WELCOME TO THE 2024 Anna Blue Dolphins Swim Season!!

Dear Families,

First off, welcome back or welcome to the team!!! We are super excited for the 2024 swim season to start.  

I am Melissa Thompson. I am the Head Coach of the Blue Dolphins. I have been coaching the Dolphins for 5 years now. I have coached other teams in the Southern Illinois region as well. I was also a swimmer myself. I swam competitively from 5y/o to college. I am very passionate about competitive swimming and coaching. We strive to teach hard work, teamwork, and competitive swimming in a positive and safe environment.  

If you haven't looked at the website, you will find team records, Swim Meet 101, an introduction to myself, the team store, and much more information that will be helpful for all swimmers. Also check out our Facebook Page, there is a lot of helpful information on there. 

We don't have a definitive start date because the city is still working to get the pool ready. Plan to start the first week of June. Evaluations will be the first day we are allowed in the pool. We will update you as soon as we have word. 

Note that practice times have changed since last year. We have extended the times of each practice. Advanced/Older kids practice from 8:00 to 9:30 am M-F. New Swimmer/Younger swimmers practice from 9:30 to 10:30 am M-F. Please arrive 10/15 min early. Start times are when swimmers should be entering the water. Coming to practice everyday isn't required but it is strongly encourage. Swimmers learn a lot of information daily and the more a swimmer practices the stronger swimmer they are.   

Swimmers will need goggles and a swim suit. All other gear is optional. Most swimmers wear swim caps because it keeps your hair from getting messy and in your face and it makes swimmers faster in the water since it causes less resistance. If you have long hair and don't plan on wearing a swim cap please put your hair up/braided as much as you can. 

Plan on coming to the practice meet. I think that is it for now. If you  have any questions or concerns, please feel free to address them with me or any of our wonderful board members. 

Thank you!!! 

Melissa Thompson

(618) 513-1982