Dam West Dolphins

The Dolphins' relay policy rewards swimmers with the opportunity to swim in additional races. Relay races for swimmers 7-18 years old will be assigned based on the coach's discretion. There are a number of factors, aside from the fastest times, that go into building a relay such as consistency, hard work, and chemistry. We also try to give every swimmer the opportunity to swim in a relay.

Although the Dolphins Swim Team is a fun summer team, we strive to balance competing at the highest level while allowing swimmers to fully experience swim team.  We hope to enhance the swimmers' enjoyment and give them a good experience that will encourage them to work hard to achieve relay status.

Relays are special - swimming on a relay is a privilege and not a right. There are limited spots available on the relays. If you've selected that your child is available to stay for a relay and then leave, you are then taking a relay experience away from 3 other swimmers. Swimmers that miss relays due to arriving late to a meet or leaving early may forfeit their opportunity to be selected in future relays.

Swimmers must arrive in time to participate in warm-ups. Swimmers that do not make it in time for warm-ups will be scratched from the relay teams. We have to check in swimmers and verify relay teams prior to the start of the meet. When a swimmer isn't here in time for team check-in's then the relay has to be re-seeded on deck and in the computer or scratched for legality purposes.

Four swimmers participate, each of whom swims a different stroke. The first swimmer swims Backstroke (BA), the second Breaststroke (BR), the third Butterfly (FL), and the fourth Freestyle (FR).  An easy way to remember this is: BA, BR, FL, FR are in alphabetical order.

These relays come near the beginning of the meet: Events 5-14.

For Order of Events click HERE.

Four swimmers each swim freestyle. However, the distance swum differs by age group.

These relays come at the end of the meet: Events 81-90.

For Order of Events click HERE.

To "swim-up" in a relay means that a swimmer from a younger age group is allowed to swim in an older age group, often in order to complete a relay.   A swimmer can only move up age groups, not down. For example: a 16 year old boy cannot swim in the “8 & Under Boys Relay” but an 8 year old boy can swim in a “15-18 Boys Relay.”   Most likely they wouldn't be jumped up quite that many age groups but it can and has happened. 

This might sound scary if you’re trying to picture your 8 year old swimming with the “big kids” but it’s actually a lot of fun and everyone will be cheering like crazy for them!  BUT, if you really think it’s too much and don’t want that experience for your swimmer you can check the “Please do not enter in relays for older age-groups” button on the Meet Entry.