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

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.