Aquatics

Hydra Aquatics
Hydra Aquatics

HYDRA Aquatics

HYDRA Aquatics was started in September 2019 at the American School of Doha to provide a community based swim team that would include basic learn to swim up to elite competitive and masters programming. In 2021 triathlon programming was added to HYDRA Aquatics. Today HYDRA Aquatics offers a 6 level learn to swim program for under 13s, a teen learn to swim, four levels of competitive or academy swimming, a masters program for those 18 and over and triathlon programs for youth and adults.

Fundamentals Program

Learn to swim is provided through the fundamentals program.

Fundamentals of Swimming

Fundamentals programs teach children how to swim and be safe in a fun, challenging environment.  Lots of in-water practice helps develop solid swimming strokes and skills on which to build. These programs run for 40 minutes 2 times per week.  Progressions accommodate children from the ages of 4 to 12 years of age with their progression based on each child’s development, both physically as well as social-emotionally rather than their chronological age. Children progressing through the Fundamentals can move into HYDRA’s Competitive stream or our Teen Lessons. No matter what your interest, we have a program for you.

fundamentals of swimming

Fundamentals - Core of program

  • 2 sessions/week, 40 minutes per class, 1:6 coach - swimmer ratio
  • Runs 6 days per week (Saturday - Thursday)
  • Days are linked in pairs (Sat/Tues; Sun/Wed; Mon/Thur)
  • Coaches are consistent through term with each class
  • Class offered 4:15 - 4:55; 5:00 - 5:40 p.m. The Sat/Tues pairing also offers 8:30 - 9:10 a.m./3:30 - 4:10 p.m. option.

These are the grading criteria for each level. Other factors may be considered when moving a swimmer up in any level including maturity, strength and coachability, which can be viewed as the swimmer’s ability to listen to and act on constructive feedback.

Fundamentals Intro

  • Water safety - around and in the pool
  • Water acclimatization
  • Blowing bubbles
  • Submerging face and then head
  • Jump into chest deep water
  • Submerge face & blow bubbles 5 times
  • Open eyes underwater
  • Starfish float - front
  • Starfish float - back
  • Bobbing in shallow water with/without assistance
  • Basic movement patterns - front and back
  • Introduce some equipment - flutter board
  • Basic arm movements on front and back
  • Kicking with straight legs - front and back
  • Movement without support for 10m

Fundamentals - 1

  • Perform a safe entry
  • Jump into chest-deep water
  • Jump into deep water with floatation
  • Safe exit from pool side & ladder
  • Submerge face & blow bubbles 5 times
  • Open eyes underwater
  • Tread water for 30 sec. With floatation
  • Starfish float - front & back
  • Streamline position - push off wall into streamline
  • Flutter kick 10m with board - front & back
  • Dolphin kick 10m with board on back
  • Swim 15m with board - front crawl kick with arm progression blowing bubbles continuously
  • Swim 12-15m unaided blowing bubbles continuously

Fundamentals - 2

  • Introduction to general pool rules & safety measures
  • Jump into deep water, return to side & exit
  • Sideways entry with floatation
  • Tread water for 15 sec. - unaided
  • Treading water using sculling & scissor kick
  • Without goggles, retrieve toy from the bottom of shallow end of pool
  • Swim to Survive test: with floatation, jump into the deep end, tread 30 sec. & swim/kick 25m
  • Basic front crawl breathing pattern - exhale in water, inhale outside water
  • Flutter kick 15m with board & push off wall - on front
  • Flutter kick 15m no board - push off wall
  • Breaststroke pulls 10m - synchronized - correct technique
  • Breaststroke kick in vertical position with aid for 30 sec.
  • Swim 25m unaided using front crawl or backstroke

