BLAST "Try Us Out Camp"

If you’ve ever wondered if you (or your child) would enjoy the challenges of competitive swimming, then here’s your chance to find out. BLAST is offering a young swimmers’ “Try Us Out Camp” during the week of April 21^st, 2008. Swimmers are welcome to meet our staff, experience a few of our beginning workouts, and see how much fun competitive swimming can be. The “Try Us Out Camp” is open to new swimmers. “Veteran”, competitive swimmers may sign-up, but only if they bring a friend who is new to competitive swimming.

            Location:                        Peet Jr. High in Cedar Falls

            Cost:                               $15 per swimmer

            Registration:                At Peet on April 21^st.

            Questions:                    Contact Jamie Langner 290-9299 or jamielangner@yahoo.com

            Dates and Times:        Monday, April 21^st and Wednesday, April 23^rd

                                                           Novice*:                   5:15 – 6:00pm

                                                           Age Group 1**:        6:00 – 7:00pm

                                                           Age Group 2***:      7:00 – 8:15pm

                                                  Friday, April 25^th

                                                           All Groups:                6:30 – 7:45pm

            Guidelines for Groups: *Novice - swimmers who can swim one length of the pool using front crawl and one length swimming back crawl. **Age Group 1 - swimmers who can swim two lengths without stopping using front crawl and two lengths without stopping using back crawl. Typical ages are 7&8 years old. ***Age Group 2 - swimmers who can swim two lengths of the pool without stopping using front crawl and two lengths without stopping using back crawl. Typical ages are 9-11 years old.

BLAST "Starts Clinic"

BLAST is offering a “Starts Clinic” for young, competitive swimmers the week of April 28^th, 2008. Competitive swimmers will have the opportunity to have some fun while refining their starts and entries. Come, have fun, and learn to enter into the water with style!

            Locations:                    Peet Jr High in Cedar Falls and Central Middle School in Waterloo

            Cost:                             $20 per swimmer

            Registration:               At Peet on April 21^st.

            Questions:                   Contact Jamie Langner 290-9299 or jamielangner@yahoo.com

            Dates and Times:       Monday, April 28^th and Wednesday, April 30^th at Peet Jr High

                                                            Novice*:                  5:15-6:00pm

                                                            Age Group 1**:       6:00-7:00pm

                                                            Age Group 2***:     7:00-8:15pm

                                                 Tuesday, April 29^th and Thursday, May 1^st at Central Middle School

                                                            Novice*:                  5:15-6:00pm

                                                            Age Group 1**:       6:00-7:00pm

                                                            Age Group 2***:     7:00-8:15pm

            Guidelines for Groups: *Novice - swimmers who can swim one length of the pool using front crawl and one length swimming back crawl. **Age Group 1 - swimmers who can swim two lengths without stopping using front crawl and two lengths without stopping using back crawl. Typical ages are 7&8 years old. ***Age Group 2 - swimmers who can swim two lengths of the pool without stopping using front crawl and two lengths without stopping using back crawl. Typical ages are 9-11 years old.

 BLAST Swim Team

Novice- In order to join this group, athletes should have passed Red Cross Level IV or an equivalent.  This group serves as an introduction to the team and competitive swimming.  All four strokes will be covered, with the development of technique being the main focus.  These athletes are 8 and under in age.  These athletes will be encouraged to try one of the home meets.  Athletes are encouraged to let coaches pick their events for these meets as a professional coaching service.

Age Group 1- In order to join this group, athletes must be able to complete a legal 50 free and 50 back, with some development and understanding of butterfly and breaststroke. This will demonstrate that the athlete knows all four competitive strokes and has the stamina to keep up with practices. Fine tuning of strokes and the introduction to training concepts (clock reading, drills, practice set up including warm up, small sets, and cool down) are central to this group.  These athletes are 8 and under in age and all new athletes ages 9 and over.  These athletes will be encouraged to compete in all home meets with a championship meet to end their season (Regionals or State).  Athletes are encouraged to let coaches pick their events for these meets as a professional coaching service.

Age Group 2- In order to join this group, athletes must be 9 years of age or be 8 years old and have a 9/10 Iowa State Q time.  Continued fine tuning of strokes, turns, and starts, continued development of more difficult stroke drills, kicking, and the introduction of test sets and more demanding training requirements are the main focus.  These athletes are encouraged to make three or more workouts per week ind to ensure they continue to develop at a steady rate.  These athletes should be competing at all home meets, 1 or more out of town meets, and have a championship meet to end their season (Regionals or State).  Athletes are encouraged to let coaches pick their events for these meets as a professional coaching service.

