Guppies

Our unique Guppies program is a “pre-swim team swim team” which children between the ages of four and six bridge the gap between swimming lessons and swim team workouts. Guppies have fun and make new friends while learning the terminology and skills they will need to succeed on a swim team and improving their endurance, strength and confidence. Guppies who make significant progress are invited to join the Piranhas group of the PSA Team or Group I of our USA Team.  During the summer, Guppies are invited (but not pressured) to swim in the PSA swim meets.  The Guppies program is the ideal introduction to the world of competitive swimming – for our young swimmers and for their parents.

At the beginning of each three-month Guppies session we evaluate the swimming ability and maturity of each new swimmer. Guppies must be able to swim at least one width of the lower pool, freestyle, with side breathing; kick one width on their backs; and be mature enough to handle small group aquatic activities effectively. We then group the Guppies according to their swimming level and their maturity. 

Parent participation is vital to the success of the Guppies program.  Our coaches work with the Guppies’ parents to support their young swimmers at every stage of the program. Together we teach the Guppies the importance of attending practices, listening and learning during practices and at meets, being physically and mentally ready to swim, and keeping track of their own gear.  This sounds like a lot, but the young swimmers actually learn these things!

Guppies develop into the strong, confident individuals who go on to success in athletics and other endeavors thanks in part to the early foundation of excellence that the Guppies program provides.