Each athlete begins and ends his/her swimming career at a different level of development. The coaching staff enhances this development with structured training sessions from the novice to national levels. Within these training sessions several personal aspects are taught and refined on a daily basis: effort, attitude, skill mastery and time improvement. While refining these skills, each athlete is provided the opportunity to learn the benefits of dependability, responsibility, self-discipline and self-control.

Competitive swimming is all about fast swimming, about racing, about winning. But under the surface it is much more than that. It is about self-exploration, self-discovery, and the pursuit of excellence through making the correct daily decisions that will allow you to be the best you can be. This doesn’t always mean beating other people; more often it is about the process of reaching your potential. The process of long-term development and career progression has defined the sport of competitive swimming!

I’ve seen training fads come and go over the past 20 years of my coaching experience. I know what works. I know what doesn’t work. However, I will continue to keep an open mind to principle-centered innovations that will optimize our athletes’ experience in this sport. As Head Coach/Director of Team Planning and Development, I’ve been educating our staff on the principles of competitive swimming technique, physical training and the best methodologies used to guide our age group athletes in discovering self-mastery in competitive swimming. We’ve watched hundreds of hours of video tape, consulted the experts, attended clinics, and have combined our own unique creative experiences to develop a technical curriculum that optimizes each critical period of an athlete's long-term growth.

This curriculum will utilize many forms and equipment that are available to us. The teaching will incorporate both land activities as well as water training. We will proceed from general movement skills to more complex skills in order to facilitate each athlete’s discovery of their body’s relationship with the water and the fastest way to move through it.

If you have specific questions about the process, don’t hesitate to contact me.

Coach Kyle Johnson

The Issaquah Swim Team offers a progressive age group program designed to develop the athlete technically, physically and mentally in a systematic fashion. At the beginning levels, technique is the top priority and as each athlete matures, more emphasis is placed on maintaining technique while progressively developing the athlete’s physiological and psychological capacities. At each level of our program, we continually try to evaluate and adapt to the multitude of factors; technically, scientifically and sociologically; that impact the growth and development of young athletes.

The progression from one training group to another is solely the coaching staff’s decision and is based on many variables. Some groups are participation based, while others are based on age, ability, performance, training compatibility and commitment standards.

Minimum standards of attendance are set for every training group. While we realize that emergencies and occasional conflicts arise, it is vital to the team's cohesiveness that each member contributes to the success of the team. Hard work and dedication will result in long-term benefits.

Training Etiquette for Parents

The coaches encourage infrequent viewing of training sessions. Generally, parents will observe remarkable and noticeable improvement in their child’s development by observing training sessions every 2 to 4 weeks. If you would like a coach’s evaluation of your child’s progress, please arrange an individual consultation with your child’s coach. Parents, siblings and relatives are prohibited from the pool deck during training sessions (balcony OK).

The Canadian Hockey association has recently produced a pair of light-hearted commercials to help remind parents to keep perspective with their athletes. They are .mov format and are rather large, so you may want to make sure you have a high speed connection. We hope you enjoy them.

Commercial - Potato Sack (2.6 MB)

Commercial - Pin the Tail (2.6 MB)

Any child six (6) years of age or older is eligible with the approval of the coach.

It is expected that applicants for the program will participate for a full season. Conditioning, stroke mastery and competitive performance require time and effort. All swimmers who are willing to make the effort will improve and find success in the swimming program.

Welcome to the 2007 Issaquah Swim Team Summer League Prep! Summer League Prep is for those athletes looking to "freshen-up" on  the basic stroke technique, turns, starts, and race strategy.  This program focuses on up-to-date world class technique, swimming etiquette, building self-esteem, aquatic environment awareness, and preparation for your summer league swimming. Summer League Prep is coached by Laura Halter and Coach Ryan. Laura has been coaching for over 15 years including the last 4 for IST.  Coach Ryan Pachciarz has been coaching for the 8 years for some of the top teams in the Nation.  Athletes planning on participating in the Summer League Prep program must be able to swim 25 yards of freestyle and backstroke.

