read the clock. Athletes in this group will be required to compete in ABF hosted meets and encouraged to compete in meets on a regular basis in distances of 50-100 yards of all 4 competitive strokes along with the 100/200 IMs and Freestyle events up to 500 yards. Swimmers will learn about initial goal setting while striving to qualify for end of season meets such as Silvers, B-Champs, and 12 & Under Age Groups. Swimmers are offered 5 practices a week at 90 minutes each and encouraged to attend 3-5. Swimmers in this group will graduate to the Red Group when they are ready to move up.
Green Group: It Starts on Bluefish! -- Our introductory group is designed for younger (11 and under) athletes who are new to competitive swimming and still need to learn the basic fundamentals and stroke technique for the 4 competitive strokes. The focus in this group is developing a love for the sport and good habits in the water that will benefit swimmers as they move up through the program. The developmental group offers practice 4 days a week for 75 minutes. Swimmers are not expected to attend all 4 practices but we encourage them to attend at least 2 or 3 to ensure consistent development and progress. Meet Participation is not required but strongly encouraged. Swimmers in this group will graduate to Blue Group when they are ready to move up.
