Group Structure

In keeping with the philosophy of providing an opportunity to develop each swimmer's potential to the fullest by teaching stroke techniques, building endurance and skills for racing, and motivating each swimmer to achieve his or her best, New Trier Swim Club offers 13 levels of professional instruction and training.  Each level has specific standards, objectives and goals that follow a logical progression.  All time standards are available on the Time Standards page of the NTSC website.

Placement in any group at NTSC is at the sole discretion of the coaches.  The standards and tasks listed below are minimum requirements for consideration for each group.  Beyond these standards, coaches will consider practice attendance, meet attendance, social skills and attitude, leadership skills, group size and their own judgment in making final decisions.

Pre-Competitive 1 & 2– These groups are an introduction to the swim team.  It is completely instructional in nature and emphasizes water safety, fun and a basic introduction to competitive swimming skills.  Practice is offered once a week throughout the season and swimmers will participate in intra-squad meets as well as a season ending meet.  To qualify for Pre-Comp 1, a swimmer must be at least 5 years old, and going to turn 6 prior to the start of the next NTSC season (Long Course or Short Course).  Swimmers in this group will be age 5-8.  To qualify for Pre-Comp 2, a swimmer must be at least 9 years old at the start of the season.  In order to be considered for these groups, a swimmer must complete the three following tasks:

  1. Swim a legal freestyle and backstroke for any distance
  2. Complete 25 yards on your stomach and on your back without stopping
  3. Tread water or float without assistance for 1 minute

Novice 1– This level is the first of the competitive swimming program.  Emphasis in this group will be placed on teaching fundamentals of the four competitive strokes and other competitive skills by means of drills and games that make swimming fun.  Swimmers will participate in dual meets, USS meets and season ending Championship Meets.  Swimmers in the group will be age 6-9.  Practice will be offered three times a week, and attendance at two practices per week is encouraged.  In order to be considered for this group, a swimmer must complete three of the four following tasks:

  1. Compete in two of the three intra-squad meets offered at the Pre-Competitive level (returning swimmers only).
  2. Be able to swim 4 x 25 Free on a :50 interval
  3. Be able to kick 4 x 25 on a 1:00 interval
  4. Swim a legal freestyle (including breathing to the side and exhaling underwater) and a legal backstroke for at least 25 yards

Novice 2– This is the first competitive level for swimmers age 10-12.  Emphasis in this group will be placed on teaching fundamentals of the four competitive strokes and other competitive skills by means of drills and games that make swimming fun.  Swimmers will participate in dual meets, USS meets and season ending Championship Meets.  Practice will be offered four times a week and attendance at three practices per week is encouraged.  In order to be considered for this group a swimmer must complete three of the four following tasks:

  1. Compete in two of the three intra-squad meets offered at the Pre-Competitive level
  2. Be able to swim 6 x 25 Free on a :45 interval
  3. Be able to kick 6 x 25 on a 1:00 interval
  4. Swim a legal freestyle (including breathing to the side and exhaling underwater) and a legal backstroke for at least 25 yards

Developmental 1– At this level proper stroke technique remains the primary emphasis.  In addition to technique, swimmers will be introduced to the first basics of competitive training including pace clock management and swimming “sets”.  Swimmers in this group will be age 7-9 and meet participation is strongly encouraged.  Swimmers will be asked to participate in at least one meet per month throughout the season and represent NTSC at all Championship Meets for which they qualify.  Practice will be offered four times a week and attendance at three of the four practices is encouraged.  In order to be considered for this group a swimmer must complete four of the five following tasks:

  1. Achieve 1 NTSC LVL 3 time standard, or a LVL 2 standard in two different strokes
  2. Be able to swim 6 x 50 Free on a 1:20 interval
  3. Be able to kick 6 x 50 on a 1:40 interval
  4. Have at least three legal strokes
  5. Be able to execute a sequential dive and a freestyle flip turn

Developmental 2– Swimmers at this level will continue to refine stroke technique and will get an introduction to the basics of competitive training including pace clock management and swimming “sets”.  Swimmers in this group will be age 10-12 and meet participation is strongly encouraged.  Swimmers will be asked to participate in at least one meet per month throughout the season and represent NTSC at all Championship Meets for which they qualify.  Practice will be offered five times a week and attendance at four of the five practices is encouraged.  In order to be considered for this group a swimmer must complete four of the five following tasks:

  1. Achieve 1 NTSC 11-12 LVL 3 time standard, or an 11-12 LVL 2 standard in two different strokes.
  2. Be able to swim 8 x 50 Free on a 1:00 interval
  3. Be able to kick 8 x 50 on a 1:15 interval
  4. Have at least three legal strokes
  5. Be able to execute a sequential dive and a freestyle flip turn

Age Group 1– This group offers more advanced young swimmers an opportunity to improve stroke and turn techniques, while continuing a gradual increase in competitive training.  Athletes will learn to train the energy systems needed to become an accomplished swimmer and will have dryland included in practices on a regular basis.  Swimmers in the group will be age 8-10 and will be required to participate in meets.  Swimmers will be encouraged to compete in two meets per month and must represent NTSC at all Championship Meets for which they qualify.  Practice will be offered five times per week and attendance at least four of the five practices is strongly encouraged.  In order to be considered for this group a swimmer must complete three of the four following tasks:

