The JETS offer several different practice groups that are designed to progressively develop swimmers from beginner to advanced. Swimmers are assigned to a practice group based on factors such as age, maturity, stroke technique, practice habits, commitment and speed. Our Considerations for Group Placement document provides a more thorough explanation of the evaluation process.
Before joining the team, swimmers are evaluated to determine which group placement is most appropriate. About 3 times per year, swimmers are evaluated to determine if they are ready to move to the next level.
General placement criteria is listed for each group below, however the coaching staff has full authority and reserves the right to place swimmers in the practice group they feel is best for each individual's development.
Zeppelin #
Zeppelins are simple aircraft that float gracefully and move eloquently. The emphasis at this level is on how your body floats, sustains balance, and moves in the water. At the Zeppelin level, fundamentals are key.
Objective
The objective of the Zeppelin level is to nurture love for the sport of swimming, team pride, sportsmanship and YMCA character values while developing fundamental skills (such as streamlining, floating/balance, head/body position, proper kicking and breathing techniques, diving and somersaults) and teaching swimmers the rules and expectations they will need to follow throughout their development.
Placement Criteria
- Must be ages 6-12
- Must display comfort and confidence in the water
- Must float well, with proper head position, on back and stomach
- Must be able to swim 25 yards of freestyle, without stopping, while reaching arms forward over the surface, breathing to the side and maintaining a rhythmic, supportive kick
- Must be able to swim 25 yards of backstroke, without stopping, while reaching arms over the surface, keeping hips up and maintaining a rhythmic, supportive kick
- Must be physically and emotionally mature enough to handle a 60 minute practice, independent from parents
- Additional criteria may be in place for swimmers ages 9-12, such as a fundamental knowledge of breaststroke and butterfly and ability to swim longer distances
- The coaching staff reserves the right to place any swimmer in any group based on the best interest of the individual
Practice Requirements
Practices will be offered about 3 times per week for 45-60 minutes. There is no strict attendance requirement, although swimmers will benefit more from consistent attendance and are encouraged to attend as many as possible. Program fees are not prorated based on attendance.
Meet Requirements
Meets are on schedule about 1-2 weekends per month. Competition is optional, however Zeppelin swimmers are encouraged to attend at least one meet per month. Meets are great for bonding with teammates, reinforcing skills, measuring progress, learning from mistakes and increasing motivation.
Practice Equipment Requirements
- JETS Swim Cap (for swimmers with hair long enough to cover ears/eyes)
- Goggles
- Water Bottle
- Fins
- Kickboard (Optional, kids can borrow one at the Y)
- Mesh Equipment Bag (Optional)
Meet Apparel Requirements
- JETS Swim Cap (for swimmers with hair long enough to cover ears/eyes)
- JETS Swimsuit
- JETS T-shirts
- Black or gray shorts or pants
- Footwear (gym shoes encouraged, sandals or crocs acceptable)
Glider #
Gliders are simple aircraft that rely on a streamlined shape, as opposed to great amounts of propulsive force, in order to fly. The emphasis at this level is not on generating more propulsion, but on reducing resistance in the water by developing better stroke form. At the Glider level, efficiency is key.
Objective
The objective of the Glider level is to develop both a fast kick and a solid framework of stroke technique in all four strokes so that swimmers can perform each with legal form, including starts, turns and finishes, in addition to developing a basic understanding of simple training concepts such as set structures, intervals and sendoffs.
Placement Criteria
- Must be ages 7-12
- Must have a skill set that demonstrates a strong proficiency in streamlining, body balance, head position and kick timing, along with a strong level of competency in fundamental drills for each of the four strokes
- Must be able to efficiency swim repeats of 50-100 yards in freestyle and backstroke
- Must be able to efficiency swim repeats of 25-50 yards in breaststroke and butterfly
- Must be confident and competent enough to swim a 100 IM with legal form in at least 3 strokes
- Must demonstrate a good attitude, maturity level, attentiveness, and willingness to take on greater challenges and more practice time
- Additional critera may apply for swimmers ages 10-12, such as swimming efficiently over longer distances
- The coaching staff reserves the right to place any swimmer in any group based on the best interest of the individual
Practice Requirements
Practices will be offered about 4 times per week for 60 minutes. There is no strict attendance requirement, although swimmers will benefit more from consistent attendance and are encouraged to attend as many as possible. Program fees are not prorated based on attendance.
