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The Highland Park Aquatics Club offers training and practice groups for swimmers of all ages and ability levels. It is the goal of the Highland Park Aquatics Club to offer age specific training for all of our athletes geared towards challenging each individual and developing each individual to the best of THEIR abilities.
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Group Descriptions:
HPAC offers five different training groups in order to accommodate all swimmers. Each group is designed to provide each swimmer with a balance of training and stroke development that is most beneficial to each individual swimmer. Below is a description of each group.
Little Giants: Little Giants is the first training group that HPAC offers. Typically, Little Giants swimmers range in age from 6 to 9 but both older and younger swimmers are eligible to swim in Little Giants if the coaching staff sees it as the best option. In order to be part of the Little Giants group swimmers must be able to swim 25 yards of continuous freestyle demonstrating rhythmic breathing and 25 yards of continuous backstroke. The Little Giants group will also offer swimmers their first chances in competition. Little Giants swimmers are encouraged to sign up for those meets listed as “Dual” or “Developmental.” While all Little Giants swimmers MUST attend 2 practices per week, they should attend 3 or more in order to benefit the most from what the group has to offer.
Bronze: The Bronze group is usually comprised of swimmers who range from 8-12 in age. These swimmers have displayed that they can swim longer distances of freestyle and backstroke, a basic breaststroke and butterfly, with knowledge of flip turns and starting dives. The Bronze group largely focuses on improving stroke development. Once swimmers have developed the proper mechanics, they will be given more opportunities to improve their conditioning. Bronze swimmers are encouraged to swim in all meets listed as “Dual” or “Developmental.” They should ask their coaches before entering any meets listed as “Competitive” or “Championship.” Bronze swimmers MUST attend 3 practices per week, but are highly encouraged to attend as often as possible.
Silver: The Silver group often consists of swimmers who range from 10-14 in age. These swimmers have proven that they have the endurance to complete longer freestyle and IM sets. They must have swum a 200 freestyle in 3:30 or faster or a 100 freestyle in 1:35 or faster. In addition they must have also completed a legal 200 IM at a swim meet. The Silver group will offer swimmers ample opportunities to improve upon their conditioning without sacrificing strong stroke technique. Silver swimmers are encouraged to sign up for all meets listed as “Dual” or “Developmental” and should ask their coaches before entering any meets listed as “Competitive” or “Championship.” Silver swimmers MUST attend 3 practices per week, but are highly encouraged to attend as often as possible.
Gold: The Gold group often consists of swimmers who range from 10-14 in age. These swimmers have stellar training habits and a strong commitment towards competitive swimming. Many gold swimmers are focusing on competing on the state and even national level. In order to qualify for the gold group, swimmers must have achieved an ISI regional cut in their age group or are able to complete a set of 8x100’s on a 2:00 minute interval. Gold swimmers are encouraged to sign up for all meets and are required to swim all of the “Championship” meets that they are eligible for. Gold swimmers MUST attend 4 practices per week, but should be at practice every night that they are able to attend.
Seniors: The Senior group is comprised of all swimmers who have competed for at least one year on their high school team. Eighth graders as well as incoming freshman can join the Senior group at the discretion of the coaching staff. Senior swimmers should represent HPAC at all “Dual,” “Competitive,” and “Championship” meets. All senior swimmers MUST swim at ISI Regionals, Senior Championships, Speedo Sectionals, and Junior Nationals if they have obtained the required cuts. (Swimmers who have not qualified for the IHSA state meet are required to swim ISI Regionals, and IHSA state meet qualifiers must also represent HPAC at the Senior Championships.) Seniors swimmers are required to attend a minimum of 5 practices per week but should ultimately attend every practice.
***It should be noted that while there are specific guidelines that outline group advancement, group placement is ultimately at the discretion of the coaching staff***
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