Hi Dolphin families!

If you are returning this season, WELCOME BACK and if you are new to the team, WELCOME! We're thrilled to share our team with you and look forward to another great season.

We understand May is a busy month for many with end of school year activities and what not. Thus, here are some reminders for the upcoming practices. MONDAY, May 12th will be a game day for the team. (This a change from what we've done in the past). You have the option to attend either the 4:00pm or 5:00pm game day rotation. Kids will have the opportunity to get to know one another before getting in the water. No swimsuits needed. Kids will be divided into assigned lane/age groups and play a rotation of games set up in the clubhouse. Coaches will also show kids the pool deck and go over some guidelines and procedures for practices. First SWIM practice is TUESDAY, May 13th at 4:00pm and 5:00pm! Woo hoo!!! Swimmers are welcome to come to either practice time. I would encourage older swimmers (ages 11 and up) to attend the later practice time if they can.

ALERT ALERT!

Weather: The weather is incredibly unpredictable this time of year. Be prepared for practice to be canceled! if you notice stormy conditions in the afternoon. Toni and myself will assess the weather to the best of our ability the hour leading up to practice. We will make sure to do our best give as much notice as possible. In the meantime, please make sure your account is set up to receive weather alerts and other important information from the team.

Below is a list of items you'll need for practices

Fins- We will not use fins the first two weeks of practice, however, it’s important to have them ordered before the first morning practice. Note: If you have fins from last year and you’d like to donate, the team would be happy to accept them as a donation!

Swimsuit- Does not need to be the team suit. Swimmers just need to wear something they are comfortable swimming in (with little drag). One-piece suits for girls and jammers for boys are preferable. Note: Often, swimmers will reserve their team suit for swim meets only and wear another swimsuit for practices. This prevents team suits from getting worn out prematurely. If your swimmer would like to wear the team suit for practices though, that is perfectly fine.

Goggles- Competitive swim goggles are best. I've seen some swimmers want to wear snorkel or mask-like goggles to cover their nose. This is not recommended as it can make it difficult to breathe while swimming laps and thus a safety concern. Goggles should fit comfortably for long periods of time in a competitive swim environment. Tinted goggles are also best for outside swimming protection from the sun.

Swim cap- I encourage all swimmers to wear swim caps to both practice and swim meets. Boys and girls can both benefit from wearing a swim cap as it helps swimmers move more fluidly in the water and prevents distraction and drag from "messy" hair in the face. It's also good to get swimmers comfortable wearing swim caps in general so they feel at ease wearing one when it's time for swim meets. Silicone caps are the most comfortable (and recommended), but latex caps can be worn too.

Sunscreen- Though temperatures can vary in the coming weeks, it's extremely important to wear sunscreen. Don't make the same mistake I did when I was 9 years old and I FRIED myself during swim practice to the point I had to miss out on some fun end of year school activities. #freckledwhitegirlproblems.

Towel- Nobody likes borrowing a wet towel from a friend. Sometimes I even bring two!

Water bottle and snacks- Keep those kids happy and hydrated :)

What to expect?

Practice (first day in the water): Swimmers will initially be divided by age groups. We will have signs next to lanes so you know where to direct your swimmer. If you are new to the team, make sure to let a coach know when you approach their age group lane. We'll move swimmers around as necessary to make sure they are in the best fit lane based on their abilities and skills. The lanes will be organized as follows.

Lane 1: (next to the stairs) 6 and Under swimmers

Lane 2: 8 and Under swimmers.

Lane 3: Teens

Lane 4: 9 and 10yrs

Lane 5: 11 and 12yrs

First two weeks: Our goal the first two weeks is to get the kids acquainted with swim team again. We will teach skills for swimming in a team environment. Even return swimmers need reminders for swim team etiquette. Swimmers are taught skills for behavior management, circle swimming with a large group of people, and getting comfortable swimming all strokes. We will also help educate swimmers in understanding some of the swim team "lingo". Ex: What does "swim 50 kick" mean?

Note: Afternoon practices look different than morning practices simply because there are new faces and it's been some time since we last saw each other. If you are concerned your swimmer isn't working on certain skills right off the bat or the practices don't seem "advanced" enough for your swimmer, just wait. We will get to those skills after the Memorial Day weekend.

Parent Support/Help Wanted: Most of our coaches are still in school and finishing exams these next two weeks. A majority are still able to come to practices, but we may need some help supervising on certain days. If you are interested in being an "extra helper" during these next two weeks, please see the link attached to sign up as an extra helper. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090D4BA5A72DABFD0-dwparent We would especially love extra eyes on our 6 and Under lane.

Themes for Swim meets: For fun, the league enjoys dressing up for swim meets. Nothing too crazy. Swimmers are welcome to don their favorite shirts and accessories based on chosen themes from their team each season. Below is a list of themes for this seasons meets so you all can plan ahead of time.

May 31 @ Hills West- Pirate

June 7 @ Foxridge- Goth

June 14 @ Home vs Lifetime - Barbie

June 21 @ Home vs Castle Rock West- Disco

June 28 @ Home vs Castle Rock East- Jimmy Buffett

July 12 Championships- Dazzle Dolphin- Blue

RETURNING FAMILIES THAT HAVE NOT YET REGISTERED: Last Call!  Please register so that you do not miss important emails!

Hopefully you all found this email helpful. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out. Looking forward to our first practice!

Go Dolphins!

Coach Emilie Clarke