Meet Requirements
Meets are on schedule about 1-2 weekends per month. Competition is optional, however Glider swimmers are encouraged to attend at least one meet per month. Meets are great for bonding with teammates, reinforcing skills, measuring progress, learning from mistakes and increasing motivation.
Practice Equipment Requirements
- JETS Swim Cap (for swimmers with hair long enough to cover ears/eyes)
- Goggles
- Water Bottle
- Fins
- Kickboard (Optional, kids can borrow one at the Y)
- Mesh Equipment Bag (Optional)
Meet Apparel Requirements
- JETS Swim Cap (for swimmers with hair long enough to cover ears/eyes)
- JETS Swimsuit
- JETS T-shirts
- Black or gray shorts or pants
- Footwear (gym shoes encouraged, sandals or crocs acceptable)
Stunt Pilot #
Stunt pilots must become highly skilled flyers in order to perform the difficult aerobatic maneuvers they are known for. The emphasis of this group is to repeatedly perform skills at a high level of proficiency. At the Stunt Pilot level, consistency is key.
Objective
The objective of the Stunt Pilot level is to develop great efficiency in all four strokes (measured by distance per stroke, mastery of more advanced drills, and the ability to maintain proper stroke technique over longer distances) so that athletes can begin to train at higher intensity and higher volume, and to nurture consistent practice habits, attitudes and values that will help them excel later on.
Placement Criteria
- Must be ages 9-13
- Should be able to swim all four strokes with legal form, including legal starts, turns and finishes
- Should be able to compete confidently and legally in a 200 freestyle, 100 backstroke, 100 breaststroke, 100 butterfly, and 200 IM in a swim meet
- Should be able to swim a 500 freestyle with a 6-beat kick, breathing every 3 pulls, without skipping any flip turns in 9:00 (1:50 pace)
- Should be able to complete 5 x 100 freestyle kick @ 2:15
- Must demonstrate a good attitude, maturity level, attentiveness, and willingness to take on greater challenges and more practice time
- The coaching staff reserves the right to place any swimmer in any group based on the best interest of the individual
Practice Requirements
Practices will be offered about 4-5 times per week for 60-75 minutes. There is no strict attendance requirement, although swimmers will benefit more from consistent attendance and are encouraged to attend as many as possible. Program fees are not prorated based on attendance.
Meet Requirements
Meets are on schedule about 1-2 weekends per month. Stunt Pilot swimmers should attend at least one meet per month and will be targeting championship meets such as YMCA Districts, YMCA State and IL Regionals.
Practice Equipment Requirements
- JETS Swim Cap (for swimmers with hair long enough to cover ears/eyes)
- Goggles
- Water Bottle
- Fins
- Kickboard
- Mesh Equipment Bag
Meet Apparel Requirements
- JETS Swim Cap (for swimmers with hair long enough to cover ears/eyes)
- JETS Swimsuit
- JETS T-shirts
- Black or gray shorts or pants
- Footwear (gym shoes encouraged, sandals or crocs acceptable)
Mach 1 Supercruisers #
Supercruisers are aircraft that can maintain speeds faster than the speed of sound without the use of afterburners. The emphasis at this level is improving top end speed and training faster and more efficiently over longer periods of time. At the Supercruiser level, training is key.
Objective
The objective of the Mach 1 level is to prepare swimmers to train and compete at a high school varsity level while improving stroke technique and efficiency and nurturing good practice habits, nutrition, goal-setting, and leadership skills.
Placement Criteria
- Must be ages 13-18
- Should be able to swim all four strokes with legal form, including legal starts, turns and finishes
- Should be able to compete confidently and legally in a 500 freestyle, 200 backstroke, 200 breaststroke, 100 butterfly, and 200 IM in a swim meet
- Should be able to swim a 1,000 freestyle with a 6-beat kick, breathing every 3 pulls, without skipping any flip turns in 16:30 or less (1:40 pace)
- Should be able to complete 10 x 100 freestyle kick @ 2:00
- Must demonstrate a good attitude, maturity level, attentiveness, and willingness to take on greater challenges and more practice time
- The coaching staff reserves the right to place any swimmer in any group based on the best interest of the individual
Practice Requirements
Practices will be offered about 5 times per week for 1.5 to 2 hours. There is no strict attendance requirement, although swimmers should attend at least 4 practices per week. Program fees are not prorated based on attendance.
