Trident Aquatic Club · Developmental Pathway

Developmental Team

Building the Foundation for Competitive Swimming

Trident's Developmental Team is for swimmers who already have established group-swimming experience and are ready to build stronger technique, endurance, practice independence and competitive readiness.

Where Development Begins

Stroke Development Strong technical foundations.
Endurance Increasing distance and training capacity.
Practice Skills Lane awareness and structured practice habits.
Competitive Readiness Preparing swimmers for the next team level.
Developmental Groups

Find the Right Developmental Group

All Developmental Team placements require an evaluation. Group placement is based on age, previous group-swimming experience, current skills, endurance and competitive readiness.

Developmental Team is NOT a beginner learn-to-swim program.

Swimmers must already have previous structured group-swimming experience and meet the required entry skills before placement. Examples include Trident Swim School group lessons, CYO swimming, interclub swimming, or another structured group swim program.

Early Development

Guppies

Friday · 5:30–6:30 PM · JCC

Our introductory Developmental Team group for younger swimmers who already have established group-swimming experience and are ready to begin learning team-style practice skills.

Entry Requirements · Evaluation Required
  • Must be able to swim independently
  • Must demonstrate bilateral breathing
  • Must have previous structured group-swimming experience
  • Previous experience may include Trident Swim School group lessons, CYO, interclub, or another organized group program
  • Must be able to follow coach instructions in a group setting
✓
Core Focus Freestyle, backstroke, endurance and practice independence.
✓
Placement Final placement is based on age, skill, endurance and readiness.
Developing Competitive Skills

Pre-Comp · JCC

Tuesday & Thursday · 5:15–6:15 PM · JCC

Designed for swimmers who already have group-swimming experience and are ready to build stronger freestyle and backstroke technique, endurance and competitive practice habits.

Entry Requirements · Evaluation Required
  • Must be able to swim independently
  • Must demonstrate bilateral breathing
  • Must have previous structured group-swimming experience
  • Previous experience may include Trident Swim School group lessons, CYO, interclub, or another organized group program
  • Must be able to follow coach instructions and participate in a structured group practice
✓
Practice Frequency Two structured practices each week.
✓
Placement Final placement is based on age, skill, endurance and readiness.
Developing Competitive Skills

Pre-Comp · Wagner

Monday & Wednesday · 6:00–7:00 PM · Wagner College

The Wagner group follows the same developmental standards, emphasizing technique, endurance, practice independence and preparation for the next competitive level.

Entry Requirements · Evaluation Required
  • Must be able to swim independently
  • Must demonstrate bilateral breathing
  • Must have previous structured group-swimming experience
  • Previous experience may include Trident Swim School group lessons, CYO, interclub, or another organized group program
  • Must be able to follow coach instructions and participate in a structured group practice
✓
Practice Frequency Two structured practices each week.
✓
Placement Final placement is based on age, skill, endurance and readiness.
Advanced Development · Ages 11–12

Pre-Comp Advanced

New for 2026–27 · Evaluation Required

Designed for older swimmers who have progressed beyond standard Pre-Comp but are not yet ready for placement into Trident's Competitive J1 group.

Entry Requirements · Evaluation Required
  • Freestyle proficiency
  • Backstroke proficiency
  • Bilateral breathing
  • Increasing endurance and independence
  • Some knowledge of breaststroke
  • Some knowledge of butterfly
  • Ability to follow structured sets and group-practice expectations
✓
Pathway Pre-Comp Advanced progresses toward Competitive J1.
✓
Why This Group Exists Novice is intended for younger swimmers, so older swimmers need a direct developmental bridge toward J1.

Younger Swimmer Pathway

Younger swimmers may progress through Novice as they build the skills needed for higher competitive groups.

Guppies → Pre-Comp → Novice → J1

Older Swimmer Pathway

Pre-Comp Advanced provides the developmental bridge for older swimmers who are not yet ready for J1.

Pre-Comp → Pre-Comp Advanced → J1
Development With Purpose

What We Build

Our Developmental Team teaches swimmers how to train, improve and become increasingly independent in a competitive team environment.

01

Technique

Freestyle, backstroke and progressive development of all four competitive strokes.

02

Endurance

Increasing distance and training capacity as swimmers progress.

03

Practice Skills

Lane awareness, circle swimming, listening to sets and greater independence.

04

Team Readiness

Preparing swimmers for the expectations and responsibilities of Trident's competitive program.

New for 2026–27

Pre-Comp Advanced

Ages 11–12

Pre-Comp Advanced was created for older swimmers who demonstrate strong foundational skills but need additional technical development, endurance and team-practice experience before entering Trident's Competitive J1 group.

Swimmers Should Demonstrate

  • Freestyle proficiency
  • Backstroke proficiency
  • Bilateral breathing
  • Increasing endurance and independence
  • Some knowledge of breaststroke
  • Some knowledge of butterfly

What We Continue to Build

  • Four-stroke development
  • Practice stamina
  • Starts, turns and streamlines
  • Lane and training independence
  • Ability to follow structured sets
  • Competitive J1 readiness
PRE-COMP ADVANCED → COMPETITIVE J1
Placement Required

Not Sure Which Group?

All Developmental Team placements require an evaluation. Our coaching staff will review your swimmer's age, previous group-swimming experience, current skills, bilateral breathing, endurance and competitive readiness and recommend the appropriate Trident developmental group.

Email for an Evaluation →