Competitive Program

Synchronized Swimming is a unique and challenging sport. While developing a high level of physical fitness, the athlete also acquires grace, poise, confidence and pride. The girls develop a team camaraderie and club spirit as they gain experience throughout the competitive program. They have tremendous pride in participating in a sport that is beautiful to watch. As a synchronized swimmer, the athlete learns respect, cooperation, commitment and above all, good sportsmanship. Gloucester Synchro’s competitive program is based on Synchro Canada ‘s competitive structure. This program is skill-based. All swimmers will be evaluated in the fall and placed on the appropriate team at that time. The hours of swimming per week is determined by age group of the team.

Last season Synchro Ontario restructured the provincial competitive system to be an age-group based design. Gloucester Synchro will be offering the following age-group teams based on the average age of the swimmers on the team: 10 & under, 11-12, 13/14/15, 16 and over. Gloucester Synchro may also continue to offer a Tier 6 program in the national stream. Note: depending on the level of ability of the swimmer, they may be placed on a higher or lower age-group team than their actual age.

On-line registration is available at https://registration.gloucestersynchro.ca . Registration package and any further information is available from the Registrar at registrar@gloucestersynchro.ca

For further information on Gloucester Synchro’s competitive program, please contact
Lianna Jeffrey-Sottile, Head Coach
headcoach@gloucestersynchro.ca

All swimmers in our club must participate in a team event and are required to perform figures as part of the team event.

Trillium 10 & Under Team: No previous synchro skills required. Prerequisite of Aquaquest 7. Swim 4 hours/week (2 days per week) pool time/dry land training plus optional flex training from September to end of May. The teams train to compete at 2-3 meets during the season. A focus is made on the development of teamwork, while working on enhancing the more complicated synchro skills.

10-11 Age-Group Team: Practice 4.5 hours per week September –December (2 day/week); 6 hours/week in the pool January – end of May (3 days/week), 1 hour land drill and 45 minutes flex training. Compete at 3-5 regional and provincial meets including the Ontario Provincial Age-Group Championships in May.

11-12 Age-Group Team: Practice 8 hours/week in the pool (4 days/week), 1 hour land drill and 45 minutes flex training. Compete at 3-5 regional and provincial meets including the Ontario Provincial Age-Group Championships in May.

13/14/15 Age-Group Team: Practice 8.5 hours/week in the pool (4 days/week), 1 hour land drill and 45 minutes flex training. Compete at 3-5 regional and provincial meets including the Ontario Provincial Age-Group Championships in May.

16 & Over Age-Group Team: Practice 9 hours/week in the pool (4 days/week), 1 hour land drill and 45 minutes flex training. Compete at 3-5 regional and provincial meets including the Ontario Provincial Age-Group Championships in May.

Athletes with Disability: All ages. Gloucester Synchro Club offers a program for swimmers participating in the Athletes with Disability category. Swimmers may compete in solo and duet events. Days and times will be established between the swimmers and the coach. Athletes will swim 1-2 hours per week.

Duets: Swimmers aged 11 & over (byDec. 31, 2011) may choose to swim in a duet with a swimmer within their age group. Practice is one hour per week. For all duets, the final duet selection is determined by the Head Coach. There is an additional fee for duets.

Solo: Swimmers aged 13 & over (byDec. 31, 2011) in provincial and national stream may choose to swim a solo. Practice is one hour per week. The final selection is determined by the Head Coach. There is an additional fee for solos.

Trillium Age 10 & Under Preset/12 & Under Solo/Duet Practice is one hour per week. The final selection is determined by the Head Coach. There is an additional fee for solos/duets. These solos/duets will compete at the Trillium Competition in June. Training for this event will begin in January.

Combo: For swimmers in provincial stream. This involves 2 practices per week plus one additional practice per month. Teams will be formed based on tryouts in September. There is an additional fee for combo. Spots not filled by team swimmers will be open to non-team swimmers. The final selection is determined by the Head Coach.

