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.  Coaches will make recommendations for current athletes before registration begins.  

 

Age Group Athletes

Geared toward athletes aged 5-24, Alligator Aquatics has various groups tailored toward all skill and ability levels.

 

Bionic Gators- Competitive Swim Training

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

There will be 2 sessions of approximately 10 weeks focused on competitive swim instruction.  Each week there will be one 30 minute practice and two 45 minute practices. The practices will focus on developing competitive swim team skills.  This group is for kids who can swim 25 yards of freestyle and backstroke 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
  • Legal Breaststroke and Butterfly toward the end of the season
  • Compete in at least 1 meet during the season

Necessary Equipment:

  • Practice suit, swim cap, goggles, 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. 

 

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 

500 Free under 9:00

Necessary Equipment

  • Practice suit, Alligator suit, swim cap, goggles
  • Kickboard, pull buoy, fins, water bottle

 

Blaze Gators 

75% Attendance Goal

Swimmers 11-16 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 100's of all four strokes 
  • Aerobic endurance 
  • Increased dryland with core development and shoulder strengthening. 
  • Accountability for quality practice as an individual and as a group. 
  • Race 400 IM and 500 Free 

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, water bottle
  • Resistance bands and a fitness mat are recommended

 

Apex Gators

80% Attendance Expectation

Swimmers 12-18 years old focusing on competitive conditioning, stroke technique.

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

 

Group Expectations & Goals

  • Focus on 100's and 200's of all strokes 
  • Race all events at meets over the course of a season (including distance events)
  • Increased aerobic and dryland training 
  • A wider range of training working towards individual goals based on individual commitment

Group Requirements

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

Training

10 X 100 FR @ 1:30 

5 X 200 IM @ 3:30 

500 Freestyle under 7:00 

4 x 25 :40 no breath freestyle

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