Practice Groups

Southeastern Swim Club welcomes athletes of all ages and ability levels. Our groups are structured based on two factors: athlete age and ability level.

We use the date of the season's Age Group State meet to determine each athlete's age for that season. For our winter (September - March) season, that date is March 21, 2025. For our summer (April - July) season, that date is TDB in July 2025.

Read below for a basic description of each practice group. If you are new to the team, you will need to go through a short evaluation process to determine the right group for your experience level. All group placements are subject to the coach's discretion.

Ages 10 & Under

Future Royal 1

For introductory-level swimmers. For entry into this group, swimmers must be able to demonstrate:

25 yards of freestyle with mastery of breathing to the side, continuous, and unassisted
25 yards of backstroke with hips/toes at the surface, continuous, and unassisted
15 yards of Dolphin kick in streamline position, continuous, and unassisted
15 yards of Breaststroke kick in streamline position, continuous, and unassisted
Kneeling dive with hands-first entry
Able to exit the pool without assistance

In Future Royal 1, swimmers will improve their freestyle and backstroke ability, learn butterfly and breaststroke, and the progression of diving.

Athletes will be moved from Future Royal 1 to Future Royal 2 as they increase proficiency in all four strokes.

Future Royal 2

For intermediate-level swimmers. For entry into this group, swimmers must demonstrate:

25 yards of freestyle with mastery of breathing to the side, continuous, and unassisted
25 yards of backstroke with hips/toes at the surface, continuous, and unassisted
25 yards of butterfly legally, continuous, and unassisted
25 yards of breaststroke legally, continuous, and unassisted
Skill meets have 1+ points proficiency marks for all 4 strokes
Standing dive with hands-first entry
Able to exit the pool without assistance

In Future Royal 2, swimmers will continue to develop technical improvement in all 4 strokes, learn proper turns for the strokes, and learn to do a racing start.

Athletes will be moved from Future Royal 2 to Future Royal 3 as they increase proficiency in all four strokes, meet the move-up criteria, and have demonstrated consistent attendance in Future Royal 2.

Future Royal 3

For competitive-level swimmers. For entry into this group, swimmers must demonstrate:

Have completed the 9-10-year-old IMR Events
Are racing start certified
Maintain a monthly attendance average of 70% or higher

In this Future Royal 3, swimmers will continue the technical focus on all 4 strokes and improve their stamina in each stroke to be able to complete the 9-10 IMX events. There is an increased commitment in this group, as the attendance requirement is 70% over the course of the month.

Athletes will be moved from Future Royal 3 to Future Royal 4 as they increase proficiency in all four strokes, meet the move-up criteria, and have demonstrated the ability to handle a challenging and demanding practice regimen.

Future Royal 4

For advanced-level swimmers. For entry into this group, swimmers must demonstrate:

Have completed the 9-10 IMX events with a score of 300+
Able to read the clock for intervals
Demonstrated competency in all basic dtyland movements
Maintain a monthly attendance average of 80% or higher

In Future Royal 4, swimmers will begin to learn important swimming concepts and elementary training principles to prepare them for more rigorous training in more advanced groups.

This is the most challenging and demanding practice group for our athletes who are ten or younger.

Ages 11-14

Junior Royal 1

For introductory-level swimmers. For entry into this group, swimmers must demonstrate:

50 yards of freestyle legally, unassisted, and continuously - with proper breathing
50 yards of backstroke legally, unassisted, and continuously
25 yards of butterfly legally, unassisted, and continuously
25 yards of breaststroke legally, unassisted, and continuously
25 yards of streamline kick on stomach and back unassisted
Track start from the side
Able to exit the pool without assistance

The focus of this group is refining technique and improving stamina to swim competitive events with great technique.

Athletes will be moved from Junior Royal 1 to Junior Royal 2 as they increase proficiency in all four strokes.

Junior Royal 2

For intermediate-level swimmers. For entry into this group, swimmers must demonstrate:

Have completed the 11-12-year-old IMX Events
Are racing start certified
Demonstrated aerobic capacity pace necessary for Junior Royal 2

Junior Royals 2 is a practice group that is focused on the beginning of training and continued refinement of technique. Practices will focus on increasing speed and aerobic capacity. In addition, there is more involved dryland training focusing on developing athleticism and building strength.

Athletes will be moved from Junior Royal 2 to Junior Royal 3 as they increase proficiency in all four strokes, meet the move-up criteria, have demonstrated consistent attendance in Junior Royal 2, and have shown they can handle a demanding and challenging training regimen.

Junior Royal 3

For competitive-level swimmers. For entry into this group, swimmers must demonstrate:

Have completed the 11-12-year-old IMX Events with a score of 1200+
Demonstrated Aerobic Capacity Pace necessary for Junior Royal 3
Maintain a monthly attendance average of 80% or higher
Required seasonal PAC meeting
Required to compete in meets

Junior Royals 3 is a competitive group that continues the training process, focusing on increasing stamina to compete in the longer races (200’s of stroke and 400 IM). Athletes will learn more about race strategies, and continue to develop characteristics that are important for their development.

Athletes will be moved from Junior Royal 3 to Junior Royal 4 as they increase proficiency in all four strokes, meet the move-up criteria, and have demonstrated the ability to handle a more challenging and demanding practice regimen.

Junior Royal 4

For advanced-level swimmers. For entry into this group, swimmers must demonstrate:

Have completed the 13-14-year-old IMX Events with a score of 1000+
Demonstrated Aerobic Capacity Pace necessary for Junior Royal 4
Maintain a monthly attendance average of 85% or higher
Required seasonal PAC meeting
Required to compete in meets, including the highest possible championship meet

Junior Royal 4 is for swimmers who are committed to their personal excellence in swimming. This group will focus on preparing athletes for championship meet swimming, the Senior group, and high school swimming. Advanced training concepts are taught and advanced effort levels are expected.

15&O/High School

Royals

This group is for 15&O/high school swimmers. Click to see the requirements for the Royals Groups.

Royal 1

For introductory and intermediate-level swimmers. For entry into this group, swimmers must demonstrate:

25 yards of freestyle legally, unassisted, and continuously - with proper breathing
25 yards of backstroke legally, unassisted, and continuously
25 yards of butterfly legally, unassisted, and continuously
25 yards of breaststroke legally, unassisted, and continuously
25 yards of streamline kick on stomach and back unassisted
Standing Dive from the Block
Able to exit the pool without assistance

Royal 2

For competitive-level swimmers. For entry into this group, swimmers must demonstrate:

IMR Score of 700+
Aerobic Capacity Pace of 1:30
Maintain a monthly attendance average of 85% or higher
Required seasonal goal-setting meeting with coach
Required to compete in meets

Royal 3

For elite-level swimmers. For entry into this group, swimmers must demonstrate:

IMX Score of 2400+
Aerobic Capacity Pace: 1:20 (Girls) or 1:15 (Boys)
Maintain a monthly attendance average of 90% or higher
Required seasonal goal-setting meeting with coach
Required to compete in meets, including championship meets

Reminder

The coaching staff has discretion as to which group each athlete should be in. We take each athlete's unique development very seriously and are constantly working to make the best decisions possible for them.