|
|
The RAYS uses a "progressive" age group program designed to develop the child physically, mentally and emotionally in a systematic fashion. A well-defined, long-term approach of gradually increasing degrees of commitment is essential to reach peak performance levels during a swimmer's physiological prime. The emphasis in the early stages of participation must be placed on developing technical skills and a love for the sport. In the later years, a more demanding physical and psychological challenge must be introduced to the training program. In this respect, "too much too soon" is more often the cause of failure to achieve maximum potential in senior swimming than in the reverse situation.
In addition to emphasizing long-term rather than short-term results, it is also important that we establish training groups of swimmers who are compatible in respect to abilities, commitment levels and goals. Unfortunately, this is not always the most convenient approach to take, but it is always the most productive.
At each level, the goals and objectives are specific and directed toward meeting the needs of the swimmer. The long term goal of total excellence is always in mind. As each child is different, he/she will progress at his/her own rate. The coaching staff recognizes this fact by making team assignments based on a swimmer's physical, mental, and emotional level of development.
Dry land practices are being held on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Swimmers who swim in the Junior I & Junior II groups will have dry land after practice at 5:45 pm until 6:30 pm. Swimmers who swim in Gold, Silver & Bronze will have dry land at 4:30 pm until 5:15 pm. All swimmers in dry land are expected to listen to the dry land coach and are expected to give him your full attention. This is not a play time although it will be fun for all who participate. Swimmers participating in dry land must wear shorts, t-shirt, socks and shoes and should bring a water bottle as there is not a water fountain under the bleachers
|
|
|
 |
National
Coach
Merv Faasan De Heer |
The swimmers in this group are usually 13 and older. National group swimmers are expected to attend 8 of the 9 practices offered per week. They have chosen to make swimming a major focus in their life and are willing to make an extra commitment in time, effort, and attitude. Swimmers in this group desire to participate at the highest level of the sport. The practices for this group will focus on more complex and longer training sets that incorporate technique work in them. These are swimmers who are willing to set the standard in achievement, practice effort, and championship thinking for Stingray Swimming. The swimmers in this group are expected to be leaders, not only in the water, but also in all team situations. Competition for these groups are once every 4-6 weeks and all swimmers are strongly encouraged to attend all meets offered. Competitions for these groups will include a minimum of four championship meets: one YMCA and one USA Championship meet in the short course season and one YMCA and one USA Championship meet during the long course season. At least one of the championship meets will be a shave and taper meet. Practices for the National group are 5:30 - 7:30 pm Monday – Thursday; 5:00 – 7:00 pm Friday; 5:45 – 7:00 am Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and 8:00 – 10:00 am Saturday. Swimmers in this group may be asked to keep a logbook. This group will also participate in dry land training in addition to time spent in the water. Dry land training will include flexibility work at the Aquatics Center on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 4:30 to 5:15 pm and weight training at the YMCA Wellness Center on Tuesday and Thursday from 4:30 to 5:15 pm and Saturday at 10:00 am. Membership in this group is by invitation or tryout only. Girls in this group must have a minimum 200 IM time of 2:20 and boys must have a minimum 200 IM time of 2:10. This group will train on a 1:10 Freestyle base interval. Goals for the group are to be Finalist at the YMCA National Swimming Championships and participate in the USA Swimming Junior National Championships. |
|
Senior
Coach
Merv Faasan De Heer |
The swimmers in this group are usually 13 and older. Senior group swimmers are expected to attend 6 of the 9 practices offered per week. They have chosen to make swimming a major focus in their life and are willing to make an extra commitment in time, effort, and attitude. Swimmers in this group desire to participate at the highest level of the sport. The practices for this group will focus on more complex and longer training sets that incorporate technique work in them. These are swimmers who are willing to set the standard in achievement, practice effort, and championship thinking for Stingray Swimming. The swimmers in this group are expected to be leaders, not only in the water, but also in all team situations. Competition for these groups are once every 4-6 weeks and all swimmers are strongly encouraged to attend all meets offered. Competitions for these groups will include a minimum of four championship meets: one YMCA and one USA Championship meet in the short course season and one YMCA and one USA Championship meet during the long course season. At least one of the championship meets will be a shave and taper meet. Practices for the National group are 5:30 - 7:30 pm Monday – Thursday; 5:00 – 7:00 pm Friday; 5:45 – 7:00 am Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and 8:00 – 10:00 am Saturday. Swimmers in this group may be asked to keep a logbook. This group will also participate in dry land training in addition to time spent in the water. Dry land training will include flexibility work at the Aquatics Center on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 4:30 to 5:15 pm and weight training at the YMCA Wellness Center on Tuesday and Thursday from 4:30 to 5:15 pm and Saturday at 10:00 am. Membership in this group is by invitation or tryout only. Girls in this group must have a minimum 200 IM time of 2:30 and boys must have a minimum 200 IM time of 2:20. This group will train on a 1:20 Freestyle base interval. Goals for this group are to qualify for Senior Sectionals and Spring YMCA National Swimming Championships. |
