Senior Training Groups

General Overview

Age range: 13 and older, limited exceptions for 12 year olds.

Swimming experience: At least 3 years

Meet commitments: As many as possible with 1-2 championships per season.

Juniors:

• For swimmers who have graduated from the Age Group Program and are ready to being the transition into Senior level training. Typically for swimmers ages 13-15.
• Practices 6 times per week, Monday through Saturday, with three 30-minute dryland sessions per week.
  • This is the first group with an attendance requirement. Swimmers must attend at least 4 practices per week.
  • Swimmers with less than a 66% attendance will be barred from moving to Senior I.
  • Families should begin planning their vacations around the swimming season. Prolonged absences during the season are highly discouraged.
• Practices increase their emphasis on conditioning and performing proper technique under heavier training loads.
• Swimmers will further their knowledge of race strategies and begin to set long term goals for their swimming careers.
• Swimmers should have the goals of qualifying for 13-14 CT Age Group Championships, CT Senior Championships, 13-14 Eastern Zone Championships, and potentially YMCA Nationals (more on that below).

Senior I:

• Typically for high school aged swimmers who have adapted to and excelled with the training loads in the Juniors group.
• Practices 6-8 times per week with drylands now lasting 45 minutes each.
  • Swimmers are expected to attend 80% of practices throughout the season. Anyone below that mark will be barred from Senior II.
  • Optional morning practices are offered on Tuesday and Thursdays.
• Training is heavily focused on developing endurance, power, and speed.
• Swimmers in this group should have the goal of qualifying for CT Senior Championships and YMCA Nationals.

Senior II:

• The highest-level training group we offer. For swimmers who have attended multiple YMCA Nationals and/or scored points at YMCA Nationals.
• Practices 6-8 times per week with drylands lasting 45 minutes each.
  • Swimmers are expected to attend 90% of practices throughout the season.
  • Attendance at morning practices is highly encouraged.
• Swimmers in this group should have the goal of qualifying for national level meets like Junior Nationals, US Nationals, and Olympic Trials.

YMCA Nationals Attendance Policy

Any swimmer who qualified for YMCA Nationals may attend the meet, provided they meet the following criteria;

• Swimmers must be at least 12 years of age.
  • This is a rule set by the YMCA, we cannot make exceptions.
• Swimmers must be deemed mature enough to handle a travel meet by their coach. The coach’s discretion is final.
• Swimmers must have attended at least 80% of practices without any prolonged absences.
• If the swimmers coach feels they are better served attending a different meet, they must do so.

Vacation Policy

• Families with swimmers in the Junior, Senior I, and Senior II training groups should make an effort to avoid taking vacations during the months of February, March, June, and July. Those months are vital training points in the season and prolonged absences will take away from end-of-season performances.
• Swimmers who do go on vacations during these months may be withheld from additional championship meets like Zones and YMCA Nationals at their coach's discretion.