2015-2016
GRADES LEVEL 1 TO 3
Overall presentation & Implementation
LONG TERM ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT (LTAD)
USA Synchro LTAD program was released at the 2014 Coaches College. The full
document is available on USA Synchro’s website (Members only section).
LTAD is a new organizational model for USA Synchro. It is being implementing
through the next 5 years to provide a consistent, systematic and safe approach to
the training of Synchronized Swimmers in the USA from Grassroots to High
Performance.
It provides athletes, coaches, parents, officials, administrator and volunteers with
a clear training direction and the tools to implement it.
It is based on the various stages of development of women. LTAD uses Sport
Science, empirical coaching observations, human growth, development and
maturation principles to optimize sport experience and performance at each
stage of development.
USA SYNCHRO PROGRAMS STRUCTURE
National Team
International TRACK
National
Trials
12&U to Senior
Teams
Grade 4 to 10
US National
Championships:
Senior Nationals
Junior Nationals
13-15 Nationals
Grade 1 to 3
Elite TRACK
8-17+
Junior Olympics, Collegiate champ. (Club)
12& Under Nationals, Local competitions
CLUBS, SWIM SCHOOLS, UNIVERSITIES, HIGH SCHOOL
Competitive TRACK
All Ages
DEVELOPING SUPPORTING PROGRAMS
Every year from 2015 to 2018, USA Synchro will introduce a new training program for each stage of
development to implement a consistent training method from the Grassroots up.
PRINCIPLES OF THE GRADES
USA Synchro is implementing the Grade Levels along with the LTAD to ensure all
athletes progress through the new training programs in a similar manner and the
level at all competition is more consistent.
There are 10 Grade levels. An athlete must be pass a Grade in order to move to
the next level. Some Grades will be required in order to enter certain
competitions.
Grade 3 for Junior Olympics and 12&Under US Nationals. Grades 6 for 13-15 US
Nationals, Grades 8 for Junior US Nationals and Grade 10 for Senior US Nationals.
Each grade includes a combination of land and water testing:
1. Flexibility,
2. Conditioning,
3. Acrobatics,
4. Swimming,
5. Synchro laps,
6. Figures.
GRADES AND COMPETITION TRACKS
Grade Level
International and
Elite Tracks
Competitive
Track
Level 1
Level 2
12&Under US Nationals
Junior Olympics
Level 3
Level 4
Level 5
Level 6
13-15 US Nationals
Level 7
Level 8
Level 9
Junior US Nationals
Level 10
Senior US Nationals
2015-2016-2017 IMPLEMENTATION
2015-2016
Level 1 to 3 – implementation for all 13-15, Junior and Senior US National athletes
Assessors recruitment and training
Pre-School Synchro
2016-2017
Level 4 to 6 – implementation for all 13-15, Junior and Senior US National athletes
Level 1 to 3 – implementation for all 12&Under US National and Junior Olympics
athletes
Club Development 6-11 years old
Synchro Aquafitness
2017-2018
Level 7 to 10 – implementation for all Junior and Senior US National athletes
Club Development 11-15 years old
Middle & High School Synchro
ASSESSORS RECRUITMENT & TRAINING
GRADES - LEVEL 1 & 2
Assessors:
Level 2 Coach and Level 2 Judge
2 minimum per Association
1 per Club (unless only team in Association)
Course fee for each Grade. Training to include Grade
Manual, Assessment Manual and Videos.
Grade Competitions:
A Grade Competition can be organized by a club.
Each Grade is a USA sanctioned event.
Several clubs can participate in the competition.
Evaluations:
Each skill is judged Pass/Fail with approximately 6 criteria
for each skill.
NEXT STEPS 2015
June 15
Application deadline for Assessors’ training at Junior Olympics
June 26-July 4
Assessors training at Junior Olympics
General presentation of the Grades and their implementation
August 1
Application deadline for Assessors’ training at Coaches College
August 15
Application deadline for Assessors’ training at Convention
August 30
Assessors training at Coaches College
Sept. 29 - Oct. 4
Assessors training at Convention
FOR ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT THE HIGH
PERFORMANCE DIRECTOR AT
[email protected]