Team mission: To develop individuals to their highest potential as athletes and leaders in life.
Team mission: To develop individuals to their highest potential as athletes and leaders in life.
Ages: 6-12
Practice time: 3 x 45-minute practices per week, plus 30 min/week dryland
Facilities: Galowich YMCA, Smith YMCA, Joliet Country Club
Age Group Yellow is our introductory level on the team, designed for swimmers who have little or no experience in competitive swimming, or otherwise have a limited understanding of competitive stroke technique. This group is focused on teaching the rules of the sport, developing foundational skills (such as balance, kicking, and streamlining), and nurturing a love for the sport. Competition is introduced in small doses as swimmers build confidence in their abilities. A special emphasis is put on team-building, problem-solving, and other values that will have a positive impact on their development.
To be eligible for Age Group Yellow, swimmers must be able to swim 25 yards of freestyle while demonstrating rotary breathing and a rhythmic kick, and 25 yards of backstroke while demonstrating a rhythmic kick and a general sense of comfort and balance in the water.
Ages: 7-15
Practice time: 4 x 60-minute practices per week, plus 30 min/week dryland
Facilities: Galowich YMCA, Smith YMCA, Joliet Country Club
Age Group Green is designed for swimmers who generally have a good understanding of all four competitive strokes, but do not necessarily have legal form yet. In addition, Age Group Green is commonly the base level of placement for beginning swimmers who are older than 12. This group continues to place a major emphasis on teaching rules of the sport and reinforcing proper, legal stroke techniques. Additionally, swimmers continue to improve their turning, streamlining and diving technique, learn additional skills such as understanding the pace clock, and work on developing a strong, fast, rhythmic kick in all four strokes.
To be placed in the Green group, the most important considerations include stroke technique, kicking speed, and overall physical and mental maturity. Swimmers must demonstrate a general knowledge of all four strokes and the confidence to compete in all four strokes and an IM event in a swim meet. Kick test and swim test results, as well as daily practice performance, should demonstrate that the swimmer is capable of keeping up at the Green level. Additionally, swimmers must demonstrate an adequate level of maturity, attitude, and attentiveness to handle longer practices.
Ages: 8-15
Practice time: 5 x 75-minute practices per week, plus 30 min/week dryland
Facilities: Smith YMCA, Joliet Country Club
Age Group Red strengthens and hones skills that were learned in previous groups while teaching the proper practice habits that will allow swimmers to excel later on. Swimmers at this stage, with few exceptions, have legal strokes and can compete at a swim meet in all four strokes with legal form and proper turns. Practices are more structured and more challenging than in previous groups, however, the yardage and training elements are not intense yet, nor should be. Practice time is primarily focused on improving stroke efficiency, continuing to increase kicking speed and power, and developing a positive attitude towards challenges.
To be considered for placement in the Red group, swimmers should be able to compete confidently, with legal form, in the following events: 200 Free, 100 IM, 100 Back, 50 Breast and 50 Butterfly. At practice, swimmers must demonstrate good practice habits such as turning and streamlining off the walls, using proper breathing patterns, and understanding simple pace clock send-offs and intervals. Swimmers should be able to complete 6 x 100 FR.K @ 2:45, and their swim test pace should demonstrate that they can keep up at the next level. Additionally, swimmers must demonstrate an adequate level of maturity, attitude, and attentiveness to handle longer practices.
Ages: 9-15
Practice time: 6 x 90-minute practices per week, plus 60 min/week dryland
Facilities: Smith YMCA, Joliet Country Club
Age Group Blue begins to prepare swimmers with a sense of what is needed to train at higher levels. Practices become faster and harder, and swimmers are continually reinforced to swim smart with proper stroke technique, exemplary practice habits, and teamwork. Goal-setting, nutrition and mental toughness becomes more of a priority as the level of competitiveness increases--training and preparation is directed towards the Regional, YMCA State, Age Group State and Zone levels. A higher level of dedication, determination and discipline will be expected to progress onwards from this level.
