Practice Groups
DCST offers progressive training groups designed to meet swimmers where they are in their athletic development while providing a clear pathway for continued growth and improvement. Every swimmer develops at a different pace. Our coaching philosophy emphasizes long-term athlete development, technical excellence, healthy training habits, personal responsibility, sportsmanship, and a lifelong enjoyment of competitive swimming.
Practice group assignments are determined by the Director of Competitive Swimming and coaching staff. Placement may consider skill development, technical proficiency, training readiness, age and maturity, attendance and commitment, competitive goals, long-term athlete development, team balance, and available lane space.
Group assignments may change as swimmers demonstrate readiness for increased training or new competitive opportunities. Official times may serve as useful guidelines, but placement decisions are not based solely upon age or race times. The coaching staff evaluates the complete athlete and strives to place every swimmer in the training environment best suited to continued development.
Practice Schedule Winter 2026-27
All regular and alternate practices are Monday through Friday
Late / Alternate Practice is intended only when a swimmer cannot make their earlier primary practice time
| Group | Starts | Practice Time | Late Practice | Saturday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terrier | Oct. 5 | 5:30-6:30 PM | - | - |
| Golden Retriever | Oct. 5 | 5:30-6:30 PM | - | - |
| Greyhound | Oct. 5 | 5:30-6:30 PM | - | - |
| Husky | Oct. 5 | 5:30-6:30 PM | - | - |
| St. Bernard | Sept. 8 | 6:30-8:00 PM | - | - |
| Labrador | Sept. 8 | 6:30-8:00 PM | - | - |
| Newfoundland | Sept. 8 | 6:30-8:00 PM | - | 8:00-10:00 AM (Optional) |
| Great Dane | Sept. 8 | 4:00-5:30 PM | 6:30-8:00 PM | 8:00-10:00 AM (Optional) |
| Bulldog | Sept. 8 | 3:30-5:30 PM | 6:30-8:30 PM | 8:00-10:00 AM |
| National Team Training Group | Sept. 8 | 3:30-5:30 PM | 6:30-8:30 PM | 8:00-10:00 AM |
Dryland / Strength Schedule Winter 2026-27
Tentative schedule. Times are subject to change.
| Group | Starts | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Bernard | Oct. 6 | 6:00-6:30 PM | 6:00-6:30 PM | |||
| Labrador | Oct. 6 | 6:00-6:30 PM | 6:00-6:30 PM | |||
| Newfoundland | Oct. 6 | 6:00-6:30 PM | 6:00-6:30 PM | |||
| Great Dane | Sept. 8 | Group A 5:30-6:30 PM | Group B 5:30-6:30 PM | Group A 5:30-6:30 PM | Group B 5:30-6:30 PM | All 5:30-6:30 PM |
| Bulldog | Sept. 8 | Group A 5:30-6:30 PM | Group B 5:30-6:30 PM | Group A 5:30-6:30 PM | Group B 5:30-6:30 PM | All 5:30-6:30 PM |
| National Team | Sept. 8 | Group A 5:30-6:30 PM | Group B 5:30-6:30 PM | Group A 5:30-6:30 PM | Group B 5:30-6:30 PM | All 5:30-6:30 PM |
Optional/flexible weight-room window: 12:00-2:00 PM Saturday-Sunday for athletes seeking another opportunity to complete their strength work with coaching assistance available.
Practice Groups
Ages 5 - 8
These introductory groups emphasize water confidence, stroke fundamentals, legal technique, starts and turns, water safety, practice habits, sportsmanship, and team culture.
Terrier
The Terrier group is the entry group into the program. Swimmers in this group are ages 5-8 and focus on water confidence, stroke fundamentals, and the foundation of competitive swimming while having fun.
Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever group continues the development of swimmers ages 5-8, emphasizing water confidence, stroke fundamentals, legal technique, starts and turns, water safety, practice habits, sportsmanship, and team culture.
Ages 9 - 12
Greyhound
Greyhound swimmers continue developing all four competitive strokes while introducing structured training, goal setting, aerobic development, race preparation, and increased independence.
Husky
St. Bernard
Labrador
Newfoundland
These progressive age-group training groups bridge developmental and advanced competitive swimming. Athletes continue improving technical proficiency while gradually increasing training volume, endurance, race strategy, dryland preparation, leadership, and personal accountability as they become ready for more demanding training and championship opportunities.
Ages 13+
Great Dane
The Great Dane Group provides a developmental pathway for older or newer competitive swimmers who are still learning and refining all four competitive strokes or who are not yet ready for the training demands of the Bulldog group. Training emphasizes technical development, race skills, training readiness, confidence, and a successful transition into advanced senior swimming.
Bulldog
This advanced senior training group prepare athletes for championship-level competition through advanced race strategy, aerobic and anaerobic conditioning, dryland strength and conditioning, leadership, accountability, and long-term athlete development.
National/Post-National
National Training Group
DCST may maintain a seasonal National Team Training Group for swimmers whose current training needs and competitive goals warrant that assignment.
Post-National
DCST Post-National provides a competitive training and racing opportunity for experienced swimmers who wish to continue representing the DeKalb County Swim Team in USA Swimming competition but who, because of age, prior collegiate representation, or other applicable eligibility requirements, may no longer be eligible for YMCA championship competition.