spring swim
Wahoos Strokes and Conditioning "spring swim" is a 10-week non-competitive program to focus on technique and stay in shape in the off season (March - May).
All current Wahoos are eligible to sign up.
If you are considering joining our competitive swim team next year, this is a great introduction to the team.
There are a few requirements to be part of the swim team. For Spring Swim, swimmers must be able to swim 25m unassisted without the use of flotation devices. Why is this a rule? We are not a learn-to-swim program, but a competitive swim team. Swimmers are between the ages of 6 to 19 years old.
If you have any questions, please contact our Head Coach at wahoosheadcoach@gmail.com.
**Please note that participation in Spring Swim does not guarantee a place on the Wahoos swim team in the regular season. All evaluations for the official team will be in the Summer/Fall.**
All current Wahoos are eligible to sign up.
If you are considering joining our competitive swim team next year, this is a great introduction to the team.
There are a few requirements to be part of the swim team. For Spring Swim, swimmers must be able to swim 25m unassisted without the use of flotation devices. Why is this a rule? We are not a learn-to-swim program, but a competitive swim team. Swimmers are between the ages of 6 to 19 years old.
If you have any questions, please contact our Head Coach at wahoosheadcoach@gmail.com.
**Please note that participation in Spring Swim does not guarantee a place on the Wahoos swim team in the regular season. All evaluations for the official team will be in the Summer/Fall.**
Start date: March 2023
no practice during spring break
End date: May 2023
We have swimmers from age 6 to 19 on the team. Coaches can help determine which group swimmers belong to based on skill and age.
Groups:
D = Beginners - able to swim 25m free and back without flotation devises, 0-2 years experience
C = Beginner to Intermediates - working on mastering all 4 strokes, 1-3 years
B = Intermediate/Advanced - has mastered all 4 strokes, middle and elementary school age, 3+ years experience
A = Advanced - has mastered all 4 strokes, typically high and middle school age, 3+ years experience
Typically the requirements for each group are:
Requirements for A (Advanced) - Swimmers are proficient in all 4 strokes, turns, and dives. Typically, this group is composed of high school aged swimmers. Can complete sets of 1000 to 1500 meters, on intervals. Practices can be up to 3000 to 4000 meters in 1.5 hours.
Requirements for B (Intermediate) - Swimmers are proficient in all 4 strokes, turns, and dives. Typically, this group is composed of middle school aged swimmers. Can complete sets of 600 to 1000 meters, on intervals. Practices can be up to 2000 to 3000 meters in 1.5 hours.
Requirements for C (Intermediate/Beginner Plus) - Swimmers are proficient in 3 strokes. Learning the 4th stroke, plus learning and refining starts and turns. Can swim 100 to 200 meters without stopping and complete sets of 200-500 meters with rest.
Requirements for D (Beginner Plus/Beginner) - Swimmers are able to swim 1-2 strokes. Learning the other 2 strokes, dives, and turns. Beginning to increase endurance in order to swim up to 100 meters without stopping.
With each season, this will change and adjust slightly based on the number and abilities of our swimmers.
The coaches strive to meet the swimmers where they are and help them improve.
Sample Practice Schedule:
D: Monday and Wednesday 15:30-16:30, Saturday 8:00-9:00 (3 hours/wk)
C: Tuesday 15:30-17:00, Thursday 15:00-16:30, Saturday 9:00-10:00 (4 hours/wk)
B: Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday 15:30-17:00, Thursday 15:00-16:30, Saturday 8:00-10:00 (8 hours/wk)
A: Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday 15:30-17:00; Thursday 15:00-16:30; Sat 8:00-10:00 (8 hours/wk)
no practice during spring break
End date: May 2023
We have swimmers from age 6 to 19 on the team. Coaches can help determine which group swimmers belong to based on skill and age.
