AQUABEARS 2007-2008 SHORT COURSE
Practice Group Descriptions

Novice Team (9/22-2/16)

Description: The Novice Team is designed to be an introduction to competitive swimming for children with no previous swimming
experience. Basic swimming skills will be taught, with an emphasis on freestyle, backstroke, kicking, and use of the pace clock. This group
will not compete in meets, and will meet an average of 2 or 3 times per month on Saturdays when the team is not competing. Swimmers in
this group should be 5-9 years old, and children entering this program should be comfortable and safe in the water.

Schedule:      Saturdays 10:00-10:45

Junior Team (9/18-2/26)

Description: The Junior Team is designed for children with limited experience on a USA Swimming team. Instruction will be geared towards
beginner swimmers who are just learning the basics of the four strokes. Swimmers will also be introduced to important skills like starts and
turns. Participation in meets will be based on the child's progress, will begin with BEAR-sponsored meets, and will probably be limited to
one meet per month. Swimmers entering this group should be able to swim 25 yards of backstroke and/or freestyle and be safe in the water.
The program is designed for children 7 to 10 years old.

Schedule:      Tues./Fri 6:00-7:00

Age Group Team (9/16-2/26) (Swimmers qualifying for Age Group Championships will swim until 3/9)

Description: The Age Group Team is designed to increase the volume of training for younger, developmental swimmers. Significant
emphasis will be on stroke and turn technique, while also introducing more challenging training sets. Swimmers in this group should have a
working knowledge of all four strokes, and will be expected to participate in all BEAR-sponsored meets. Additional meets will be offered.

Schedule:      Sun: 5:00-6:30 Tues/Fri: 7:00-8:30

Pre-Senior Team (9/17-3/1)

Description: The Pre-Senior Team is designed for younger swimmers who are starting to compete at a state level. Children in this group will
participate in fairly intense training sessions, will be expected to compete in all BEAR-sponsored meets, and will be allowed to compete in
other meets upon request. This program is designed primarily for children 9 and above who have exhibited the skills and desire necessary to
make the transition to Senior level swimming.

Schedule:      Mon/Wed/Thur 6:00-8:00 Saturday 9:00-11:00
Note:      Pre-Senior swimmers may attend a maximum of three practices per week.

Senior (9/16-3/9)

Description: The Senior Team is designed to meet the additional training needs of more mature swimmers who are experienced at competing
at the state level. Swimmers in this group will participate in intense training sessions. Seniors will be expected to compete in all scheduled
meets, and should have already attained qualifying times for the Connecticut Age Group Championships. The program is designed primarily
for children 11 and over, with 10/unders accepted upon approval from the coach. Senior swimmers will be expected to follow all practice and
meet rules as determined by the coaching staff.

Schedule:      Sun. 5:00-7:00 Mon.-Fri. 6:00-8:00 Sat. A.M. 8:00-10:00

Senior (9/16-3/9)

Description: The Senior Elite Team is offered to 13/over swimmers who want to compete at a Zone, Sectional, and eventually National level.
Acceptance into this group is based on an expressed desire by the swimmer to train at this level, and is also based on coach approval.
Swimmers in this group will be expected to maintain high attendance levels, and may be moved down to the Senior program, with no refunds,
if the coaches feel that practice and/or meet attendance levels are not sufficient. This will be an extremely intense training group, and all
swimmers will have the opportunity to participate in goal-setting meetings and videotaped technique sessions. Certain travel meets and
training opportunities may be offered to this group. Senior Elite swimmers will be expected to follow all practice and meet rules as
determined by the coaching staff.

Schedule:      Sun. 5:00-7:30 Mon.-Fri. 6:00-8:30 Sat. A.M. 8:00-11:00
                    A.M. workouts will also be held on Tues. & Thurs., 5:15-6:45, beginning October 16.