Transcript Competitive Synchronized Swimming

Competitive Synchronized
Swimming
How Does It Work?
Updated 9/18/2013
Note: Subject to change for 2014-2015
Season
Part I – Basics of the Sport
Structure

By Ability
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

Novice
Intermediate
Age Group

By Age


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15-18
15 & Over
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No age limitations
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Junior
Senior
Collegiate
Masters
12 & Under
13-15
16-17
18-19
Novice
Intermediate
Age Group
12 &
Under
✔
✔
✔
13-15
✔
✔
✔
✔
16-17
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
18-19
✔
✔
✔
✔
15-18
Junior
15&O
Senior
Junior
Senior
Collegiate
Masters
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
Novices
 First

year of synchro, no prior experience
Learn the basic skills
• Sculls (examples)
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Torpedo scull
Support scull
Alligator scull
• Eggbeater (examples)


“cheater” beater
Double arm eggbeater
• Strokes (examples)

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Backstroke
Side stroke
Novices (cont’d)
 Learn

components of synchro
Figures
• Novice figures

Routines
•
•
•
•
Solo
Duet
Trio
Team
Novices (cont’d)
 Become



familiar with competition setting
Figure judging
Routine judging
Awards
Novices (cont’d)
 Eligible

Competitions
Invitationals
• Fall Figure Invitational
• Have-A-Heart Invitational
• Capitol Classic Invitational

“Age Group” competitions
• PVA (Potomac Valley) Association (late April)
• South Region A (mid May)
Intermediates
 More
than one year experience, OR
 Has mastered basic skills


Coach determines when novice will advance
Not necessary to advance from intermediate
level
• Special needs swimmers
Intermediates (cont’d)
 Continue
to improve basic skills
(examples)


Eggbeater height (right side up)
Vertical height (upside down)
 Develop


more advanced skills
Increased difficulty in figures
More complex routines
Intermediates (Cont’d)
 Eligible

Competitions
Invitationals
• Fall Figure Invitational
• Have-A-Heart Invitational
• Capitol Classic Invitational

“Age Group” competitions
• PVA (Potomac Valley) Association (late April)
• South Region A (mid May)
Figures
 See
Rulebook for all figures
 Count as 50% of score
 Some required figures change from year
to year
 Tips you can give your swimmer


Smile at the judges at she swims out
Go slow
FYI -- Technical Elements
 Only
at senior competitions
 Competed instead of figures
FYI -- Technical Routines
 Only
at elite competitions
 Instead of figures or technical elements

Only for Senior Event Category!
 Will
be televised (with commentary) during
the Olympics
Routines
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Solo – one swimmer, synchronized to music
Duet – 2 swimmers, may have 1 alternate
Trio – 3 swimmers, may have 1 alternate
Team – 4 to 8 swimmers – 2 alternates
Combo – only at US Open and some
international competitions (up to 10 swimmers)
Time limits


Maximum time limit of routine -- no minimum
Deck work is timed.
Routines (cont’d)
 Coaches
choose small routine placement
based on:
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
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Similar ability of swimmers
Matchability of swimmers (appearance)
Age
Other factors (i.e. can not attend specific
competition; injury)
Do’s & Don’ts
For parents
Do’s
 Show
support for your swimmer’s efforts
 Learn the “lingo” of synchro
 Ask questions


Your swimmer’s coach
Senior parents
Do’s at a meet
 Volunteer


Caller/timer
Scorer
 Wear
NVN colors (red and blue)
 Make sure swimmer is ready for
competition (rested; fed; hydrated)
 Pay attention to your swimmer when she’s
up (figures/routines)
Don’ts
 Criticize
 Talk
negatively about others (especially
members of other teams) at meets
Questions?
End of Part I
Part II
Age Group skill level
Ages
 12
& Under
 13-15
 16-17
 18-19
Eligible Competitions for 12 &
Under & 13- and 14-year-olds
 Same
as novice/intermediates
 Age Group National Championships
Competing with an older AG
 Any
AG swimmer MAY compete with an
older age group
i.e. A 14-year-old may compete on an 1819 AG team if that is the most appropriate
place for the individual swimmer.
When does this happen?
A
younger swimmer’s skill level is higher
than her peers
 A small team does not have the required
number of age-appropriate members to
make up a team.
NOTE
A
swimmer may not swim BELOW her
“age.”
 The Age Group is based on the age of the
older swimmer in the routine.
i.e. 1 18-19, 3 16-17’s, 4 13-15’s =
18-19 team
15-year-olds
 Compete
in Age Group competitions as
13-15 (or higher)
 Eligible to compete at Junior competitions
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Junior/Senior Association Championship
Junior Zone Championship (qualifying score)
Junior National Championship (qualifying
score)
U.S. Open Championship (Junior Division)
15-year-olds (cont’d)
 May
compete for spot on Junior National
Team if swimmer qualifies for Phase I of
Junior Team Trials
 Phase I takes place at Junior National
Championship and consists of figures and
split testing
15-year-olds (cont’d)
 Eligible




to compete at Senior competitions
Junior/Senior Association Championship
Senior Zone Championship (qualifying score)
Senior National Championship (qualifying
PLACEMENT)
U.S. Open (Senior Division)
15-year-olds (cont’d)
 May
compete for spot on Senior National
Team I and/or II if swimmer qualifies for
Phase I of Senior Team Trials
 Phase I takes place at Senior National
Championship and consists of technical
elements and split testing