Age Group Dev Division
Age Group Development Division (9-13yrs)
Developmental Competitive Track: Learn & Improve Stroke Technique in a Team Setting
Summer Season Dates: June 4 - July 25
Practice will not be held the following dates:
-Wednesday, July 4
Try Us Out/Evalution & Placement- May 29-30, Swimmer Evaluations (new swimmers) and Pre-Registration Day (all registrants)
*pre-registration day is optional- returning members can also register in advance online or when they return on June 4.
8 & U Division- 4:30-5:00
Age Group Dev Division- 5:15-6:00 (9-13 yrs)
More Information on Try Us Out
Age Group Development Division, 9-13 years ("Age Group Dev")
Placement: Able to swim 50 yards freestyle with bilateral breathing (has begun to work on breathing to the side) and swim backstroke for 25 yards without assistance. Social maturity and personal responsibility for handling self in group/team setting. Skill Level Requirements
*The Novice program offers a starting group for swimmers age 5-12 that have not yet achieved the Dev Comp group requirements- INFO
Division End Goal: Learning/refining the four competitive strokes, racing start (head first dive & backstroke), freestyle/backstroke flip turn, IM/Open turns, streamline & underwater fly kick off of the wall for 15 yards (from proper “ready position”), learn general practice rules & lane etiquette, participation in CA home meets. Skills will be assessed for practice group movement within the division or for movement to a new division (skills will be introduced and developed, but do not have to be technically perfect).
Practice Groups: Swimmers sign up for the 8 & Under Division and Coaches divide them into practice groups based on incoming age and skill level. Coaches assign the practice groups once the practices begin based on skills evaluation and experience.
Practice Days Offered:
2 Day Option: Mon/Wed or Tues/Thurs
4 Day Option: Mon-Thurs (recommended for those working toward the Advanced Competitive Division)
*Practices are run from 5:30-6:45 for all Age Group Development Division Practice Groups
*Practice schedule is 3 day- Mon/Tues/Wed during the summer with adjusted (but similar) practice times.
Due to the on-going learning stroke progressions, the child should maintain weekly attendance throughout the duration of the season for maximum development and improvement.
Swimmers may commit to the sport year round or by seasons.
As not all swimmers in the 8 & Under Division will swim year-round (all 3 seasons), re-registration will be done for each season that a swimmers wishes to participate.
Swim Suit Requirement: Due to the seasonal enrollment option for Age Group Dev Division, swimmers are not required to have the team suit, however those that will participate in meets are encouraged to wear the team suit. Team Suits are available at Natal Swim Shop on Essen Lane at a discounted rate. More Team Suit Information here
Birth Certificates are required for all Swim Team and Novice (pre-swim team) members. Info on submitting your copy to Crawfish Aquatics HERE.
Swim Meets:
While swim meets are optional for swimmers in the the Developmental Competitive track, we would like to see all swimmers take part as this is a great way to demonstrate skills and to assess progression throughout the season.
Swimmers sign up for meets on the Meets Bulletin Board or by emailing the office; additional meet information in weekly E-News email & website. Meet Schedule
Swimmers not meeting the skill level requirements will be placed in the Novice until skills are achieved.
Practice Groups for the Age Group Development Division
(coaching staff determines placement into specific practice group)
Practice Group: Age Group Development- Red (Level 1)
Practice Group Focus: Develop Freestyle with bilateral breathing & Backstroke; Develop Base Competitive Skills of breath control, streamlines and aquatic posture & balance principles; Introduction to breaststroke and Butterfly; Learn head first dive from standing position (racing start) and introduction to flipturns.
Placement: Able to swim 50 yards of freestyle with working knowledge of bilateral breathing (breathing to the side) and swim backstroke for 25 yards.
Practice Group: Age Group Development - White (Level 2)
Practice Group Focus: Improve Freestyle & Backstroke and continue to learn the segments of Butterfly and Breaststroke; Complete racing start and freestyle/backstroke flipturns and introduction to IM/Open turns. Streamline butterfly kick for 5+ yards (past the flags) and do not breath on first stroke off of wall.
Placement: Able to swim 100 yards of both freestyle with bilateral breathing and backstroke; a working knowledge of both the Breaststroke and Butterfly kick.
Practice Group: Age Group Development - Black (Level 3)
Practice Group Focus: Complete Breaststroke & Butterfly, Improve all 4 strokes, including racing starts and continued development of flipturns; Learn IM turns. Streamline butterfly kick 10 yards and do not breath on first stroke off of wall.
Placement: Improved Freestyle & Backstroke and knowledge of the segments and technical rules of Butterfly and Breaststroke, Racing starts, perform skills for flip turns and IM/open turns; underwater streamline butterfly kick off of wall. Able to swim 100 yards of both freestyle, backstroke; legal 100 IM and 50 yards of both breaststroke, butterfly.
