Training Groups

 

Alligator Aquatics offers training and practice groups for swimmers of all ages and ability levels. It is the goal of our club to offer age-specific training for all of our athletes geared towards challenging and developing each individual to the best of their abilities. Find group descriptions below.

 

New athletes are required to complete a tryout for placement before registering.  Current swimmers should register for their current group unless they have been contacted by the head coach.

 

 

Age Group Athletes

Geared toward athletes aged 5-22, Alligator Aquatics has various groups tailored toward all skill and ability levels.

 

Bionic Gators

Swimmers 5-9 years old that can swim 25 yards of Freestyle and Backstroke.

There will be 3 x 30-minute practices a week focusing on developmental swim team skills.  This group is for kids who have completed the Bionic expectations and WANT to jump into the pool and keep improving! Practices will be 85% stroke correction, 15% training etiquette, and a great deal of FUN!! 

 

Training Objectives & Goals

  • Acclimation to a team environment and good training habits 

  • Legal Freestyle with rotary breathing 

  • Legal Backstroke 

  • Legal Breaststroke kick 

  • Legal Butterfly kick 

  • USA swimming start certification if intending to swim in any meets 

Performance Targets

  • Streamline  

  • Correct Freestyle for 25 yards with rotary breathing  

  • Correct Backstroke for 25 yards 

  • Correct Breaststroke for 25 yards 

  • Legal Butterfly kick

Necessary Equipment:

  • Practice suit, swim cap, goggles, fins

 

Quicksand Gators

Swimmers 7-10 years old that are able to complete 50 yards of Freestyle and Backstroke, as well as 25 yards of Breaststroke and Butterfly Kick.

There will be 3 X 40-minute practices a  week focusing on 70% stroke technique and 30% training etiquette.

Swimmers are expected to compete in the Alligator home meets. 

 

Training Objectives 

  • Legal Breaststroke and Butterfly 

  • Understanding of stroke drills for all 4 strokes 

  • Introduction to the pace clock and concepts

  • USA swimming start certification - must pass to attend meets 

Performance Targets

  • 100 IM Swim 

  • 100 IM Kick 

Necessary Equipment

  • Practice suit, Alligator suit, swim cap, googles, fins

 

Phoenix Gators

Swimmers 8-12 years old that can swim all four strokes legally, 100 Freestyle with rotary breathing, 50 yards Backstroke, and Breaststroke legally. The focus of this group is age group appropriate conditioning. Progression through this group takes a swimmer from solid age group practices to more focused, age group competitive conditioning. This group will focus on 40% stroke technique and 60%  training etiquette.

Competing in Alligator home meets and at least 1 meet per month when offered is expected. Swimmers are encouraged to attend a minimum of 3 practices per week. 

 

**Swimmers who are new to Phoenix in September, 2024 must intend to primarily attend the M, T, and Th practices, as there will be an additional coach to help with technique at those practices.  These new Phoenix swimmers are permitted to attend the additional Phoenix practices, but should prioritize the M, T, Th practices for the most successful transition and performance improvement. Group changes may be necessary for swimmers unable to focus on these particular practices.

 

Group Expectations & Goals

  • Interval training 

  • Increased knowledge of drill progression 

  • Strengthening of kick skills 

  • Understanding and ability to use the pace clock 

  • Improved training and competitive skills 

  • 200 IM continuous with proper turns 

  • Legal turns in all strokes 

  • Race 200 IM and 500 Free 

 

Group Requirements

Training Sets

10 x 50 FR @ 1:00 

5 x 100 IM @ 2:30 

10 x 50 K on 1:20 

8 x 100 Free @ 2:00

Necessary Equipment

  • Practice suit, Alligator suit, swim cap, goggles

  • Kickboard, pull buoy, fins, water bottle

 

Blaze Gators 

Swimmers 11-14 years old that can swim all four strokes legally.

This group will focus on 50% technique and 50% conditioning.

Competing in Alligator home meets and 2 meets per month when offered is expected. Swimmers are also expected to attend 4 practices a week at the minimum.  

 

Group Expectations & Goals

  • Conditioning focused on all four strokes

  • Aerobic endurance 

  • Increased dryland with core development and shoulder strengthening 

  • Accountability for quality practice as an individual and as a group

  • Utilizing opportunities for leadership roles with younger swimmers 

  • Compete in every event over the course of the season (including distance events)

Group Requirements
(Must meet either all Training Sets below or 3 Training Sets and have a current Regional cut to be eligible for this group.)

Training Sets

8 X 100 FR @ 1:40 

10 X 50 K @ 1:05 

5 X 100 IM @ 1:50 

500 Freestyle under 8:15 

Time Standards

At least 1 Regional Cut

Necessary Equipment

  • Practice suit, Alligator suit, swim cap, goggles

  • Kickboard, pull buoy, fins, paddles, swimming snorkel, parachute, resistance bands,  fitness mat, water bottle


Summit Gators

Swimmers in the NEW Summit Group will be high school age (14-18) who do not yet have a Regional cut.  Summit swimmers will swim with the Apex group 4 times weekly on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday.  Summit will focus on competitive conditioning, leadership, stroke technique and increasing the practice of dryland stretching/exercises for performance improvement.

Competing in all Alligator home meets and 1 meet per month when offered is expected.

 

Group Expectations & Goals

  • Team Leadership in commitment, practice, meets, fundraising and attitude!

  • Compete in every event over the course of a season (including distance events)

  • Individual responsibility for dynamic stretching, flexibility and agility exercises, including individual rehabilitation, core work and shoulder injury prevention

  • Kick improvement, underwater push offs and breath control will be a major area of focus

 

    Training Sets

        10 x 100 Fr 1:35

        5 x 200 IM 3:45

        10 x 50  Kick 1:05

        4 x 25 Free, 1 breath :45

    Group Requirements

Swimmers (14-18) years old that can swim all four strokes legally.

Competitive Swimmer

Necessary Equipment

  • Practice suit, drag or extra suit, Alligator suit, swim cap (optional), goggles

  • Kickboard, pull buoy, fins, swimming snorkel, paddles, water bottle, resistance bands, parachute, fitness mat




 

Apex Gators

Swimmers 12-18 years old focusing on competitive conditioning, leadership, stroke technique and increasing the practice of dryland stretching/exercises for performance improvement.

Competing in all Alligator home meets and 2 meets per month when offered is expected.

 

Group Expectations & Goals

  • Team Leadership in commitment, practice, meets, fundraising and attitude!

  • Compete in every event over the course of a season (including distance events)

  • Accountability for quality practice as an individual and as a group

  • Individual responsibility for dynamic stretching, flexibility and agility exercises, including individual rehabilitation, core work and shoulder injury prevention

  • Kick improvement, underwater push offs and breath control will be a major area of focus

Group Requirements

(Must meet either the Training or Time Standards below to be eligible for this group.)

Training Sets

10 X 100 FR @ 1:30 

5 X 200 IM @ 3:30 

500 Freestyle under 7:00 

4 x 25 :40 no breath, freestyle

10 x 50 KICK @ :55

Time Standards

    At least 1 State Cut (Age Group or Senior)

Necessary Equipment

  • Practice suit, drag or extra suit, Alligator suit, swim cap (optional), goggles

  • Kickboard, pull buoy, fins, swimming snorkel, paddles, water bottle, resistance bands, parachute, fitness mat