Team Levels

 

The GAEL Aquatic Club of Iona College is a year round competitive age group swim team, located on the campus of  Iona College in New Rochelle, New York and a member Club of United States Swimming Inc.

Formed in September, of 1984 the club had 182 members in the 2008-2009 season and is looking to develop and improve on our twenty-four year long series of success that has seen high levels of individual improvement, including Eastern United States Swimming Zone All-Star Selections, Sectional Qualifiers, All County High School Swimmers and many USS Meet Event Winners.  The Gael Aquatic Club goals are simple and center around five basic thoughts that are carried through each session, every day of the season.

They are to IMPROVE, LAUGH, GROW, DEVELOP and SUCCEED.

 

These simple Goals are fostered and nurtured by the coaching staff and team members. These concepts along with consistent practice and meet involvement have been successful in yielding remarkable results as well as providing an atmosphere of enjoyment that enriches club members physically, mentally and socially.  The development and encouragement of each individual team member’s goals is a process that is carefully monitored by the coaches throughout the season.
 
STARFISH:

This group is for swimmers between 6 and 7, who can swim a lap of freestyle and backstroke.  Swimmers placed in this group should also have some ability in diving.  this group will be taught the basics of proper stroke technique with some introduction to racing and meet performance.

PRACTICES: Wednesday 4:30-5:30 pm & Saturday 9:00-10:00 am 

 

BRONZE:

Primarily for 7 and 8 year olds, this group will be for swimmers with a year or more of competitive involvement.  Swimmers should be proficient in freestyle and backstroke with at least the basic concepts of breaststroke and butterfly.  This group will consistently work upon stroke technique development as well as practicing all elements necessary for competition.  

PRACTICES: Monday/Wednesday/Friday 4:30-5:30 pm and Saturday 10-11:30 am



SILVER:

This group will be comprised of 9 and 11 year olds who are proficient and competitive in all four strokes.  Swimmers in this group must also possess a solid background in their conditioning during daily practice sets.  This group will focus on stroke technique, and the relationship between practice performance and competition improvement.

PRACTICES: Tuesday/Thursday/Friday 4:30-5:30 pm and Saturday 10:00-11:30 am



GOLD:

This group will be for 10 to 12 year olds who have a very strong background in both conditioning and competition.  This group will consistently brush up on their technique skills and development while focusing on learning how to use each practice to enhance upon their competitive achievements. 

PRACTICES:  Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Friday 4:30-6:00 pm and Saturday 7:00-9:00 am

 

SENIOR:

Our senior swimmers will be predominantly 12 and over swimmers who have been swimming competitively for several years.  All Swimmers will be held to a high degree of commitment to practice attendance and meet involvement in order to sustain the rigors of training and conditioning.  Dry-land exercises will also be used to build and maintain the strength that such a swimming regiment will call for. 

PRACTICES:  Monday/Wednesday 5:30-7:30 pm, Tuesday/Thursday/Friday 5:00-7:00 pm and Saturday 7:00-9:00 am