FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 

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Welcome to the Dolphins! Please find answers to common questions below.  We hope you have a great season!

When is practice?

Dolphins practice in their coach-assigned age groups. Practice times are listed on the Team Unify website, the DHGC website, and may adjust over the course of the season.

• Your swimmer does not have to attend every day, but remember -- the more a Dolphin practices, the better a Dolphin swims!
• You do not need to tell your coach if your swimmer will miss a practice.
• Towels are not provided for practices, please bring your own towel!

 

When are the meets?

A full meet schedule can be found on Team Unify under the "Events" tab and on the DHGC website under the Dolphin section of the Swimming page!

What age group does my child swim in? 

The date used to calculate age for the season is May 31st! Whatever age your child is on May 31st, is the age they are for the season!

(Example, if your child turns 11 on June 1st, they will still swim with the 10U group for another year.) 

What do I do if we cannot attend a meet?

Whether or not your swimmer can attend, you will notify the coaches and Parent Volunteer Coordinators by declaring them on Team Unify. Navigate to the "events" tab, scroll to the meet, and declare your swimmer as "cannot attend". You must also do this for all meets your swimmer can attend - this is also where you will sign up for jobs!

 

What do I do for a last-minute meet cancellation?

If your child is sick, injured, or something else prevents them from attending a meet on short notice, reach out to Robyn Whittemore or Carolyn Wright as soon as possible so they can tell Coach Justin about the last-minute adjustment.

 

What is a heat sheet?

A heat sheet is the printed list that tells swimmers what events they will compete in for each meet. It also defines the swimmer’s lane assignment per event. Lanes are typically assigned based on seed times, with the fastest swimmers in the center of the pool and in the earliest heats. Events are listed in order, alternating girls’ and boys’.

When is the heat sheet issued?

• Often, a draft heat sheet is sent on the morning of the meet through Team Unify's E-mail feature. Please ensure your swimmer’s name appears on the draft. If your swimmer is not listed on the draft heat sheet, notify Robyn Whittemore or Justin Yuan as soon as possible. Remember that events, lanes, and heats may change from the draft heat sheet to the final heat sheet.
• The final heat sheet will be sent out through Team Unify early in the afternoon on the day of the meet. Use it to mark your swimmer before you come to the meet and print a copy for yourself.

What does it mean to mark my swimmer?

You will literally write your swimmer’s events on their body!

• Spray or slather your child with sunscreen and let it dry for 10 minutes. Sunscreen removes Sharpie, so dry time is important.
• Use a Sharpie.
• Write your swimmer's name on their back near their right shoulder.
• Look at the heat sheet and highlight your swimmers' events.
• Write "EHL" (event, heat, lane) in a grid on the swimmer's arm, hand, or leg.
• Write the event name/stroke to the right of the lane.
• For relays, be sure to mark which leg of the relay your swimmer is 1,2,3,4 and the stroke - FR(ee), B(ac)K, (butter)FLY, or BR(east).
• Write so it reads right-side-up to the child.

 

How do we “check in” for a meet?

When you arrive at the meet, your swimmer will need to immediately go to the bullpen parent for their age group who will check the swimmer in and ensure that their arm is marked correctly. There will be signs marking each bullpen.

 

What is a bullpen?

Swimmers stay in a designated area with same age and gender swimmers before and between events (ex: 6U girls, 9-10 boys, etc). We call this area a “bullpen”. Bullpen Parent volunteers supervise the bullpens and ensure swimmers report to their assigned races.

Remind your swimmer to stay in his or her bullpen and listen to the bullpen parent. Events run very quickly and the swimmer must be present when the bullpen parent lines up the swimmers and walks them to the block for their event. Bullpen parents cannot leave the bullpen to search for your child. Similarly, swimmers need to return to the bullpen after swimming to prepare for the next event. If a swimmer needs to go to the bathroom he or she should inform their bullpen parent that they are leaving and when they have returned.

 

What does the swimmer wear to a swim meet?

• Team swim suit or all black swimsuit. Team suits can be ordered from https://www.agonswim.com/teams/102892
• Team t-shirt: if you have not already received one, pick it up at practice from Ken Lovic or Robyn!
• Flip flops or sandals

 

What do we pack in my swimmer’s bag? (Label everything with your swimmer's name!)

• Goggles
• Team swim cap
• Two towels: towels are not provided for meets or practice!
• Water bottle: It gets hot! Please make sure your child has enough liquids to stay hydrated.
• Activities
  • Caution: Electronic devices are easily stepped on, rained on, dripped on, or otherwise damaged
    • Cards, games, and books are good choices
• Food/Drinks: A dinner buffet is provided at away and home meets and is purchased by member number. Snack bars may be available as well. In addition, we suggest you pack healthy snacks BUT NO NUTS (there are severe allergies on the team)

 

Do we stay for the whole meet?

• If your swimmer’s events are complete, you can leave. But we’d love it if you stayed to cheer on your teammates!
• Be sure your swimmer cleans up his or her belongings and trash before leaving.

 

What if it rains during a practice or a meet?

Our facilities monitor thunder and lightning constantly through our Thor Guard system (http://dhgc.thormobile14.net) If poor weather is too close to the facility for safe swimming, the official will pause the swim practice or meet. Swimmers will be told where their safe lightning/thunder place will be and should stay with their bullpen to go to that location if necessary.

 

What are meet awards / Awards Night?

Meet awards (Awards Night) are always given 6pm on the Tuesday after the meet and practice times are adjusted to allow for this. The coaches recap the meet and recognize swimmers’ accomplishments. Swimmers collect their ribbons and parents share the celebration.

 

How do I show my Dolphin spirit?

DHGC parents usually wear white with green accessories to the meet to show their team spirit. Swimmers can write encouraging notes on their fellow swimmers, wear their team t-shirts, and cheer positively for their teammates!

 

Who are the Parent and DHGC Representatives?

The Parent Representatives are volunteers who work with DHGC staff and other volunteers to help make swim season great.