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F.A.S.T SWIM LEVELS:
Swimmers are broken down by age groups according to their
birth dates. USS Swimming in Wisconsin recognizes the following age
groups.10&U,11-12,13-14,15-16, and 17-18. 6&U, and 8&U
are permitted, and swim at the discretion of the host
club.
Listed below are
the levels of swimming offered to athletes by the F.A.S.T swim
team. These levels are offered as a guideline to the parents
and the athlete to use in understanding how an athlete can acheive
that next level. These levels are be used by the coaches,
for parents, and athletes to help establish goals for the
athlete to acheive the next level and beyond.
We realize that
there will be exceptions due to strength or even a weakness
that may or may not allow that athlete to move forward to the next
level at the same pace as other athletes. We also realize that
athletes sometimes need that next level of workout with better
swimmers to get over a sometimes frustrating "slump". The
benefit of the F.A.S.T swim team is that we have
compassion, patience, & understanding and a coaching
staff that can work with that athlete and parent to set goals that
are achievable.
BRONZE GROUP: (Pre
Competition)
Age
requirements: 8& Under (or
coaches discretion)
Practice recomendations: 2 per week.
Meet requirements: All meets listed as team
meets. (usually this will be home meets)
Time Standards: None.Swimmer must be able to swim
25 yards of freestyle, and 25 yards of backstroke legally to be on
the team, or coaches discretion based on stroke evaluation.
Group emphaisis: The main focus for this group
will be on increasing the efficiency of the freetyle and
backstroke, and teaching the child the breaststroke so that the
child has 3 legal strokes. Swimmers will work on using the dolphin
kick, and start & turn techniques will be taught, along with an
introduction to interval sets.
Days Offered: Tuesday, Thursday & Friday.
Graduation to Silver: Athlete must be able to
swim the following three strokes legally. 25 yards of freestyl, 25
yards of backstroke, and 25 yards of breaststroke.
SILVER GROUP: (Junior Competition)
Age requirements: 8-10 (or coaches
discretion)
Practice Recomendations: 2-3 per week
Meet Requirements: All team meets
Time Standards: At least one "C" time or better.A
workout of 2,000 yards per night.
Group Emphasis: The focus of this group will be
stroke mechanics for all four competitive strokes, with
introduction to competition training, starts, turns, Dry-Land
workouts, and increasing endurance training. Time trials will be
taken monthly (based on practice attendance) on the athlete
with results to be rcorded and charted.
Days Offered: Monday, Wedensday, and Friday.
Graduation to Plaid: Time standards that are to
be considered 6X50 freestyle @ 1:20 to move to plaid. A workout of
2,300 yards per night.
PLAID GROUP: (FULL
COMPETITION)
Age Requirements:9 & up (or
coaches discretion)
Practice Recomendations: 3-4 times practices
per week.
Meet Requirements: 3 meets per month, all team
meets, coaches suggested meets.
Time Standards: At least one "B" time or better.
A workout of 2,500 yards per night.
Group Emphasis: The focus for this group will be
to work on advanced stroke techniques, starts, turns, and goal
setting, and more enhanced education on race stratagies, and mental
training. All previous instruction to get the athlete to this point
will constantly be re-visited. Time trials will be taken weekly and
charted (based on practice attendance) on the athlete, along
with charting of the athletes progress. Possible underwater and
above water camera evaluations.
Days Offered: Monday Thru
Friday.
Graduation to Gold:
Time standards that are to be
considered, 8x50 Freestyle @ 1:05, 4 x 100IM @ 2:30 legally. A
workout of 3,000 yards per night.
GOLD GROUP: (FULL
COMPETITION)
Age Requirements: 10 & up
(or coaches discretion)
Practice recomendations: 4 - 5 times per
week.
Meet Requirements: 3 meets per month, all team
meets, coaches suggested meets.
Time Standards: At least (3) "B" times, and (1)
"A" time or better. A workout of 3,000-3,500 yards per night.
Group Emphasis: The focus for this group will be
advanced stroke techniques, starts, turns, and goal setting.
Installation of pre-swim race stratagies, and mental
preparation. All previous instruction will continue. Time
trials and test sets will be done weekly, with constant charting of
athletes progress, and possible underwater and above water camera
work.
Days Offered: Monday thru Friday. (Fridays are a
regular practice for Platinum swimmers.)
Graduation to
Platinum: Time
standards to be considered, 6 x 100 Freestyle @ 1:40, 6 x 100
stroke at 2:00, and 4 x 200 IM @ 2:40. A workout of 4,500
yards.
PLATINUM GROUP: (FULL
COMPETITION & SENIOR LEVEL)
Age Requirements:13 years and
older. (or coaches discretion)
Practice Recomendations: 5 times per week.
Meet Requirements: 3 meets per month, all team
meets, coaches suggested meets
Time Standards: Athlete must have all "A" time
standards.Athlete must be working towards state qualifying times,
with zones consideration. Time standards to be considered,
10x100Freestyle @ 1:40
6 x 100 stroke @ 2:00, 5 x 200IM @ 3:45.
Group Emphasis: Training methodology and heart
rate usage is introduced. Athletes will continue to refine race
stratagy implemntation. Conditioning takes on a greater importance.
Preperation for national level competition, and high school
programs are implemented.
Days Offered: Monday thru Friday. (Fridays are a
regular workout for Platinum swimmers)
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