The Sandhills Sandsharks Swim team practices at the O’Neal School, 3300 Airport Road, Southern Pines, NC. The team is comprised of an Age Group Team and a Senior Team. This breakdown of ages and capabilities ensures the swimmers maximize their potential and receive the optimum experience with their peers and coaches. Swim lessons are highly recommended before continuing on to these competitive levels. Following are descriptions of our swim lessons and teams.

Our Swim Lessons are created to teach the skills and knowledge needed to become a safe and proficient swimmer. There is a main focus on breathing, kicking, stoke technique, and being self-sufficient in and around the water. The levels are designed to create a logical progression for aquatic skill development. The only requirement for this level is to be at least 3 yrs. old. They will continue to move through swim lessons until they are ready for one of the Age Group Teams.

The Age Group Team is further divided into four practice groups:

Sharkbites
Sharkbites are a pre-competitive group coached by Rachel Fritts. This program gives the swimmer hands on training with one of our qualified coaches. They usually already know how to swim but never had any formal stroke training. They will learn how to be safe around the water, have fun, and how to become a competitive swimmer if they wish to continue through our swim program. Once learning the four competitive strokes they will participate in our local Blue vs. Green & Get Up & Go meets.

Sharklets
Sharklets are the developmental practice group Coached by Beth Field. These swimmers are generally the youngest (8 yrs & under) and least experienced. An emphasis is placed on stroke technique, fun and sprinting. This group gets children interested in swimming and competition. Developmental meets or other competitions are available about every 5 weeks for this group. Swimmers are offered practices 2 times per week.

Blue
Blue Coached by Owen Herbert This practice group is comprised of swimmers with some experience (9-11 yrs but may include some 10 or 13-14 yr old swimmers). An emphasis is placed on stroke technique, turns, starts, relays, speed work and fun. This group will experience limited aerobic training. Blue/Green swimmers will also be encouraged to attend a travel meet in the winter and summer (short-/long-course) season. Competition is available about every 5 weeks. Practices are offered 5 times per week with dry-land training 2 times per week.

Junior
Junior Coached by Owen Herbert These swimmers are generally 11-12 year olds (may include some 10 or 13-14 yr old swimmers) with competitive swimming and development experience. Junior practices emphasize competition and training, aerobic work, dry-land training and goal setting along with continued stroke and technique work. Competition is available about every four weeks. Practices are available 5 times per week and 2 coincidental dry-land practices.

Senior Team
The Senior Team is comprised of Senior I and Senior II swimmers coached by Taylor Cooper.

Senior II
Senior II practice group is a transition group between the Junior level and the Senior I level of practice and competition. These swimmers tend to be 13 yrs and older with swimming experience, higher levels of development, commitment to practice and overall athletic ability. This group trains for increased competitive fitness with goal setting, more rigorous practice schedules and an emphasis on understanding the body’s energy system and proper decision making. Travel meets are important to this further development of these swimmers with competition approximately every 4 weeks. Nine swim practices along with three dry-land training sessions are offered each week.

Senior I
Senior I practice group is by coach invitation. Senior swimmers are involved in rigorous aerobic and anaerobic training, weight-training, and dry-land training. These swimmers have committed to participate in the sport of swimming at the highest level and are willing to challenge themselves to achieve their greatest potential. This level of swimmer is physically and mentally mature and will be given opportunities to lead, manage their time and training with the coach’s guidance, and is willing to make sacrifices to achieve their swimming goals.

Emphasis is on complete development of the swimmer athletically, technically, competitively and psychologically. Goal setting includes all aspects of development at this level. There are nine practices and three dry-land sessions available for swimmers in this group. Practices are early morning, every afternoon and one weekend morning.