GROUP DESCRIPTIONS

CUSD Aquatic Academy

The Academy Program will be a District Program that will be an introduction to two of our Aquatic sports, Swimming and Water Polo. The program will run as a seasonal program, with seasons being offered throughout the year. Each season practice design by sport will differ and the there will be sites that may not be the same. The goal of this program is develop young athletes to be better swimmers that will help them in both sports, but also introducing some water polo skills. Below are the seasons for the 2024 - 2025 Swim Year.

• August 21^st – September 13th ($120)
• September 16^th – November 22nd ($260)
• December 2^nd – December 20th ($110)
• January 6^th – March 14th ($260)
• March 17^th – April 11th ($110)
• April 22^nd – June 5th ($200)
• June 9^th – July 18th ($200)

Leopard Sharks

Leopard Shark Group is the beginning of developing the swimmer for competitive swimming. With the foundations and strokes developed at the Academy level, the Leopard Sharks are reinforcing these skills and mechanics with repetitions to create muscle memory. Training Sets will be introduced at this level. A focus on making the strokes easy to be able to swim for a longer period of time and reducing the number of strokes to create ease in the strokes. USA Swimming Meets are optional, but highly encouraged at this level. This group will begin to make practice goals such as being able to go a certain distance off walls in streamline, getting their stroke count down to a certain number or other similar practice goals.

Mako Sharks

The Mako Shark Group is the group above Leopard Sharks. Swimmers have been able to get their stroke count down by stretching their strokes out and utilizing good turns and underwaters. Easy Speed (Speed without effort) is the focus of the Mako Sharks. Training Sets are faster intervals, but more effort should not be needed. An increase of speed has been developed through increasing the distance per stroke. USA Swimming Meets again are optional, but highly encouraged. This group will begin making Goals to achieve certain time standards while connecting practice goals as a way to achieve the Result-based goals.

Tiger Sharks

Tiger Sharks begins to develop more complex training sets. The seasonal plan will begin to have phases of stroke development, efficiency, endurance, and race prep. This level is the beginning of developing swimmers for senior-level training. A higher number of practices should occur while in this group and the practice time increases. Stroke mechanics continue to be refined while establishing a full goal-setting process with long-term, short-term, and practice goals.

Pre-Senior

The Pre-Senior group is preparing for Senior Swimming. Their training is on a training plan that has designated focuses on certain times of the year and begins to train at more energy zones than previous groups. The training plan is close to a senior group training plan as they prepare their bodies for the training at the next level. Stroke Mechanics continue to be emphasized along with distance per stroke and easy speed.

Move Ups:

Move-Ups are done occasionally through the year. Move-Up is not a pass or fail activity. Coaches are asked to evaluate swimmers daily. The move up level is determines the emphasis of each aspect, but coaches should be evaluating from many aspects including the following, but limited to:

• Fundamental Skills (Balance, Streamlines, Floating, Breathing, etc.)
• Listening Skills
• Practice Ettiquette
• Legal strokes and correct mechanics
• Dryland profiency
• Training Speed
• Age and Maturity

At times when it is close to move up or not to move up, then we will look at aspects such as:

• Practice Attendance
• Swim Meet Attendance
• Swim Meet Times

Move-Ups are determined by a single Test Set on a single day. Test Sets are sets regulary done that demonstrates progress. These are easily understood practice goals sets, and should not be seen as how a swimmer is moved up within the program.

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Groups are not designed to be for the fastest swimmers to be in the top groups. There will always be faster swimmers in lower groups. The group design is to help a swimmer be in a group that will help them develop the best where they are in their swimming. All of our programs are geared to have successful senior swimmers, and we must develop the swimmers appropriately to have swimmers get the most out of their swimming.