2025 Sponsorship Available!
We have 4 skill levels: Developmental, Blue (Novice), Black (Proficient), and Green (Advanced).
You do not need to be a fast swimmer in order to join the team, but we do have a minimum skills standard to ensure everyone is safe. As a result, we have tryouts in order to assess swimmer's skills and ensure they are placed appropriately in a practice group according to their ability. Returning team members do not need to try out.
Developmental swimmers are ready to participate on the team and can swim in Developmental heats during meets. In meets, Developmental swimmers can receive assistance to complete their swim. To be classified as a developmental swimmer, swimmers must meet these minimum requirements.
Hold breath and fully submerge head for 3 seconds
Step from the side into chest-deep water and recover to a vertical position
Get out from the side of pool without assistance
Front float or glide, unsupported
Orientation to deep water
Back float or glide
Turn over, back to front
Turn over, front to back
Swim short distance of 2-3 feet independently in any form
Bob (touch bottom) in water slightly over head to travel to safe area
Retrieve submerged object from shallow end (3.5' of water) with eyes open
After Developmental, swimmers progress to the more advanced practice groups. These swimmers are ready to compete individually, without assistance. Minimum requirements for these practice groups are listed below.
Submerge head completely
Turn over from back to front while swimming on back
Attempt to coordinate arm stroke for freestyle with kick, while maintaining a body part on top of the water (e.g. kicking and/or moving arms to propel forward)
Front glide with push-off
Back glide with push-off
Attempt to coordinate backstroke with head above water on back, unsupported (e.g. kicking and/or moving arms to propel backward)
Turn over from front to back while swimming on front
Jump into deep water from side of pool, and return to side of pool
Swim a minimum of ½ a length of the pool in any form
Deep water bobbing
Tread water for 30 seconds
25 yards Freestyle, no stopping, or touching the bottom
Breathing to side while swimming freestyle
25 yards Backstroke, no stopping, touching the bottom, or turning over to stomach
15 yards attempt Breaststroke kick and arm stroke, uncoordinated arms and legs
15 yards attempt Butterfly Kick and arm stroke, uncoordinated arms and legs
Attempt dive from side in any diving position (squatting, sitting, or standing)
Open swim turns
Breathing on both sides for Freestyle
50 yards Backstroke, no stopping, touching the bottom, or turning over to stomach
50 yards Freestyle, no stopping, or touching the bottom
25 yards Underwater swim (can take breaths)
25 yards of Breaststroke, coordinated arms and legs
25 yards of Butterfly, coordinated arms and legs
Racing dives from blocks
Streamline to underwater kick
Attempts flip turns in all strokes