Groups:
D = Beginners - able to swim 25m free and back without flotation devises, 0-2 years experience
C = Beginner to Intermediates - working on mastering all 4 strokes, 1-3 years
B = Intermediate/Advanced - has mastered all 4 strokes, middle and elementary school age, 3+ years experience
A = Advanced - has mastered all 4 strokes, typically high and middle school age, 3+ years experience
Typically the requirements for each group are:
Requirements for A (Advanced) - Swimmers are proficient in all 4 strokes, turns, and dives. Typically, this group is composed of high school aged swimmers. Can complete sets of 1000 to 1500 meters, on intervals. Practices can be up to 3000 to 4000 meters in 1.5 hours.
Requirements for B (Intermediate) - Swimmers are proficient in all 4 strokes, turns, and dives. Typically, this group is composed of middle school aged swimmers. Can complete sets of 600 to 1000 meters, on intervals. Practices can be up to 2000 to 3000 meters in 1.5 hours.
Requirements for C (Intermediate/Beginner Plus) - Swimmers are proficient in 3 strokes. Learning the 4th stroke, plus learning and refining starts and turns. Can swim 100 to 200 meters without stopping and complete sets of 200-500 meters with rest.
Requirements for D (Beginner Plus/Beginner) - Swimmers are able to swim 1-2 strokes. Learning the other 2 strokes, dives, and turns. Beginning to increase endurance in order to swim up to 100 meters without stopping.
With each season, this will change and adjust slightly based on the number and abilities of our swimmers.
The coaches strive to meet the swimmers where they are and help them improve.
Sample Practice Schedule:
D: Monday and Wednesday 15:30-16:30, Saturday 8:00-9:00 (3 hours/wk)
C: Tuesday 15:30-17:00, Thursday 15:00-16:30, Saturday 9:00-10:00 (4 hours/wk)
B: Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday 15:30-17:00, Thursday 15:00-16:30, Saturday 8:00-10:00 (8 hours/wk)
A: Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday 15:30-17:00; Thursday 15:00-16:30; Sat 8:00-10:00 (8 hours/wk)
Monday - Thursday practices
Mainz-Gonsenheim Pool Hallenbad und Freibad Obere Kreuzstr. 11-13 55120 Mainz-Mombach |
Saturday morning practice
Kleinfeldchen Pool Hallenbad Kleinfeldchen Hollerbornstr. 9 65197 Wiesbaden |
Swimmers should bring this equipment to every practice:
--swimsuit (plus an extra or two!) --swim cap (plus an extra) --goggles (plus an extra) --kickboard --fins --pull buoy (Groups A and B only) --1 euro coin for lockers --a SMILE! |
Swimmers need time to change and warm up on deck before practice begins, so please plan accordingly. Also, please remind swimmers to lock personal gear in lockers at Gonsenheim on weekdays (1 euro coin needed) or bring it on deck. On Saturdays, swimmers can bring personal bags on deck for safekeeping.
Spring Season Plan 2022 from the Head Coach:
My plan for Spring Swim is to focus on technique. Every swimmer, regardless of group and age, can improve. There is always room for growth.
For A and B groups, the first two weeks are focused on freestyle. Followed by two weeks of backstroke. These two strokes are long axis strokes and have similar movements/rotation. The shoulders and hips rotate together. Both strokes rotate the same way, shoulders and hips. The next two weeks are focused on breaststroke, followed by two weeks of butterfly. These two strokes are short axis strokes and have similar movement in the hips. Once all 4 strokes have had the focus and attention that it deserves, then we will focus on individual medley (IM). The final week will bring it all together.
C and D groups will have a very similar plan to A and B. However, there will be an introduction to butterfly. Some swimmers might need more attention to breaststroke. Not all swimmers' bodies understand the correct movement with breaststroke and need more time. This is normal and this is why there is the ability to adjust the lane assignments and movement between lanes during the week.
Regardless of assigned group, throughout all 10 weeks, we will have a strong focus on kicking and building leg endurance. Each swimmer is unique with their abilities. There are progressions with each stroke, dive, and turns.