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The Mary Wayte Pre-Competitive Swim Program

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  • The Mary Wayte Pre-Competitive Swim Program

This program is designed to transition between swim lessons and full-time competitive training. Swimmers in Pre-Comp will continue developing technique, while adding endurance and racing strategies in a structured, yet supportive environment. While swimmers do not need to have competitive aspirations to join, the primary goal of Pre-Comp is to prepare them for future team opportunities. Our curriculum builds the technical skills, endurance, and confidence needed for success, whether they continue to swim competitively or simply want to strengthen their skills. Throughout the year, Pre-Comp swimmers will also have opportunities to participate in mini meets: fun, low-pressure events where they can learn how swim meets work, and gain experience racing in a supportive environment.

The Pre-Comp program is divided into three levels:

  1. • Pre-Comp White
  2. • Pre-Comp Red
  3. • Pre-Comp Black

Pre-Comp White (9 & Under and 10 & Up)

  1. This is the entry point for swimmers new to pre-competitive training with Mary Wayte Pool. Swimmers should have passed an assessment and met the graduating requirements of Level 5, or equivalent, and be competent in all four strokes. At this stage, swimmers begin communicating directly with coaches about their progress. This is an essential skill for future team success.

    Focus areas:

    1. • Refining stroke technique and body position
    2. • Continuous circle swimming
    3. • Learning backstroke stroke count
    4. • Introduction to flip turns, and open turns
    5. • Reading and understanding the pace clock
    6. • Building short-distance endurance & introduction to interval training
    7. • Practicing communication and feedback with coaches

    Practices are held in the lesson pool: a smaller, more controlled space that allows for focused learning. Most swimmers will complete at least one session here before moving to Red.

Pre-Comp Red

  1. For swimmers with strong technical foundations, Red adds longer distances and increased training intensity in the 25-yard competition pool. This level focuses on maintaining technique through fatigue when swimming longer distances.

    Focus areas:

    1. • Maintaining technique while building stamina
    2. • Structured swim sets with intervals
    3. • Enhancing turns, finishes, and transitions
    4. • Introducing underwaters and starts
    5. • Understanding intervals and lane order

Pre-Comp Black:

The highest level of Pre-Comp prepares swimmers for competitive team training.

Focus areas:

  1. • Stroke efficiency and advanced technique
  2. • Racing strategies and pacing
  3. • High-intensity interval training
  4. • Competitive starts, turns, and finishes
  5. • Goal setting and meet preparation

Communication & Expectations:

From Coaches:

  1. • Provide structured, positive, and encouraging instruction.
  2. • Track progress each session and give feedback directly to swimmers.
  3. • Support athletes as they learn accountability and independence.

From Swimmers

  1. • Listen carefully and try their best.
  2. • Respect teammates, coaches, and the facility.
  3. • Communicate directly with coaches if something affects performance (illness, injury, mental health, outside conflicts).
  4. • Take initiative in conversations about progress and moving levels

From Parents

  1. • Encourage swimmers to take ownership of their journey.
  2. • Reach out if you’d like to check in or schedule a meeting with a coach.

Practice Readiness

Swimmers should come prepared with:

  1. • A well-fitting swimsuit (one-piece recommended for girls, jammers/briefs for boys)
  2. • Properly fitted goggles
  3. • Swim cap
  4. • Water bottle
  5. • A positive, ready-to-learn attitude!
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