Swimmer Levels
Learn To Swim
Level A - 11 & 12 year old novice
Level B - 9 & 10 year old novice
Level C - 8 & under novice
Introduction to competitive swimming. Will focus on learning freestyle, backstroke, and breaststroke as well as an introduction to starts and turns. Basic water safety and lane etiquette will also be learned. Must complete the beginner level program in order to become a member of the Flashes Aquatics team. May participate in dual meets at coaches' discretion.
To be run in 8 week long sessions, 1-3 days per week.
STORM - Level 2
Entry level competitive swimmers
Level A - 10 & under with at least one "C" level time
Level B - 11 & 12 year old advanced beginners
Level C - 10 & under advanced beginners
Will focus on attaining a basic knowledge of all strokes, including butterfly and will learn to swim an IM. Strong emphasis on learning proper stroke technique and legal strokes, starts, turns and finishes. First level that will compete at invitational meets.
3 practice days per week. Minimum of 4 (four) scheduled invitational meets with 1-2 events per day participation. Participation in any available dual meets is mandatory.
THUNDER - Level 3
Intermediate level competitive swimmers
11 & 12 "C" level times/ 10 & under "B" times
Swimmers have a basic mastery of all strokes. Will focus on continued improvement in technique, learning basic interval sets, and begin to train to swim moderate distance events. There will also be focus on improving times in all events.
3-4 practice days per week.
Minimum 75% of scheduled invitational meets with minimum 3-4 events per day participation. Participation in any available dual meets is mandatory.
LIGHTNING - Level 4
Upper intermediate level competitive swimmers
Level A - 10 & under divisional level and beyond
Level B - 11 & 12 "B" level times
Swimmers have a basic mastery of all strokes as well as competitive times in multiple events. Will focus on continued improvement in technique, learning basic interval sets, and begin to train to swim moderate distance events.
4 practice days per week.
Minimum 75% of scheduled invitational meets with minimum 3-4 events per day participation. Participation in any available dual meets is mandatory.
FLASHES - Level 5
Advanced level competitive swimmers
Level A - 13 & over State qualifiers and beyond
Level B - 13 & over Divisional qualifiers
Level C - 11 & 12 year old Divisional Qualifiers and above/advanced 13 & over swimmers who are near Divisional Championship times.
Swimmers have a high level mastery of strokes. Will focus on achieving perfect technique, heavy training, and holding fast intervals during training.
5 days per week practice.
Early morning practice 3 days per week when available.
All invitational meets are required, swimming the maximum number of allowed events per day. Championship meets are required as well.
Penalties
Swimmers not following practice or meet requirements will face the following consequences:
- First Offense: Verbal warning from coach
- Second Offense: Dismissal from practice/meet
- Third Offense: Meeting with parent, swimmer and coach
- Fourth Offense: Dismissal from the team, no refund
Coaching Responsibilities
The coach’s job is to supervise the entire competitive swim program. The Flashes Aquatics coaching staff is dedicated to providing a program for youngsters that will enable them to learn the value of striving to improve oneself—“to be the best that you can be”. Therefore, the coaches must be in total control in matters of training and competition.
- The coaches are responsible for placing youngsters in practice groups. This is based on the age and ability level of each individual. When it is in the best interest of a swimmer, he/she will be placed in a more challenging training group by the coach.
- Sole responsibility for stroke instruction and the training regimen rests with the Flashes Aquatics coaching staff. Each group’s practices are based on sound scientific principles and are geared to the specific goals of that group.
- At meets, the coaches will conduct and supervise warm-up procedures for the team. After each race, the coaches will offer constructive criticism regarding the swimmers performance. (It is the parent’s job to offer love and understanding regardless of their child’s performance.)
- The coaching staff is constantly updating and improving the Flashes Aquatics program. It is the swimmers’ and parents’ responsibility to make the most out of the excellent opportunity this program provides for success in swimming.
If a coach is not performing their responsibilities to the best of their abilities, please request a meeting with that coach and the Board of Directors to discuss the matter.
Coaches perform additional responsibilities for our club. Our club consists of volunteers and paid coaches.
- All coaches have incredible knowledge of the sport and have been active participants and coaches for several years.
- Coaches regularly attend coaching clinics and read related articles and keep current certifications in CPR (yearly), First Aid, and Coaches Safety Training (3 year certification).
- At least one coach is present at every meet.
- Dave Nadler is responsible for data entry on all meet entries, results, proving times at championship meets, running the HY-Tek system when meets are hosted
- Coach Mike takes care of meet set-up (events, entry procedures, etc.), practice schedule, swimmer registration of initial batch, swimmer data entry, CISA committee and meeting representative, overseeing the organization, pool supervision.
Other volunteers:
- Jennifer Mrozinski (Board President) - oversees organization, HOD meeting representative, end of season awards, team merchandise orders.
- Dave Nadler (Board Vice-President) - Meet Coordinator, USA Swimming Officals Coordinator
- Susan Hines (Treasurer) - collecting fees, paying meet entry fees, bills, lifeguard payroll, budgets, expenses and income.
- Beth Matthies (Board Secretary) - Meet entry sign-up sheets and information, record keeper for Board of Director’s meetings, lifeguard scheduling, new-hire background checks.