Our Programs

PRACTICE ~ TRAIN ~ COMPETE ~ COACH

Training Prep Program

It's time to prepare for the Desert Challenge Games. Join our 10- week training preparation program. All levels and abilities ages 10 - 18+ are welcome.

We offer athletes an opportunity to swim 1-2 x week for 1 hour and 15 minutes per session, for a total of 2.5 hours of training a week. The sessions provides an opportunity to improve stroke skills, speed, and endurance. This is not designed to teach swim lessons to non-swimmers. There are no attendance or meet participation requirements. Swimmers will work with athletes with similiar abilities and may not be divided strictly by age or gender. We will staff with the highest level of coaches and/or volunteers available in the area.

The minimum ratio is 1 coach for every 10 swimmers. If a swimmer requires additional assistance, a parent, guardian, or caregiver may assist and attend practices with them. They will not be brought on as an Independent Contractor and will work with their member only during practices and meets.

All practices are designed to work and challenge the participants. All four strokes will be reviewed and if a site permits, swimmers will work on dives throughout the season.

Required Equipment (not included in participation fees): fins, goggles, and kickboard. Optional Equipment: swim bag, snorkel, and parka

10- Week Training Preparation Program Dates: March 22nd - May 28th Location: Offered in local regions throughout the state Cost: $400 Options to offset or cover costs are available through our SNAP Fundraiser and Swim-a-thon

Developmental Swim Meets

Developmental meets will be offered March - May to provide opportunities for swimmers to compete in 1-5 different heats per meet. Athletes do not have to meet any minimum time standards, and the results will not qualify them for any National events or competitions.

These meets are designed to give athletes opportunities to compete and get more comfortable with how a swim meet works and to provide opportunities to race in heats that may not be their specialty.

They will be offered in different regions across the state. They do not have to be participating in our prep program to participate, nor do they have to compete in a minimum number of meets.

They do have to be members of both AZDS and SOAZ to compete in these unified meets.

Dates and Locations 2026 - TBD

February 21st: AZ Cardinals Climb, State Farm Stadium

March: TBD

April: TBD

May - Swim-A-Thon, CDT Barn Academy, Queen Creek

May - Desert Challenge Games, May 27-31st (National Qualifying Meet hosted by AZDS)

Calling all coaches and volunteers! We are looking to hire Independent Contractors to assist with our club teams and swim meets. Experience is not required but preferred.

In order to participate in our events, we require any adult participating in an intimate role with the team (head coach, assistant coach, volunteer, driver, basically anyone performing a role for the team that goes beyond parent or spectator) to complete some trainings, waivers, and a background check to ensure that we are keeping our athletes safe with the people who are around them.

A link will be provided to the Class A portal through SOAZ and will walk participants through the steps of completing these trainings. Completing everything required to become certified should take roughly an hour, and the background check is paid for by Special Olympics Arizona.

All coaches and registered volunteers will be 1099 Independent Contractors and will be paid an hourly rate for practices and a flat rate for swim meets which includes one paid meal. Coaches are not required to attend all of the swim meets but encouraged to assist athletes and parents.

Coaches & Volunteers