Group Descriptions - Competitive

High Performance

Training at the High Performance (HP) level becomes more individualized and specialized to swimmers needs and event selections. Swimmers will be expected to maintain a high level of attendance in the program. The intensity of training requires swimmers to maintain the best possible recovery/regeneration practices as well as maintaining the highest academic standing. HP swimmers should be active participants in their training program and maintain constant communication with the coach to maximize their seasonal outcomes.

Age: 14+

Competition: The HP group is targeted at the SNC National calendar each season with a particular eye on selection opportunities for Provincial, National and International Teams. Swimmers will be required to travel extensively each season and may be required to miss school several times throughout the year.

Dryland: A multi layered approach to dryland with weight training, flexibility, conditioning, speed and coordination all valued.

Standard: Swimmers must achieve at HP Time Standard to be considered for the group. Swimmers must maintain strong academic standing and be a positive contributor to the team to be accepted into the HP Group.

Athletes in the HP group will compete and succeed at the National and International level. HP swimmers develop a strong sense of team spirit while at the same time learning life lessons from training and competitions. HP swimmers learn to be goal oriented and understand what is required to excel in sport at the highest levels.

Performance

Performance (P) swimmers are learning to train and perfecting training habits. Swimmers will be expected to maintain a high level of attendance in this group. Advancement of technical and tactical skills in and out of the pool with a specific emphasis on anaerobic development and race specific intensities and volumes. Performance swimmers should be able to work independently on some aspects of the training program.

Age: 13-16

Competition: Performance swimmers will compete provincially and nationally, with a select few having the prospect of competing internationally.

Dryland: Strength development becomes the primary goal for Performance athletes. Executing proper technical movement under loads is the key to immediate and future gains. Continued development of agility, balance, coordination and speed (ABC’S).

Standard: Swimmers in the Performance Group Time have been selected based on their achievement of time standards, high level work ethic, independence, training habits and high attendance. Swimmers who are training at this level who have not yet achieved the time standard may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Performance swimmers will build the strokes, skills and mental aptitudes that will allow them to further succeed at the end of their growth phase. Proper training, racing and recovery habits are key developmental areas as well as building positive routines around these facets of swimming. Swimmers in this group should be aiming to achieve at the Senior National Level in order to move into the HP group.

Performance X

Athletes in Performance X (PX) are learning to train and perfecting training habits. Advancement of technical and tactical skills in and out of the pool with a specific emphasis on anaerobic development and race specific intensities and volumes. PX swimmers should be able to work independently on some aspects of the training program.

Age: 14 to 17

Competition: PX swimmers will compete locally, provincially, and nationally.

Dryland: Strength development becomes the primary goal for PX athletes. Executing proper technical movement under loads is the key to immediate and future gains. Continued development of agility, balance, coordination & speed (ABC’S).

Standard: Swimmers in the Performance X group will have previous competitive swimming experience but may not have achieved specific time standards, training habits or attendance required by the other groups.

Performance X swimmers will build the strokes, skills and mental aptitudes that will allow them to further succeed at the end of their growth phase. Proper training, racing and recovery habits are key developmental areas as well as building positive routines around these facets of swimming. Swimmers in this group should be aiming to achieve at the Senior National Level in order to move into the HP group.

Age Group Performance

An intensification of the training load will occur at the Age Group Performance (AGP) level. Swimmers will be expected to maintain a high level of attendance in the program. Periodization of training will occur at this level and swimmers will go through the phases of loading, unloading and rest of the aerobic system throughout the season in preparation for specific competitions.

Age: 11-14

Competition: AGP swimmers will compete locally, regionally, provincially, and may have opportunity to compete nationally, with a select few having the prospect of competing internationally.

Dryland: Continued development of agility, balance, coordination and speed (ABC’S) with the addition of strength development will become a critical part of the AGP swimmer’s program.

Standard: AGP swimmers are those who have achieved a Provincial Time Standard or have shown the proficiencies of achieving at that level for their age group within the season.

Age Group Performance swimmers will be moving towards the Provincial, Championship and Westerns Time Standards and as such show the skills and technical development of Provincial and National level swimmers for their respective age group.

JAG UofA

Junior Age Group (JAG) swimmers will develop mastery of basic skill elements such as streamlining, underwater kicking and Distance Per Stroke (DPS). An emphasis on mental preparation for both training and racing will be developed in the JAG group as well as understanding tactics and strategies for racing and training.

Age: 9-13

Competition: JAG swimmers will compete in Local, Regional & Provincial level competitions. Interprovincial opportunities may arise for selected JAG swimmers. Focus on racing all strokes with a balance of speed and endurance events.

Dryland: Continued development of agility, balance, coordination and speed (ABC’S) with the addition of body weight strength movements taught for further strength development.