Specific days and times listed below are tentative and are based on coaching and pool time availability. Practices for all competitive programs begin Thursday September 8, 2011. .  Team selections should be complete on/before September 17, 2011. Regular practices will begin the week of September 18, 2011.  Check the calendar regularly – more information will be available atAGM.

Practice hours:
Trillium 10 & Under Team: 4 hrs/week pool time/dry land training + optional flex training 45 min.; 1 weekday practice, 1 Saturday practice (Sawmill 3-5 pm)

10 -11 Team: 4.5hs/ week pool time /dry land training September –December (2 days/week); 6 hrs/week pool time /dry land training January – end of May (3 days/week); Weekday practices

11-12 Team: 8 hrs/week pool time * 1hr land drill; 45 min. flex training; 3 weekday practices 4:00 – 6:00pm and Sun. U of O plus selected figure session (*Includes dedicated figure session)

13/14/15 Team: 8.5 hrs/week pool time*; 1hr land drill; 45 min flex training; 2 weekday practices, Sun. U of O, plus selected figure session (*Includes dedicated figure session)

16 & Over Team: 9 hrs/week pool time*; 1hr land drill; 45 min flex training; 4 weekday practice, Sun. U of O (*Includes dedicated figure session)

Combo: 4 hrs/week pool time: Thurs. Lowertown 8:00 – 10:00pm, Sat. Sawmill 4:00 – 6:00pm. plus an additional Sunday U of O practice 1 Sunday per month in the early practice time slot

Extra routines (solos, duets) will likely take place during the week day/weekend practices.

Additional Dry Land Training:
Mandatory land drill component– starts November. Coaches will determine the day of week. ALL Teams will have ADDITIONAL dry land training (cross training). 10 & Under Team flex training is optional – Monday evenings. Flex training for all other Teams will be on Monday evenings and is MANDATORY.

Competitions for the season will be determined once teams are divided. Teams will have a minimum of 2 competitions. Swimmers in the provincial age-group system will compete in East Regionals (Nepean Sportsplex) and Provincial Age-Group Championships (Etobicoke) plus additional competitions to be determined. Trillium 10 and under will compete at Regionals (Nepean Sportsplex) and 12 and under Trillium Championships (London,Ontario). Duets/Solos in provincial stream must qualify at Regionals to attend Provincial Age-Group Championships.

Swimmers in national stream routines will follow national stream events competition, culminating at Nationals (Junior –Victoria B.C))/ Espoir (13-15 – Etobicoke). National stream duets/solos must quality at Divisionals to attend Nationals/ Espoir.See tentative schedule in registration package – Calendar of Events. Travel costs are in addition to the total fees. Please plan ahead for the costs of out-of-town meets which include meet fees, travel, coaches per diems, accommodations. Each swimmer will also require a food allowance for each trip.

Calendar of Events will be submitted at AGM. Travel costs are in addition to the total fees. Please plan ahead for the costs of out-of-town meets which include meet fees, travel, coaches’ per diems, and accommodations. Each swimmer will also require a food allowance for each trip

The Gloucester Synchro Club generally hosts a meet annually and requires all families of competitive swimmers to volunteer their time (estimate of minimum of 12 hours per family) throughout the meet. This year, the Club will be looking to host an invitational meet during the competitive season. Hosting meets is an important way for the Club to generate revenues.

All swimmers require a good black swimsuit for figures, a Gloucester swimsuit for spacing, (new colour for this year), white cap, yellow Gloucester cap, competition goggles, Gloucester t-shirt, Club jacket and black yoga pants. Other optional items include Gloucester shorts and hoodie. Refer to Merchandise Order Form. Routine swimsuits are custom made and ordered by the head coach. More information will be available at the AGM or email merchandise@gloucestersynchro.ca .

Be sure you get your order in ASAP to ensure timely arrival of the club order. Your cooperation is appreciated. ALL CLOTHING MUST BE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION!