Welcome to the West Point Dolphins!
Whether your swimmer is brand new to summer swim or returning for another season, we are excited to have your family as part of the team! Summer swim is a fun way for swimmers to build confidence, improve skills, make friends, and create lasting memories.
This guide is designed to help new families understand what to expect throughout the season.
What to Bring to Practice
- Swimsuit
- Goggles
- Towel
- Water bottle
- Swim cap
Please make sure swimmers arrive on time and ready to swim.
Practice Expectations
- Listen carefully to coaches and volunteers
- Be respectful to teammates
- Stay hydrated during practice
- Try your best and have fun!
Swim Meet Basics
Swim meets can seem overwhelming at first, but families quickly learn the routine! Meets are a fun opportunity for swimmers to race, cheer for teammates, and improve throughout the season.
- Event: A specific race (example: 25 Freestyle)
- Heat: A group of swimmers racing the same event at the same time
- Lane: The swimmer’s assigned spot in the pool
- Relay: A team event where multiple swimmers each swim part of the race
- DQ: Short for disqualification — swimmers are still encouraged and supported while learning!
Common Swim Strokes
- Freestyle: The fastest and most common stroke.
- Backstroke: Swum on the swimmer’s back.
- Breaststroke: Uses a frog-like kick and simultaneous arm movement.
- Butterfly: A more advanced stroke using a dolphin kick and simultaneous arm recovery.
- Individual Medley (IM): A race that combines all four strokes in a specific order.
What to Bring to Swim Meets
- Team swimsuit
- Extra towels
- Water and snacks
- Sunscreen
- Chairs or blankets
- Positive attitude and team spirit!
What Happens at a Swim Meet?
Swim meets may seem busy at first, but families quickly learn the routine! Below is a general overview of what to expect on meet days.
- Arrival & Check-In: Families should arrive early to help swimmers get settled and prepared for warm-ups.
- Warm-Ups: Swimmers enter the pool before the meet begins to warm up and practice starts, turns, and finishes.
- Events Begin: Swimmers compete in assigned events throughout the meet. Events are organized by age group and stroke.
- Heat Sheets: Families may receive a heat sheet showing event numbers, heats, and lane assignments.
- Team Area: Swimmers usually sit together with teammates between events to cheer each other on and listen for announcements.
- Relays: Relay events are team races where multiple swimmers each swim part of the race.
- Results & Ribbons: Results are typically posted after events, and ribbons may be awarded based on placement or personal improvement.
Most importantly, swim meets are about teamwork, sportsmanship, learning, and having fun!
Volunteer Information
Summer swim meets rely heavily on volunteers. Every family is encouraged to help throughout the season to keep meets running smoothly.
Volunteer roles may include timers, concessions, ribbons, setup/cleanup, and other meet support positions.
Please visit the Volunteer Descriptions page for additional information about volunteer positions.
Questions?
If you have questions during the season, please reach out to a coach, board member, or experienced swim parent. We are always happy to help!
We are excited for a great season. Go Dolphins!
