Team mission: To develop individuals to their highest potential as athletes and leaders in life.
Team mission: To develop individuals to their highest potential as athletes and leaders in life.
Zeppelins are simple aircraft that float gracefully
and move eloquently.
The emphasis at this level is on how your body floats, sustains balance, and
moves in the water.
Ages: 6-12
Practice time: 3 x 45-minute practices/week, plus 30 min/week dryland
Facilities: Galowich YMCA, Smith YMCA, Joliet Country Club
The objective of the Zeppelin level is to nurture love for the sport of swimming, team pride, sportsmanship and YMCA character values while developing fundamental skills (such as streamlining, floating/balance, head/body position, proper kicking and breathing techniques, diving and somersaults) and teaching swimmers the rules and expectations they will need to follow throughout their development.
Gliders are simple aircraft that rely on a streamlined shape, as opposed to great amounts of propulsive force, in order to fly.
The emphasis at this level is not on generating more propulsion, but on reducing resistance in the water by developing better stroke form.
Ages: 8-14
Practice time: 4 x 60-minute practices/week, plus 30 min/week dryland
Facilities: Galowich YMCA, Smith YMCA, Joliet Country Club
The objective of the Glider level is to develop both a fast kick and a solid framework of stroke technique in all four strokes so that swimmers can perform each with legal form, including starts, turns and finishes, in addition to developing a basic understanding of simple training concepts such as set structures, intervals and sendoffs.
Stunt pilots must become highly skilled flyers in order to perform the difficult aerobatic maneuvers they are known for.
The emphasis of this group is to develop a high level of skill and master the tricks of the trade (strokes, starts, turns and finishes).
Ages: 9-12
Practice time: 5 x 75-minute practices/week, plus 30 min/week dryland
Facilities: Smith YMCA, Joliet Country Club
The objective of Stunt Pilot 1 is to develop good efficiency in all four strokes (measured by distance per stroke, mastery of more advanced drills, and the ability to maintain proper stroke technique over longer distances) so that athletes can begin to train at higher intensity and higher volume, and to nurture the proper practice habits, attitudes and values that will help them excel later on.
Stunt pilots must become highly skilled flyers in order to perform the difficult aerobatic maneuvers they are known for.
The emphasis of this group is to develop a high level of skill and master the tricks of the trade (strokes, starts, turns and finishes).
Ages: 13-18
Practice time: 5 x 90-minute practices/week, plus 30 min/week dryland
Facilities: Smith YMCA, Joliet Country Club
The objective of Stunt Pilot 2 is to prepare swimmers to train and compete at a high school varsity level while improving stroke technique and efficiency and nurturing good practice habits, nutrition, goal-setting, and leadership skills.
Supercruisers are aircraft that can maintain speeds faster than the speed of sound without the use of afterburners.
The emphasis at this level is improving top end speed and training faster and more efficiently over longer periods of time.
Ages: 11-14
Practice time: 6 x 90-105-minute practices/week, plus 90 min/week dryland
Facilities: Smith YMCA, Joliet Country Club, Riordan Pool
The objective of the Mach 1 group is to prepare young athletes to compete at the regional, state and zone championship level through an age-appropriate training plan designed to build a strong aerobic base and improve stroke efficiency, which will allow swimmers to succeed in events such as the 500 freestyle, 400 IM, and 200’s of each stroke. In addition, swimmers will be educated about nutrition, goal setting, leadership, race strategy and mental preparation that will help them excel as they get older.
Supercruisers are aircraft that can maintain speeds faster than the speed of sound without the use of afterburners.
The emphasis at this level is improving top end speed and training faster and more efficiently over longer periods of time.
Ages: 12-21
Practice time: 6 x 105-120-minute practices/week, plus 120 min/week dryland
Facilities: Smith YMCA, Joliet Country Club, Riordan Pool
The objective of the Mach 2 group is to prepare athletes to compete and succeed at the regional, state and zone championship level, and ultimately reaching the national level, while nurturing the right attitude, leadership qualities, goal setting habits, mental toughness and time management skills that will enable them to handle higher levels of commitment and higher volumes of training, both mentally and physically.
The Moon Lander is a highly advanced piece of technology that symbolizes the peak of man’s achievement.
The emphasis at this level is to become finely tuned athletes with no limits in sight.
Ages: 12-21
Practice time: 8-9 x 120-minute practices/week, plus 120 min/week dryland
Facilities: Smith YMCA, Joliet Country Club, Riordan Pool
The objective of the Moon Lander group is to provide a practice environment specifically for athletes who are committed to excellence and competing at a national championship level. Guidance will be provided to help kids deal with the challenges of being an elite level athlete, helping to cultivate skills such as mental toughness, time management, decision making and goal setting, and providing assistance with their college search and healthy living.
Ages: 18-21
Practice time: Same as Mach 2 or Moon Lander group
Facilities: Same as Mach 2 or Moon Lander group
The Graduate group is offered as an opportunity for JETS graduates who have gone on to college to continue to swim for the team while they are in town on holiday and summer breaks. Graduate swimmers must maintain a full YMCA membership; however, there are no program fees or fundraising requirements. Swimmers will be expected to help lead the team by methods such as coaching, helping at swim meets, or sharing their experiences at a team meeting.
