The Haines Dolphin swim team’s 2014-15 season starts 3:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12, with a fun swim at the pool.
Board members and coaches will be available from 4:30-6 p.m. to answer questions and assist with team registration.
Regular team practices begin Monday, Sept. 15. Swimmers will be assigned to squads based on ability later that week.
Coach Robert Butker is back for his third year at the helm, and he retains his coaching staff of Marian Carlson, Diana Mallory and Darren Pattison.
“Like last year, kids will have the opportunity to swim every weekday if they choose to,” said board president James Alborough. “The tradition of ‘Fun Friday’ will also continue. If there is enough interest, the HDST board is also considering running Dolphins-sponsored swim lessons for kids who are not quite ready to be on the team.”
Coach Butker said Dolphin squads are “much more skill-based than age-based,” but the youngest swimmers have “a big step from being able to be in the water to being on the swim team” and completing multiple laps during practice. Having lessons specifically for these younger swimmers, around age 4, would allow for more individual attention, he said.
Team registration also is available online at http://www.hainesdolphins.org. All swimmers who sign up in September will receive a free Dolphins T-shirt as part of their first month’s registration, Alborough said. Families can set up monthly recurring dues payments online.
Swimmers must register with USA Swimming, and monthly Dolphin team dues are $50.
The team’s first meet is at Whitehorse in November.