Group Requirements

The Dickinson Dolphins Swim Team provides kids in our community an opportunity to persue personal excellence, learn valuable life skills and the drive to achieve their highest potential. Our team members go the extra yard to be the best leaders and rolemodels they can be, in and out of the pool.

Parents,

The following outlines the promotional expectations for each age group. Before a swimmer can be considered for advancement, they must demonstrate proficiency in all of the skills and expectations listed for their current group.

In most cases, swimmers who have successfully met all promotional requirements will move to the next group at the conclusion of the current season and begin in their new group at the start of the following season. There may be situations where a promotion is delayed despite all requirements being met. If that occurs, the coaching staff will discuss the reasons with you and, when appropriate, with your swimmer.

Our goal as coaches is to help every athlete continue to improve and develop at a pace that sets them up for long-term success. Every swimmer progresses differently. Some master new skills quickly, while others simply need more time and practice. Neither path is better than the other.

We ask that you continue to encourage and support your swimmer throughout their journey, regardless of when they are promoted. Your support and positive encouragement play a significant role in their confidence and enjoyment of the sport.

As always, your most important role is to be their biggest cheerleader, while our role is to coach their technical development and guide their progression.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding these promotional expectations, please don't hesitate to contact our Head Coach.

Thank you,

Dickinson Dolphins Coaching Staff

Pre Minnows

Requirements for Pre Minnows Need to be comfortable getting in the water unassisted Ability to take direction Willingness to learn	Pre Minnows skills needed to advance to Minnows Front float unassisted Back float unassisted Full bob with bubbles Jumping in with float assist or to coach Push off wall to a float Kicking while holding off the side of pool
Rules Keep head above water unless instructed to go under water One hand on wall at all times Keep hands to themselves No talking while coach is instructing group No hanging on the ropes	Warning System Pre Minnows get two verbal warnings If behavior continues they will have to sit on the wall for 2 minutes.

Minnows

Requirements for Minnows Front float unassisted Back float unassisted Full bob with bubbles Jumping in with float assist or to coach Push off wall to a float Kicking while holding off the side of pool	Minnows skills needed to go to Guppies Kick with kickboard half way and use 50% accuracy breathing technique 5 correct bobs doing breathing for 2 seconds Back and Front Streamline with Kicking Be able to swim half the length of Pool Freestyle unassisted Comfortable with Sitting Starts Be able to tread water unassisted for minimum of 5 seconds
Rules Keep head above water unless instructed to go under water One hand on wall at all times Keep hands to themselves No talking while coach is instructing group No hanging on the ropes	Warning System Minnows will get two verbal warnings If behavior continues they have to do 5 pushups or jumping jacks.

Guppies

Requirements for Guppies Kick with kickboard half way and use 50% accuracy breathing technique 5 correct bobs doing breathing for 2 seconds Back and Front Streamline with Kicking Be able to swim half the length of Pool Freestyle unassisted Comfortable with Sitting Starts Be able to tread water unassisted for minimum of 5 seconds	Guppies skills needed to go to Pufferfish Kick with kickboard full 25yd Front and back Be able to dolphin kick halfway with or without kickboard on the front Comfortable with kneeling starts Comfortable with backstroke half way Tread water for at least 10-15 seconds Proper technique for freestyle (breathing and strokes) Streamline full 25yd on front and back
Rules Keep head above water unless instructed to go under water One hand on wall at all times Keep hands to themselves No talking while coach is instructing group No hanging on the ropes	Warning System Guppies get one verbal warning and then if behavior continues they have to do 10 pushups or jumping jacks. If behavior continues after two discipline actions they will have to sit with their parents for 5 minutes.

Pufferfish

Requirements for Pufferfish Kick with kickboard full 25yd Front and back Be able to dolphin kick halfway with or without kickboard on the front Comfortable with kneeling starts Comfortable with backstroke half way Tread water for at least 10-15 seconds Proper technique for freestyle (breathing and strokes) Streamline full 25yd on front and back	Pufferfish skills needed to promote to Flippers Be able to circle swim Be able to do 50yd Freestyle and Backstroke without stopping and proper starts and finish Be able to do 100yd with kickboard front and back Be able to do dolphin kick in streamline on front for a 25yd Be able to a standing dive into streamline Good foundation for flip turns Good foundation for butterfly and Breastroke Minimum of 2 sessions in Minnow C unless Coach promotional expectations are met
Rules Keep head above water unless instructed to go under water One hand on wall at all times Keep hands to themselves No talking while coach is instructing group No hanging on the ropes	Warning System Pufferfish get one verbal warning and then 15 pushups. If behavior continues they have to sit with their parents for 5 minutes. If behavior is consistently a problem then the Head Coach will be brought in to discuss with the parent.