Standards: Swimmer in the JAG group will have shown an ability to compete at the Provincial level in one or more events or will the training ability to do so within the season.

JAG swimmers will be competitive on all four strokes and will train and race a broad spectrum of events throughout the season. Early signs of specialization will come to light at this stage, however overall development is still the goal. Swimmers will develop training and racing routines that will lead them to further success in subsequent groups.

JAG FP

Age: 9-13

Dryland: Continued development of agility, balance, coordination and speed (ABC’S) with the addition of body weight strength movements taught for further strength development.

Standards: Swimmer in the JAG group will have shown an ability to compete at the Provincial level in one or more events or will the training ability to do so within the season.

OW1 UofA

Olympic Way (OW) swimmers will continue development of all four competitive strokes, skills, starts and turns with an emphasis on skill development for racing. Introduce and teach basic training requirements such as lane etiquette and pace clock use.

Age: 8-11

Competition: In-house competitions as well as some local and regional invitational meets will be offered at this level. Swimmers should be trying to achieve the Festival North and/or Provincials Meet Qualifying Standards and should attend Festival North and/or Alberta Provincials if they do qualify.

Dryland: Continue to develop agility, balance, coordination & speed (ABC’S) through, fun, games land and specific training.

Standards: Swimmers who have shown stage appropriate development on all four strokes and skills will be qualified to advance into the OW program.

Outcomes: Swimmers in this group will improve on skills and techniques taught at the JOW level and have a significant increase in kick specific fitness. These swimmers will be prepared for advancement to the JAG program by understanding the general concepts of training in a group and taking both individual and group instruction.

OW1 FP

Age: 8-11

Dryland: Continue to develop agility, balance, coordination & speed (ABC’S) through, fun, games land and specific training.

Standards: Swimmers who have shown stage appropriate development on all four strokes and skills will be qualified to advance into the OW program.

OW2 FP

Age: 8-11

Dryland: Continue to develop agility, balance, coordination & speed (ABC’S) through, fun, games land and specific training.

Standards: Swimmers who have shown stage appropriate development on all four strokes and skills will be qualified to advance into the OW program.

JOW UofA

Swimmer in Junior Olympic Way (JOW) are introduced to all four competitive strokes, skills, starts and turns. Overall physical development with an emphasis on FUN short duration speed and endurance.

Age: Swimmers must be 10 years & under at the start of the season and be eligible to compete in the OSC 10&Under Series (10 years old or younger as of the first meet in the series, November 14th, 2020 TBD).

Competition: In-house competitions including OSC 10&Under Series as well as the opportunity to compete in select invitational’s throughout the season. JOW swimmers will swim one day only of these invitationals.

Dryland: Promote agility, balance, coordination and speed (ABC’S).

Standards: Swimmers must pass Mini O’s Gold or equivalent and be 6-10 years old.

JOW swimmers should develop confidence in the water and a basic understanding of all four competitive strokes, turns and starts. They will develop a general understanding of how a swim meet is run as well as an overall increase in speed and endurance in and out of the pool.

JOW2 UofA

Dryland: Promote agility, balance, coordination and speed (ABC’S).

Standards: Swimmers must pass Mini O’s Gold or equivalent and be 6-10 years old.

JOW FP

Dryland: Promote agility, balance, coordination and speed (ABC’S).

Standards: Swimmers must pass Mini O’s Gold or equivalent and be 6-10 years old.

JOW2 FP

Dryland: Promote agility, balance, coordination and speed (ABC’S).

Standards: Swimmers must pass Mini O’s Gold or equivalent and be 6-10 years old.

JD UofA

Swimmers in Junior Development (JD) will be introduced to all four competitive strokes, skills, starts and turns. Overall physical development with an emphasis on FUN short duration speed and endurance.

Age: Swimmers must be 11 -14 years at the start of the season and new to the sport of competitive swimming.

Competition: In-house competitions as well as the opportunity to compete in select invitational’s throughout the season. JD swimmers will swim one day only of these invitationals. Swimmers in this group may choose to be non-competitive.

Dryland: Promote agility, balance, coordination and speed (ABC’S)

Standards: Swimmers must pass Mini O’s Gold or equivalent and be 11 to 14 years old.

Swimmers in JD should develop confidence in the water and a basic understanding of all four competitive strokes, turns and starts. They will develop a general understanding of how a swim meet is run as well as an overall increase in speed and endurance in and out of the pool.

JD FP

Age: Swimmers must be 11 -14 years at the start of the season and new to the sport of competitive swimming.

Dryland: Promote agility, balance, coordination and speed (ABC’S)

Standards: Swimmers must pass Mini O’s Gold or equivalent and be 11 to 14 years old.

As of 5/5/2021 1:03:42 PM Mountain Standard Time