SCOTTSDALE AQUATIC CLUB

Mission Statement

To have a nationally recognized competitive aquatics program that teaches and trains all levels of swimmers, emphasizing individual progress, team unity, family participation, and competition at the highest individual level.

Objectives

1.                  To enable swimmers to learn, train and compete at their highest individual level of achievement.

2.                  To consistently be regarded among the top 30 clubs in the United States

3.                  To finish first in overall team standing at the State Age Group and Senior Championships. To be consistently represented at National Championships and in National rankings.

4.                  To maintain an entry-level program, which is of the highest quality and second to none in Arizona.

5.                  To continue to improve and expand aquatics programs for the community, enrolling the greatest number of individuals at the entry level possible while maintaining the highest levels of quality and competition.

6.                  To preserve the quality of the SAC experience through appropriate growth and development of all athletes at all levels.

Philosophy

The Scottsdale program is characterized philosophically by the principles of self-image psychology.  This discipline is concerned with guiding and directing individuals toward maximum development of their talents and abilities.  Similarly, the Scottsdale coaching staff endeavors to teach, train, and motivate young people to achieve their ultimate potential in swimming in the belief that this experience will prove valuable to them as they grow and develop into adults.

The Scottsdale program strives to instill in young swimmers an understanding of and appreciation for such life skills and concepts as high self-esteem, personal accountability, self-discipline, goal setting, and goal achievement as these ideas relate to their success in training and in competition.  It is our belief that the process of achieving is as significant as realizing the achievement itself.

At each level of the Scottsdale program, swimmers are instructed to strive for excellence.  Excellence in this sense represents the achievement of that level at which you know that you have done your utmost to become the best you are capable of becoming.  This philosophy is consistent throughout the program, and every swimmer, novice to Olympian, is encouraged to “Be the Best You Can Be”.

SAC Age Group Objectives

Age Group 1 Objectives:

1. To develop a life long positive experience with swimming and have fun.
2. To prepare swimmers to meet the challenges of the next group they will eventually move into.
3. Swimmers in AG 1 will have a solid work ethic and be proud of their individual accomplishments.
4. To develop all four competitive strokes by balancing technique and fun through swimming, and be able legally perform all four competitive strokes, turns and starts in competition.
5. To introduce our young swimmers to competition through both intrasquad and outside competitions.

Age Group 2 Objectives:

1. To come to practices with a positive attitude and a willingness and ability to listen to their coaches.
2. To develop a strong work ethic and the rewards that come from that hard work.
3. To continue to learn the skills/drills of the program for all four strokes and begin aerobic development.
4. To legally compete in all four strokes and the 200 IM.
5. To be introduced to swimming “sets”, including terminology and clock reading.
6. To begin competing in larger competitions and gain an understanding of qualifying standards.

Age Group 3 Objectives:

1. To come to practices with a positive attitude, ability to listen to coaches and willingness to work hard.
2. To continue to see the rewards of consistent practice attendance and hard work.
3. To begin learning about goal setting and goal achievement.
4. To continue stroke development and increase aerobic development.
5. To compete in at least 100 yards of all four strokes and be able to complete a 400 IM.
6. Swimmers in Age Group 3 should be striving to compete at the AZ State Championships and Far Westerns.

Age Group 4 Objectives:

1. To come to practices with a positive attitude, ability to listen to coaches and willingness to work hard.
2. To fully understand the correlation between practice attendance and hard work with swim meet performance.
3. To have individual goal meetings with the coach and understand the concepts of goal setting.
4. To perfect stroke technique and continue aerobic development.
5. To compete in all events offered in a swimmers’ respective age group, including 200 Butterfly, 200 Backstroke, 200 Breaststroke, 1000 and 1650 Free and 400 IM.
6. To prepare swimmers with the skills and attitude to swim to their full potential.

 Pre Senior Objectives:

1. To come to practices with a positive attitude, ability to listen to coaches and willingness to work hard.
2. To make a commitment to swimming and pursuing the highest personal swimming potential.
3. To continue individual goal meetings with the coach and train to improve mental skills related with competing at the highest level.
4. To prepare swimmers for elite level swimming at the senior level.
5. To compete confidently in all events.
6. To perfect stroke technique and training habits.
7. To continue aerobic development and introduce anaerobic and lactate training.

Senior Objectives:

1. Compete at the highest individual level possible.
2. To continue athletic, mental and emotional development skills for lifetime.
3. To prepare and train for an athletic scholarship.
4. Be a role model for younger teammates by example.
5. Perfect strokes, technique, racing habits and preparation for meets.
6. Begin specialization in pursuit of excellence.