Sharks Training Team

The emphasis in this group is on learning and developing advanced competitive swimming fundamentals that will provide the technical foundation for the athlete’s competitive swimming career through the Issaquah Swim Team’s innovative teaching curriculum and methodology. Instruction will focus on the fundamentals of the sport: body balance, aquatic posture and alignment, breathing, proper streamlining, body rotation and undulation. During this phase of teaching, athletes are shown that competitive swimming can be fun as well as rewarding. Coaches will incorporate both land activities as well as water training to facilitate each athlete’s discovery of their body’s relationship with the water and the fastest, most efficient way to move through it. This is a 90% teaching and 10% training group.

Target Age: 6-8

Entry Requirements:

1. Successful completion of an IST staff-supervised tryout.

2. Be recommended by IST coaching staff.

3. Parental support and understanding of IST’s teaching curriculum and methodology.

4. Swim 25 yards of Freestyle.

5. Swim 25 yards of Backstroke.

Training Requirements:

1. Treat all teammates, coaches and parents with respect and courtesy.

2. Develop listening and group cooperation skills.

3. Willing to learn new ideas and techniques.

Competitive Goals:

1. Participate in all Skill meets.

2. Compete in at least 7 USA Swimming competitions and scheduled team meets.

Squids Training Team

The emphasis in this group is on learning and developing advanced competitive swimming fundamentals that will provide the technical foundation for the athlete’s competitive swimming career through the Issaquah Swim Team’s innovative teaching curriculum and methodology. Instruction will focus on the fundamentals of the sport: body balance, aquatic posture and alignment, breathing, proper streamlining, body rotation and undulation. During this phase of teaching, athletes are shown that competitive swimming can be fun as well as rewarding. Coaches will incorporate both land activities as well as water training to facilitate each athlete’s discovery of their body’s relationship with the water and the fastest, most efficient way to move through it. This is a 75% teaching and 25% training group.

Target Age: 7-10

Entry Requirements:

1.  Meet or exceed Sharks/Squids training requirements and competitive goals.
2. Be recommended by IST coaching staff.

3. Parental support and understanding of IST’s teaching curriculum and methodology.

4. Swim 25 yards of Freestyle, Backstroke, Breaststroke and Butterfly.

Training Requirements:

1. Treat all teammates, coaches and parents with respect and courtesy.

2. Develop listening and group cooperation skills.

3. Willing to learn new ideas and techniques.

Competitive Goals:

1. Participate in all Skill meets.

2. Compete in at least 9 USA Swimming competitions and scheduled team meets.

Marlins Training Team @ Klahanie

The two major goals of this training group are to swim a technically sound 200 IM and become a “Drill Master.” In addition, swimmers are taught how to read and use a pace clock in training. Training drills and games, along with dry land instruction, are used at every session as a reinforcement of proper technique, a reward for focused effort, for team building, for social time or simply to add fun or laughter to training. This is a 50% instruction and 50% training group.

Target Age: 12 & under

Entry Requirements:

1.      Meet or exceed Sharks/Squids/Stingray training requirements and competitive goals.

2.      Be recommended by Sharks/Squids/Stingray coaches.

3.      Parental support and understanding of IST’s teaching curriculum and methodology.

Training Requirements:

1.      Treat all teammates, coaches and parents with respect and courtesy.

2.      Develop consistent and regular training habits.

3.      Promptly and successfully attend 80% of scheduled training session each month.

4.      Exhibit proper training etiquette (circle swimming, passing, courtesy).

5.      Introduction to pace clock skills – proper send off, rest.

6.      Develop advanced competitive swimming techniques in all strokes, turns, starts, finishes, etc.

7.      Willing to learn new skills and techniques.

Competitive Goals:

1.      Improve race efficiency in all events.

2.      Improve meet skills.

3.      Qualify for Pacific Northwest Championships.

Rays Training Team

The two major goals of this training group are to swim a technically sound 200 IM and become a “Drill Master.” In addition, swimmers are taught how to read and use a pace clock in training. Training drills and games, along with dry land instruction, are used at every session as a reinforcement of proper technique, a reward for focused effort, for team building, for social time or simply to add fun or laughter to training. This is a 50% instruction and 50% training group.

