Join the YMCA Swim Team

The Greater Waterbury YMCA Barracuda Swim Team is a competitive swim program offering development, training, and competition to swimmers age 6 and up. The philosophy of our program is "Everybody swims, everybody wins." Every swimmer is given the attention and the opportunity needed to achieve personal improvement.

Visit the Swim Team Website

Practice sessions are divided into four groups, based on a combination of age and experience:

BRASS

Swimmers 8 and under, and first-time swimmers. The focus is on the development of each of the four competitive strokes and meet skills (starts and turns). Swimmers practice 3 hours per week.

AGE GROUP / JUNIORS

Swimmers age 8-12, and first-time swimmers from 12 and up. The focus is on the fine-tuning of meet skills, developing good training habits, goal setting, and teamwork. The emphasis is on conditioning and meet strategy, as well as setting goals and contributing to the team. Swimmers practice 6 hours or more per week.

SENIOR

Swimmers 12 and over who have a who have attained a CT-Swimming Age Group Cut in at least one event. The focus of this group is on preparation for the Age Group and Senior Championship meets and ultimately qualifying for YMCA Long Course Nationals. Swimmers practice 8 hours a week.

Team Overview Information

We offer both Short Course (September -March) and Long Course (May - July) seasons.The team participates in USA swimming and the Connecticut YMCA Swim League with other YMCA swim teams, including Lehy, Wilton, Southington, and Westport. The team is open to novice swimmers as well as those with prior competitive experience.

We are a YMCA program and therefore YMCA meets are a primary focus. Swimmers are expected to attend all YMCA dual meets and any YMCA Championships in which the team participates. We also participate in USA swimming these meets swimmers are encouraged to participate in their required number including the championships that they qualify for.

Swim Team Qualifications

  • Children ages 8 & under must have the ability to swim 2 laps non-stop 1 of freestyle with rotary breathing and an additional lap of freestyle, 1 lap of backstroke non-stop and do a kneeling dive off the side of the pool.
  • Ages 9 & 10 must have the ability to swim 2 laps non-stop of freestyle with rotary breathing, 2 laps of backstroke non-stop, have basic knowledge of breaststroke and butterfly, and perform a basic forward flip in the water and a standing dive off the side of the pool.
  • Children ages 11 & 12 must have the ability to swim 4 laps non-stop of freestyle with rotary breathing, 2 laps of backstroke non-stop, 2 laps either breaststroke or butterfly and performa flip turns and racing start.
  • Teens ages 13 & over must have the ability to swim 4 laps non-stop of freestyle with rotary breathing, 4 laps of backstroke non-stop, 2 laps both breaststroke or butterfly and perform flip turns and racing start.

Water Exercise Classes

WATER EXERCISE

A low impact, water workout for any fitness level. Designed to be comfortable, invigorating and easy on your joints. This class improves strength, flexibility and endurance to improve movement.

AQUACIZE

Stretch, tone and strengthen muscles by using water resistance. This program consists of exercises that increase the range of motion in the shoulders, wrists, hips, knees, lower extremities and abdominal areas.

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Already on the team?

Visit the Barracudas Swim Team Portal

Barracudas Team Portal