1996 S.C. Junior National Team

Introduction

Competitive spirit. One to grow on. To set high goals and stretch one's mind and body to achieve them. To share success and failure with one's teammates. To strive unselfishly for a common cause. Competitive spirit. Competitive swimming. One to grow on. One to thrive one. They are one in the same.
The youngest members of the Arizona Marlins Swim Club, though only five years old, are old enough to know the joy of swimming. And old enough to learn the basic strokes, practice sportsmanship, and start to acquire the winning habit of steady effort toward a goal.
Possibly the greatest benefits of participating in an organized swim program are the life skills your child will develop. Swimmers will reap the benefits long after the competition and participation ends. Most swimmers go on to be very successful and productive adults largely due to what they gained from swimming.
As young Marlins grow older and stronger, they train harder, growing in commitments, confidence, and self-esteem. Some will go on to win major swimming competitions, some perhaps even an Olympic event. All will carry a lifetime sense of accomplishment and winning attitude. That's what the Arizona Marlins Swim Team is all about.

Team Philosophy

The Arizona Marlin Swim Club is one of the largest and most successful clubs in the State of Arizona. The goal of the coaching staff is to help the club to continue to grow in strength while maintaining the enthusiasm and team spirit that the Marlins have always enjoyed.

Age Group Swimming: The Arizona Marlin coaches believe that Age Group swimming should be a happy and challenging sport for athletes 12 years and younger. Enthusiastic participation at every level of skill and performance is their goal. Young athletes go through many physical, emotional, and intellectual changes from 5 to 12. Some will improve rapidly, sometimes even astonishingly, at this age, and big time drops are not uncommon. It is critical not to expect them to perform like adults, however, or to push them to do so. Young swimmers must be allowed to develop at their own rate. The Marlins believe that the most successful swimmers, and the ones who stay in the sport the longest, are those who are supported--not pushed--as they find and raise their level of competitiveness and commitment to the sport. The Marlin coaches instruct and motivate Age Group swimmers, without pressuring them, instilling the desire to return and accomplish more.
Senior Swimming: The transition from Age Group to Senior swimming, which coincides with puberty, can be a particularly frustrating time. Serious training can begin when a swimmer reaches 13, according to sports physiologists and coaches. Many swimmers are physically and emotionally ready for a relatively smooth transition. Others, however, despite improved technique, conditioning, and endurance, encounter a period of stagnation. Large time drops are less common, and training becomes more intense. It is important that the parents remain supportive of the swimmer and the coach through this sometimes difficult period to reap the benefits in the end.