PRACTICE GROUPS AND PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

MAST Practice Groups and Performance Standards - MAST will re-align into Three Groups: White, Red & Black.  (These colors, along with being standrard MAST colors, have been selected with a nod to the Martial Arts belts).

For those who have been with MAST during past seasons, we will merge Red 1 & Red 2 into one group that we are now calling WHITE – This group will be split by lanes during practices based on ability and commitment.  The age ranges are rough estimates, the main group profile is training level.

WHITE: Indicates that you have become a competitor swimmer at the beginning of the competitive swimming journey

MAST WHITE group will be divided into two sub-groups

• White 1 (new and mostly 8 & Under - some older swimmers based on initial skill level or experience)
• White 2 (previous experience – mostly 9 & 10’s – up to 12)    

General group structure:   

• New swimmers,
• All 8 & Under Swimmers
• Most 9 & 10 year old and 11-12 based on training level swimmers (see advancement standards below)

Competitive Objectives:                                                                                                       

• Compete in average of one (1) invitational meet per month, Regional Championship & Mini-meets

Attendance:                                                                                                  

• Prefer a minimum of 50% but we encourage 100%
• Below 50% attendance will not be considered for advancement to the RED group

Advancement – From White group to Red Group

• Swimmers will be eligible to move up to the next practice level if they are able to meet either Performance Standards or Training Standards. 
• Prior to changing groups, the group coach will discuss potential change with the swimmer’s parent(s); parent(s) must approve the change.

*Performance Advancement standards – Meet Performance expectations to be considered for advancement to MAST RED group:  

• Four (4) National Single Age Motivational “BB” Standards to advance to RED Group

*Training Advancement Standards: Swimmer must accomplish any two sets from the following three standard training sets to be considered for advancement to the MAST RED Group

MAST RED: Indicates that the swimmer has mastered basic and intermediate techniques. Swimmer is improving proficiency at advanced training.  This group will have an expectation of consistent practice attendance and an increased level of participation in swim meets.

For those who have been with MAST during past seasons, we will merge Red 3 & Black 1 into one group that we are now called RED – This group will be likely have a wide range of ages and abilities.  The age ranges are rough estimates, the main group profile is training level.

We are merging Red 3 & Black 1 into one group – may split by lanes during practices based on ability, performance and commitment

General group structure:

• Age-Group Swimmers with improving skills and training efforts. 
• Primarily 10 - 13-year-old swimmers (possibly some very high level 9 year old swimmers and high school age not ready for BLACK)
• Swimmers who are not yet in high school.
• High School age swimmers not willing or able to commit to a full training schedule

Competitive Objectives:

• Compete in avg. 1-2 meets per month, Regional Championship to qualify for Junior Champs, final at Junior Championships and qualify for Zone Championships.

Attendance:

• Prefer a minimum of 75% but we encourage 100%

Advancement – From Red group to Black Group

• Swimmers will be eligible to move up to the next practice level if they are able to meet either four Performance Standards or a minimum of two of the Training Standards. 
• Prior to changing groups, the group coach will discuss potential change with the swimmer’s parent(s); parents must approve the change.

              *Performance Advancement standards: Meet performance expectations to be considered for move into MAST BLACK group.

• Four (4) National Single Age Motivational “A” Standards to advance to BLACK Group

              *Training Advancement Standards:  To be considered for BLACK Group swimmers must be capable of at least two of these sets

MAST BLACK: Indicates athletic maturity, skill and technique in swimming and these swimmers are in pursuit of the highest level of personal performance.

Merge Black 2 & Black 3 into one group – may split by lanes during practices based on ability, performance and commitment

General group structure:                                                                                      

• High School Age Swimmers committed to training full time.  

Competitive Objectives:

• Compete in avg. 1-2 meets per month, Senior Championship, USAS Sectionals, USAS Futures, Junior Nationals and Nationals/Trials.
• Swimmers will also be supported in their HS events with the goal to qualify for, and score at, their HS state championships.
• All performance levels have a next step. Swimmers should remain cognizant of that next step. For example: Swimmer who qualify for the HS state meet, next try to make finals, then the podium, then earn HS All-American, and/or then win their event.

    Attendance:

• Expect 100% - while we will not remove any swimmer from this group, however attendance below 75% is not conducive to success.
• Advancement – Black is the highest training group on MAST, but the following training standards reflect expectations of swimmers in this group.

               *Performance Advancement standards:   These are the expectations of swimmers in the BLACK Group                                                                                           

• Four (4) National Single Age Motivational “A” Standards

                *Training Standards:   These are the training standarads swimmers in the BLACK group should expect to handle.    

MAST Practice Schedule Template – We will attempt to have a practice schedule that is as consistent as possible, however high school scheduling has priority over MAST therefore our practice times are subject to available pool time. 

Due to a concern regarding practices that end after 9:00 in the evening, we are going to try to have an earlier practice schedule but families should anticipate lanes being more crowded.

There are going to be some challenges with more swimmers in each lane, but the best response is to embrace the situation as one that will lead to more competitiveness and more energy in practice sessions.

The calendar posted in the news feed as early as possible. Practices through the middle of December will  be posted soon. Please be cautioned, there are still many scheduling unknowns that may result in a need to adjust our schedule.  It is a reasonable expectation for MAST members to expect to have a schedule they can plan around so it is hoped what changes we will encounter will be relatively minor.