The YMCA's YOTA Prep swim program provides a great bridge between swim lessons and the YOTA swim team. We offer two different Prep programs, depending on swimmer age.
YOTA Prep
It's the ideal opportunity for swimmers who want to continue swimming during the winter months without committing to a year-round swim team.
Our goal is to help build self-confidence and a love for swimming.
Coaches will focus on improving stroke technique and efficiency, teaching proper starts and turn, and building endurance in a swim team practice type of environment using small groups. Swimmers will learn to set goals for themselves and measure their progress based on times and techniques.
All swimmers must schedule an assessment to ensure they are swimming at an appropriate level. Swimmers must be able to complete at least 25 yards of each stroke in order to be considered for the YOTA Prep program.
CRITICAL SKILLS
- Flip turns
- Legal Individual Medley
- Endurance
- Freestyle lap swimming
- Legal backstroke
- Understand a YOTA practice
- Legal breaststroke
- Legal butterfly
Coaches
A. E. Finley YMCA, Macy Blake
Kerr Family YMCA, Shawn Fischer
Taylor Family YMCA, Brooks Teal
Senior Prep
The Senior prep group is for 13 & over swimmers that want to continue their progression in the team or are relatively new to the sport and are not ready to commit or do not yet possess the ability to swim in the Senior program.
The goal of this program is to provide these swimmers the opportunity to continue to develop at their pace while balancing a myriad of other activities and commitments in their life. Athletes are encouraged to attend all practices and meets available to them, however, there is no required commitment expectation.
The focus of this group is primarily technique development along with an increase in volume and intensity at various points throughout the season. Eventually, individuals may qualify for one of the senior groups based on inclination and ability.
This group practices up to four times per week for 90 minutes for eight-week cycles.
REQUIREMENTS
Tryouts
All participants must complete an evaluation with our staff before joining the team. If you are interested in an evaluation, please contact the coach at your site listed below.
Registration
If your swimmer has completed their evaluation and is extended an invitation to join the group, our coaching staff will contact you on how to register for each session of YOTA Prep. If you are unsure if you should register, please contact the coach from your location.
Coaches
A. E. Finley YMCA, Macy Blake
Kerr Family YMCA, Shawn Fischer
Taylor Family YMCA, Brooks Teal