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Purpose:
Bay’s Edge Aquatic Team’s elite Black Group
represents the culmination of our Athlete’s progression. The
Black Group is composed of athletes and families who are committed
to excellence at the highest level. This group is defined by the
belief that all athletes are capable of experiencing their peak
potential. The Black Group is designed and run to insure that those
that have the ability and desire can experience the pinnacle of the
sport.
This means that we measure our training
against what it would take to be the best in the world and design a
program that will provide this opportunity.
Expectations:
1. Swimming is a very high priority in your life - striving
for personal excellence and Elite level performance.
2. You should be able to handle the time management of your
swim practices and school work.
3. You will be responsible for maintaining 85% Practice
Attendance (or training volume) year-round.
4. You will be required to weight train and participate in
all other dryland training opportunities.
5. Morning practices will be assigned and you should be
willing to schedule your daily routine to accommodate their
demands.
6. You should be working towards developing your maximum
swimming potential – USA Sectional Times are a minimum.
7. We expect everyone to strive for their peak potential and
support those who are willing to make this commitment.
8. You should be motivated to be in control of the factors
that operate your body (sleep, nutrition and psychological
preparation).
9. You should be motivated to operate in the proper training
environment as a young adult and be responsible for yourself.
10. You should be responsible enough to keep an up-to-date
training journal.
11. You should have the support of your family in reaching
Elite Level performance. This includes providing you the
opportunity to be a responsible and dedicated member of the Elite
Group.
12. Training Requirements:
You should be able to go 15 x 100 on 1:15 avg. 1:10 or better.
You should be able to go 10 x 200 on 2:30 avg. 2:20 or
better.
Training:
Due to the physiological requirements of elite swimming the
Black Group’s yearly program is planned around 3
phases. Because the competitive swimming season is divided
into two portions (Short Course Yards and Long Course Meters) these
phases are repeated twice during the year. These three phases
are the (1) Transition Phase, the (2) Preparation Phase and the (3)
Competition Phase.
The Transition Phase (Phase I) bridges the gap
between our competitive seasons and leads to the Preparation
Phase. The Preparation Phase (Phase II) focuses on preparing
our athletes physiologically and psychologically for the more
strenuous and demanding Competition Phase. Training during
the preparation phase will be divided into two sub-phases: general
preparation and specific preparation. The Competition Phase
(Phase III) represents the culmination of our training for that
cycle. It too is divided into two sub-categories:
Pre-Competitive and Competitive. The Competition Phase
typically ends with a tapering of training to produce optimal
performance at a specified competition.
Each cycle has specific focuses which are
critical to the over-all success of an athlete’s
training. It is vital that each athlete commit to each phase
and its purpose so that they can reach their maximum
potential.
(1) The Transition phase is designed so that
athletes can recharge, recover, and re-commit themselves to the
up-coming challenges. Training usually consists of games,
drills, and basic aerobic workouts.
(2) During the Preparation Phase an
athlete’s focus will be on building a physiological
foundation for the swim year. This means creating a training
program that will result in the highest possible adaptation.
The higher the adaptation the great the athlete’s physical
potential for improvement. During this phase swim meets are
secondary.
(3) The Competitive Phase is planned to
produce PEAK PERFORMANCE. Training typically becomes more
specific based on an athlete’s needs and competitive
events. This stage of adaptation is highly reliant on an
athlete’s performance during the Preparation Phase.
During the pre-competitive portion of the Competition Phase
training and swim meets are of equal value. Finally, during
the final portion of the cycle our focus will shift towards
performance and swim meets become our primary focus.
Weight and Dryland training are a vital part
of our long-term and seasonal training plan. Black Group
Members will take part in a progressive periodized strength
training program designed around their swimming schedule to
increase their in-water performance. Specific weight training
will be utilized and it will be assumed that Black Team
Members have the necessary strength training background to
effectively participate. Weight Training is not an
option.
Goals:
Athletes in the Black Group represent the
“Gold-Standard” for our organization. It is
the Black Group’s goal to provide every athlete
with the opportunity to reach their maximum swimming
potential. This means that each athlete will live up to our
team vision and commit to becoming a world class athlete and
citizen.
During this phase of our athlete’s
development an increased emphasis will be placed on their
accomplishments and the role they play in their Long-Term
success. Members of BEAT’s Black Group are expected to
be working towards National, International, or NCAA level
competitions.
It is inherent in the Black Group that we all
work together during this period of the athlete’s career to
maximize their potential. All conflicts that are controllable
should be minimized or eliminated to assist good training chemistry
and group dynamics.
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