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.
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 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.
Dates: January 8 – 12
Practice Times: Monday – Thursday, 5:00 – 7:00 pm | Friday, 4:00 – 6:00 pm
Ages: 5 – 17 (depending on ability)
Price: $225 for Members | $282 for Non-member
Registration for technique week is for the full week long session.
Prep Team
January 14 – March 7
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.
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 the 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.
PRACTICE TIMES
Swimmers will be placed in the skill groups during tryouts. Group practice times will be enforced. Swimmers will not be permitted to come to a separate practice time that is not their assigned group.
GROUP 1
- Sundays: 1 – 2 pm
- Tuesdays/Wednesdays/Thursdays: 4 – 5 pm
GROUP 2
- Sundays: 2 – 3 pm
- Tuesdays/Wednesdays/Thursdays: 5 – 6 pm
GROUP 3
- Sundays: 2:30 – 4:00pm
- Tuesday/Wednesdays/Thursday: 5:30 – 7:00 pm
SWIM MEETS
Monthly swim meets are offered throughout the season. All meets are scheduled on Monday evenings and hosted at the JCC with other teams invited to compete. The meets allow swimmers to get their adrenaline pumping and race at their fastest to see the growth throughout the season.
Times to be determined.
Attendance: Participants are encouraged to attend as many practices as possible
Coach: Steve Thomas
Ages: 5 – 15 (depending on ability)
PRICING
Group 1 & 2: $248 for members | $310 for non members
Group 3: $280 for members | $350 for non members
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: $36 | Non-members: $46
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
Mondays from 5 – 6 pm
- January 23 – Starts & Turns
- February 13 – Breaststroke,
- March 6 – Butterfly
- April 3 – Backstroke
- May 1 – Freestyle
For more information, contact Sam Neckar, Aquatics Program Manager, at sneckar@jccdallas.org or 214-239-7198.