The Rocky Run YMCA Reef Sharks swim team gives swimmers a great opportunity to reach their potential! Our mission is to provide a safe environment where children can learn, improve, and enjoy the sport of swimming while helping the kids grow into caring, honest, responsible, and respectful young adults.
We want our swimmers to SWIM FAST and HAVE FUN!!
In the pool, we believe that stroke technique and mechanics are the foundation success is built upon. To that end, we continue to teach and reinforce proper stroke technique at all levels of our program.
On the pool deck, we will encourage our swimmers to become the best swimmers and teammates that they can be. We support our swimmers while the swimmers support each other.
Away from the pool, we encourage all of our swimmers to meet their full academic potential while maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
We encourage each athlete to become the best swimmer they can be and participate in the highest level competition for which they qualify. We know that all individuals develop at their own rate, both mentally and physically.
The overall program objective is for our children to be happy, healthy swimmers who are still enjoying the sport of swimming through their high school years while making friends and building relationships along the way.
Registration Information
Current Swimmers: Current swimmers who are on the team will register through our TeamUnify site.
New Swimmers: Any new swimmer to the team will be required to register for an evaluation period prior to registering for the team. They are able to register for the evaluation period by speaking with a Member Service Representative in the branch or by contacting Senior Team Leader, Michael Franchi directly using the Team Unify contact form.
Evaluation Information
All new swimmers must be evaluated by our coaching staff prior to joining the program. Please contact Senior Team Leader, Michael Franchi to set up an evaluation.
If your swimmer is told by coaching staff they are ready and do continue on, the swimmer must become a full privilege member and will be charged the price of the team.
Dates: April 10 - 21, 2023
Ages: There are evaluations available for each level of team that we offer (Levels 1-4, ages 5-18).
What to Bring: New participants should wear a one piece bathing suit and bring their own swim cap and goggles. We recommend that all swimmers also bring a water bottle.
What to Expect: New participants will practice with the team for a 2 week period. The evaluation times are the same as the practice times for that given age group during those two weeks. They will swim for the entire length of practice. Parents will not be permitted on the deck during the duration of practice. The swimming will be fairly continuous. Swim team differs from swim lessons; swim lessons are run in smaller group usually with no more than a few swimmers in at a time, compared to a swim team that can have up to 4-6 swimmers per lane and roughly 2-3 coaches on deck. Coaches will assess new swimmers and evaluate their level of readiness for the upcoming season, and place them in the appropriate skill level.
Swim Team General Info
There are 5 different levels of swim team. Below you will find more information on our offered team levels.
Level 1
(Developmental)
Description: This group introduces children to the swim team, and is the next step following the completion of a swim lesson program. This group will provide a heavy focus on stroke mechanics by coaches who will be in the water with the swimmers. The priority of this group is to provide a fun, friendly, and engaging environment which will encourage the swimmers to begin to grasp all aspects of competitive swimming.
General Requirements: Swimmers 5-9 years of age who can complete 25m Freestyle (with rotary breathing) and 25m Backstroke. We suggest that swimmers attend 2-3 practices/week.
Level 2
(Age Group 1)
Description: Swimmers in this group should have a working knowledge of the four competitive strokes and have the endurance to complete multiple laps. Proper stroke technique and skill appropriate conditioning will be the focus of this group. Swimmers in this group will develop the skills necessary to compete in all levels of competition.
General Requirements: Swimmers 9-13 who can legally complete 25 meters in the four competitive strokes. We suggest that swimmers attend 3 practices/week.
Level 3
(Age Group 2)
Description: Swimmers in this group must have a working knowledge of the four competitive strokes. Training with proper stroke technique will be the focus for this group. This group seeks to prepare swimmers for and to expose swimmers to elite competition.
General Requirements: Swimmers 11-14 who have demonstrated consistent effort in training and who can legally complete 50 meters in the four competitive strokes. We suggest that swimmers attend 3-4 practices/week.
Level 4
(Junior)
Description: Swimmers in this group will be asked to train at a high level while maintaining proper stroke technique. Group members should have a desire to advance their skills and plan on competing in appropriate level invitational meets.
General Requirements: Swimmers 12-15 who have demonstrated a high-level commitment and who have strong technique in the four competitive strokes. We suggest that swimmers attend 4-5 practices/week.
Level 4
(Senior)
Description: Swimmers in this group will be asked to train at a high level while maintaining proper stroke technique. Group members should have a desire to advance their skills and plan on competing in appropriate level invitational meets. Swimmers in this group will also be expected to act as role models for the younger swimmers on the team.
General Requirements: Swimmers 14 & over who have demonstrated a high-level commitment and who have strong technique in the four competitive strokes. We suggest that swimmers attend 5-6 practices/week.