There is some overlap between groups in speed and ability. Talk with a coach if you think your child would be a better fit in a different swim group. These descriptions are meant to be guidelines.2026: To offer schedule flexibility to swimmers with siblings involved into soccer / baseball / softball / etc., we are going to offer SESSIONS that offer all swimming abilities instead of just Advanced, Intermediate, & Beginner groups. We will still group swimming abilities by lane, but now parents have 3 session times to choose between. Bear with us for the first few weeks of practice while we streamline this new endeavor. We will probably send out a Google Form / SignUpGenius once registration is closed so that we are not understaffed in certain practice times. We will also be changing up how lanes have been divided up for the past decade -- Beginners will be in lane 6 (closest to the bleachers) throughout all 3 sessions. The most advanced abilities will now be toward the middle of the pool instead of the edge. (updated 2.28.26 Amber)

Beginners: The beginner swim group is mostly for 1st or 2nd year swimmers. We start with Freestyle technique, then move to backstroke after a few weeks. We work on diving from the side and then we move up to the starting blocks. Depending on how the group is doing we may start introducing breaststroke and butterfly as well as turns. We start off dividing into age groups (6 and under, 7-8 and 9 and older).

Intermediate: Swimmers in this group can comfortably swim freestyle and backstroke. Swimmers should also be able to swim multiple laps without needing to stop. Our main focus is improving technique, learning butterfly and breaststroke, and turns. Most swimmers have 1-2 years experience with swimming before moving to intermediate. 

Advanced: The advanced swim focuses on fitness, speed and performance. Swimmers should be able to perform all competitive strokes (fly, back breast and free) and know how to make the turn associated with that stroke. Most swimmers here have been swimming for several years. Most of the swimmers are high school and junior high aged, but we do have middle school and elementary aged swimmers in this group as well. The younger swimmers (7-12) in previous years should be placing near the top of their events with the 7-10 age being close to or at Ponderosa qualifying times.