Target Age: 12 & under

Entry Requirements:

1.      Meet or exceed Sharks/Squids/Stingrays training requirements and competitive goals.

2.      Be recommended by Sharks/Squids/Stingrays coaches.

3.      Parental support and understanding of IST’s teaching curriculum and methodology.

Training Requirements:

1.      Treat all teammates, coaches and parents with respect and courtesy.

2.      Develop consistent and regular training habits.

3.      Promptly and successfully attend 90% of scheduled training session each month.

4.      Exhibit proper training etiquette (circle swimming, passing, courtesy).

5.      Introduction to pace clock skills – proper send off, rest.

6.      Develop advanced competitive swimming techniques in all strokes, turns, starts, finishes, etc.

7.      Willing to learn new skills and techniques.

Competitive Goals:

1.      Improve race efficiency in all events.

2.      Improve meet skills.

3.      Qualify for Pacific Northwest Championships.

Sectional Prep Training Team

The two major goals of this training group are to swim a technically sound 200 IM and become a “Drill Master.” In addition, swimmers are taught how to read and use a pace clock in training. Training drills and games, along with dry land instruction, are used at every session as a reinforcement of proper technique, a reward for focused effort, for team building, for social time or simply to add fun or laughter to training. This is a 50% instruction and 50% training group.

Target Age: 12 & under

Entry Requirements:

1.      Meet or exceed Rays/Stingray training requirements and competitive goals.

2.      Be recommended by Rays/Stingray coaches.

3.      Parental support and understanding of IST’s teaching curriculum and methodology.

Training Requirements:

1.      Treat all teammates, coaches and parents with respect and courtesy.

2.      Develop consistent and regular training habits.

3.      Promptly and successfully attend 90% of scheduled training session each month.

4.      Exhibit proper training etiquette (circle swimming, passing, courtesy).

5.      Introduction to pace clock skills – proper send off, rest.

6.      Develop advanced competitive swimming techniques in all strokes, turns, starts, finishes, etc.

7.      Willing to learn new skills and techniques.

Competitive Goals:

1.      Improve race efficiency in all events.

2.      Improve meet skills.

3.      Qualify for Northwest Age Group Sectional Championships.

Barracuda Training Team

This competitive training group is designed to allow athletes 9 and over an opportunity to mature physically and emotionally within their peer and/or ability groups while being challenged to compete at the next level of competition. Emphasis will be on improving and refining technique and fundamentals with an introduction to specific physical training techniques and race strategies. Dry land exercises and instruction will be used at each session. This is 60% training and 40% instruction group.

Target Age: 9-12

Entry Requirements:

1.      Meet or exceed Rays/Marlin training requirements.

2.      Be at least 9 years old.

3.      Be recommended by Rays/Marlins coaches.

4.      Parental support and understanding of IST’s teaching curriculum and methodology.

Training Requirements:

1.      Treat all teammates, coaches and parents with respect and courtesy.

2.      Develop consistent and regular training habits.

3.      Promptly and successfully attend 85% of scheduled training sessions each month.

4.      Exhibit proper training etiquette (circle swimming, courtesy).

5.      Display a commitment to self-improvement and team goals.

6.      Willing to learn new skills and techniques.

Competitive Goals:

1.      Attend all scheduled meets.

2.      Improve race efficiency in all strokes.

Kyle Johnson's Race Club

This group will focus on the special needs of high school/summer league swimming as well as provide opportunities for athletes of other disciplines to pursue swimming without the annual commitment.   

Coached by IST's Head Coach Kyle Johnson this group will experience diverse athletic training with specially designed land exercises, stroke technique, racing strategy and fitness.

Target Age: 13+ (as of April of the current swim year)

Entry Requirements:

1.      Be at least 13 years old.

2.      Parental support and understanding of IST’s teaching curriculum and methodology.

Training Requirements:

1.      Treat all teammates, coaches and parents with respect and courtesy.

2.      Demonstrate the ability to set, train towards and achieve realistic goals (short, medium and long-term).

3.      Willing to learn new skills and techniques.

4.      Understand different racing strategies and apply them to races.

Zones Training Team

Junior Nationals Training Team

National Training Team

The Issaquah Swim Team Masters is a world class program designed to support and help achieve your training, fitness, and competitive golas.  This program utilizes the most up-to-date training techniques in order to swim more efficient and safely.  These techniques have been proven by multiple Olympic Medalists and World Record Holders!
Training Time & Location IST Masters train Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 5:00-6:30am at the Boehm Pool in downtown Issaquah.	Masters Workouts IST Masters workouts will contain technical advice, efficiency drills, and a high quality workout ranging from 2000-5000 yards.  There is availability for athletes of all ability to attend and reach their goals.  $70/month  or refer a friend and receive $5 off your monthly amount
For more information or to register, please contact the IST Office!                 (425)392-3996

  *Current fee structure is still in the approval process.  IST Masters will be competitive with other high quality coached Masters programs.

