AGE GROUP PROGRAM

The Canoe City Swim Club’s age group program consists of four training groups with an emphasis on growing confidence, building character, and fostering connections with our teammates, community, and the sport of swimming while improving stroke technique and building excellent foundational habits. Our goal is to place each athlete in a training group that will best fit their inclination and ability.

  • This is an entry-level developmental group for ages 10 & Under. To be eligible for this group, athletes must demonstrate excellent listening and behavioral skills, be able to pass the Old Town – Orono YMCA’s Deep End Test, have the ability to consistently and confidently perform 25 yards of freestyle and backstroke while demonstrating proper technique and streamlines, and have a foundational understanding of both breaststroke and butterfly.

  • This is a group for ages 8 – 12 and is designed to build upon technical skills in all four competitive strokes while also developing a strong aerobic foundation and learning about training discipline. Skills will be taught with an emphasis on fun and teamwork to ensure that all athletes develop a long-term love for the sport. Athletes will also focus on starts, turns, streamlines, and aerobic development. Athletes may also participate in basic dryland training during regularly scheduled practice times with an emphasis on balance, coordination, and body awareness.

  • This is a competitive training group designed for ages 10 -14 to prepare athletes for state and regional levels of competition. The emphasis of this group is on developing leadership and communication skills, consistent and committed training habits, and mastering the following key skills: training etiquette, stroke mechanics, race strategies, goal setting, nutrition, mental preparation, and the ability to handle an increased volume and intensity of training. Athletes will participate in a dryland program to help develop strength, body control, and coordination with an emphasis on keeping the body healthy and injury-free.

  • This is the most competitive age group training group. This group is designed for athletes 11 – 14 to prepare them for YMCA and USA Swimming state, regional, and national levels of competition. The emphasis of this group will be on continued mentoring and leadership opportunities; increased focus on goal setting, mental training, and peak performance management; and developing aerobic capacity through increased training volume, intensity, and kicking with a continued focus on stroke mechanics, race strategies, training habits, and nutrition. Athletes will also participate in a specifically designed dryland program.