Swim Groups

To learn more about each group go to:

• Novice (Recreation Team) Novices are generally first- or second-year swimmers, usually age 11 and under, who are working on basic artistic swimming skills. Some swimmers may skip the Novice level, particularly if they are older and/or have relevant experience. All novice swimmers learn figures, which are basic technical elements that are designated by USA Artistic Swimming. Some novice swimmers may do the team routine in another event, as a solo, duet, or trio. Swimmers in this team can compete at local meets.

• Intermediate (Recreation Team) Intermediates continue learning basic skills and begin developing more advanced skills. Like the Novices, all Intermediate swimmers participate in team routines and may also do the same routine as a solo, duet, or trio. Their figures become more complex, compared to the Novices. Swimmers in this team can compete at local meets.

• Official Age Group Categories (Competitive/Travel). Swimmers advance to Age Group when they have mastered basic and advanced skills and are prepared to make a more significant commitment to the team and the sport. Age Group swimmers participate in regional and even national competitions which require travel within the USA.  Age Group is a big commitment for both swimmers and parents. But if you’re ready to take it on, it is AMAZING to see our athletes grow and develop, compete at national events (and even win medals!), as well as develop strong bonds among themselves and with the coaches. Here are some of the most important things to know about Age Group artistic swimming.

• All Age Group swimmers participate in a team routine. Those selected to do solos, duets, or trios will typically learn separate routines for each category.   Swimmers in Age Group often learn two or more routines because each routine is unique at this level, unlike at the Novice/Intermediate level, where swimmers typically learn one routine and perform it in different combinations. Age Group swimmers do solos, duets, and full team routines; there are no trios at this level.

  • As detailed in the NVN Handbook, coaches make decisions about which athletes will do small routines (duets and solos) based on attendance and attitude, future potential, and demonstrated artistic swimming skill. 

  • As a general rule, every routine that qualifies for a meet should attend that meet. One missing swimmer can have a major impact on team scores, and it is demanding for our coaches to get swimmers prepared for highly competitive meets. Travel meets can be quite expensive, sometimes require time off from school, and often overlap with students’ spring and summer breaks, so this is an important expectation to understand and plan around. 

    • • • • 12&Under Age Group. We sometimes refer to this as the 11-12 Age Group, though competitors at this level can be and often are younger than age 11. 

          • 13-15 Age Group (Youth). Includes swimmers at competition ages 13-15.

          • Junior and Senior Age Group. Junior AG includes athletes who are competition age 17 and younger, while any swimmer who will turn 18 during the calendar year of the spring season must compete as a Senior (18-19). In general, most high school seniors and some juniors with birthdays in the fall compete as seniors. If any individual swimmer in a duet or team routine is a Senior, the whole routine must compete at the Senior level. 

USA Artistic Swimming has established six Level tests that Age Group swimmers must pass to qualify for certain major competitions, depending on their age. The tests involve increasingly difficult land-based strength and flexibility elements, general swim skills, and artistic swimming skill demonstrations.

For more about the transition to Age Group, please see this Age Group Basics document. 

Not sure which group is right for your swimmer? Email president@nvnsynchro.com  or outreach@nvnsynchro.com  and we'll be happy to help!