--Michael Phelps (Most Decorated American Olympic Swimmer)

Fall
USA: August 31st (Monday)- December 30th (Thursday)
YMCA: September 6th (Tuesday)- December 15th (Thursday)

Winter
USA: January 2nd (Monday)- June 15th (Friday)
YMCA: January 3rd (Tuesday)- May 24th (Thursday)
*There will be a two week break the first two weeks of April.*

PYAC Practice Schedule Fall/Winter Sessions 2011-2012
M	T	W	TH	F	S
X	YMCA (8&U) 3:45-4:30	X	YMCA (8&U) 3:45-4:30	X	YMCA (ALL) 10-11
X	YMCA (9&O) 4:30-5:30	X	YMCA (9&O) 4:30-5:30	X
Age Group USA 3:45-5:10	Age Group USA 3:45-4:30	Age Group USA 3:45-5:10	Age Group USA 3:45-4:30	Age Group USA 4-5	X
Advanced Age Group USA 3:45-5:10	Advanced Age Group USA 4:30-5:30	Advanced Age Group USA 3:45-5:10	Advanced Age Group USA 4:30-5:30	Advanced Age Group USA 4-5	X
Elite Age Group 3:45-5:10	Elite Age Group 4:30-5:30	Elite Age Group 3:45-5:10	Elite Age Group 4:30-5:30	Elite Age Group 4-5	X
High School Prep Group 7-9	High School Prep Group 5:30-7:30	High School Prep Group 7-9	High School Prep Group 5:30-7:30	High School Prep Group 5-6:30	High School Prep Group 8:30-10
Senior/National 7-9	Senior/National 5:30-7:30	Senior/National 7-9	Senior/National 5:30-7:30	Senior/National 5-6:30	Senior/National 8:30-10

Punctuality
Please arrive at the meet location at least 15 minutes before the designated warm-up time unless otherwise specified by coaches. Swimmers need to fully stretch and warm up before competing. In addition, coaches must make relay decisions before the start of competition and they will be unable to include a swimmer who is not present for warm-ups. Directions to the most frequently attended meet locations are posted on the Meet Facilities page.

Practice Groups

Senior/National
Desired age range for this group: 13 and Over
Prerequisite for this group: Any athlete participating in this group must 100 percent devote themselves inside and outside of the pool to their coach. Their attitudes and work ethic must reflect their goals.

This group is designed for athletes who have made swimming their primary sport and wish to further pursue their craft. Athletes in this group are expected to make all practices and all USA meets that are on the schedule. Those who practice at this level are not only expected to maintain good practice attendance routine, but also maintain a high level of commitment to their chosen sport outside of the pool as well (i.e. proper nutrition, sleep habits, cross training/dryland, etc, and behave within standards that uphold the core values of the YMCA).

In addition to the practices at the Portsmouth Y, here are other dryland workout requirements that are needed as well.

Athletes in this group can compete on both the USA and YMCA levels, but their main focus when a conflict arises in meets is towards USA swimming.

High School Prep
Desired Age Range for this Group: 13 and Older
Pre-requisite for this group: Any athlete participating in this group must devote themselves inside and outside of the pool to their coach. Their attitudes and work ethic must reflect their goals. While it is understood that athletes in this group have not for sure decided if this is their primary sport or not, they also must understand that in order to swim in this high level of a group their attitudes and actions must match that of the group.

This group is designed for athletes who are thinking of making swimming their primary sport but also are committed to other athletic sports. Athletes in this group are expected to make as many practices and as many USA meets as they can.

Elite Age Group
Desired Age Range for this Group: 9-12 years old
Pre-Requisite of this group: Must have the ambition to one day move up to the Senior/National group if they decide to make swimming their primary sport. They need to be prepared for the training that will need to be required in order to be successful from day in and day out.

This group is designed for athletes who have made the decision they wish to one day be in the Senior/National group because they love swimming, but aren’t quite ready yet for the stringent training demands that will be placed on them. In this group, athletes will begin to make the transition from age group swimming to senior swimming as it relates to practices (i.e. training and expectations inside and outside of the pool). This group is expected to make as many practices (with a goal of 4 per week) and meets as possible in order to transition up to the next level.

Advanced Age Group USA
Desired Age Range for this Group: 12 and Unders
Prerequisite for this group: Swimmers must possess the mental and physical preparedness skills to be ready and perform at practice day in and day out. While they should (and hopefully are) involved in other sports, I do ask that they also make this team a priority and give 100 percent of their mind and effort and practice daily.

This group is designed for athletes who are at the younger ages but are showing great promise in the sport of swimming. Their commitment to playing other sports is not a problem at all, as long as they are doing their best to make practices (striving for 4 per week) and meets when they can, and come prepared each and every day.

Age Group USA
Desired Age Range for this group: 8 and Unders
This group is designed for athletes who are at the younger ages but are showing great promise in the sport of swimming. Due to the swimmers' ages, the coaching staff will do what they can to keep practice lively and fun, but at the same time, this is no longer “stroke school” and the progression of learning how to practice is slowly taking shape.

This group is designed for athletes who are young, but are showing more need and promise than a YMCA only program can offer. These athletes and their parents have made the decision that they want to investigate swimming as more of a competitive sport than as a recreational type activity. Swimmers in this group show great promise and have major potential. They should strive to make 3 practices per week, and meet participation is highly encouraged.

YMCA Only
Desired Age Range for this program/group is: 5-12 years old (although swimmers outside this range are accepted based on their ability level as well)

Pre-requisites for this group:
8&Under MUST know how to do freestyle and backstroke and be able to swim 25 yards of each.
9&Older MUST know all 4 strokes (free, back, breast, and fly) and be able to swim 25 yards of each.