Swim Team
This developmental program offers kids and teens an opportunity to work with trained coaches to improve swimming skills, endurance, and promote a healthy lifestyle.
Fun, Fitness, and Teamwork
YMCA Swim Team is a developmental program run by trained coaches focusing on improving swimmers' competitive skills and endurance. The Swim Team embraces the Y core values of respect, responsibility, caring, and honesty, promotes progression at an individual level, and encourages commitment, self-discipline, sportsmanship, time management, and leadership.
Team Groups
YMCA Swim Team offers several training groups for swimmers of varying abilities and experience. Development of technical skills, training abilities, maturity, competitive levels, and time standards are considered when determining the appropriate group for individuals. The Y's progressive structure provides a setting in which swimmers are continually challenged and able to experience both individual and team successes.
Bronze Age Group 1
The Bronze program is for swimmers beginning their competitive journey. Participants will learn the fundamentals while having fun and what it takes to be a competitive swimmer, both in and out of the water. This program focuses on goal setting, nutrition, and training with an emphasis on form rather than yardage. Semi-regular participation in swim meets is encouraged to provide the opportunity to use, evaluate, and improve skills.
Ages: 8-13 years old
Practices: One hour, 3-5 times per week
Requirements: Ability to swim the 4x50 freestyle, 4x50 backstroke, 4x50 breaststroke, 4x50 butterfly, 4x50 kick, and 4x100 individual medley practice sets legally.
Silver Age Group 2
The Silver program is for more advanced swimmers who need a more challenging practice environment. It emphasizes aerobic training, swimming intervals, and race strategy while continuing to refine stroke technique. Swimmers are encouraged to regularly attend meets to use and continue developing the skills and conditioning learned during practice. Periodic test sets to determine conditioning are a part of this program.
Ages: 12-18 years old
Practices: One hour, 3-5 times per week
Requirements: Ability to swim freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly strokes, pace and interval training using a pace clock, and commitment to a rigorous training program.
Advanced Age Elite
The Elite program is for more experienced and dedicated swimmers who have mastered most of the fundamentals of technique. This program emphasizes aerobic, anaerobic, and strength training while continuing to refine strokes, starts, and turns to a high level. Swimmers are encouraged to regularly attend meets to use and continue developing the skills and conditioning learned during practice.
Ages: 12-18 years old
Practices: 90 minutes, 3-5 times per week
Requirements: Ability to swim freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly strokes, pace and interval training using a pace clock, and commitment to a rigorous training program.
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Swim Teams
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Are tryouts required to join a team?
How do I prepare to join swim team?
How long is the swim season?
Do I have to commit to the entire swim season?
Who can join swim team?
What if my child doesn’t know all the strokes?
What if I don’t know which practice group to sign up for?
Do you have to be a Y member to participate in swim team?
I cannot afford the full cost of swim team, is financial assistance available?
How much does swim team cost?
What happened to Junior Developmental and Developmental teams?
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Stay Engaged with the Y
Swim Lessons
As the largest provider of swim lessons in the country, we strive to help all ages learn how to swim, so they can stay safe around water and learn the skills needed to make swimming a lifelong pursuit for healthy living.
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With a shared commitment to nurturing the potential of kids, improving health and well-being, and supporting our neighbors, your membership will not just bring about meaningful change in yourself, but also in your community.
Camp & Outdoor Leadership
The YMCA has been the leader in Summer Camp for over 130 years. Over this time, we’ve fine-tuned our programs to meet youth and their families wherever they are in their journey with the outdoors.
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