UT Campus Age Group Swimming

Junior Longhorn

Age Requirement: 6 – 12 years

Skill Requirement: Swim comfortably in a 25-yard pool, swim 50 yards of freestyle & backstroke, and have some ability to swim breaststroke & butterfly.

Skill Development: Junior Longhorns will learn the fundamentals of competitive swimming including: proper technique of the four competitive strokes, racing starts, turns and reading the pace clocks. Fun, yet, structured practices focus on building the foundations of fast swimming. Low-key competition will be available when the swimmer is ready. Entry into the Junior Longhorn group requires an invitation following a successful tryout with the Longhorn Aquatics staff.

8 volunteer points required

Longhorn

Age Requirement: 8 – 12 years

Skill Requirement: This group is proficient and legal in all four strokes, has ability to do starts and turns, properly read the pace clock and regularly participates in meets.

Skill Development: Longhorns will have a primary emphasis on continuing education of proper stroke technique and racing skills while building leadership skills. Training begins to elevate according to ability to build the proper background for future success as a maturing athlete. Swimmers will begin to focus on accomplishing time standards, such as C-B-BB and A.

12 volunteer points required

Longhorn Plus

Age Requirement: 9 – 12 years

Skill Requirement: This group is highly proficient and legal in all four strokes, starts and turns. Athletes can properly read the pace clock, regularly participates in meets and meets in championship season.

Skill Development: Longhorn Plus will have a continued education of proper stroke technique, learn to incorporate racing strategy and further building upon leadership skills. Training will elevate to build the proper background and base for future success as a maturing athlete. Swimmers will begin to focus on accomplishing time standards, A, STAGS and TAGS.

16 volunteer points required

Senior Longhorn

Age Requirement: 11-14 years

Skill Requirement: Levels vary from proficiency in all four strokes to highly experienced level swimmers.

Skill Development: The Senior Longhorn group is developmentally appropriate, teaching the fundamentals of competitive swim racing and training. Practices will put an emphasis on kicking and proper stroke mechanics to build the foundation of fast swimming in all four strokes. Training will begin to elevate as the focus builds to annual end of season meets, and success as a senior level swimmer. Travel to championship level meets each season is highly encouraged of all athletes.

20 volunteer points required

Senior

Age Requirement: 13 and older

Skill Requirement: Levels vary depending on developmental background and experience level. Group is multi-sport appropriate.

Skill Development: The Senior group represents the beginning of top-level training at TXLA. It accommodates a number of backgrounds for our high school aged athletes as commitment levels and schedule limitations may vary. The group is focused on solidifying swimming as a lifelong sport and using competitive swimming as an outlet to reach athletic goals. Commitment to personal goals and developing a consistent schedule necessary to accomplish in a lifestyle sport.is the norm in this group. Skill acquisition, goal setting, and building fitness to support race performance are the main training premises, while executing race strategies, learning from performance results, and evaluating the learning process is the primary experience in competition at the Senior level. Target meets for the Senior Group include High School State, Regionals, Districts, STAGS, Sectionals, and Zones. The Senior group offers a pathway to prepare for the National group, advance levels of success, and compete on numerous swimming stages.

24 volunteer points required

National Development

Age Requirement: 12 and older

Skill Requirement: Sectionals time standards and above required

Skill Development: The National/Elite group represents the highest level of training at TXLA. This group is highly exclusive. Before becoming a member of the team, athletes must receive a letter of invitation from the Head Coach. National/Elite athletes accept the challenge of being team leaders and acknowledges their role as the face of the program on the largest stages in the sport. They must commit to representing the team with honor and class at all times. National/Elite members have established ownership of their goals and accept accountability toward the process of training for them by exhibiting the highest levels of commitment to their preparation and performance. Athletes’ goals include achievements at Sectionals, Junior Nationals, Nationals, Olympic Trials and beyond. Travel each season is expected of all athletes.

28 volunteer points required

National

Age Requirement: 14 and older

Skill Requirement: Sectionals time standards and above required

Skill Development: The National group represents the highest level of training at TXLA. This group is highly exclusive. Before becoming a member of the team, athletes must receive a letter of invitation from the Head Coach. National athletes accept the challenge of being team leaders and acknowledges their role as the face of the program on the largest stages in the sport. They must commit to representing the team with honor and class at all times. National members have established ownership of their goals and accept accountability toward the process of training for them by exhibiting the highest levels of commitment to their preparation and performance. Athletes’ goals include achievements at Sectionals, Futures, Junior Nationals, Nationals, Olympic Trials and beyond. Travel each season is expected of all athletes.

32 volunteer points required

College Swimming

This program runs during the university’s summer and winter breaks and serves former Longhorn Aquatics members who want to continue training when their teams are not holding regular practices. It is also available to other visiting college swimmers but only on a special basis. Each swimmer must receive approval from the current coaches. Contact the TXLA Membership Office for registration details and fees: 512-232-5660.