Fundamentals - 3

  • Perform 3 different jumps into deep water, return to side & exit
  • Diving progression - sitting on poolside, kneeling, crouching, standing, off the block
  • Forward roll entry into deep water
  • Treading water using sculling & breaststroke kick 30 sec.
  • Without goggles, retrieve toy from the bottom of deep end
  • Handstand in shallow water
  • Front & back somersault in water
  • Flip turn progression
  • Underwater/push-off basics for all 4 strokes including glide, underwater kick & breakout
  • Swim to Survive test: front roll into deep water, tread for 60 sec, swim 50m
  • Basic front crawl breathing pattern used consistently during swim
  • Breaststroke kick progression - front & back using kickboard
  • Basic butterfly with fins - sufficient strokes to include breathing
  • 4 x 25m flutter kick with 20 sec. rest interval
  • 4 x 25m front crawl with 30 sec. rest interval - emphasis on proper technique
  • 4 x 25m backstroke with 30 sec. rest interval - emphasis on proper technique

Fundamentals - 4

  • Consistently follows pool rules & safety guidelines
  • Dive into pool from side consistently using good technique
  • Treading water using sculling & egg-beater kick - 60 sec.
  • Swim underwater for 10m
  • Swim to Survive: roll entry into deep water, tread for 90 sec., swim 75m
  • Butterfly progression using fins - goal is 25m of full stroke with breathing
  • Turns - continue turn progression for all strokes
  • Consistent use of flip-turn when swimming front crawl
  • Stroke development - free, back & breast stressing technique
  • 4 x 25m front crawl with 30” rest
  • 4 x 25m backstroke with 30” rest
  • 4 x 25m breaststroke with 30” rest
  • Swim 100m continuously using any combination of strokes

Fundamentals - 5

  • Shallow dive into deep water
  • Diving start from blocks
  • Tuck jump (cannonball) from blocks
  • Treading water using sculling & egg-beater kick 2 minutes
  • Legs only eggbeater kick for 30 seconds
  • Swim underwater 10m to recover object from deep end
  • Butterfly progression no fins - goal is 25m of full stroke
  • Breaststroke 50m with basic turn
  • Backstroke 50m with basic turn
  • Front crawl 50m with tumble/flip turn
  • Backstroke start - grab & hold for 5”
  • Turns: Butterfly to backstroke
  • Turns: Backstroke to breaststroke
  • Turns: Breaststroke to front crawl
  • Swim 200m continuously using any stroke or combination of strokes
  • Swim 100 IM

Teen Swim

All participants will be evaluated during the first session(s) and teaching will be at an appropriate level.

  • Practice is Saturday and Tuesday evening.
  • Small group workouts of 1:10 ratio at most
  • Primarily following the Fundamentals teaching progression
Teen Swim

COMPETITIVE SWIMMING

(Also known as Squad Swimming or Academy Swimming)

Once the foundational skills of swimming all the strokes are set through the Fundamentals program swimmers are encouraged to move into the competitive stream.  Swimmers will progress through a series of levels designed to recognize skill development and training capacity. Racing opportunities will be introduced with increasing focus on performance and race readiness.

Introducing train to train principles.

  1. 3 sessions/week 60 minutes per practice          1:10 coach - swimmer ratio
  2. Runs 6 days per week
  3. Days are linked Sat/Mon/Wed or Sun/Tues/Thur
  4. Coaches are consistent for each grouping
  5. Practice is 5:45 - 6:45 p.m. Sunday - Thursday + 10:45 - 11:45 Saturday
  6. Maximum capacity (2 groups/season X 30 swimmers) = 60 swimmers
  7. Racing in local competitions plus any HYDRA hosted competitions. Primarily focused on 50m distances in racing. 
  8. Entrance standards for JUNIOR BRONZE: 
    • Streamlining after starts and turns in all four strokes.
    • BK – 200m quality swim (QS), breathe every 2nd stroke (BE2), flip turns (flips), 100m quality kick (QK) with flip turns and streamlining.
    • FR – 200m QS, BE3, flips, 100m QK with a kickboard.
    • BR – 100m QS, turns-breakouts, 100m QK with a kickboard.
    • FL – 25m QS, BE2, 25m QK with a kickboard.
    • IM – 100m QS, legal turns.
    • GENERAL ENDURANCE:
    • 6 x 75m BK QS, BE2, flips, rest 20 seconds (P – 20”).
    • 5 x 100m FR QS, BE3, flips, P – 20”.
    • 8 x 50m BR QS, turns-breakouts, P – 20”.
    • 10 x 25m (15m FL QS, BE2 + 10m easy (EZ) stroke choice), P – 30”.
    • 6 x 50m IM order (IMO) QS; switch strokes by 25’s: FL/BK, BK/BR, BR/FR, P – 20”. NO TIMING, NO STROKE COUNT.

