DOUGLAS DOLFINS SWIM TEAM

Practice Groups

The Douglas Dolfins are made up of six progressive levels with different practice schedules; in order these are the Pre-Competition, White, Red, Blue, Pre-Senior, and Senior groups:

Pre-Competition Dolfins are our entry-level swimmers. They must be able to swim 1 length of the pool without assistance or stopping. This is a small, hands-on group, working on the fundamentals of freestyle and backstroke 2 days a week for 45 minutes. When the swimmer is ready to start learning the competitive strokes, turns, and starts, and can handle 3 practices a week, the coach will move the swimmer into the White Dolfins.

White Dolfins are our newest competitive swimmers. They swim 3 days a week for 45 minutes working on novice swimming skills. We introduce mainly freestyle and backstroke, with a few butterfly and breaststroke drills. All the drills help the swimmer with proper hand placement and body position. We also work on introduction of starts and turns. When the swimmer is strong enough to handle an hour practice and has a good understanding of the basic drills, the coach will move the swimmer into the Red Dolfins.

Red Dolfins practice one hour Monday thru Thursday. This group works on basic drills of all four strokes, and is introduced to Individual Medley (IM) structure, basic set structure, and a little clock work. To move into the next group the swimmer must be able to complete a legal IM, with every thing listed above.

Blue Dolfins are our strongest elementary group. To be in this group you must generally be at least 9 years old, be able to understand more structured sets, and have good listening skills. To move to the next level, Pre-Seniors, the swimmer must be at least in the summer before middle school. The swimmer must be able to handle a 2-hour workout, have good clock understanding, and attend swim practice on a regular basis.

Pre-Seniors are a highly competitive group. They practice for 1½ to 2 hours per day including dry-land work, and have highly complicated sets. To be a part of this group you must first be going into 7th Grade, be able to handle a longer work out, and be at practice more consistently.

Senior Group is our highest level. This group works out 2 to 2 ½ hours per day including dry-land work. They swim 6000-8000 yards each workout, typically with a mix of IM, stroke work, and freestyle pulling. To be a part of this group you must be at least 13 years old, dedicated to the team, and compete at most meets.

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