1. The underlying philosophy for all groups is progression.  The goal is to have swimmers acquire specific, competitive swimming skills and characteristics at each level.  The outcome will be well-rounded swimmers with exceptional skills.  All  swimmers will progress at different rates, and this is taken into consideration when designing practices.

2.  Swimmers progress to the next level when they exhibit the necessary skills.  The following are taken into consideration: proficiency of skills, attendance at practice and meets, age, maturity and goals.  Each group may have a range of ages and abilities.  Placement in a group is the sole discretion of the coach.  Coaches will put swimmers into lanes based on their ability.

3.  The first three levels of our club (Pre-competitive, Blue and Bronze) emphasize learning all four competitive strokes proficiently.  Being proficient in all four strokes at a young age is beneficial for many reasons.  It allows for more options later in his or her career, lays a solid muscular and neurological foundation, and helps the team when he or she can do more than one stroke.  It isn't until later in a swimmer's career that he or she may begin to specialize in a certain stroke.  While swimmers may excel at certain strokes and distances, the emphasis is on swimming the Individual Medley (IM - a race in which all four strokes are swum by the individual). 

4.  The next two groups of club, Silver and Gold, begin to emphasize the benefits of training and how it relates to performance.  The emphasis of conditioning will still be the Individual Medley.  Silver will spend more time than Gold on technique, but training also becomes a part of practice.  Once swimmers reach the Gold group, the emphasis begins to shift toward conditioning for peak performance and training to reach the Senior level.  The season is systematically planned with specific phases to maximize swimming potential.  Swimmers in this group are motivated to improve his or her own skills, and this is reflected by a high level of attendance.  

5.  Senior swimming is for the committed athlete, who places a high priority on training for peak performance.  Swimmers in this group are placed into lanes/groups based on his or her goals and commitment levels.