To be considered for placement in the Blue group, swimmers must be at least nine years old and must be able to compete confidently, with legal form and proper turns, in the following events: 500 Free, 200 IM, 100 Back, 100 Breast and 100 Butterfly. At practice, swimmers should demonstrate a willingness to accept challenges with a positive attitude and an eagerness to lead and excel. Swimmers should be able to complete 8 x 100 FR.K @ 2:30, and should have an ability to hold a 100 yard freestyle pace of 2:00 or faster over the duration of 20 minutes or longer.
Ages: 11-18
Practice time: 6 x 105-minute practices per week, plus 150 min/week dryland
Facilities: Smith YMCA, Joliet Country Club, Riordan Pool
The Pre-Senior group is the final preparation for senior level workouts and competition. Swimmers will continue to focus on proper stoke technique and race strategy while developing a strong aerobic training base that will allow them to compete successfully in all events. Training will be geared to allow swimmers to succeed in the 500 Free, 400 IM, and 200’s of each stroke, and swimmers’ goals should be geared towards regional and state level championships. Practices will be challenging; therefore, a passion for the sport and a strong sense of one’s goals will be required to succeed. Swimmers will develop leadership skills and will learn proper nutrition, time-management, and mental toughness skills needed to handle an increasingly difficult schedule on a daily basis between school and sport. Dryland training will be incorporated to build core body strength and shoulder stability, and to increase balance, flexibility, and overall athleticism.
To be considered for placement in the Pre-Senior group, kids must be at least eleven years old. On a daily basis, swimmers must demonstrate good practice habits such as arriving on time, bringing and drinking a water bottle, using turns and streamlines and proper breakouts and breathing patterns, and understanding send-offs and intervals. Through their attitude, effort and attendance, swimmers have demonstrated a willingness to accept challenges and to train at higher intensity. Swimmers should be able to complete 10 x 100 FR.K @ 2:15 and should have an ability to hold a 100 yard freestyle pace of 1:45 or faster over the course of a long aerobic set, 30 minutes or longer.
Ages: 12-18
Practice time: 8 x 120-minute practices per week, plus 150 min/week dryland
Facilities: Smith YMCA, Joliet Country Club, Riordan Pool
The Senior group is the highest training group offered on the team. The group is focused on preparing swimmers for the national championship level and beyond, in addition to a continued swimming career in college. Seniors will be expected to maintain a positive attitude and a high standard of commitment in terms of attendance and practice intensity. Swimmers must maintain an 80% attendance level to attend any meets beyond the state championship level. The coach should be notified in advance of any absences, if at all possible. Swimmers will be expected to swim smart and tough each day, and sometimes twice per day; therefore, proper nutrition and proper stroke technique will be essential to handle to load. In addition, time-management, leadership skills, and a strong sense of dedication, discipline, and determination are all assets required to succeed at this level. Dryland training will be incorporated to build core body strength and shoulder stability, and to increase balance, flexibility, and overall athleticism. Participation in the YMCA District and State meet is expected. Senior swimmers will be offered eight to nine practices per week, depending on the time of year.
To be considered for placement in the Senior group, kids need to be age 13 or older although, in certain circumstances, 12-year old girls may be placed in the Senior group. Through their attitude, effort, ambitious goal-setting, and attendance (80% or better), kids must show a willingness and desire to practice at high intensity on a daily basis. Swimmers must also show the ability to maintain good strokes throughout exhausting workouts, and the overall health, fitness and nutrition of the athlete should be good. Swimmers need to show an ability to hold a 100 yard freestyle pace of 1:25 or faster over the course of a long aerobic set, 30 minutes or longer. Swimmers should be able to complete 10 x 100 FR.K @ 2:00 or better. Swimmers should already be competing at the state championship level or higher and are now preparing for the national championship level.
Ages: 18-22
Practice time: Same as Senior group
Facilities: Same as Senior group
The Graduate group is offered as an opportunity for JETS graduates who have gone on to college to continue to swim for the team while they are in town on holiday and summer breaks. Graduate swimmers must maintain a full YMCA membership; however, there are no program fees or fundraising requirements. Swimmers will be expected to help lead the team by methods such as coaching, helping at swim meets, or sharing their experiences at a team meeting. The Graduate group will be offered the same practice schedule as the Senior group.
Swimmers in the Graduate group must have swam for the JETS at some point in the past. They must have completed at least one semester of college and must still be enrolled in college coursework.
