Weatherstone Dolphins Swim Team

Our age groups are

6 and under: 5 years and 6 years of age

8 and Under: Swimmers 7 years and 8 years of age

10 and Under: 9 years and 10 years of age

12 and Under: 11 years and 12 years of age

14 and Under: 13 years and 14 years of age Open:

15 years through summer after graduation

Age Cut-Off: age as of May 31st each year

Swim Strokes and Their Common Names:

Freestyle (free) = front crawl swim on stomach with arms making a windmill motion

Backstroke (back) = the front crawl stroke swim on the back, cannot turn over onto stomach 

Butterfly* (fly) = both arm and leg movements occur at the same time, swim on stomach

Breaststroke* (breast) = “frog stroke” where arms and legs move like a frog on top of the water

* Require 2-hand touches at finish, no freestyle kicking or scissor kicking allowed

Lap – the point from one side of the pool to another (25 yards)

25 = 1 length of the pool (yards)

50 = 2 lengths of the pool (yards)

100 = 4 lengths of the pool (yards)

Relay: 4 person event where each swimmer swims one leg of the race

Medley Relay: 4 swimmers compete with the 1st swimming backstroke, 2nd swimming breaststroke, 3rd swimming butterfly and 4th swimming freestyle

Free Relay: Each of the 4 swimmers swims freestyle

Event – part of the competition meet specified by age, gender and stroke. Each age group has a medley relay and a freestyle relay. With the 5-6 age group only have a freestyle relay

Heat – portion of the event

Official Heat – first heat of an event where points are used towards team's final score

Exhibition Heat – any additional heat completed after the official heat. These heats do not earn points, however, they give the swimmers an opportunity to decrease their times and participate with the team. These times can be used to qualify for championships.

False Start – leaving the blocks before the heat is started by an official (2 false starts results in disqualification)

Disqualification (DQ) – time and place of finish does not count due to incorrect swimming technique

Technical rules:

• All swimmers are allowed one false start.
• 5-6’s, no DQ’s throughout the season unless for a safety violation.
• 1st Meet week: All swimmers aged 9 and above could be disqualified for infractions. Swimmers 8 & under could be disqualified for safety violations.
• Weeks 2-5: 7& above could be disqualified for all infractions. 

• Standard athletic swimsuit and/or jammers.
• Swim cap
• 2 pairs of goggles (in case one pair breaks)

*preferably competition/swim goggles, but masks work too

• 2-3 towels
• Warm clothing including sweatshirts and sweatpants- it gets chilly some nights!
• Healthy snacks (pretzels, vegetables, crackers, cheese sticks, grapes…) and water or Gatorade

*There will be food to purchase.

• Sunscreen

• Enthusiasm, sportsmanship, spirit, and excitement! 

• Lawn chair
• Bug spray
• Sunscreen
• Sweatshirt (it gets chilly some nights)
• Snacks
• $$ for snacks
• Enthusiasm and sportsmanship!

*Remember it’s the coaches' job to coach and the parents' job to support their kids, swim team is a fun uplifting environment where we celebrate mishaps as a step towards growth.

That depends….Usually meets are finished between 10 and 11 PM. It depends on the size of the 2 competing teams. Also, the meet will be delayed if we are asked to clear the pool because of lightning in the area. We may ask you to clear the pool deck and sit in your car… this DOES NOT MEAN GO HOME! Unless instructed to do so directly by a coach or swim coordinator.

A swimmer can be entered in a maximum of three (3) individual events plus only one (1) medley relay and only one (1) freestyle relay – to swim in more than allowed results in a rules infraction.

1. A swimmer is allowed to ‘Swim up' one age group for individual events. If a swimmer 'swims up' in an individual event, then that swimmer MUST ‘Swim up' for all individual events in that meet.
2. Relays will be set up with “And Under” categories. If a swimmer ‘swims up’ in a relay event, that swimmer is not required to ‘Swim up’ for individual events.
3. Relay participation parameters:
   1. A swimmer is allowed to swim in any relay above or equal to their age. For example, a 9-year-old swimmer may swim in the 10 and under relay, 12 and under, 13 and under, and so on. However, the 9-year-old is ineligible to swim in the 8 and under and 6 and under relays.
   2. A swimmer is only allowed to swim in one (1) Medley and one (1) Freestyle relay.