MOVE-UP CRITERIA

GOAL SETTING & MOVE-UP PROCESS

  1. Swimmers wishing to move up to the next group should fill out a goal sheet to meet with their primary coach and get specific details on the skills needed to help achieve that goal.  Some groups have time standard requirements, and the coach can help you navigate a competition schedule and event selection for the swim meets you attend.
    1. Goal meetings are offered twice per year; once in the fall and once in the spring (corresponding with the start of short course and long course competition schedules).
  2. Move-ups typically take place after short course season in March and long course season in August, or sooner with coach’s recommendation once the check list to qualify for a group, the age requirements and/or time standards have been achieved by the swimmer during the season.
  3. A conversation between coach / swimmer / and parent (s) will occur prior to any move-up.

 

BRONZE CRITERIA

  1. Ages: 10 and younger (typically 6-10 year olds)
  2. Coach’s recommendation of successful tryout completion
    1. Must be able to complete both a 50 freestyle (with good side-breathing technique) and a 50 backstroke
    2. Working knowledge of breaststroke and butterfly technique
    3. Dives and flip-turn experience and knowledge prefered
  3. Ability to listen to coaches, show courtesy to teammates, and avoids disruptive behaviors
  4. Time Standards: none required
  5. Recommended Attendance: 2-3 times per week

SILVER CRITERIA

  1. Ages: 11 and older (typically 11-13 year olds)
  2. Coach’s recommendation of successful tryout completion
  3. Ability to listen to coaches, show courtesy to teammates, and avoids disruptive behaviors
  4. Also, Current Bronze swimmers who turn 11 after the season begins (from Oct 2024 – July 2025) will automatically move to Silver at the end of the end of either the short course (March) or long course season (August), or sooner once age requirement plus coach’s recommendation are both achieved.
  5. Time Standards: none required
  6. Recommended Attendance: 3-4 times per week

GOLD CRITERIA

  1. Ages: 14 and older
  2. Coach’s recommendation of successful tryout completion
  3. High School swim team members completing high school swim season and who competed in verifiable meets for their school with a desire for conditioning and further training and technique instruction
  4. Ability to listen to coaches, show courtesy to teammates, and avoids disruptive behaviors
  5. Current Silver swimmers who turn 14 after the season begins (from Sept 2024 – Aug 2025) will automatically move to Gold at the end of either the short course (March) or long course season (August) or sooner if the age requirements plus coach’s recommendation are achieved during the season.
  6. Time Standards: none required
  7. Recommended Attendance: 3-4 times per week

EMERALD: CHECKLIST TO QUALIFY

  1. Age Requirement: 13 and younger (move-ups designed for 9-12 year old time standards)
  2. Time Standards: 4 x ‘B’ or 2 x ‘BB’ or 1 x ‘Age Group Regionals/Age Group Zones Cuts for 10&U or 11-12 respective age group
  3. Recommended Attendance: 5-6 times per week
  4. Attend 3 swim meets each season (both short course & long course)
  5. Average between 50-75% workout attendance for the previous 2 months
  6. Legal in all four strokes
  7. Legal finishes:
    1. Two-hand butterfly finish
    2. Two-hand breaststroke finish
    3. Swimmer finishes backstroke on their back
    4. Swimmer finishes freestyle and backstroke with one hand touch
  8. Legal flip turns:
    1. Freestyle flip turn
    2. Backstroke flip turn
  9. Legal underwater breaststroke pull-down
  10. Swimmers often arrive on time
  11. Swimmers are positive contributors to the group and challenge their teammates
  12. Swimmers can maintain assigned practice intervals most of the time with minimal stopping
  13. If swimmers turn 13 while in Emerald, they may remain here as a 13 year old; At 14, swimmers will move to Gold or Elite upon age up (or sooner based off age, qualifying time standards and Head Coach’s recommendation)

CHAMPIONSHIP (CHAMPS): CHECKLIST TO QUALIFY

  1. Age Requirement: 13 and older
  2. Time Standards: 4 x ‘BB’
  3. Recommended Attendance: 5 or more times per week
  4. Attend 3 swim meets each season (both short course & long course)
  5. Average between 50-75% workout attendance for the previous 2 months
  6. Legal in all four strokes
  7. Legal finishes:
    1. Two-hand butterfly finish
    2. Two-hand breaststroke finish
    3. Swimmer finishes backstroke on their back
    4. Swimmer finishes freestyle and backstroke with one hand touch
  8. Legal flip turns:
    1. Freestyle flip turn
    2. Backstroke flip turn
  9. Legal underwater breaststroke pull-down
  10. Swimmers often arrive on time
  11. Swimmers are positive contributors to the group and challenge their teammates
  12. Swimmers can maintain assigned practice intervals most of the time with minimal stopping
  13. Head Coach’s recommendation required

ELITE: CHECKLIST TO QUALIFY

  1. Age Requirement: 13 and older
  2. Time Standards: 2 x ‘Age Group Regionals/Age Group Zones/Senior Zones’
    or [combo of 1 meet qualifying time + 1 zones bonus cut]
  3. Recommended Attendance: 6 times per week
  4. Attend 3 swim meets each season (both short course & long course)
  5. Average between 60-80% workout attendance for the previous 3 months
  6. Swimmers often arrive on time
  7. Swimmers are positive contributors to the group and challenge their teammates
  8. Swimmers always swim using legal strokes, turns, and finishes
  9. Swimmers can maintain assigned practice intervals most of the time with minimal stopping
  10. Head Coach’s recommendation required

PRE-NATIONAL TEAM: CHECKLIST TO QUALIFY

  1. Age Requirement: 14 and older
  2. Time Standards: Speedo Sectional, Futures or Jr. National Times
  3. Recommended Attendance: 6-7 times per week
  4. Attend 3 swim meets each season (both short course & long course)
  5. Average between 60-80% workout attendance for the previous 3 months
  6. Swimmers often arrive on time
  7. Swimmers are positive contributors to the group and challenge their teammates
  8. Swimmers always swim using legal strokes, turns, and finishes
  9. Swimmers can maintain assigned practice intervals most of the time with minimal stopping
  10. Head Coach’s recommendation required

TIME STANDARDS TO QUALIFY

'B' and 'BB' Time Standards can be found at USA Swimming: 2021-24 Age-Group Motivational Times
Age-Group Regionals Time Standards
Age-Group Zones Time Standards
Senior Zones Time Standards
Speedo Sectionals Times
Futures Times