The training schedule can be found on the IST Sockeyes Web Site at www.istsockeyes.com under the Training Team Information tool bar; click training schedules. 

Changes to the schedule are noted under training schedule adjustments in the left tool bar highlighted in red.  Note that there are High School Competitions on Tuesdays and Thursdays from the end of September to the end of January. To ensure that training time is fair, the regular schedule is amended on affected Tuesday and Thursdays.

 Our equipment vendor for 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 is Sylvia's Swimwear in Bellevue

Equipment falls into two areas: Teamwear and Training

 Teamwear   is used for Swim Meets

 A navy blue swimsuit and a Team cap both with IST screen-printed logo are the only essential articles for IST meet attire.

CAPS: Each swimmer receives a latex IST cap on registration.  (They will be placed in the file folders when they are prepared within the first month of the season).  Additional latex and silicone caps can be purchased.  Contact the teamwear coordinator to place your order.  The cap will be placed in your swimmer’s file folder and the charge added to your monthly invoice.  The coaches like and expect to see their swimmers in IST logo caps for competition.

SUITS: Team suits are fitted near the start of each swimming year and are not generally available throughout the year. Suits will be ordered, screen printed and then delivered (usually to the pool) for pick up. Suits will cost approximately $24-45 for male suits and $40-75 for female suits. Note, the upper end of the price range covers aquablade suits.

Other optional team attire includes a deck coat. We generally order these once a year and a notice will be put in your child’s folder in time for holiday delivery. Nylon warm-ups, other team attire (sweats, shorts, T-shirts) and swim bags may be available at the beginning of the season or during the year and a notice will be placed in the folder.

 Training Equipment   is used for Everyday Practice

All swimmers need a swimsuit, swim cap and goggles. This can be teamwear, but swimsuits wear out quickly and most swimmers will not want to damage their teamwear as it is usually more expensive to replace. To extend the life of lycra swimwear, be sure to wash them after every use. A polyester (more durable) suit for practice is recommended.

Additional training equipment varies depending on the training group and is listed for each training group. If no equipment is listed, your coach can provide you with a list of required equipment.

It is always a good idea to put your name
on all of your swim attire and equipment.

  Have a great swim season!!!!!!!!!!!

2006-2007 Training and Teamwear

(draft - not yet updated)

SUITS:  Assistance with suit fitting/ordering, equipment and teamwear ordering take place at the start of the season in the fall and in the spring.  They will be delivered to the pool with an email notification as to when your items may be picked up.  A polyester (more durable) suit for practice and then a logo lycra suit for meets is recommended.  You may also purchase these items on-line at other times of the year through our vendor, Pacific Bay Swim & Sport, or call them at 206-244-0622.  They are very helpful when placing your orders. 

EQUIPMENT:  Equipment requirements per squad are listed here and will be available.

  Sharks

Mesh Gear Bag
Speedo or TYR Training Fins

  Squids

Mesh Gear Bag
Speedo or TYR Training Fins

  Rays

Mesh Gear Bag
Speedo or TYR Training Fins
Pull Buoy

  Sectional Prep

Mesh Gear Bag
Speedo or TYR Training Fins
Pull Buoy
Front Mount Snorkel

  Sectionals

Mesh Gear Bag
Speedo or TYR Training Fins
Pull Buoy
Front Mount Snorkel

  Senior Champions

Mesh Gear Bag
Speedo or TYR Training Fins
Pull Buoy
Front Mount Snorkel

  Zones

Mesh Gear Bag
Speedo or TYR Training Fins
Pull Buoy
Front Mount Snorkel
TYR Catalyst Paddles

  Junior Nationals

Mesh Gear Bag
Speedo, TYR Training Fins or Zoomers
Pull Buoy
Front Mount Snorkel
Tempo Trainer
TYR Catalyst Paddles

  Nationals

Mesh Gear Bag
Speedo, TYR Training Fins or Zoomers
Pull Buoy
Front Mount Snorkel
Tempo Trainer
TYR Catalyst Paddles