Artistic Swimming 101

Artistic Swimming requires lots of skill in many categories. We will train agility, strength, coordination, musicality, speed in the water, endurance, and artistry. This is usually done with a combination of training on land and in the water. Different skills are incorporated into fun, team building games. Athletes will train basic artistic swimming skills, speed swimming, gymnastics, choreography, and even lifts! 

Routines: 

● All swimmers will learn their given group’s team routine. Each group will have their own routine and music. Each team routine has 4-8 people. 

● Small routines (Duets and Solos) are additional routines that MAY be given to certain swimmers, and are determined by coaching staff. Some swimmers thrive best in a team setting, while others do well in individual performances or in a duet. Other additional routines are Combo or Highlights- a more complicated team routine with up to 10 swimmers. They are all chosen at the coach's discretion. 

● Routines are performed at the Cygnets Showcase and/or competitions. Competition suits are sparkly and themed, and may be provided by the team. 

● Routines are also usually performed with no caps or goggles! (We will train the girls beforehand to get used to swimming with no goggles, don’t worry). We also use a bit of waterproof makeup to match the fun suits and hair pieces. We use Knox gelatin to keep their hair up. We will practice with Knox & makeup as a team prior to competition season. (additional information and tutorials to familiarize yourself later in this document) 

Figures: 

Swimmers in Novice, Intermediate, or 12U AG will also compete in Figures- an individual assessment of several ‘figures’, or predetermined skills that vary on which group they’re in. These are taught during practices, but additional resources are available to work on figures. Figures are performed in a white cap and black swimsuits and are scored individually.

Training/Competition Groups: 

Artistic swimming competitions are broken up by skill category and age. There may be different age groups within one single category. *(For example, Novice may be 8 and under, 9-10, 11-12, Youth, or Junior. If a swimmer was 14 but in their first year of artistic swimming and they were still at a beginner level, they would not compete against another 14 year old who had been swimming for 7 years. They’d instead compete in the beginner category- as Novice 13-15.) 

How groups are chosen: 

Coaches determine the best category for each swimmer to learn in based on age, skill level, attendance, and swimmer ambition. The level that a swimmer is placed in determines the practice times, skills and pace at which they’ll be learning, and category they may compete in. The more advanced the level, the more time commitments, training, and complexity to routines and skills. More advanced groups will compete at higher levels and therefore bigger meets ultimately reaching for Junior Olympics and Nationals, while younger swimmers may only do local or regional events. 

Our training groups: 

From most beginner to most advanced: Fish/ Novice, Intermediate, Age Group. A swimmer can belong to one training group, but due to age and/or opportunity, can compete at a higher age group or category. ( For example- a swimmer may compete in Youth AG for team, but Youth Intermediate for duet). This is determined by the coaching staff. 

Fish: This group is our pre-competitive team, learning only the basic skills in synchro. They do not compete; they only perform at the Cygnets showcase. One day a week practice commitment. Fish do not register with USAAS, thus their Personal Fundraising Obligations (PFO) is less. This is the best spot for very young swimmers who are still working on swimming skills. 

Novice: This is our formal beginner group. Two days a week practice commitment. They practice one week night and/or one on Saturday. Novices are registered with USAAS and compete at official events. This is our lowest competition group, and best for swimmers who begin the season knowing how to swim a full 25 yards and are eager to learn. 

Intermediate: Three day a week commitment, two week nights and on Saturdays. This is the middle ground between beginner (Novice) and Age Group. 

Age Group: These are the more competitive groups. The teams are determined by age and/or skill level. 3- 4 day a week commitment( 3 for 12U). Three week nights and a 4 hour practice on Saturdays. There is 12U AG, Youth AG (13-15), 16-17 AG, and 18-19 AG.