Practice starts Monday!

*The 2024 Orientation Email had incorrect practice times for 6 & Under and 7-8 after school. The correct times are in the attached updated “Fridge Sheet”, on the website and below:

May 13-21 (Mon-Thurs)
4:30-5 p.m. 6 & under
5-5:45 p.m. ages 7 to 9
5:45-6:30 p.m. ages 10 to 12
6:30-7:15 p.m. ages 13 to 18
No practice on last day of school

If you didn’t get a chance to fully read through the Orientation Email, here are a few highlights of what to do and expect this week:

BRING SWIMSUITS & GEAR: As your kids are packing their swim bags (water, goggles, towels, extra layers), pull out the too-small swimsuits (and swim shirts, caps, t-shirt, etc) and bring them with you to practice for our “Hand-me-down Table.” And the items that do fit or are new for the season – LABEL WITH THEIR NAMES. (Do you shop at Target? Everyone else does too!)

LEARN NAMES: Take a few minutes to introduce yourself – both swimmers and parents – to a Dolphin family you haven’t met. Learn the names of our coaches AND help our coaches learn the names of our 140 swimmers … if you're accustomed to writing your kids’ name on their back with Sharpie for swim meets, go ahead and do it the first few days of practice. (If you can't recall someone's name, just say something like "it's been 10 months since last season, remind me your name.") 

PICK UP SPIRITWEAR: Every family will have spiritwear to pick up this week. We have team shirts for everyone, plus the spiritwear ordered from our team store. Unfortunately, we had a delay in getting our 1974 Throwback items, but everything else has been organized and packaged by parent volunteers over the weekend. We will have car magnets for sale ($5) and a limited number of ballcaps ($17) – cash is best but Venmo accepted. Only PARENTS should pick up spiritwear – this will make things less chaotic, and if you ordered a “surprise” for your kid, it can stay a surprise. Please pick up early this week! (I don’t want to have a permanent warehouse in my minivan.)

SIGN UP FOR VOLUNTEER SHIFTS: New this year! Meet volunteer shifts will open on Thursday, May 16 at 8 p.m. Log in to your SwimTopia account, navigate to calendar, to a meet, and click the green “job signup” button. All FAMILIES are required to sign up for 3 meet shifts. More details will be sent out this week, but if you have questions or concerns, reach out to: [email protected] (We are grateful to new Volunteer Coordinator Maggie Hammond for stepping into this important role in her family’s first year with the Dolphins!)

BE PATIENT: You might notice when you arrive Monday that things around the pool deck are still getting repaired, painted, updated, etc. for the official season opening on May 22. And the first week of practice coaches are getting to know swimmers and their abilities … and swimmers are getting accustomed to being back at summer swim practice. And it might take parents a few days to remember how to navigate our parking lot and narrow driveway. Please, be patient if things seem somewhat chaotic … and offer to help where you see a need.

See you soon! Go Dolphins!