Strong. Fast. Unstoppable.
Our team philosophy is unique in many ways. Like many programs, we stress gradual increase in workload over the swimmer’s career. In the early ages, stress is put on technical improvement, overall physical development, and FUN. As the swimmers age, we encourage them to increase the frequency and duration of their practices and to commit to longer periods of uninterrupted training. These swimmers will eventually be successful if they learn the value of hard work, delayed gratification, and the ability to push themselves out of the comfort zone.
In order to enroll in the Devil Rays Prep Team, you must first schedule an evaluation through the Lenny Krayzelburg Swim Academy.
Prep Team
January 12 – May 14
Devil Rays Prep Team is an introduction to competitive swimming offering stroke refinement for all four strokes, endurance training, as well as instruction on starts, dives, and turns. Swimmers will get to participate in home swim meets against other local teams.
In order to enroll in the Devil Rays Prep Team, you must schedule a tryout if you are a new participant, and then register for the session online or in person. Swimmers must evaluate at Gliders level in the LKSA program or equivalent competency and also meet the below skill requirements to participate in Devil Rays Prep Team.
The Devil Rays Prep Team is split into three skills levels, Groups 1 through 3. There are different skill requirements to qualify for each group, and this will be assessed during a try-out with one of the swim coaches. Swimmers who qualify for a certain group must swim at the assigned practice time on the schedule. Below are the requirements to qualify for each level:
- Group 1: Can swim consistently 50 yards Freestyle and Backstroke. Mostly proficient with flip turns for Freestyle and Backstroke. Correctly swim 25 yards Breaststroke and Butterfly. Can long shallow dive from starting block.
- Group 2: Can swim consistently 100 yards Freestyle and Backstroke. Able to flip turn for Freestyle and Backstroke. Correctly swim 50 yards Breaststroke and Butterfly with an open turn. Familiar with pullout for Breaststroke. Able to Backstroke start from starting block. Familiar with USA-S regulations.
- Group 3: Can swim consistently 200 yards Freestyle and Backstroke. Able to flip turn for Freestyle and Backstroke. Correctly swim 100 yards Breaststroke and Butterfly with an open turn. Proficient with pullout for Breaststroke. Able to Backstroke start from starting block. Familiar with USA-S regulations.
NEW this season: Conference sessions with Coach Steve. On select Sunday afternoons throughout the season, head swim team coach Steve will be available for conference time with parents and swimmers in order to review goals, progress, and more. Schedule will be available at the start of the season.
Practice Times
Swimmers will be placed in skill group during tryouts.
GROUP 1
- Tuesdays/Thursdays: 4 – 5 pm
- Sundays: 12 – 1 pm
GROUP 2
- Tuesdays/Thursdays: 5 – 6 pm
- Sundays: 1 – 2 pm
GROUP 3
- Tuesdays/Thursdays: 6 – 7 pm
- Sundays: 1 – 2 pm
Conference Time & Dates
- Sundays: 2 – 3 pm (must schedule prior to session; details TBA)
Spring Swim Meet Dates (Mondays)
(Warm-ups at 5:00 pm | meets begin at 5:30 pm)
- January 27
- February 24
- March 23
- April 20
- May 11
Attendance: Participants are encouraged to attend as many practices as possible
Coaches: Steve Thomas & Gerardo Rivera
Ages: 5 – 17 (depending on ability)
Member: $360
Non-member: $450
Beginner Prep Team
January 12 – May 14
Devil Rays Beginner Prep Team is an introductory swim team to help your swimmer learn the concepts and rules of the sport in a fun learning environment. The focus of practice will be stroke refinement, team-building skills, and swim team basics.
Requirements include being co-enrolled in LKSA. Participants must be at the Freestylers level in LKSA or equivalent competency to qualify. In order to enroll in the Beginner Prep Team, you must schedule a tryout if you are a new participant, enroll in LKSA, and then register for the Devil Rays session online or in person. Swimmers who register for Beginner Prep Team but do not enroll in LKSA will not be able to participate on the team.
NEW this season: Conference sessions with Coach Steve. On select Sunday afternoons throughout the season, head swim team coach Steve will be available for conference time with parents and swimmers in order to review goals, progress, and more. Schedule will be available at the start of the season.
Practice Times
- Fridays: 4 – 5 pm
- Sundays: 12 – 1 pm
Conference Time & Dates
- Sundays: 2 – 3 pm (must schedule prior to session – details TBA)
Spring Swim Meet Dates (Mondays)
(Warm-ups at 5:00 pm | meets begin at 5:30 pm)
- January 27
- February 24
- March 23
- April 20
- May 11
Attendance: Participants are encouraged to attend as many practices as possible
Coaches: Steve Thomas & Gerardo Rivera
Ages: 5 – 13 (depending on ability)
Member: $240
Non-member: $300
Technique Week
Technique Week is a hands-on, intensive, and exciting week of fun training focused on swimming development and advancement. On day one, each participant is evaluated and filmed above and below water for Freestyle, Backstroke, Breaststroke, and Butterfly. In an effort to improve each swimmer’s technique, the coaching staff will work closely to increase their understanding of strong hydrodynamic principles for each stroke. The swimmers can watch recordings of their swimming to help them evaluate and get a new perspective on their skills outside of normal team practice. The remaining days will build upon their abilities in an effort to increase efficiency and speed. A final video taken on the last day should document each participant’s progress.
Practice Times: Monday – Friday, 4 – 6 pm
Dates: January 6 – 10
Coaches: Steve Thomas & Gerardo Rivera
Ages: 5 – 17 (depending on ability)
Member: $200
Non-members: $250
The Devil Rays Skills Clinics offer your swimmer an opportunity to enhance their proficiency in a particular stroke. Each Skills Clinic date has a different focus to give your swimmer the extra training they need to be successful in the water.
Swimmers do not have to be a part of the JCC Devil Rays Swim Team to register and participate in the skills clinics.
Members: $30 | Non-members: $40
Prices are per one-hour session.
Freestyle
- Racing Starts
- Break Out
- Proper Body Alignment
- Breath Control
Backstroke
- Back Racing Starts with “Break Out”
- Proper Body Alignment
- Stroke Count from Flags
Breaststroke
- Racing Starts with “Pull-out”
- Proper Stroke Timing and Body Position
- Glide Pull
Butterfly
- Racing Starts with “Break Out”
- Proper Stroke Timing and Body Position
- Breath Control
- Head Down Finish to Wall
Starts & Turns
- Racing Starts for All Competitive Swim Strokes
- Dynamic flip-turns for Freestyle and Backstroke
- Competitive race open turns for Breaststroke and Butterfly
Sundays 2 – 3 pm
- 2/9: Breaststroke
- 2/23: Starts & Turns
- 3/8: Butterfly
- 3/22: Starts & Turns
- 4/5: Backstroke
- 4/19: Starts & Turns
- 5/10: Starts & Turns
More information coming soon!
For more information, contact Sam Neckar, Aquatics Director, at sneckar@jccdallas.org or 214-239-7198.