Meet Requirements
Meets are on schedule about 1-2 weekends per month. Competition is optional, however Mach 1 swimmers are encouraged to attend at least one meet per month and to target championship meets such as YMCA State and IL Regionals.
Practice Equipment Requirements
- JETS Swim Cap (for swimmers with hair long enough to cover ears/eyes)
- Goggles
- Water Bottle
- Fins
- Kickboard
- Snorkel
- Pull Buoy
- Mesh Equipment Bag
Meet Apparel Requirements
- JETS Swim Cap (for swimmers with hair long enough to cover ears/eyes)
- JETS Swimsuit
- JETS T-shirts
- Black or gray shorts or pants
- Footwear (gym shoes encouraged, sandals or crocs acceptable)
Mach 2 Supercruisers #
Supercruisers are aircraft that can maintain speeds faster than the speed of sound without the use of afterburners. The emphasis at this level is improving top end speed and training faster and more efficiently over longer periods of time. At the Supercruiser level, training is key.
Objective
The objective of the Mach 2 level is to prepare young athletes to compete at the regional, state and zone championship level through an age-appropriate training plan designed to build a strong aerobic base and improve stroke efficiency, which will allow swimmers to succeed in events such as the 500 freestyle, 400 IM, and 200’s of each stroke. In addition, swimmers will be educated about nutrition, goal setting, leadership, race strategy and mental preparation that will help them excel as they get older.
Placement Criteria
- Must be ages 11-14
- Must be able to compete confidently and legally in a 500 freestyle, 200 backstroke, 200 breaststroke, 200 butterfly, and 200 IM in a swim meet
- Swimmers ages 11-12 should have a regional or state qualifying time
- Should be able to swim 1,000 yards freestyle in 14 minutes (1:25 pace)
- Should be able to complete 10 x 100 freestyle kick @ 1:55
- The coaching staff reserves the right to place any swimmer in any group based on the best interest of the individual
Practice Requirements
Practices will be offered about 6 times per week for 1.5 to 2 hours. There is no strict attendance requirement, although swimmers should attend at least 5 practices per week. Program fees are not prorated based on attendance.
Meet Requirements
Meets are on schedule about 1-2 weekends per month. Mach 2 swimmers should attend at least one meet per month and will be targeting championship meets such as YMCA State, IL Regionals, IL Age Group Champs and Central Zones.
Practice Equipment Requirements
- JETS Swim Cap (for swimmers with hair long enough to cover ears/eyes)
- Goggles
- Water Bottle
- Fins
- Kickboard
- Snorkel
- Pull Buoy
- Mesh Equipment Bag
Meet Apparel Requirements
- JETS Swim Cap (for swimmers with hair long enough to cover ears/eyes)
- JETS Swimsuit
- JETS T-shirts
- JETS Warmup Jacket
- Black or gray shorts or pants
- Gym shoes
Mach 3 Supercruisers #
Supercruisers are aircraft that can maintain speeds faster than the speed of sound without the use of afterburners. The emphasis at this level is improving top end speed and training faster and more efficiently over longer periods of time. At the Supercruiser level, training is key.
Objective
The objective of the Mach 3 level is to prepare athletes to compete and succeed at the regional, state and zone championship level, ultimately reaching the national level, while nurturing the right attitude, leadership qualities, goal-setting habits, mental toughness and time management skills that will enable them to handle higher levels of commitment and higher volumes of training, both mentally and physically.
Placement Criteria
- Must be ages 13-21
- Must maintain attendance of 75% or better, calculated every month
- Must be able to compete confidently and legally in a 1,650 freestyle, 200 backstroke, 200 breaststroke, 200 butterfly and 400 IM
- Should be faster than a 13-14 YMCA State qualifying time in an event other than the 50 Free
- Must swim 1,000 yards freestyle in 12:30 minutes (< 1:15 pace)
- Should be able to complete 10 x 100 freestyle kick @ 1:45
- Must demonstrate exemplary character values, attitude, maturity and solid practice habits on a regular basis
- The coaching staff reserves the right to place any swimmer in any group based on the best interest of the individual
Practice Requirements
Practices will be offered about 6-8 times per week for 2-3 hours. Swimmers must maintain 75% attendance to remain training with this group. Program fees are not prorated based on attendance.