Build on train to train and compete more often.

  1. 4 sessions/week 90-120 minutes per practice   1:10 coach - swimmer ratio
  2. Practice on Saturday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday
  3. Exact timing of groups to be announced when groups are split out and started.
  4. Coaches rotate some - Coach Nat will be the lead coach for this group.
  5. Optional Tuesday morning practice to introduce early sessions
  6. Maximum capacity 30 swimmers
  7. Competition schedule of approximately 10 racing opportunities per year including at least one travel meet. Introduction of 100 and 200m races.
  8. Entrance standards for JUNIOR SILVER:
    • Streamlining and breakouts after starts and turns in all four strokes.
    • BK – 300m QS, BE2, flips, 200m QK, flips.
    • FR – 300m QS, BE3, flips, 200m QK with a kickboard.
    • BR – 200m QS, turns-breakouts, 200m QK with a kickboard.
    • FL – 50m QS, BE2, turn, 50m QK with a kickboard.
    • IM – 200m QS switch strokes every 50m, legal turns.
    • GENERAL ENDURANCE:
    • 8 x 75m BK QS, BE2, flips, P – 20”.
    • 7 x 100m FR QS, BE3, flips, P – 20”.
    • 10 x 50m BR QS, turns-breakouts, P – 20”.
    • 10 x 25m FL QS, BE2, P – 30”.
    • 9 x 50m IMO QS, switch strokes by 25’s, P – 20”.
    • SPECIAL ENDURANCE.
    • 8 x 25m K for every stroke, except FL fast, timed @ 1’10”.

Build on train to train and compete more often.

  1. 5 or 6 sessions/week 90 minutes per practice          1:12 coach - swimmer ratio
  2. Runs 6 days per week
  3. Practice offered on Saturday morning; Sunday - Thursday afternoon/evening; Sunday, Tuesday morning. There are 8 options to make 5-6 practices.
  4. Coaches rotate some - Coach Mouhamed will be the lead coach and have at least one assistant with him at all sessions.
  5. Maximum capacity 30 swimmers
  6. Competition schedule of approximately 10 racing opportunities per year including at least one travel meet. Introduction of all race distances. All swimmers will race in the HYDRA Distance meet in January.
  7. Entrance standards for JUNIOR GOLD
    • BK – 400m QS, BE2, B – 16, G – 17 strokes per length (S/L), flips, 5m breakouts. 200m QK, flips, 5m breakouts.
    • FR – 400m QS, BE3, B 16 G 17 S/L, flips, 5m breakouts. 200m QK with a kickboard.
    • BR – 300m QS, B 8 G 9 S/L, turns – breakouts. 200m QK with a kickboard.
    • FL – 75m QS, BE2, turns, 5m breakouts. 100m QK with a kickboard.
    • IM – 300m QS, switch strokes every 75m, legal turns, breakouts.
    • GENERAL ENDURANCE:
    • 10 x 50m BK QS, BE2, flips, 5m breakouts, B 16 G 17 S/L, send-off time (@) 1’10”.
    • 8 x 75m FR QS, BE3, flips, 5m breakouts, B 16 G 17 S/L, @ 1’30”.
    • 12 x 50m FR QS, BE3, flips, 5m breakouts, B 16 G 17 S/L, @ 1’.
    • 10 x 50m BR QS, turns-breakouts, B 8 G 9 S/L, @ 1’20”.
    • 12 x 25m FL QS, BE2, B 9 G 10 S/L, 5m breakouts, @ 50”.
    • 12 x 50m IMO by 25’s, stroke count (SC), R – 1’10”.
    • SPECIAL ENDURANCE:
    • 8 x 100m BK S, BE2, flips, @ 2’30” on B – 1’35”, G – 1’50”.
    • 10 x 100m FR S, BE3, flips, @ 2’20” on B – 1’20”, G – 1’35”.
    • 6 x 100m BR S, turns-breakouts, @ 2’40” on B – 1’40”, G – 1’55”.
    • 6 x 75m FL S, BE2, turns, @ 2’15” on B – 1’05”, G – 1’20”.
    • 5 x 100m IM S, turns, @ 2’30” on B – 1’35”, G – 1’50”.
    • 200m K any stroke or combination of strokes on 4’10”.

