IT’S SWIM TEAM TIME!!!!!

HEY DolFANS!!! Welcome to 2025 ABD Summer Swim Team!!!

I am Melissa Thompson. I am the Head Coach for the Anna Blue Dolphins. I have coached ABD (Anna Blue Dolphins) for several years now and we are building a very strong program. I coached in Mt.Vernon, IL and Centralia, IL before we moved to Anna. I just recently became a stay at home mom. Previously I was a teacher.I personally swam for a year-round club team and summer league for 14 years before swimming at the collegiate level at Millikin University.

Outside of my family, swimming is the greatest joy of my life. I try to bring that joy to our team. We strive to create a safe, educational, and competitive program that positively impacts your children's bodies and minds.

Swimming can be overwhelming at first so ask as many questions as your need to. Please check out the facebook page and the website, there is a lot of helpful information on there. They can answer a lot of the questions you might have. There will be a lot of information being shared on the app, via email, and facebook this next week and the remainder of the season so please make sure you are checking those programs throughout the week.

EVALUATIONS: If I have never seen you swim, you have to come to evaluations. Evaluations will be May 29th and 30th from 5:00 - 6:00 pm. Swimmers will check in anytime after 5. Swimmers will enter the water one at a time and will be asked to swim a full lap (25 meters) of the city pool without assistance from anyone or anything. Once they finished their lap, the adult with said child will need to speak to me about placement for practices then you may go.

Can swimmers stop and rest? YES. They can stop and rest as many times as needed.

Do swimmers have to be able to do a specific stroke? NO. Get down the pool swimming anyway you know how to.

What do you need to bring to evaluations? Swimsuit, goggles, towel, and a responsible adult.

Can someone be in the water with my child during evaluations? Yes, but only one of the coaches. We have assistant and junior coaches standing by to swim along with your swimmer during evaluations if needed.

Once we have evaluations done, I will arrange all swimmers into groups. These groups will decide what practice you come to. I will post the groups when I send out the first weekly newsletter, The Sunday Swimsuit, this coming Sunday May 25th. First practice is June 2. Don’t worry if you aren’t out of school yet. We will see ya as soon as you are.

1st practice is from 8 - 9:30 am: Typically for our older more advanced swimmers.

2ns practice is from 9:30 - 10:30 am: Typically for first year, younger, and newer swimmers.

If you cannot make it to evaluations, please contact me so we can set up a separate viewing time for your family. See your beautiful faces soon!!!!!

Sincerely,

Coach Melissa

[email protected]

(618) 513 1982