Stingray Practice Groups

The Tucson J Stingrays offers training and practice groups for swimmers of all ages and ability levels. It is the goal of the coaching staff to offer age-specific training for all of our athletes geared toward challenging each individual and developing them to the best of their abilities. Our groups are loosely based on age but more focused on skill level, athletic ability, motivation, and mentality.

There is a lead coach for each group, but all coaches will work with every group to some extent. We see the value in athletes knowing all of the Stingrays coaches. There might be meets where only one coach is in attendance, and all swimmers should be able to identify that coach and be aware of that coach’s expectations. Swimmers should also be willing and able to take direction and tips from that coach. Interacting with the entire coaching staff during practices facilitates that. 

The Head Coach, along with input from the assistant coaches, sets the plans, goals, and directions for each group on a seasonal basis. The Lead Assistant Coach for each group writes the practices for their group. Practices may vary day-to-day in focus and week-to-week in intensity. Practices–including test sets, burnout sets, kick sets, and drills–for all groups may be repeated from time to time. This helps to assess each swimmer’s progress and any needed modification to the season’s plan. Just as in any sport, repetition of a skill continues until the skill is mastered, and then it continues further to ensure the skill is retained. In swimming, this applies to drills to work on technique and interval-sets to work on pace, among other things. All athletes are expected to trust in the process, work hard, and maintain a positive attitude, no matter what challenges the coaching staff presents them with or what the set is for that day. 

The Tucson J Stingrays follow the USA Swimming/USOPC’s Quality Coaching Framework (QCF) and USA Swimming’s American Development Model (ADM). The ADM is a tool used by coaches around the country to create a plan for and assess athlete development through the Team. Athlete development is focused on helping athletes develop a positive relationship with sport, increase engagement in and connection to swimming, and learn skills that will help athletes be successful in all facets of life. The ADM has four athlete-centered outcomes–Competence, Character, Confidence, and Connection–each with six levels of development. 

While we do have expectations and goals set out for each group below, we also recognize that all swimmers are individuals and some athletes or families might have unique circumstances. In those cases, we do adjust expectations and goals on a case-by-case basis after full communication with the athlete and/or their support network.

Group Placement and Move-Up Policy 

New swimmers will be placed in the appropriate practice group based on their ability and age. Evaluations for existing swimmers (advancing to a higher group or placement into a lower group) are made by the coaching staff throughout the season. Placement is decided by the coaches who may use their discretion in deciding the best learning environment for each individual swimmer. Recommendations will be communicated to the swimmer and RA. 

All prospective athletes are required to try out prior to joining the Stingrays Swim Team. Open tryouts will be held each month, with dates and times to be posted on the Stingrays website. During open tryouts, athletes may be asked to demonstrate the prerequisites for the practice group the coach thinks may be the best fit after a short consultation with the athlete and/or their RA. Although the tryouts are open, advanced scheduling with the Head Coach is recommended. 

Returning athletes who have been out of the water for more than one month are also required to complete a tryout or assessment to determine appropriate group placement. While placement with the athlete's previous group is preferred, it is not guaranteed. 

Upon completion of any tryout with an assistant coach, the Assistant Coach will confer with the Head Coach. The Head Coach will respond to the RA of the prospective athlete within two business days and recommend the appropriate placement.

Upon completion of any tryout with the Head Coach, the Head Coach will recommend the appropriate placement for the athlete to the RA at the conclusion of the tryout.

Equitable Participation Accommodations

If you believe having accommodations would benefit your opportunity to equitably participate in this program, please contact Head Coach Marika Hodge to advocate for modifications. We will do our best to ensure our program is accessible to you.