Competitive Synchronized Swimming How Does It Work? Updated 9/18/2013 Note: Subject to change for Season

Part I – Basics of the Sport

Structure By Ability By Ability Novice Novice Intermediate Intermediate Age Group Age Group Junior Junior Senior Senior Collegiate Collegiate Masters Masters By Age By Age 12 & Under & Over No age limitations

NoviceIntermediate Age Group JuniorSeniorCollegiateMasters 12 & Under Junior 15&OSenior

Novices First year of synchro, no prior experience First year of synchro, no prior experience Learn the basic skills Learn the basic skills Sculls (examples)Sculls (examples) Torpedo scull Torpedo scull Support scull Support scull Alligator scull Alligator scull Eggbeater (examples)Eggbeater (examples) cheater beater cheater beater Double arm eggbeater Double arm eggbeater Strokes (examples)Strokes (examples) Backstroke Backstroke Side stroke Side stroke

Novices (contd) Learn components of synchro Learn components of synchro Figures Figures Novice figuresNovice figures Routines Routines SoloSolo DuetDuet TrioTrio TeamTeam

Novices (contd) Become familiar with competition setting Become familiar with competition setting Figure judging Figure judging Routine judging Routine judging Awards Awards

Novices (contd) Eligible Competitions Eligible Competitions Invitationals Invitationals Fall Figure InvitationalFall Figure Invitational Have-A-Heart InvitationalHave-A-Heart Invitational Capitol Classic InvitationalCapitol Classic Invitational Age Group competitions Age Group competitions PVA (Potomac Valley) Association (late April)PVA (Potomac Valley) Association (late April) South Region A (mid May)South Region A (mid May)

Intermediates More than one year experience, OR More than one year experience, OR Has mastered basic skills Has mastered basic skills Coach determines when novice will advance Coach determines when novice will advance Not necessary to advance from intermediate level Not necessary to advance from intermediate level Special needs swimmersSpecial needs swimmers

Intermediates (contd) Continue to improve basic skills (examples) Continue to improve basic skills (examples) Eggbeater height (right side up) Eggbeater height (right side up) Vertical height (upside down) Vertical height (upside down) Develop more advanced skills Develop more advanced skills Increased difficulty in figures Increased difficulty in figures More complex routines More complex routines

Intermediates (Contd) Eligible Competitions Eligible Competitions Invitationals Invitationals Fall Figure InvitationalFall Figure Invitational Have-A-Heart InvitationalHave-A-Heart Invitational Capitol Classic InvitationalCapitol Classic Invitational Age Group competitions Age Group competitions PVA (Potomac Valley) Association (late April)PVA (Potomac Valley) Association (late April) South Region A (mid May)South Region A (mid May)

Figures See Rulebook for all figures See Rulebook for all figures Count as 50% of score Count as 50% of score Some required figures change from year to year Some required figures change from year to year Tips you can give your swimmer Tips you can give your swimmer Smile at the judges at she swims out Smile at the judges at she swims out Go slow Go slow

FYI -- Technical Elements Only at senior competitions Only at senior competitions Competed instead of figures Competed instead of figures

FYI -- Technical Routines Only at elite competitions Only at elite competitions Instead of figures or technical elements Instead of figures or technical elements Only for Senior Event Category! Only for Senior Event Category! Will be televised (with commentary) during the Olympics Will be televised (with commentary) during the Olympics

Routines Solo – one swimmer, synchronized to music Solo – one swimmer, synchronized to music Duet – 2 swimmers, may have 1 alternate Duet – 2 swimmers, may have 1 alternate Trio – 3 swimmers, may have 1 alternate Trio – 3 swimmers, may have 1 alternate Team – 4 to 8 swimmers – 2 alternates Team – 4 to 8 swimmers – 2 alternates Combo – only at US Open and some international competitions (up to 10 swimmers) Combo – only at US Open and some international competitions (up to 10 swimmers) Time limits Time limits Maximum time limit of routine -- no minimum Maximum time limit of routine -- no minimum Deck work is timed. Deck work is timed.

Routines (contd) Coaches choose small routine placement based on: Coaches choose small routine placement based on: Similar ability of swimmers Similar ability of swimmers Matchability of swimmers (appearance) Matchability of swimmers (appearance) Age Age Other factors (i.e. can not attend specific competition; injury) Other factors (i.e. can not attend specific competition; injury)

Dos & Donts For parents

Dos Show support for your swimmers efforts Show support for your swimmers efforts Learn the lingo of synchro Learn the lingo of synchro Ask questions Ask questions Your swimmers coach Your swimmers coach Senior parents Senior parents

Dos at a meet Volunteer Volunteer Caller/timer Caller/timer Scorer Scorer Wear NVN colors (red and blue) Wear NVN colors (red and blue) Make sure swimmer is ready for competition (rested; fed; hydrated) Make sure swimmer is ready for competition (rested; fed; hydrated) Pay attention to your swimmer when shes up (figures/routines) Pay attention to your swimmer when shes up (figures/routines)

Donts Criticize Criticize Talk negatively about others (especially members of other teams) at meets 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 12 & Under

Eligible Competitions for 12 & Under & 13- and 14-year-olds Same as novice/intermediates Same as novice/intermediates Age Group National Championships Age Group National Championships

Competing with an older AG Any AG swimmer MAY compete with an older age group Any AG swimmer MAY compete with an older age group i.e. A 14-year-old may compete on an AG team if that is the most appropriate place for the individual swimmer.

When does this happen? A younger swimmers skill level is higher than her peers A younger swimmers 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. 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. A swimmer may not swim BELOW her age. The Age Group is based on the age of the older swimmer in the routine. The Age Group is based on the age of the older swimmer in the routine. i.e , s, s = team team

15-year-olds Compete in Age Group competitions as (or higher) Compete in Age Group competitions as (or higher) Eligible to compete at Junior competitions Eligible to compete at Junior competitions Junior/Senior Association Championship Junior/Senior Association Championship Junior Zone Championship (qualifying score) Junior Zone Championship (qualifying score) Junior National Championship (qualifying score) Junior National Championship (qualifying score) U.S. Open Championship (Junior Division) U.S. Open Championship (Junior Division)

15-year-olds (contd) May compete for spot on Junior National Team if swimmer qualifies for Phase I of Junior Team Trials 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 Phase I takes place at Junior National Championship and consists of figures and split testing

15-year-olds (contd) Eligible to compete at Senior competitions Eligible to compete at Senior competitions Junior/Senior Association Championship Junior/Senior Association Championship Senior Zone Championship (qualifying score) Senior Zone Championship (qualifying score) Senior National Championship (qualifying PLACEMENT) Senior National Championship (qualifying PLACEMENT) U.S. Open (Senior Division) U.S. Open (Senior Division)

15-year-olds (contd) May compete for spot on Senior National Team I and/or II if swimmer qualifies for Phase I of Senior Team Trials 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 Phase I takes place at Senior National Championship and consists of technical elements and split testing