Competitive Training Groups
2025-2026 Registration
Welcome to Online Registration for the Iowa City Eels
Please note that this is a yearly registration system.
The Iowa City Eels Swim Club (Club) is a non-profit corporation governed by a board of directors. This is the most common model for swim teams in USA Swimming. The board consists of swim team parents and masters swimmers who volunteer and are elected by the members of the club. The active involvement of our families is necessary to ensure the continued success of our Club. When you register your swimmer or yourself, you become a member of the Club and commit to certain obligations and requirements, which are outlined in this document below Fees and Responibilities.
If you have a new youth swimmer who wants to join the Eels for the first time, please contact us before you register to schedule a time for an evaluation to determine the appropriate practice group!
We practice year round at Mercer Aquatic Center, 2701 Bradford Drive, Iowa City.
Open for Returning Members:
Aug 1st, 2025
Open for New Members:
Aug 1st , 2025 - July 30th, 2026
Date used to calculate Age:
Today
Groups
1. Dolphin
Ages 5-8
Basic swim instruction, preparing swimmers for Frost 2 level
Offered 3 days per week Mon, Wed, Thurs 4:30- 5:00 pm
2. SunFish 1 &2
Ages 6-10
Swimmers age 6 or older who have skills equivalent to Red Cross Level 4 or higher. Aims to connect beginner skills to more efficient strokes, make swimmers more confident in the water, and establish a “swimming vocabulary” of fundamental concepts. Most Frost swimmers have no competitive experience, but are willing and able to swim independently. Frost swimmers may participate in assigned meets on the meet schedule after consulting their head coach. Starts and turns are also introduced in Frost Group
(2-3 practices per week)
3. Junior 3 &4
Ages 8-11
Junior 3 & 4 training reinforces fundamental skills introduced in Frost with more routine conditioning and practices. Junior 3 swimmers should expect to "eventually" swim longer events including 200s of stroke, 200 IM, and the 400/500 FR. Practices place a strong emphasis on following instructions and increasingly consistent performance. Home Swim meets are required,
3-4 practices per week.
4. Junior 1 &2
Ages 10-15
Junior 1 & 2 swimmers have developed a broader sense of relative skill and experience through sports or other activities. Junior 1 & 2 swimmers are encouraged to swim in every meet they can attend, and required to swim in all Championship meets targeted and discussed in seasonal goal meetings. Practices place a strong emphasis on reinforcement of training standards and introducing race strategies. Home Swim meets are required. Must be able to go off the blocks and execute flip turns consistently, 6 x 100 @ 2:00 Junior 1, 6 x 100 @ 2:15 Junior 2
(4-5 practices per week)
5. Performance 1 & 2
Ages 12-18
Performance 1 & 2 swimmers place a strong emphasis on racing, seasonal training methodology, and mental training. Swimmers are expected to attend at least one meet per month. ISI Championships is a required meet. Home meets are required. Able to complete 6 x 100 @ 1:30 interval for performance 1,
6 x 100 @1:40 Performance 2.
(5-6 practices per week)
6. Senior
Ages 13 and over
This is a national level year-round training group. Swimmers must sign a contract with the Head Coach that outlines commitment levels and goals for each season. Time goals include Zones / Sectionals / and National-level meet qualifying times, as well as aspirations of swimming at the college and/or professional level. Able to complete 6 x 100 @ 1:10 interval
7. Masters
Ages 18 and over, all abilities welcomed! Practices Mon, Wed, Fri 6:15- 7:15 am, workouts and coached practices, US masters swimming registration also required; good for one year
