Hi Dolphin Families!

If you are returning this season, WELCOME BACK! 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 with end-of-school activities and schedules, so here are a few reminders for upcoming practices.

Practices

🔹 MONDAY, May 11th – GAME DAY

Swimmers may attend either the 4:00pm or 5:00pm Game Day rotation. This will give kids an opportunity to get to know one another before getting in the water. No swimsuits are needed.

Swimmers will be divided into assigned lane/age groups and rotate through games set up in the clubhouse. Coaches will also introduce swimmers to the pool deck and review important practice guidelines and procedures.

🔹 FIRST SWIM PRACTICE – TUESDAY, May 13th
Practices will be held at both 4:00pm and 5:00pm. Woo hoo!!!

Swimmers are welcome to attend either practice time. Older swimmers (ages 11+) are encouraged to attend the later practice time if possible.

ALERT ALERT! 🌦️

Weather: The weather can be incredibly unpredictable this time of year, so please be prepared for possible practice cancellations if stormy conditions move into the area during the afternoon.

Parent Rep team and I will assess conditions leading up to practice and will do our best to provide as much notice as possible if changes are needed.

In the meantime, please make sure your account is set up to receive weather alerts and other important team communications.

Equipment

Items needed for practice next week......

Fins – We will not use fins during the first two weeks of practice; however, it’s important to have them ordered before our first morning practice.
Note: If you have fins from last year that your swimmer has outgrown and would like to donate, the team would be happy to accept them!

Swimsuit – Swimmers do not need to wear the team suit for practices. Any swimsuit they are comfortable swimming in (with minimal drag) is perfectly fine. One-piece suits for girls and jammers for boys are preferable.
Note: Many swimmers reserve their team suit for swim meets only and wear a separate suit for practices to help prevent excessive wear throughout the season. That said, if your swimmer would prefer to practice in their team suit, that is absolutely okay too.

Goggles – Competitive swim goggles are best. Some swimmers may want to wear snorkel- or mask-style goggles that cover the nose, but these are not recommended, as they can make breathing while swimming laps more difficult and may become a safety concern. Goggles should fit comfortably for extended periods of swimming. Tinted goggles are also great for outdoor swimming and sun protection.

Swim Cap – I encourage all swimmers to wear swim caps during both practices and swim meets. Swim caps help swimmers move more efficiently through the water and keep hair out of the face to reduce distractions. It’s also helpful for swimmers to become comfortable wearing caps early in the season before meets begin. Silicone caps are generally the most comfortable and recommended, though latex caps work as well.

Sunscreen – Even though temperatures can vary this time of year, sunscreen is extremely important. Don’t make the same mistake I did when I was 9 years old and completely FRIED myself during swim practice to the point I missed fun end-of-year school activities. #freckledwhitegirlproblems ☀️

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

Water Bottle & Snacks – Keep those swimmers happy, fueled, and hydrated! 😊 Seriously! 

First Day

Swimmers will initially be divided by age groups. We will have signs posted next to each lane so you know where to direct your swimmer. If you are new to the team, please make sure to introduce yourself to a coach when you arrive at your swimmer’s age group lane.

As practices begin, coaches may move swimmers around as needed to ensure they are placed in the best-fit lane based on ability and skill level.

Lane Assignments

Lane 1 (next to the stairs) – 6 & Under Swimmers
Lane 2 – 8 & Under Swimmers
Lane 3 – Teens
Lane 4 – 9–10 Year Old Swimmers
Lane 5 – 11–12 Year Old Swimmers

First Two Weeks

Our main goal during the first two weeks is helping swimmers get reacquainted with swim team and comfortable in a team practice environment. Even returning swimmers benefit from refreshers on swim team etiquette and expectations.

During this time, swimmers will work on:

• Circle swimming with larger groups
• Practice behavior and listening skills
• Becoming comfortable with all four strokes
• Understanding swim team terminology and “lingo”

Example: What does “Swim a 50 kick” mean?

A note about afternoon practices

Afternoon practices may look a little different than morning practices early in the season. There are many new swimmers, returning swimmers shaking off the rust, and coaches working to organize groups appropriately after months away from the pool.

If you are concerned that practices don’t seem “advanced” enough right away or your swimmer is not immediately working on certain skills, don’t worry — we will build into those skills after Memorial Day weekend as swimmers settle back into routines and groups become more established.

Parent Support/Help Wanted

Most of our coaches are still finishing school and exams during these first two weeks. While the majority will still be attending practices, we may occasionally need a few extra helping hands supervising swimmers.

If you are interested in volunteering as an “extra helper,” please let coach Emilie know.  We are mainly looking for parents who can keep bandaids on hand "just in case" or extra support coaching swim lanes if comfortable.  

We would especially appreciate extra eyes and support for our 6 & Under lane.

Swim Meet Themes 🎉

For fun, our league enjoys dressing up for swim meets throughout the season! Nothing too elaborate. Swimmers are simply encouraged to wear themed shirts, accessories, or fun outfits that match each meet’s theme.

Here are this season’s swim meet themes so families can plan ahead:

• May 30 @ Hills West – 🕵️ Spy Kids
• June 6 @ Holly Park – 🐒 Animal Theme: “Welcome to the Jungle”
• June 13 – Bye Week
• June 20 @ Arapahoe Lake – 💖 Barbie
• June 27 @ Canterberry – ✌️ 90’s Retro
• July 11 Championships – 🐬 Dolphin Power: Blue & Pink!

We can’t wait to see everyone’s fun team spirit throughout the season! 💙

Calling All Returning Families that have not yet registered!

Last Call! 🐬

Please make sure to complete registration as soon as possible so you do not miss important team emails, updates, and weather notifications throughout the season.

Hopefully you found this information helpful! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.

We are looking forward to an amazing season and can’t wait for our first practice!

Go Dolphins! 💙

Coach Emilie Clarke