Age Group 3- In order to join this group, athletes must be 11 years of age or be 10 and have a 11/12 Iowa State Q time.  Continued focus on technique with an introduction to more difficult training strategies and dryland training.  These athletes should make three or more workouts per week in order to ensure they continue to develop at a steady rate.  These athletes should be competing in all home meets, appropriate out of town meets (Q+ and higher), and have a championship meet at the end of their season (Regionals, State, or Zones).  Athletes should have coaches pick their events for these meets as a professional coaching service. 

Senior 1- This group will now serve as a transition to the Senior Team through increased intensity of workouts and introduction to dryland training. They will also be introduced to advance training methods and Saturday morning workouts.  In order to join this group, the athlete must be at least 12 and have demonstrated an ability to handle the increased workload and an ability to reach the attendance requirement.  This group will serve for a way to handle the increasing demands of our team as we transition into a larger club by meeting the needs of top 11/12 and 13/14 athletes without the demands of the senior 2 program.  Athletes will be encouraged to make four or more workouts per week (one of those should be Saturday AM).   These athletes should be competing in all home meets, appropriate out of town meets (Q+ and higher), and have a championship meet at the end of their season (Regionals, State, or Zones).  Coaches will pick meet events for the athletes as a professional coaching service.

Senior 2- In order to join this group athletes must be 13 years old or 12 with a Senior Iowa State Q time.  In this group athletes develop advanced training methods and an intense dryland program.   They will also use underwater video taping, training camps, and travel meets to further their progress.  Athletes in this group will be expected to make five workouts per week, with AM weights once they are a freshman in high school.   This group is highly demanding and includes athletes ages 12 to 22 at given times during the year.  The coaching staff will use great discretion when moving athletes to this group based on the perceived ability of the athlete to handle the physical, emotional, and social demands of being in this group.   Athletes will be expected to compete in all homes meets, ability based travel team meets (Q+, A+) and have a championship meet at the end of their season (Regionals, State, Sectionals).  Coaches will pick meet events for the athletes as a professional coaching service.

Senior 3- In order to join this group athletes must be at least a freshman in high school, with specialized goals to make strides towards qualifying for Regional (Sectionals, Grand Prix, Pro Ams) and National Championships.  These athletes will be placed in more specialized training to meet their needs in training for these goals.  Athletes will be expected to make 7 swimming workouts per week, along with weights.  For these athletes swimming is their primary extra curricular activity with a focus on competing at the collegiate level.  Athletes will be expected to compete in all homes meets, ability based travel team meets (A+, Grand Prix, Pro Ams) and have a championship meet at the end of their season (State, Sectionals, Nationals).  Coaches will pick meet events for the athletes as a professional coaching service. 

For All Goups- Please keep in mind the coaching staff will have the final say on group placement.  There are many factors which will be weighed prior to an athlete’s move to the next level, which include but are not limited to work ethic, technique, and physical and social development of your child.  If you have questions about the placement of your athlete please feel free to discuss this with the coaching staff.  Keep in mind that the staff has your child’s long term development in the sport of swimming in mind when we are making these decisions.  

BLAST Swim Lessons

Swimming lesson sessions are offered three times throughout the school year, with six - 30 minute lessons provided each session. Lessons this year will be offered in October, November, January and February. Cost is $30.00 if registered by the set deadline, any registrations after the deadline will be assessed at $5.00 late fee.  Click here to view this years flyer. Online registration is now available by clicking here.

Bronze Group- Typical Age: 3-6, must be potty trained
(Focus is on water enjoyment. Skills that will be worked on include floating and kicking with some assistance.)

Silver Group- Typical Age: 5-6
(Focus is on building confidence and helping the children feel comfortable in an aquatic environment. Skills that will be worked on include floating and introduction to freestyle and backstroke arm patterns.)                   

Gold Group- Typical Age: 6-7
(Focus is on reviewing past skills of floating and kick. Skills that will be worked on include freestyle and backstroke arm and breathing patterns, and introduction of the dolphin kick and breaststroke.)

Pre-Team Group- Typical Age: 7-11
(Focus is on refining the skills of the four competitive strokes of freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly.)

BLAST MASTERS

Click here to view this year's flyer!

Black Hawk Area Swimming (BLAST) is inviting adults age 18 and older to join us in our Masters Swimming program. This program is designed for swimmers who wish to workout in a team-orientated environment. Participants may range in ability from beginners to former college athletes. Our experienced coaching staff will design workouts according to ability levels.