Welcome to the Byron Center Swim Program. For those interested in joining one of our swim teams, we offer an Age Group swim team and a USA swim team.

Our Age Group program is designed to encourage young athletes to pursue and attain personal goals as well as gain satisfaction that comes from being a part of a team. The coaches will teach and develop the swimmers in all areas of swimming, including sportsmanship, teamwork, sound work ethics and love of competition. In this, we hope each swimmer will grow in his or her own personal achievements. Each swimmer will be evaluated and placed in a level according to their age and ability.

Our USA program is an extension of our age group program and provides a more competitive environment. The USA swimmers will practice within their groups, but they will have the opportunity to compete at more meets. Our USA coach will work with swimmers of all abilities to develop their swimming skills to meet individual and team goals.

Registration for the summer 2012 season on-line.

If you are a current swimmer or a parent, you will find information about your particular program here. Please check back frequently for updates.

Swim Levels and Expectations

Dawg Stroke School

DESCRIPTION: Designed for 5-8 years old children with the main goal being to build self-esteem and learn to practice within a group. Emphasis will be put on improving efficiency in Free and backstroke while developing the proper technique in Breaststroke and Butterfly. Making new friends and having FUN is part of the curriculum, too!

QUALIFICATIONS: Swimmers must be able to swim 25 yards of freestyle and backstroke without stopping and without assistance.

ATTENDANCE: Attendance is not mandatory at every practice; however, Swim School swimmers should attend practice as often as they can. Consistency is key to progress.

Level 1

DESCRIPTION: Designed for swimmers 6-10 years old who are progressing but need further stroke work to be able to demonstrate proper technique in all 4 strokes. The emphasis is primarily to give swimmers valuable stroke and
technical improvements, including starts and turns, to prepare them for the next level. Participation in meets is encouraged, but not mandatory.

QUALIFICATIONS: Swimmer has elementary knowledge of all four strokes. Be able to demonstrate a proper streamline when leaving the wall and ability to dive into the water. Can demonstrate good listening skills and follow
directions given by the coach.

ATTENDANCE: No attendance requirement; however, swimmers should try to attend at least 3 practices per week.

Level 2

DESCRIPTION: Designed for swimmers 9-12 with the primary focus on continuing to develop proper stroke technique in all 4 strokes, including starts and turns. Endurance training is introduced. Dry land and stretching are introduced.

QUALIFICATIONS: Swimmer has advanced knowledge of all four strokes, is able to demonstrate a proper streamline when leaving the wall and dive into the water. Can demonstrate good listening skills and follow directions
given by the coach.

Level 3

DESCRIPTION: Designed for experienced 11-15 year old swimmers who are committed to swimming and competing in meets with the focus on continuing proper stroke development, body position, kicking, endurance, and conditioning. Swimmers are expected to attend practice regularly and be at meets.

QUALIFICATIONS:
• Freestyle – swimmers should not have a underwater crossover in their stroke, lead with a long?straight arm, and breath on both sides without issue
• Backstroke – finish with hands straight from the hips, enter inline with their shoulder, maintain good head position and a tight kick. Also swimmers should know their stroke count and rely upon that to turn or finish to the wall.
• Breaststroke – knees should be in as the heels draw towards the buttocks, finish the kick to a point, head should remain in a set position with eyes looking out just beyond the hands, and the swimmer should not “pause” between the pull and the recovery cycles of the stroke.
• Butterfly – should be able to reach forward and press chest down upon entry; the hands should enter just outside the shoulders, breath should start at the beginning of the stroke, and the swimmer should be able to perform a double kick with correct timing.
• Turns – Be able to perform a tight flip turn and leave the wall in the correct position for Freestyle and Backstroke, demonstrate an open turn with tight arm recovery. Streamlines should break past the flags each time they leave the wall.
• Dives – Entry into the water in a streamlined position and hold until the breakout stroke. They should be able to set and hit their target point on the water.
• Set Qualification – The swimmer must be able to swim 10 x 100s Freestyle on the 1:45 interval.
• Other Qualifications – Be able to understand the pace clock and intervals, leave in the ready position, and be able to demonstrate good lane and training etiquette.

High School Group

DESCRIPTION: This is our top level group for 14-18 year old swimmers who are committed and wish to excel in this competitive sport. Swimmers must have sufficient competitive swimming experience and be physically and mentally ready to handle more intense work-outs as well as dry land. Swimmers are expected to attend hosted meets, and should attempt to make as many of the meets on the Meet Schedule as possible.

QUALIFICATIONS:
• Freestyle – have knowledge of breathing patterns and how they can affect a race, demonstrate a proper catch and underwater pull, be able to swim long distances maintaining a long, smooth stroke
• Backstroke – smooth even strokes, maintain good body position with a tight kick, hands should finish inline of the hips and enter pinky first,
• Breaststroke – set the kick with knees inward and feet wider than the hips, shoot the upper body into a tight line, kick backwards as the hands are finishing the shoot forward, minimal head movement, the swimmer should press and lift with the pull
• Butterfly – proper breath timing, body undulation should be a forward motion, hands should enter just wider than shoulders.
• Turns – Be able to perform a tight flip turn and leave the wall in the correct position for Freestyle and Backstroke, demonstrate an open turn with tight arm recovery. Streamlines should get to 7 meters or better and the swimmer should not be breathing on the first stroke.
• Dives – Entry into the water in a streamlined position and hold until the breakout stroke. They should be able to set and hit their target point on the water.
• Set Qualification – The swimmer must be able to swim 20 x 100s Freestyle on the 1:30 interval.
• Other Qualifications – Be able to understand the pace clock and intervals, know their heart rate and how it relates to training and effort, and be able to demonstrate good lane and training etiquette.

ATTENDANCE: Athletes in these groups are expected to make an average of 70% of the practices, or more, each month.