Group Descriptions - Pre-Competitive Program

Little Lakers 1A (9 & Under)

This group runs as three 12-week sessions between September and June, and practices once per week for one hour each practice. Fees can be prorated if a swimmer starts the program mid-session. Swimmers must be able to complete one length of a 25m pool to register. Swimmers will learn the basics of competitive swimming, including streamlined push-offs, freestyle and backstroke, and breaststroke and butterfly kick, in a structured and fun environment. The goal of this program is to learn and develop skills in order to progress to Little Lakers 2.

Little Lakers 1 is available in four sections, each with an 10-swimmer cap in order to maintain quality swimmer to coach ratios. Families can choose whichever section is most convenient for them as long as there is space. Swimmers can be registered in more than one L1 section at coaches’ discretion, provided that there is an open spot.

Next step: Little Lakers 2, or Lakers

Little Lakers 1B (9 & Under)

This group runs as three 12-week sessions between September and June, and practices once per week for one hour each practice. Fees can be prorated if a swimmer starts the program mid-session. Swimmers must be able to complete one length of a 25m pool to register. Swimmers will learn the basics of competitive swimming, including streamlined push-offs, freestyle and backstroke, and breaststroke and butterfly kick, in a structured and fun environment. The goal of this program is to learn and develop skills in order to progress to Little Lakers 2.

Little Lakers 1 is available in four sections, each with an 10-swimmer cap in order to maintain quality swimmer to coach ratios. Families can choose whichever section is most convenient for them as long as there is space. Swimmers can be registered in more than one L1 section at coaches’ discretion, provided that there is an open spot.

Next step: Little Lakers 2, or Lakers

Little Lakers 1C (9 & Under)

This group runs as three 12-week sessions between September and June, and practices once per week for one hour each practice. Fees can be prorated if a swimmer starts the program mid-session. Swimmers must be able to complete one length of a 25m pool to register. Swimmers will learn the basics of competitive swimming, including streamlined push-offs, freestyle and backstroke, and breaststroke and butterfly kick, in a structured and fun environment. The goal of this program is to learn and develop skills in order to progress to Little Lakers 2.

Little Lakers 1 is available in four sections, each with an 10-swimmer cap in order to maintain quality swimmer to coach ratios. Families can choose whichever section is most convenient for them as long as there is space. Swimmers can be registered in more than one L1 section at coaches’ discretion, provided that there is an open spot.

Next step: Little Lakers 2, or Lakers

Little Lakers 1D (9 & Under)

This group runs as three 12-week sessions between September and June, and practices once per week for one hour each practice. Fees can be prorated if a swimmer starts the program mid-session. Swimmers must be able to complete one length of a 25m pool to register. Swimmers will learn the basics of competitive swimming, including streamlined push-offs, freestyle and backstroke, and breaststroke and butterfly kick, in a structured and fun environment. The goal of this program is to learn and develop skills in order to progress to Little Lakers 2.

Little Lakers 1 is available in four sections, each with an 10-swimmer cap in order to maintain quality swimmer to coach ratios. Families can choose whichever section is most convenient for them as long as there is space. Swimmers can be registered in more than one L1 section at coaches’ discretion, provided that there is an open spot.

Next step: Little Lakers 2, or Lakers

Little Lakers 2A (10 & Under)

This group runs as three 12-week sessions between September and June, and practices twice per week for one hour each practice. Fees can be prorated if a swimmer starts the program mid-session. Swimmers progress from Little Lakers 1 into this group. For new swimmers, a tryout is required prior to registration at this level. Swimmers will improve their competitive swimming skills, including streamlined push-offs, freestyle, backstroke, and breaststroke, and begin to learn butterfly, flip turns, and dives. The goal of this program is to continue to learn and develop skills in order to progress to Little Lakers 3.

Little Lakers 2 is available in three sections, each with a 10-swimmer cap in order to maintain quality swimmer to coach ratios. Families can choose whichever section is most convenient for them as long as there is space.

