Swim Orlando YMCA

Swim Orlando YMCA is a comprehensive swimming program for novice through nationally ranked swimmers. All swimmers are placed into progressive, developmental groups according to age and swimming ability.

Evaluations

Evaluations are held in the morning Monday through Friday at 2:30 or 5pm.   No appointment necessary. Just stop by the YMCA Aquatic Center on I-Drive and tell the front desk you are here for an evaluation.

Download - SOY Registration Packet

Here you will find all the information for each of the separate groups that make up Swim Orlando YMCA.

Sharks Group

• Be at least 5 years old
• Be able to swim across the 25 yard pool with basic freestyle and backstroke.
• Be a member of the Central Florida YMCA
• Complete team paperwork: Volunteer form, bank draft, registration forms.
• Practices: 2 times a week for 45 minutes.
• Required equipment: goggles, cap, kickboard, fins

The group is composed of swimmers 5 – 14 years old who are learning the basics of swim team and/or are not yet registered with USA Swimming. Older swimmers will move into yellow or blue as soon as possible.

Sharks is the next step up from swim lessons. In the Sharks group we teach the basics of swim team: how to swim the freestyle and backstroke competition strokes; how to dive; how to be part of a swim team workout. Sharks do not have to register for USA swimming. They swim in Y-League meets with other Central Florida YMCA teams about once or twice a month. When they have learned freestyle and backstroke well, and can follow instructions well, they can move up to Yellow with the head coach’s permission, and upon completion of all USA registration paperwork.

Homeschool Group: 2:30 pm

The group is composed of swimmers 5 – 14 years old who are beginners to advanced and can make the 2:30pm practice time.

Yellow Group

The Yellow group is composed of 10 & Unders and some 11-14 year olds who are new swimmers.

• Be at least 5 years old
• Be able to swim 25 yards freestyle
• Be able to swim 25 yards backstroke
• Be a member of the Central Florida YMCA
• Be a member of USA Swimming. Turn in all paperwork and payments required for joining including team registration forms, birth certificate, parent volunteer form, bank draft, annual membership fees.
• Practices: 2 -3 times a week for 1 hour.
• Required equipment: goggles, cap, kickboard, fins

Blue Group

The Blue group is composed of 7 – 14 year-olds with varying abilities and experience.

• Be at least 7 years old
• Be able to swim 100 yards each freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke.
• Be able to do a start from the blocks
• Know how to use the pace clock
• Swim in meets as assigned by the coach
• Be a member of USA Swimming. Turn in all paperwork and payments required including registration forms, birth certificate, annual membership fees, parent volunteer form, and bank draft.
• Practices: 3 -4 times a week for 1 ½ hour.

Blue + Group

The Blue + group is composed of swimmers who are more experienced. In addition to the above Blue group criteria, these members must:

• Be at least 10 years old
• Exhibit good stroke technique
• Be ready physically to do more extensive workouts

Green Group

The Green Group is composed of Middle School aged swimmers who have good technique

• All of the above
• Be at least 11 years old.
• Be able to swim all four strokes properly with good turns
• Be able to handle even more extensive training
• Compete in meets on a regular basis as assigned by your coach

Senior Group

We welcome and encourage all levels of experience in this group. We have developed swimmers who were near-beginners at this age into some of Florida’s fastest swimmers! Each year high school team swimmers join us following their high school seasons.  We will work with those who are new to the sport to integrate them into this training group. The Senior group is composed of swimmers ages 14 and up at various levels of experience who are in high school, college and post-grad. We all work out together, but the requirements and types of training will vary depending on the groups below.

Required equipment: goggles, cap, kickboard, fins, water bottle, tennis shoes for drylands, zoomers

Senior Intro Group

The Intro program is for newer swimmers who are learning swim team basics and strokes. We welcome new swimmers of this age and encourage high school age kids who come from another sport, who have previously swum only for high school or who want to join a swim team.

• Be a high school student or older.
• Know basic freestyle

Senior Group

• All of the above
• Recommended 3 -6 practices a week.
• When at practice, train appropriately and workout responsibly
• Do Dryland program as assigned by the coach
• Competitions recommended

Senior + Group

The Senior + group is a smaller group of swimmers who are committed to high-level training and competition and who have excellent stroke technique. Swimmers are expected to attend all required workouts and swim in the competitions required by the head coach. In addition to the other Senior group requirements, this group must:

• Commit to a minimum of 6 workouts per week (more if required by the coach)
• Train hard and responsibly to be the best swimmer you can be
• Maintain the dry land and/or weight lifting program as set forth by the coach
• Take care of their lives outside the pool – handling school properly, eating healthy, and other activities appropriately so that they may train at their best.
• Compete on a regular basis at the direction of the coach

Suits & Equipment:

Swimmers receive a Swim Orlando YMCA t shirt and swim cap upon completion of all paperwork and payment of fees. All swimmers must wear SOY caps (boys may wear no cap) at meets. The team suit with the Swim Orlando YMCA logo is also recommended. These items, along with additional team swim caps, may be purchased at the Total Team Wares Pro Shop at the Y. At meets, swimmers must wear SOY logoed items only – no shirts, caps, etc. from other teams. Use a Permanent Marker to put your name on all items. The following equipment is required for practice:

• Girls – Racing style suit made of nylon, Lycra or polyester.
  • Boys – jammers or brief style suit
  • Goggles
  • Swim cap – girls must wear cap
  • Fins (Speedo or Tritan style only)
  • Kickboard - you may purchase your own or borrow one from the equipment room before workout begins
  • Bottle of water for all groups Blue and above

Optional items:

• Mesh bag for equipment
• Towel
• Team Back Pack

Water! Water! Water!

• Drink water during workout (especially in Blue and older groups). Bring a bottle to keep by the side of the pool and drink between sets.
• After workout drink more water or choose a sports drink.
• Limit carbonated or caffeine-filled beverages