Swim Groups
Waukesha Express Swim Team Swim Groups
Our age group program is designed to provide our swimmers a strong foundation, focusing on technique and efficiency. These are priorities in all groups, but we want swimmers to form good habits at a young age. We do this while having fun and creating a love of the sport that will last a lifetime. "A swimmer with good technique has no limits, A swimmer with poor technique has nothing but limits." - John Leonard, former Executive Director of American Swimming Coaches Association.
Email us at info@waukeshaexpress.org to be contacted by a coach for a new swimmer evaluation or if you have swim team questions.
Group names updated 10/5/2025.
Super 8's and Age Group 1
There are no practice or meet requirments for these groups. We offer 4 practices a week. Families have flexibility to pick any 3 practices each week, and these can change from week to week. We recommend new swimmers start with 2 practices/week. The focus of these two groups is developing the four competitive strokes (freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly), starts and turns.
Super 8‘s
This group is for our swimmers that are 8 and under, and new to competitive swimming. Swimmers should be able to swim 25 yards freestyle and 25 yards backstroke to join this group. Recommended practice attendance is 2 - 3 times per week. Meet participation will be encouraged as swimmers are ready. Practice equipment: Fins (long), Kickboard.
Age Group 1
This is our beginning level swim team group for swimmers ages 9 - 12. Swimmers should be able to swim 25 yards freestyle and 25 yards backstroke to join this group. Recommended practice attendance is 2 - 3 times per week. Meet participation will be encouraged as swimmers are ready. Practice Equipment: Fins (long), Pull buoy, Kickboard.
Age Group 2 and Age Group 3
There are no practice or meet requirements in AG 2 or AG 3, however the below recommendations will help swimmers be successful and progress in the sport. Meet attendance is the best way to evaluate progress and identify areas to address in practice. We understand that swimmers will have other activities and interests, please talk to your coaches if you have a concern about meeting these practice or meet recommendations.
Age Group 2
This group is for 9 - 12 year olds that know the basic competitive swimming skills and all four competitive strokes. Emphasis is on fine tuning stroke technique and efficiency in the water. Recommended practice attendance is 3 - 4 times per week. Swimmers should compete in 1 - 2 meets per month (in season). Practice equipment: Fins (long), Pull buoy, Snorkel, Kickboard, and Paddles (optional).
Age Group 3
The swimmers in this group are 10 - 13 years old. Stroke technique and efficiency are still a focus along with adding a basic level of training to prepare for Senior swimming. Recommended practice attendance is 4 - 5 times per week, and swimmers should compete in 1 - 2 meets per month in season. Practice equipment: Fins (long or short), Pull Buoy, Snorkel, FINIS Agility Paddles, Kickboard.
Middle School/High School Training Group
MS/HS Training Group
This is a beginner level group for swimmers ages 11 - 18, to prepare swimmers for one of the Express swim team groups and/or high school swimming. Swimmers should be able to swim 25 yards freestyle and backstroke to join this group. This group meets twice a week. Meets are optional. Practice equipment: Fins (long), Pull buoy, Snorkel, Kickboard, and Paddles (optional).
Senior Team 1, 2 and 3
Senior Team 1
Swimmers typically transition to Senior swimming at 13 years of age.
Recommended practice attendance: 3 - 4 practices/week. Meet attendance is not required, however, swimmers will be required to compete regularly prior to moving to Senior Team 2.
Swimmers that are progressing in this group and have the goal of getting to Senior Team 2 will be invited to swim with Senior 2 for one additional practice each week (for a total of 5 practices/week).
Practice equipment: Fins (short), Pull buoy, Snorkel, Kickboard.
Senior Team 2
Required practice attendance: 4 - 6 practices/week. Must meet minimum of 5 practices/week to progress to Senior Team 3. Meet attendance will be required in this group, 1 - 2 meets per month (in season). The goal of this group is to prepare swimmers for Senior Team 3 training and competition.
Training requirements: swimmers should be able to complete 10 x 100’s on 1:30 (freestyle) consistency when starting with the group.
Practice equipment: Short fins, Pull buoy, Snorkel, Nose plug (optional), Tempo Trainer, Stretch Cord (optional), Kickboard.
Senior Team 3
Must commit to a minimum of 5 full afternoon/Saturday practices a week, and should participate in meets regularly (1 - 2 meets per month in season).
Training requirements: 10 x 100’s on 1:15 (boys)/1:20 (girls)
Practice equipment: Short fins, Pull buoy, Snorkel, Nose plug (optional), Tempo Trainer, Stretch Cord (optional), Kickboard.
National Team
Swimmers will be invited to the National Team for special meets and events, and are eligible for National Team gear.
Must commit to 90 - 95% practice attendance and attend 1 - 2 morning practices during the school year. The morning practice requirement can be waived by the coaching staff if traveling from outside of the area.
Swimmers must qualify for Speedo Sectional meet, NCSA Spring or Summer Championships, Speedo Winter Junior Nationals, Summer Junior Nationals, US Open, Summer National Championships or Olympic Trials.
Swimmers must also compete regularly and in meets as determined by the coaching staff. This includes all State and National Championship meets the team is attending.