Next step: Little Lakers 3, or Lakers

Little Lakers 2B (10 & Under)

This group runs as three 12-week sessions between September and June, and practices twice per week for one hour each practice. Fees can be prorated if a swimmer starts the program mid-session. Swimmers progress from Little Lakers 1 into this group. For new swimmers, a tryout is required prior to registration at this level. Swimmers will improve their competitive swimming skills, including streamlined push-offs, freestyle, backstroke, and breaststroke, and begin to learn butterfly, flip turns, and dives. The goal of this program is to continue to learn and develop skills in order to progress to Little Lakers 3.

Little Lakers 2 is available in three sections, each with a 10-swimmer cap in order to maintain quality swimmer to coach ratios. Families can choose whichever section is most convenient for them as long as there is space.

Next step: Little Lakers 3, or Lakers

Little Lakers 2C (10 & Under)

This group runs as three 12-week sessions between September and June, and practices twice per week for one hour each practice. Fees can be prorated if a swimmer starts the program mid-session. Swimmers progress from Little Lakers 1 into this group. For new swimmers, a tryout is required prior to registration at this level. Swimmers will improve their competitive swimming skills, including streamlined push-offs, freestyle, backstroke, and breaststroke, and begin to learn butterfly, flip turns, and dives. The goal of this program is to continue to learn and develop skills in order to progress to Little Lakers 3.

Little Lakers 2 is available in three sections, each with a 10-swimmer cap in order to maintain quality swimmer to coach ratios. Families can choose whichever section is most convenient for them as long as there is space.

Next step: Little Lakers 3, or Lakers

Little Lakers 3A (10 & Under)

This group runs as three 12-week sessions between September and June, and practices three times per week for one hour each practice. Fees can be prorated if a swimmer starts the program mid-session. Swimmers progress from Little Lakers 2 into this group. For new swimmers, a tryout is required prior to registration at this level. Swimmers will improve their skills on the four competitive swimming strokes, as well as racing starts, turns and push-offs. The goal of this program is to continue to learn and develop skills in order to graduate into the Lakeshore Swim Club competitive program.

Little Lakers 3 is available in two sections, each with a 12-swimmer cap in order to maintain quality swimmer to coach ratios. Families can choose whichever section is most convenient for them as long as there is space.

Swimmers in Little Lakers 3 have the option to compete in up to two Swim Ontario sanctioned meets per year. Details for these competitive opportunities are communicated well in advance, and swimmers can opt in at any time for an additional one-time fee.

Next step: Yellow Group (competitive program), or Lakers

Little Lakers 3B (10 & Under)

This group runs as three 12-week sessions between September and June, and practices three times per week for one hour each practice. Fees can be prorated if a swimmer starts the program mid-session. Swimmers progress from Little Lakers 2 into this group. For new swimmers, a tryout is required prior to registration at this level. Swimmers will improve their skills on the four competitive swimming strokes, as well as racing starts, turns and push-offs. The goal of this program is to continue to learn and develop skills in order to graduate into the Lakeshore Swim Club competitive program.

Little Lakers 3 is available in two sections, each with a 12-swimmer cap in order to maintain quality swimmer to coach ratios. Families can choose whichever section is most convenient for them as long as there is space.

Swimmers in Little Lakers 3 have the option to compete in up to two Swim Ontario sanctioned meets per year. Details for these competitive opportunities are communicated well in advance, and swimmers can opt in at any time for an additional one-time fee.

Next step: Yellow Group (competitive program), or Lakers

Lakers (11 - 12 years old)

Max sessions per week: 4
Possible pathways: Blue

This group provides a training opportunity for swimmers who have graduated from the Little Lakers program but are older than the target age for the Yellow group. Athletes are learning how to train and continuing to develop their skills on all four strokes. Although technically a pre-competitive group, swimmers do have the option to race at a few sanctioned meets during the season. Swimmers in this group who are showing interest in competing and progressing well may enter the competitive program later on in the Blue group.