Nike Swim Camp at the University of North Texas Denton, Texas
The Nike Swim Camps at the University of North Texas are designed to help competitive swimmers improve their stroke technique so they can compete at the next level.
Upon arrival at camp, campers are placed in groups with other swimmers having similar abilities and goals. Our camp staff will do their best to accommodate your needs, keeping in consideration your experience and desire to improve.
Highlights Include
- Stroke technique refinement for competitive swimming
- Low camper to staff ratio and 24 hour supervision
- Small group and individual stroke analysis/instruction
- Fun evening social activities
- Every camper receives a Nike Camp T-shirt and Nike Swim Cap
- Every camper is eligible to receive merit-based prizes during camp
The Pohl Recreation Center offers an eight-lane pool that serves as the home facility for the Mean Green Swimming and Diving program. The team also uses the adjacent PEB Natatorium, which has the diving well that features two 1-meter and one 3-meter springboards for the North Texas Diving Team, and another six-lane 25-yard pool that is used for training by the swimmers.
Camp Director
Joe Dykstra
Directing the camp is University of North Texas Head Swim Coach, Joe Dykstra. In five seasons at UNT, Coach Dykstra has quickly turned the Mean Green swimming and diving team into a major contender in the Sun Belt Conference. In 2010-11, Dykstra led the Mean Green to its third straight third-place finish in the Sun Belt, matching its best finish in the meet. North Texas finished the year ranked 20th in the CollegeSwimming.com Mid-Major poll.
During 2009-2010 North Texas won nine meets and placed third at the Sun Belt Conference Championships. North Texas earned a final ranking of No. 16 in the CollegeSwimming.com mid-major poll.
In addition, Dykstra helped a school-record 13 swimmers achieve All-Sun Belt Conference honors in 2009-10. North Texas also won three weekly honors from the Sun Belt Conference. The Mean Green put an assault on the school record book, breaking 11 records throughout the season.
In 2008-09, Dykstra led North Texas to its highest conference finish in program history and a final ranking of No. 14 in the mid-major poll. Dykstra was awarded the 2008 Sun Belt Conference Women’s Swimming Coach of the Year and the Greater Denton Sports Commission North Texas Coach of the Year following the 2007-08 season.
Read Full BioPrior to North Texas, the former Husky standout and team captain spent six years as an assistant at the University of Washington, the last two as associate head coach. Dykstra coached the team’s breaststrokers and distance swimmers, and served as the team’s recruiting coordinator. He coached five Washington school record holders, five NCAA qualifiers, two All-Americans, one academic All-American, one Pac-10 champion and conference record holder and more than a dozen U.S. National Championship competitors.
A four-year letterwinner at Washington from 1994-98, Dykstra left the program ranked among the Huskies all-time top 10 swimmers in five events. He swam career-best times of 1:50.08 in the 200 IM and 1:50.11 in the 200 butterfly at the 1997 Pac-10 Championships and 3:56.22 in the 400 IM at the 1998 Pac-10 Championships.Dykstra was recognized numerous times by the Huskies for his team leadership and athletic accomplishments, including Most Valuable Rookie (1994-95), Most Improved (1995-96), Most Inspirational (1995-96 & 1996-97) and Total-Student Athlete (1997-98). Dykstra was also named to the Pac-10 All-Academic second team as a senior.
Throughout his coaching career, Coach Dykstra has also run numerous camps and clinics across the country, including 6 years as the Associate Director of teh NIke Swim Camp at the University of Washington
Swimming instruction takes place in the Norval Pohl Student Recreation Center on the campus of the University of North Texas in Denton. Overnight campers are housed in the UNT dormitories, located only steps from the pool, and meals are served in the dining hall at the dormitory. All campers will be supervised 24 hours a day by the camp staff and on site medical care is available at the UNT Student Health Center located in the building next to the Recreation Center.
This camp is for every level of competitive swimmer:
- Younger and/or less experienced campers will receive detailed instruction on technique in all four competitive strokes, as well as starts, turns, and relay exchanges. Each camper will be instructed in small groups with other swimmers of similar skill level by the camp director, coaches, and counselors. Campers will also each receive individual video analysis of their technique. Campers should be able to swim 100 yards without stopping and at least 25 yards of freestyle and breaststroke.
- Older and/or more experienced campers will be taught at a faster pace and include higher intensity training. There will be lectures and discussions on sports nutrition, sports psychology, and other topics. Campers will receive advanced technical instruction in all four competitive strokes, as well as starts, turns, and relay exchanges. Each camper will be instructed in small groups with other swimmers of similar skill level by the camp director, coaches, and counselors. Campers will also each receive individual video analysis of their technique. Campers should be able to swim 300 yards without stopping and at least 50 yards of each stroke.
Check-in takes place Sunday afternoon between 2:00pm -3:00pm. On the last day of camp, Thursday, a final swim meet will begin at 9:30am. Family and friends are encouraged to attend. A brief closing ceremony will take place after the meet, at about 10:45am. Day campers should be picked up at the pool at 11:15am. Overnight campers pack up and check-out from the dorm.
A detailed camper registration packet containing check in location, health/release forms, emergency contact info, and a list of things to bring will be emailed to all registered campers prior to camp. Our health and release forms do not require a doctor's signature and they will be collected on the first day of camp.
This camp is open to any and all entrants. For your safety and benefit, we recommend you have competitive swimming experience (e.g. U.S.S. age group, national qualifiers, high school swimmers, or summer league swimmers) and can swim at least 50 meters in all four competitive strokes: fly, back, breast and freestyle.
Read camper reviewsSee you next year!
"My daughter absolutely loved this camp. She not only learned new ways to make each stroke faster, but she met some wonderful friends she can't wait to see you again next year!"
Highlight of my summer!
"This camp was great. I made so many new friends, improved my technique and just felt great. I went home confident and sure of myself. I would recommend this to other swimmers who want to get better."
Michelle R.
Can't wait to go back.
“Thank you very much for the experience! I enjoyed every minute of it. The staff was incredible, they were very nice and had so much passion for swim. I made new friends and I will definitely come back next summer!”
I really improved.
"Coach Dykstra and his staff are really good at making it feel like they are focusing on you, and only you. It helps you get better and you feel included in everything you do."
Small group sizes.
"Small group size allowed individual instruction that was hugely beneficial to my swim times in several events"
Parent of North Texas Camper
A lot of fun!
"This is the sencond year my 10 years old son attending this camp. Each time he improved significantly. He loves it and would like to come back next year. Coach Joe Dystra and his team are great. The focus is on the techniques. The workout intensity is moderate. They also stress the importance of eating right. It's a well balanced program and they had a lot of fun."