University of Michigan Synchronized Swimming

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U-M Synchro | Synchronized Swimming | Collegiate Synchro | U-M Club Sports

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What does your training program entail?
The U-Synchro training season is composed of three distinct programs:
1. Pre-season, which runs from early September until mid-October. The focus during Pre-season Training is aerobic conditioning, strength and flexibility training, skill building and acquisition, and mental training (including goal setting and team building activities). The Pre-season culminates in tryouts, after which swimmers are placed in a competitive or performance track.
2. Pre-competitive, which runs from late October until mid-December. The focus during Pre-competitive Training is introducing and increasing routine and figure work, striking a balance between aerobic and anaerobic training, and continuing goal setting and team building activities. Dryland strength and flexibility training is required for Competition Team athletes at this point in the season, and highly recommended for Performance Team members.
3. Competitive, which runs from mid-December until late March. The focus during Competitive Training is anaerobic conditioning; routine training with a focus on execution, matching, and fine-tuning; whole figure work and drills; maintaining strength and flexibility; and mental training including visualization and imagery. Competition Team athletes are required to maintain their strength and flexibility training outside of practice, and Performance Team members are encouraged to join them.

Does the team hold tryouts or cuts?
The team does not hold cuts and does not turn away members based on level of ability as long as they can pass a basic swimming test. Several weeks into the start of the season, the coaching staff holds tryouts, which are a multi-practice assessment of each swimmers' core synchronized swimming skills, including body positions and transitions, routine skills, strength and flexibility, presentation, attitude, etc. Coaches use the information gathered during tryouts to place swimmers in appropriate routines and figure groups. A maximum of 20 swimmers are named to the Competition Team, with numerous performance and competitive opportunities during the season, including Collegiate Regionals and Nationals. Swimmers who are named to the Performance Team also have multiple opportunities for performance and competition, and focus on learning and improving on a core set of routine and figure skills.

I have no synchronized swimming experience but am interested in trying the sport. Can I still join the team?
The U-M Synchro actively recruits individuals of all levels of ability, including beginners with no prior experience. The Novice program is multi-faceted and includes core skill building, routine performance, figure work, aerobic and anaerobic conditioning, and strength and flexibility training.

What competitive opportunities will I have with the team?
The U-M Synchro Competition Team competes in a number of home and away meets each season. Competitive opportunities include figure-only and routine-only meets; dual meets, tri-meets, and/or invitationals with colleges across the country; Collegiate Regionals held in late February or early March; and Collegiate Nationals held in late March. The competitive season generally starts in December with a figure-only meet and culminates in Collegiate Nationals. Performance Team members may option to attend certain competitions on an exhibition basis (not competing for points). Both the Competition and Performance teams perform in an end-of-the-season water show at Canham Natatorium that is highly attended.

How often do you practice?
After the regular season starts in late September, practices are held at Canham Natatorium three days a week: Sundays 11am-3pm (swimmers are staggered within this block), Monday 8pm-10:30pm (tentative times), and Wednesday 8pm-10:30pm (tentative times). An additional dryland strength training practice is mandatory for swimmers interested in trying out for Competition Team. After tryouts in mid- or late October, mandatory practices for Performance Team athletes are reduced to Mondays and Wednesdays. An additional Thursday morning practice will be scheduled for Competition Team athletes after tryouts.

Is synchronized swimming a varsity sport at the University of Michigan?
The U-M Synchro Team was excited to receive distinction as a Varsity Club in 2005. For more information, please read the United States Synchronized Swimming press release. While Varsity Club status does impart a number of benefits to the team, our swimmers are not supported by athletic scholarships. The University offers an expansive financial aid program, however, and athletes are encouraged to contact the Office of Financial Aid for more information on academic scholarships, grants, and loans.