18 & Under World 100s
Gulf Swimming
Level 4
Excellence 200

PRACTICE GROUP DESCRIPTIONS

 

COPPER (2 practices/week @ 30 minutes/practice) 

  • Seasonal Entry group only for ages 12 & Under

  • ​Entrance Requirement: A comfortable and USA Swimming legal, 25-yard swim of both freestyle (with rotary breathing) AND backstroke

  • Focus is on stroke mechanics and technique, developing breaststroke, streamlining, lane etiquette (circle swimming), and competitive starts 


BRONZE (4 practices/week @ 40 minutes/practice)

  • Entry-level / Light Competitive group for ages 12 & Under

  • Entrance Requirement: A comfortable and USA Swimming legal 25 of freestyle (with rotary breathing), backstroke, and breaststroke

  • ​Focus is on stroke mechanics and technique, developing butterfly, racing starts from the blocks, and competitive turns 


SILVER (5 practices/week @ 1 hour/practice)

  • Entry-level Light Training and Competitive group for ages 12 & Under

  • Entrance Requirement: A comfortable and USA Swimming legal 25-yard swim of all four competitive strokes

  • Focus is on stroke mechanics and technique, competitive turns and IM transitions, competitive starts, the IMR / IMX events posted by USA Swimming, building toward legal 50 of each stroke and a 100 IM


GOLD (5 practices/week @ 1 hour 30 minutes/practice)

  • Moderate Training and Goal Setting Competitive group for ages 9-12 years of age

  • Entrance Requirement:  USA Swimming legal 100 of all four competitive strokes, 200 IM, and competitive starts, turns, and IM transitions

  • Focus is on stroke mechanics and technique, starts, turns, the USA Swimming IMX events, completing all age available events, and a legal 200 of all four strokes


PLATINUM (5-6 practices/week @ 1 hour 45 minutes hours/practice)

  • Advanced Training and Goal Setting Competitive group; for ages 10-14 years old

  • Entrance Requirement:  A legal 200 of all four competitive strokes, 400 IM, and a 500 free

  • Focus is on stroke mechanics and technique, starts, turns, the USA Swimming IMX events, and completing all age available events multiple times per season

  • Focus is on stroke mechanics and technique, starts, turns, the USA Swimming IMX events, and completing all age available events multiple times per season


JUNIOR ELITE (6-8 practices/week @ 2 hours/practice)

  • PACK’s Elite Age Group Training and Goal Setting Competitive group; for ages 11-14 years old

  • Entrance Requirement: Head Age Group Coach approval and current coach recommendation, high practice attendance percentage, full meet participation, all age available events completed, strong training/work ethic, and internal SWIMMER-driven motivation

  • Focus is on stroke mechanics and technique, starts, turns, the USA Swimming IMX events, and completing all age available events multiple times per season


BLACK (5-8 practices/week @ 2 hours/practice)

  • Base Level Senior (high school) training and competition group.

  • Entrance Requirement: A legal 100 of all four competitive strokes, 200 IM, and a 500 free

  • Swimmers may only enter this group AFTER their 8th grade year

  • High level of training, work ethic, and maturity; average training yardage of 4500 – 5500 per practice

  • Goal meets are Gulf age-specific Champs

  • Focus is on stroke mechanics and technique, starts, turns, the USA Swimming IMX events, and completing all age-available events multiple times per season

  • Double practices and Saturday workouts are strongly encouraged when offered 

  • Heavy drylands are integrated into training for general strength building, fitness, and flexibility

  • Monthly attendance expectation of 75%

  • Advancement to Pre-National Elite Group:  Training attendance, meet performance, display internal SWIMMER-driven motivation, Head Coach approval and current coach recommendation 

    • Must spend one FULL season in Black group before being considered to move-up

    • Additionally, swimmers must achieve an IMX score of 2500 for their current age group*

    • Must achieve at least 1 Southern Senior Champs cut


PRE-NATIONAL ELITE (8-10 practices/week @ 2-2.5 hours/practice)

  • Senior Elite Training and Performance group

  • Will train at the same time and location as the National Elite group under the direct supervision of the Head Coach

  • Entrance Requirement: Based on Head Coach approval, current coach recommendation, present group attendance, test set performance, work ethic, and internal SWIMMER-driven motivation and personal responsibility. 
  • ​No summer league participation once one sectional cut is obtained

  • All age available events are swum multiple times throughout season 

  • Supervised by certified strength and conditioning instructors, athletes are introduced to weights 

  • Goal meets are Gulf age-specific Champs, TAGS, and Sectionals 

  • Members are expected to be at all team functions 

  • Training, nutrition, recovery, and team responsibility are athlete’s primary focus 

  • Monthly attendance requirement of 95%

  • Advancement to National Elite Group:

    • 2 Sectional swims OR 1 Junior National cut

    • Must display a high level of dedication to the team, the sport, and themselves. Must have high attendance, exemplary performance at competition, and clear examples of internal commitment

 

NATIONAL ELITE (8-10 practices/week @ 2-3 hours/practice)

  • The Premier Training and Performance group of Premier Aquatics

  • Entrance Requirement: Athlete must have Head Coach approval, have at least 2 Sectional swims (1 hard cut + 1 bonus cut) OR 1 Junior National cut, and display intense, internal SWIMMER-driven motivation and personal responsibility

  • Swimmers may move into this group if they meet the current performance times AND exceed training expectations of their current group (typically this is after the short course season of their 9th grade year)

  • Focus on making Junior National, Senior National and Olympic Trials qualifications

  • No summer league participation

  • Supervised by certified strength and conditioning instructors, complex strength and conditioning with weights is a critical component of training program

  • Members are expected to be the leaders of the team in every aspect with participation on at least one PACK committee and attendance at all team functions

  • Training, nutrition, recovery, and team responsibility are athlete’s primary focus

  • Monthly attendance requirement of 95%

 

*Advancement to next group based mainly on current coach’s discretion.  However, advancement is also based off of meeting current group attendance expectation, work ethic throughout season during practices, test set performance, social and physical maturity, and leadership

 

updated 8/11/2025