  1. Achieve 1 National “BB” time standard or 1 “B” standard in two different strokes
  2. Be able to swim 8 x 50 Free on a 1:00 interval
  3. Be able to kick 8 x 50 on a 1:15 interval
  4. Be able to complete a legal 50 in all four strokes

Age Group 2– This is the top level of the Age Group team.  Swimmers in this group will be age 10-12.  Emphasis will turn to the competitive nature of the sport, focusing more clearly on goals and striving for achievement.  Athletes will prepare for the highest levels of age group swimming.  Technique and skills remain important and will be incorporated into training objectives.  Dryland becomes a more important aspect of training, and commitment and self-motivation become emphasized.  Practice is offered six times a week and attendance at five of the six practices is strongly encouraged.  Swimmers will be required to participate in meets and participation in two meets per month is recommended.  Participation in all Championship Meets for which they qualify is required.  In order to be considered for this group a swimmer must complete #1 below as well as two of the three other tasks:

  1. Be able to swim 6 x 100 Free on a 1:40 interval
  2. For a 10 year old, achieve 2 National “AA” time standards or 1 “AAA” or for an 11-12 year old, achieve 2 National “BB” time standards or 1 “A”
  3. Be able to kick 6 x 100 on a 2:10 interval
  4. Be able to complete a legal 100 in all four strokes

Junior– Swimmers in this group will be 13 years old at the start of the season or in the 7th grade at the start of the season.  This group is designed for athletes who wish to continue to develop their swimming skills and prepare for more advance training within the NTSC team.  Practices will be offered six times a week and attendance at five of the six practices is strongly encouraged.  Swimmers will be required to participate in meets and two meets per month is recommended.  Participation in all Championship meets for which they qualify is also required.  In order to be considered for this group a swimmer must complete three of the following four tasks:

  1. Achieve 1 NTSC LVL 3 time standard in an event other than the 50 free
  2. Be able to swim 6 x 50 on a 1:00 interval or complete a T-30
  3. Be able to kick 6 x 50 on a 1:20 interval
  4. Be able to complete a sequential dive and a freestyle flip turn

Junior Elite– Swimmers in this group will be 13 years old at the start of the season or in the 7th grade at the start of the season.  This group is designed for athletes who desire to take their swimming beyond the age group level.  Equal emphasis on energy system conditioning, advanced skills and higher levels of competition offer the determined swimmer an excellent opportunity to evolve into a top athlete.  Practice is offered eight times per week and attendance at six (including at least one morning practice) of the eight practices is strongly encouraged.  Meet participation is required and swimmers are strongly encouraged to compete twice a month.  Participation in all state level Championship Meets for which the swimmer qualifies is required.  In order to be considered for this group a swimmer must complete three of the four following tasks:

  1. Achieve 1 National 13-14 “A” time standard (regardless of the swimmers age) or 2 “BB” standards
  2. Be able to swim 8 x 100 Free on a 1:30 interval or swim a minimum of 2000 yards in a T-30
  3. Be able to kick 8 x 100 on a 2:00 interval
  4. Be able to complete a legal 200 of all four strokes

High School– Swimmers in this group must be in high school.  Emphasis in this group will be in developing conditioning for the young athlete, while continuing to teach stroke and competition techniques.  Practices will be offered three times a week. Meet participation is encouraged throughout the season.  This group will include high school age swimmers not yet ready for more advanced training as well as those high school athletes wanting only to do light conditioning.  In order to be considered for this group a swimmer must complete three of the four following tasks:

  1. Achieve 1 NTSC LVL 3 time standard in an event other than the 50 free
  2. Be able to swim 6 x 50 on a 1:00 interval or complete a T-30
  3. Be able to kick 6 x 50 on a 1:30 interval
  4. Be able to complete a sequential dive and a freestyle flip turn

Senior  – This group is for high school age athletes serious about achieving high level goals as a swimmer.  Swimmers in this group must be in high school at the start of the season.  This group is designed for the committed swimmer with the necessary ability and desire to train and compete on a regional/national level.  Practice is offered eight times a week attendance at six of the eight practices is strongly encouraged.  Swimmers not attending at least six practices a week may be dropped from this group.  Meet participation is required each month and swimmers are strongly encouraged to compete twice a month.  In order to be considered for this group a swimmer must complete three of the four following tasks:

  1. Achieve 1 National 15-16 “A” time standard or a 15-16 “BB” standard in two events
  2. Be able to swim 10 x 100 Free on a 1:30 interval or swim a minimum of 2250 yards in a T-30
  3. Be able to kick 10 x 100 on a 2:00 interval
  4. Have a recognized USA Swimming IMX score in their most recent age group

Elite– This group is the highest level training group in the club.  Membership in this group is by invitation from the Head Coach only.  Members must be high school age or have at least one LC Speedo Champions Series time standard in order to be eligible for membership in this group.  In addition, members must be able to complete all of the tasks listed above for membership in the Senior Group.  Practices are offered eight to ten times per week and attendance at eight practices per week is required.  Swimmers are required to compete twice a month and must represent NTSC at all Championship meets for which they qualify, including National and Trials level meets.