|
Pre-Senior
Coach
Merv Faasan De Heer |
The swimmers in this group are usually 13 and older. Pre-Senior group swimmers are expected to attend 5 of the 9 practices offered per week. They have chosen to make swimming a major focus in their life and are willing to make an extra commitment in time, effort, and attitude. Swimmers in this group desire to participate at the highest level of the sport. The practices for this group will focus on more complex and longer training sets that incorporate technique work in them. These are swimmers who are willing to set the standard in achievement, practice effort, and championship thinking for Stingray Swimming. The swimmers in this group are expected to be leaders, not only in the water, but also in all team situations. Competition for these groups are once every 4-6 weeks and all swimmers are strongly encouraged to attend all meets offered. Competitions for these groups will include a minimum of four championship meets: one YMCA and one USA Championship meet in the short course season and one YMCA and one USA Championship meet during the long course season. At least one of the championship meets will be a shave and taper meet. Practices for the Pre-Senior group are 5:30 - 7:30 pm Monday – Thursday; 5:00 – 7:00 pm Friday; 5:45 – 7:00 am Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and 8:00 – 10:00 am Saturday. Swimmers in this group may be asked to keep a logbook. Swimmers in this group are strongly encouraged to participate in dry land training in addition to time spent in the water. Dry land training will include flexibility work at the Aquatics Center on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 4:30 to 5:15 pm and weight training at the YMCA Wellness Center on Tuesday and Thursday from 4:30 to 5:15 pm and Saturday at 10:00 am. Membership in this group is by invitation or tryout only. Girls in this group must have a minimum 200 IM time of 2:40 and boys must have a minimum 200 IM time of 2:30. This group will train on a 1:25 Freestyle base interval. Goals for the Pre-Senior group are to be Top 5 Finalist in the SC State Championships and YMCA Upper Southeast Region Championships and Summer YMCA National Swimming Championship Qualifier.
|
 |
Silver
Coach
Susan
McClary Snyder |
The swimmers in this group are 7-12 grade students. Swimmers in this group may attend as many of the practices for this group as they desire although a minimum attendance of twice weekly is recommended. Usually, they have been a member of their high school team or summer league team. They may only be interested in training and not competing in as many meets or may not be as committed to year round swimming as the swimmers in the National, Senior and Pre-Senior groups. The swimmers in this group may move to competitions as they become more comfortable with USA Swimming and YMCA competition, although competing in meets is optional. Swimmers in this group may participate in at least one or two championship meets during the season. This group is designed for the swimmer who wants to compete in high school and summer league swimming and wants to improve by working on strokes and technique, but also wants to participate in many other extracurricular activities as well. This group is also designed for the high school age swimmer who wants to swim for fitness and fun. Practice for this group will focus on having fun, improving technique, and some conditioning to stay in shape. Practices for the Silver group are 5:30– 7:30 pm Monday - Thursday. Goals for this group are to stay in shape and improve competitive swimming skills. |
 |
|
The swimmers in this group are generally age 10 and older. They are committed to attending 4 of the 6 practices offered and have the desire to move to the upper levels of competition. They are ready for more advanced training and more complex sets in practice as well as adding dry land workouts to their schedule. They have chosen to make swimming a major focus in their life and are willing to make an extra commitment in time, effort, and attitude. These are swimmers who are willing to set the standard in achievement, practice effort, and championship thinking for Stingray Swimming. This group will be more focused on training, but will also have technique work. The swimmers in this group are expected to be leaders, not only in the water, but also in all team situations. Competition for this group is once every 4-6 weeks and all swimmers are strongly encouraged to attend all meets offered. Competitions for this group will include three championship meets, two in the short course season and one during the long course season. At least one of the championship meets may be a shave and taper meet. Practices for the Gold group are 5:30 - 7:30 pm Monday – Thursday and 5:00 – 7:00 pm Friday. An optional 8:00 – 10:00 am Saturday practice is offered for those who miss during the week or who want to swim an additional practice. Flexibility and strength training will be added for this group. Swimmers in this group may be asked to keep a logbook. Membership in this group is by invitation or tryout only. Swimmers in the Gold group must have a minimum of one 11-12 “A” time. This group will train on a 1:30 Freestyle base interval. Goals for this group are to be a SC Swimming State Championship Finalist (top 10), Upper Southeast Region YMCA Championship Finalist and Summer YMCA National Qualifiers (12 & older).
