Levels
Minis (Developmental)
This is a program for newer swimmers to develop the four main strokes. Minis will start off in a larger group with 4 coaches in the water. Swimmers will be grouped by ability quickly to encourage quick progression into Fins! Swimmers will often be in one level for a full swim year before moving onto the next level.
Minis swim 1 night a week on Fridays from 5:00pm – 6:00pm or 6:00pm – 7:00pm, in the shallow end of the pool.
Fins (Transition)
Fins move into the deep end where they continue to develop their strokes while focusing on endurance and proper racing techniques such as entering the pool and turns. While no Bluefin is ever forced to compete, the hope is that the Fins will take part in fun meets that will instill in swimmers a love for the sport along with solid skills. This will allow those who choose to swim competitively the ability to do so when they are ready or to move on to other water sports.
Fins can swim up to 5 nights a week for an hour at a time:
Monday 6:00-7:00pm
Tuesday 5:30-6:30pm and 6:30-7:30pm
Wednesday 6:00-7:00pm
Thursday 5:30-6:30pm and 6:30-7:30pm
Friday 5:00-6:00pm and 6:00-7:00pm
Competitive Levels : Bronze, Silver, Gold
Once the basic skills are acquired in Minis and Fins, swimmers advance to Bronze where the skills are refined and the swimmer is introduced to speed swimming. Skills learned in Bronze and Silver include advanced starts and turns, the use of the pace clock and swimming of specific “sets” as a training regimen. Mandatory dry land training takes place prior to swimmers entering the pool each class. Swimmers are required to be on deck ready for dry land with swimsuit on under dry land clothing enabling them to enter the pool as soon as it is completed.
The criteria for advancement are as follows:
Bronze – a time swim of less than 6:00 for 200 free, 200 kick flutter kick time
Silver – will be based on technique, endurance and start and turn proficiency.
Gold
For swimmers 12 and Under – 3 A times, 2 of which are over 50 M, and 200 flutter kick of less than 5 minutes.
For swimmers 13 and up – 2 A times in any distance and a 200 flutter kick time of less than 5 minutes.