Meet Requirements
Meets are on schedule about 1-2 weekends per month. Mach 3 swimmers should attend at least one meet per month and will be targeting championship meets such as YMCA State, IL Senior Champs and YMCA Nationals.
Practice Equipment Requirements
- JETS Swim Cap (for swimmers with hair long enough to cover ears/eyes)
- Goggles
- Water Bottle
- Fins
- Kickboard
- Snorkel
- Pull Buoy
- Paddles
- Mesh Equipment Bag
Meet Apparel Requirements
- JETS Swim Cap (for swimmers with hair long enough to cover ears/eyes)
- JETS Swimsuit
- JETS T-shirts
- JETS Warmup Jacket
- Black or gray shorts or pants
- Gym shoes
Moon Landers #
The Moon Lander is a highly advanced piece of technology that symbolizes the peak of humanity’s achievement. The emphasis at this level is to become finely tuned athletes with no limits in sight. At the Moon Lander level, performance is key.
Objective
The objective of the Moon Lander level is to provide a practice environment specifically for athletes who are committed to excellence and competing at a national championship level. Guidance will be provided to help kids deal with the challenges of being an elite level athlete, helping to cultivate skills such as mental toughness, time management, decision making and goal setting, and providing assistance with their college search and healthy living.
Placement Criteria
- Must be ages 13-21
- Must have achieved at least one individual YMCA National cut in any course
- Must maintain attendance of 85% or better, calculated every month
- Must be able to compete confidently and legally in a 1,650 freestyle, 200 backstroke, 200 breaststroke, 200 butterfly and 400 IM
- Should be able to swim 1,000 yards freestyle in 11:30 minutes (< 1:10 pace)
- Should be able to complete 10 x 100 freestyle kick @ 1:40
- Must demonstrate exemplary character values, attitude, maturity and solid practice habits on a regular basis
- The coaching staff reserves the right to place any swimmer in any group based on the best interest of the individual
Practice Requirements
Practices will be offered about 6-9 times per week for 2-3 hours. Swimmers must maintain 85% attendance to remain training with this group. Program fees are not prorated based on attendance.
Meet Requirements
Meets are on schedule about 1-2 weekends per month. Moon Lander swimmers should attend at least one meet per month and will be targeting championship meets such as YMCA Nationals, USA Junior Nationals and beyond.
Practice Equipment Requirements
- JETS Swim Cap (for swimmers with hair long enough to cover ears/eyes)
- Goggles
- Water Bottle
- Fins
- Kickboard
- Snorkel
- Pull Buoy
- Paddles
- Mesh Equipment Bag
Meet Apparel Requirements
- JETS Swim Cap (for swimmers with hair long enough to cover ears/eyes)
- JETS Swimsuit
- JETS T-shirts
- JETS Warmup Jacket
- Black or gray shorts or pants
- Gym shoes
Graduates #
The Moon Lander is a highly advanced piece of technology that symbolizes the peak of humanity’s achievement. The emphasis at this level is to become finely tuned athletes with no limits in sight. At the Moon Lander level, performance is key.
Objective
The Graduate level 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 Facility Membership, however there are no program fees or fundraising requirements. Swimmers will be expected to help lead the team by methods such as coaching, volunteering at swim meets, or sharing their experiences at a team meeting.
Placement Criteria
- Must be ages 18-21
- Must have been registered with the JETS at some point in the past
- Must have completed at least one semester of college
- Must still be enrolled in college coursework
Practice Requirements
There are no practice requirements for Graduates. Program fees are waived for Graduates, however they must maintain a full facility YMCA membership.
Meet Requirements
There are no meet requirements for Graduates. If Graduates would like to compete with JETS, they will be responsible for paying the USA Swimming membership fee and meet entry fees.
Practice Equipment Requirements
- JETS Swim Cap (for swimmers with hair long enough to cover ears/eyes)
- Goggles
- Water Bottle
- Fins
- Kickboard
- Snorkel
- Pull Buoy
- Paddles
- Mesh Equipment Bag
Meet Apparel Requirements
- JETS Swim Cap (for swimmers with hair long enough to cover ears/eyes)
- JETS Swimsuit
- JETS T-shirts
- JETS Warmup Jacket
- Black or gray shorts or pants
- Gym shoes