|
  |
Bronze I & II
Coaches
Linda Piedt &
Cindy VanBuskirk
|
The swimmers in these groups are generally 9 – 12 years old and have the desire to swim at a more advanced level. They are interested in competing but may also be participating in other sports. Swimmers in this group plan to attend practice at least 3-4 times each week for Bronze I and 2-3 times each week for Bronze II. Swimmers in this group will have scheduled competitions about every 4 - 6 weeks but may not attend all that are scheduled. Competitions for this group will include a YMCA and USA championship meet in the spring. The training for swimmers in this group will be to perfect skills and technique and to begin some endurance training while having fun learning to race. Practices for this group are 5:30 - 7:00 pm Monday - Thursday and 5:00 - 7:00 pm Friday. Dry land is available and encouraged for this group. Swimmers in the Bronze I group must have a minimum of at least one 10 & under “AA” time and/or coaches’ recommendation and Bronze II swimmers must have a minimum of one 10 & Under “A “ time and/or coaches’ recommendation. Swimmers in Bronze I will train at a 1:35 Freestyle base interval and Bronze II swimmers will train at a 1:40 Freestyle base interval. Goals for the Bronze I swimmers are to be Finalist for the SC State Championships and YMCA Upper Southeast Region Championships. Goals for the Bronze II swimmers are to qualify for the SC State Championships and be in the top 15 for the YMCA Upper Southeast Region Championships.
|
|
Junior
I & II
Coaches
Lynn Williams &
Cindy VanBuskirk
|
Swimmers in these groups are older than 8 years of age. Competitions for these groups are approximately once every 6 weeks with two championship meets, one YMCA and one USA Swimming. The training focus of this group is perfecting stroke technique and competitive skills and having fun in the water. Swimmers in this group are encouraged to attend meets when possible, although competition is optional. Practice times for this group are 4:30 - 5:30 pm Monday – Friday. Junior I swimmers come in to this group able to swim legally in all 4 strokes, starts and turns. They must have a minimum of at least one 10 & Under “BB “ time and/or coaches’ recommendation. This group will train at a 2:00 Freestyle base interval. Goals for this group will be to race a 500 Freestyle and 200 Individual Medley by the end of the season. They will learn the terminology of workout set instruction and begin reading the pace clock with knowledge of basic drills of each stroke and to improve technique in all strokes, starts and turns. Meet goals for this group are to qualify for and participate in the YMCA Upper Southeast Region Championships. Swimmers should plan to attend practice 2-4 times weekly. They should attend YMCA meets and at least one USA meet.
Junior II swimmers come in to this group able to swim proficiently in Freestyle and Backstroke with a limited knowledge of Breaststroke and Butterfly. Swimmer in this group will learn drills for each stroke and improve technique in all 4 strokes and become proficient in all strokes and starts and turns. Goals for the swimmers in this group will be to race a 200 Freestyle and 100 Individual Medley by the end of the season. Swimmers in this group should attend practice 2 times per week. They should attend YMCA meets.
|
  |
Mini-Rays I/II
Coach
Joanne Baker &
Tasha
Speights
|
This is the practice group for swimmers who are 5-8 years old and are able to swim at least one length of the pool. Swimmers in this group have no or limited competitive swimming experience and will receive maximum amounts of technique work and have fun doing it. Practice for Minis I is 4:30 - 5:15 pm Monday and Wednesday. Practice for Minis II is 4:30 -5:15 pm Tuesday and Thursday. Goals for this group are to become proficient in freestyle and backstroke while building endurance and learning the mechanics of breaststroke and butterfly. Competition goals for the this group will be to swim a legal 50 yard race of Freestyle and Backstroke, a legal 25 yard race of Breaststroke and Butterfly and complete a 200 yard Freestyle race. Competitions for this group are approximately 4 times per year with the YMCA Championship meet and an 8 and under USA Championship meet in the spring. Competition is optional but is encouraged.
|
|
|
