FAST is structured with several practice groups to meet the needs of the individual swimmers. As swimmers grow and improve, new challenges are presented and higher level skills are taught. The groups take into consideration not only the swimmer's age and skills but also their goals and commitment levels. Each swimmer will develop at their own rate. Our objective is to allow our swimmers to arrive at their physical maturity with all the skills and physical conditioning background needed to swim fast and be successful if they choose to swim in college and beyond. The swimmers will find appropriate fun in the sport, whether it be with skill-building games for newer swimmers, meeting new friends with shared interests, or having the satisfaction of setting and achieving goals as older swimmers.

Our groups follow several "tracks". New swimmers start on a Fundamentals track. Once swimmers have developed a fundamental skill base they will progress to either the Blue Ribbon or Gold Medal track. The athletes will possibly move between the two tracks as they grow, change their goals and commitment levels, and change in their ability relative to their peer group.

Fundamentals Track  Marlins Barracudas Makos
Blue Ribbon Track  White Red Blue Seniors II	Gold Medal Track  Bronze Silver Gold Seniors I
Masters Track  Masters

A Fundamentals track teaches novice swimmers the basic skills of competitive swimming and provides baseline physical conditioning and swim meet experience. Practices will focus on fun and learning.
Groups: Marlins, Barracudas, Makos

The Blue Ribbon track provides an excellent swim team experience for athletes who mature later, swim primarily for social reasons, or do not wish to commit to swimming as their highest priority activity. Groups in this track have expected attendance and competition levels to assure success and progression.
Groups: White, Red, Blue, Seniors II

The Gold Medal track is for athletes who have higher performance-oriented goals, have matured earlier and demonstrate their commitment toward swimming. The groups in this track have more stringent requirements for attendance and competition.
Groups: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Seniors I

Masters swimming is for adults age 19 and older. This group is oriented first towards participation and lifelong fitness, with competition in Masters meets a motivating but secondary goal. The group is diverse and workouts are written to suit the ability and interests of novice adults with no prior experience, former elite competitors, triathletes, and includes parents of children in other FAST groups.

Prospective FAST swimmers will tryout with the team where a coach will determine which practice group the swimmer will be assigned.

Group changes are done usually after the championships meets twice a year but can also be done as appropriate throughout the year as determined by the coaching staff. For some swimmers there will be a "cross-over" transition period during the moveup where the swimmer will remain with their group but attend a few extra practices each week with the new group they will join until they adjust to the new workload.

Complete description of our practice groups