COMPETITIVE SWIMMING FOR AGES 5–18

Swim Teams are competitive swimming programs for ages 5 to 18. Swim team coaches work to improve each swimmer's stroke skill, endurance and speed. Based on tryout results, teams are organized by ability levels and help swimmers improve and refine the four competitive strokes, sets, starts and finishes. Workouts include endurance, speed and drill techniques, with a healthy dose of teamwork and sportsmanship. Teams participate in YMCA competitive swim meets. Membership is required to participate in YMCA Swim Teams.

What to Expect

  • Wear family-appropriate, clean swim attire
  • Bring towel & goggles
  • Arrive at practice dressed and ready for the pool
  • Plan to swim for the entire practice session, depending on the swimmer's skill and endurance level

Select your location below to get started 

Albemarle Family YMCA Swim Team
Fees: Vary 

To participate in Swim Team at the Albemarle Family YMCA, schedule your child's tryout by filling out our inquiry form here or by emailing/calling Christina Weiss, Aquatics Director. Practice times are determined by age and skill level following tryout. View more information here.

Eastern Shore Family YMCA Swim Team
Fees: $200/3-month session

To participate in Swim Team at the Eastern Shore Family YMCA, schedule your child's skill evaluation by emailing or calling Tasha Lucy, Aquatics Director. Practice times are determined by age and skill level following tryout.

Outer Banks Family YMCA Swim Team
In addition to YMCA swim meets, the Outer Banks Tidal Waves Swim Team participates in USA Swimming swim meets.

Blue Group
$175/session

This is our STROKE INSTRUCTIONAL program. There is an emphasis on stroke technique, turns, starts, and fun. Swimmers have shown the ability to swim all four competitive strokes. This begins to introduce swimmers to the world of competitive swimming by building endurance through basic sets.

  • Swim legal 100-yard freestyle with flip-turns and streamlines.
  • Swim legal 50 backstroke with flip-turns and streamlines and show competence in butterfly and breaststroke.
  • Ability to listen and execute independent set instructions, as well as positively interacting with teammates.

Black Group
$200/session

This group is for age-group level swimmers and is a competitive group designed for Junior High and High School swimmers with proficiency in all 4 competitive strokes with an intention to compete. Swimmers with focus on mastering the 4 competitive strokes as well and starts and turns.

  • Swimmers will be introduced to aerobic maintenance, speed, and racing strategies are explained and practiced.
  • Swimmers are expected to utilize the pace clock to be self-reliant during workouts.
  • Must be able to swim 500 yards to include 6 x100s Free @ 2:00

Silver Group
$225/session

This is a senior-level group whose focus will be mastering the four competitive strokes and racing techniques. This group is for swimmers who have B times or better. Swimmers in this group will be perfecting stroke technique and learn more nuance race strategies. This group is designed to push athletes to a greater volume of aerobic endurance training as well as a continued commitment to stroke refinement in all four strokes, including starts, turns, and finishes. Must be able to swim:

  • 500 yards Free under 8:00
  • 12 x 100 Free on 1:45 interval
  • 2 x 200 IM on 4:00
  • 10 x 50s Kick on 1:10
To participate in Swim Team at the Outer Banks Family YMCA, schedule your swimmer's skill assessment by emailing or calling Samantha Wills, Aquatics Director. Practice times are determined by age and skill level following assessment.

YMCA of Portsmouth Swim Team    
Fees: $60/month members    
$120/month members 

For questions relating to the YMCA of Portsmouth Swim Team, please email our Aquatics Team. View more information about swim team here.

YMCA of South Boston/Halifax County Sea Serpents 
Fees: $60/month members    

All swimmers should be able to complete a full length of the pool without stopping before joining this group. Must attend practices on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Friday 5:00pm to 6:30pm. For more information and to register please contact Jennifer Crysler or stop in at the Y. 

Online registration is open through November 30, 2024