Train to compete and train to win.

  1. 8 sessions per week including dedicated dryland sessions
  2. Runs 6 days per week
  3. Group is together for all sessions - Thursday off
  4. Coach Alex is the lead coach and will have at least one assistant at all sessions.
  5. 5 afternoons (Saturday - Wednesday) and 3 morning (Friday, Sunday, Tuesday) sessions. 
  6. Maximum capacity is 30 swimmers. 
  7. Competition schedule of approximately 12 racing opportunities per year including at least 2 travel meets. Racing all distances. Training camps may be offered. 
  8. Entrance standards for Senior Competitive group: 
    • 400m BK QS, BE2, B 14 G 15 S/L, flips, 7m breakouts. 300m BK QK, flips, 7m breakouts.
    • 400m FR QS, BE3, B 14 G 15 S/L, flips, 7m breakouts. 300m FR QK with a kickboard.
    • 400m BR QS, B 4 G 6 S/L, turns-breakouts. 300m BR QK with a kickboard.
    • 100m FL QS, BE2, B 7 G 8 S/L, turns, 7m breakouts. 200m FL QK with a kickboard.
    • 400m IM QS switch strokes by 100’s, legal turns, SC, 7m breakouts.
    • GENERAL ENDURANCE:
    • 10 x 50m BK QS, BE2, B 14 G 15 S/L, flips, breakouts, @ B – 50, G – 55”.
    • 5 x 100m BK QS, BE2, B 14 G 15 S/L, flips, breakouts, @ B – 1’50”, G –2’.
    • 10 x 50m FR QS, BE3, B 14 G 15 S/L, flips, breakouts, @ B – 45”, G – 50”.
    • 5 x 100m FR QS, BE3, B 14 G 15 S/L, flips, breakouts, @ B – 1’35”, G – 1’45”.
    • 8 x 50m BR QS, 4 – 6 S/L, turns-breakouts, @ B – 1’, G – 1’05”.
    • 5 x 100m BR QS, 5 – 6 S/L, turns-breakouts, @ B – 2’, G – 2’10”.
    • 8 x 50m FL QS, BE2, 7 – 8 S/L, turns, breakouts, @ 1’05”.
    • 5 x 100m FL QS, BE2, 8 – 9 S/L, turns, breakouts, @ 2’10”.
    • 10 x 100m IM QS, SC, legal turns, breakouts, @ B – 1’50”, G – 2’.
    • SPECIAL ENDURANCE:
    • 10 x 100m BK S, BE2, flips, breakouts, @ 2’30” on B – 1’10”, G – 1’20”.
    • 10 x 100m FR S, BE3, flips, breakouts, @ 2’20” on B – 1’05”, G – 1’15”.
    • 8 x 100m BR S, turns, breakouts, @ 2’40” on B – 1’28”, G – 1’35”.
    • 8 x 75m FL S, BE2, turns, breakouts, @ 2’10” on B – 53”, G – 59”.
  9.  

Regular training for adults. Aimed towards those interested in training in a structured environment.

  • 2 sessions/week 75 minutes per practice          1:12 coach – swimmer ratio
  • Sunday and Wednesday evenings from 6:45 - 8:00 p.m.
  • Coaches Marouane and Nat lead this group
  • In general practices are 2500 - 3500m depending on the performance standard of the group. Good communication from athlete to coach about expectations will help to make this group work for you.

6-12 year olds introduced to multi-sport environment.

  • Two practices a week - Saturday morning and Wednesday afternoon.
  • Swimming, bike skills and running form all touched on through each session
  • Invited to local, appropriately distanced multi-sport competitions.
  • Coach Nat is the lead coach for this program.