Special Sets – Early Age Group Swimming: Getting Started
By Michael J. Stott
The Aquajets Swim Team, based in Eden Prairie, Minn., has an enviable history. It is currently a USA Swimming Gold Medal club, and it’s been Gold or Silver every year since 2012. It has produced the likes of 2012 Olympic gold medalist Rachel Bootsma, nine-time NCAA All-American Abby Duncan, Big Ten stalwart Van Donkersgoed and current national team member Isabelle Stadden.
Those athletes weren’t always that good. These days new Aquajets age groupers benefit from an impressive three-pool onsite practice facility. Integral to the shallow water training component is a four-lane, 85-degree “shark tank” pool ideal for younger swimmers and in-water coaching.
Megan Hughes is an Aquajets lead age group coach. Following she offers insight on what a youngster with some summer league success can expect when deciding to try a year-round program.
The Aquajet BLUETHUNDER practice group is made up of swimmers ages 10 and under. Requirements for group placement are an ability and willingness to accomplish test sets within two months as well as participate in at least one novice event or swim meet.
“Our main hope is that the kids will catch the fever for competitive swimming and enjoy our team culture as well as some individual success,” says Hughes.
To learn more about how to get started in age group swimming and access the test sets,
check out the September 2019 issue of Swimming World Magazine, available now!
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Swimming World Magazine September 2019 Issue
FEATURES
016 TEST RUN FOR TOKYO
by Craig Lord, John Lohn and David Rieder
With the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo a year away, this summer’s World Championships, July 21-28, in Gwangju, South Korea was a global meet of watersheds, with pioneers refusing to yield to youth and youth seizing their day to overtake pioneers. It also served as confirmation that we live in a new age of longevity and strong dynasties.
18th FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS MINI-FEATURES:
018 CAELEB DRESSEL: ALWAYS STRIVING TO GET BETTER AND FASTER
020 ADAM PEATY: MAKING “MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE” POSSIBLE
021 REGAN SMITH: SUDDENLY, AN OLYMPIC FAVORITE
022 KATIE LEDECKY: DESPITE ILLNESS, LEDECKY REMAINS CONFIDENT
024 DOPING: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY
026 RISING TO TOKYO
028 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS PHOTO GALLERY
030 EMERGING FROM THE SHADOWS
by David Rieder
The Carmel High School girls swimming team has won six national titles in the last nine years. But at the end of the 2018-19 season—and after finishing national runner-up the last two years—it was the Carmel boys who seized the spotlight as the best swimming team in the country.
033 SWIMMING WORLD MAGAZINE’S BOYS’ NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIPS MOCK HEAT SHEET
by Bob Klapthor
035 REPEAT CHAMPIONS
by Dan D’Addona
Coach Polly Linden’s Harpeth Hall (Tenn.) swimmers have dominated the last two Swimming World girls’ national high school championships, winning by 35 points last year and nearly 50 this year over Santa Margarita Catholic, 168 to 118.5.
038 SWIMMING WORLD MAGAZINE’S GIRLS’ NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIPS MOCK HEAT SHEET
by Bob Klapthor
042 MENTAL PREP: BEFORE THE BEEP WITH NATALIE COUGHLIN
by Shoshanna Rutemiller
COACHING
010 LESSONS WITH THE LEGENDS: PHIL MORIARTY
by Michael J. Stott
014 SWIMMING TECHNIQUE CONCEPTS: RISK FACTORS FOR SHOULDER INJURY IN SWIMMING
by Rod Havriluk
The most common risk factors for shoulder problems are overuse, muscular imbalances and harmful technique. Fortunately, there are also options to minimize risk.
044 SPECIAL SETS: EARLY AGE GROUP TRAINING—GETTING STARTED
by Michael J. Stott
Megan Hughes, an Aquajets Swim Team lead age group coach, offers insight on what a youngster with some summer league success can expect when deciding to try a year-round program.
046 KNOWING THE BASICS OF AGE GROUP SWIMMING
by Michael J. Stott
Here’s everything parents need to know about age group swimming.
051 Q&A WITH COACH ALICIA KEMNITZ
by Michael J. Stott
052 HOW THEY TRAIN: JESSICA MACDONALD
by Michael J. Stott
TRAINING
013 DRYSIDE TRAINING: FALL STRENGTH—BUILDING A STRONG FOUNDATION
by J.R. Rosania
JUNIOR SWIMMER
049 GOLDMINDS: NEVER SAY NEVER
by Wayne Goldsmith
When success doesn’t come easily or early—relax! Success will come if you give everything you have to the achievement of your goals, and if you work tirelessly to be all you can be.
055 UP & COMERS: TRISTAN PRAGNELL
by Shoshanna Rutemiller
COLUMNS
008 A VOICE FOR THE SPORT
009 BEYOND THE YARDS
040 THE OFFICIAL WORD
041 MOMS AT MEETS
054 HASTY HIGH POINTERS
056 GUTTERTALK
057 PARTING SHOT
Meghan Fulmer