Flippers

Requirements: Legal freestyle and backstroke (starts, turns, finishes). Legal dolphin kick and breaststroke kick. Flip turn on freestyle. Streamline every wall. Proper breathing.	Promotion Expectation: Be able to complete 50 free, 50 back (flip turn), 25 fly, 25 breast. Streamline every wall. 2 dolphin kicks off walls. Diving start off the starting block.	Character Development: Respectful of parents, swimmers, and coaches. Respectful of pool and equipment.
Social Skills: Good listening skills. Understands lane etiquette, circle swimming, 5 and 10 seconds apart, leaving on top and bottom of clock..	Nutrition: Parents are expected to offer good food choices.	Time Management: Practices 2 times/week. Parents will make sure athletes are on time for practices and meets. Must compete in one home meet and learn 2 team cheers.

Age Group 1

Requirements: Legal 4 strokes at 50 yard length (free and backstroke flip turns, open turns, starts). Does underwaters and streamlines every wall. Able to complete 100 IM legally. Understands interval training.	Promotion Expectation: Swim 1 x100 IM legally. Perform 2 x100 Free @ 2:40, 2 x100 Kick @ 3:30. Develop consistent practice attendance. Develop stroke and IM efficiency. Perform all turns and push-offs efficiently.	Character Development: Respectful of parents, swimmers and coaches. Congratulates teammates. Respectful of pool and equipment.
Social Skills: Great listening skills. Respectful of other swimmers. No splashing or touching of other athletes. Controls emotions at practice and swim meets.	Nutrition: Parents are expected to offer good food choices.	Time Management: Practice 3-4 times/week. Wears club gear to school at least once a week. Competes in one home meet and one away meet. Learns multiple cheers.

Age Group 2

Requirements: Legal 4 strokes at 100 yard length (free and backstroke flip turns, open turns, starts). Does underwater and streamlines every wall. Able to complete 100 IM legally. Understands interval training	Promotion Expectation: Swim 2x200 IM legally. Perform 4x100 Free @ 2:15, 4 x100 Kick @ 2:45. Develop consistent practice attendance. Develop stroke and IM efficiency. Perform all turns and push-offs efficiently.	Character Development: Respectful of parents, swimmers and coaches. Congratulates teammates. Respectful of pool and equipment. Open to ideas and understands practice to meet relations.
Social Skills: Great listening skills – do not speak over coaches or other athletes. Respectful of other swimmers. Meeting swimmers from other teams. Wears club gear to school at least once a week. Competes in home meets and 2 away meets. Learns multiple cheers.	Nutrition: Brings a water bottle to practice. Understands what a healthy snack is. Parents are expected to give good food choices.	Time/Stress Management: Practice 4 times/week. Informs coach of practice absence and reason. Understands the importance of rest and balancing family, friends, school, and swimming.

Age Group 3

Requirements: Swim 4x100 free @ 1:45. Kick 4x100 flutter @ 2:25 Swim 4x100 IM at 2:00. Have 4+ State Qualifying times. Willing to swim all events. Dryland 2-3 times/week. Accurately counts practice distances and sets.	Promotion Expectation: Swim 6x100 Free @ 1:40 Kick 6x100 Flutter @ 2:20 Swim 6x100 IM @ 2:00 Competed in all available events. Close in 1 zones, sectional, jr. Nats, or Nats cut time. Leadership/Active with club fundraising and activities.	Character Development: Respectful of parents, swimmers and coaches. Congratulates teammates. Respectful of pool and equipment. Demonstrates proper meet and practice behavior. Leads cheers. Attends home and away meets.
Social Skills: Not influenced by negative behavior. Takes responsibility for attendance, habits in practice and how they relate to performance. Respectful of other swimmers and meets swimmers from teams. Wears club gear once a week.	Nutrition: Brings water bottle every day. Eats healthy snacks. Parents are expected to give good food choices. Demonstrates eating a balanced diet.	Time/Stress Management: Practice 5 times/week. Understands rest. Prioritize school work, family time, social activities including swimming. Controls emotions. Understands meet performance. Positive outcomes.

Senior Nationals

Requirements: Swim 6 x100 Free @ 1:25 Kick 6 x100 flutter @ 1:50 Swim 6 x100 IM @ 1:50 1 Zones, Sectional, Jr. Nats, Nats cut time. Dryland 3 times per week.	Goals: Make sectionals, Junior or National Team. Get college scholarship. Stay a straight A student. Ambassador of the team. Help coaching with younger group.	Character Development: Understands the importance of TEAM. Congratulates teammates regularly. Motivates and leads by example.
Social Skills: Meeting swimmers from other teams - be on time to practice. Wears club gear to school. Competes in home and away meets. Leads cheers. Actions show dedication to the team and team values. Attends the highest Meet level the Dolphins Attend.	Nutrition: Bring water bottle to practice. Eats healthy snacks. Parents are expected to give a good food choice. Has a healthy balanced diet.	Time/Stress Management:: Practice 7 times/week. Prioritize school work, family time, social activities including swimming. Shows strength of positive thinking. Practices visualization.