Meet Info
Swim meets put the best aspects of the Louisville Dolphins community on display. Swimmers come to swim fast and show great sportsmanship by cheering on deck and congratulating those next to them in the pool. Coaches encourage the swimmers and take careful notes to help guide and individualize practice during the following weeks. For home meets, nearly a hundred parent volunteers lend their effort and skills from setup to cleanup, and everything in between. And our volunteer Parents of Dolphins (POD) members organize all of the volunteer efforts to ensure that the day runs smoothly and efficiently.
A typical season consists of one Practice Meet at the start of the season, five or six Dual Meets, two Optional Meets, and BVSSL league championships (Prelims and Finals) at the end of the season. Please refer to the current season's Meet Schedule for dates and locations. Registered families may also Login at the top-right, go to the Meets and Events page, and click Subscribe to get a link that can be used to add all of the Louisville Dolphins events to your preferred devices.
The Practice Meet is an ideal way for swimmers and volunteers - new and veteran alike - to get ready for the season. Dual Meets are direct competitions between our team and one other team, and they are held either at the Memory Square Pool or at the other team's home pool. Optional Meets provide additional opportunities to compete, often in events that aren't normally swum during regular meets. Prelims are held at a fantastic indoor facility (VMAC), and our coaches encourage ALL swimmers to register and participate. Finally, the top 20 swimmers in each event at Prelims, plus two alternates, quality to compete at Finals to earn individual medals and team-level trophies.
There's one unavoidable reality when it comes to all of the meets: they are long days. Most meets start early and run into the early afternoon. A typical meet consists of around 150 races, so there's constant action on the pool deck. Families should come prepared with all of the swimming essentials, clothing appropriate for both our cool early mornings and hot afternoons, something comfortable to sit on, water and snacks, and ideally a tent or other shade. There is always food available for purchase as well. The General Meet Info and Meet Checklist pages provide a bunch more details about what to bring and what to expect.
If you take a look at the Memory Square Pool and wonder how we could possibly pack hundreds of kids and their families into that space, the answer is Memory Square Park. The City of Louisville graciously allows us to take over the entire park, filling it with tents and creating a festive atmosphere for the duration of the meet. Other teams offer variations on that same arrangement. Most swimmers and families split their time between competing and cheering on the pool deck and relaxing in the tent city. We always strive to tread lightly and leave the pool and the park area clean and in great condition when the meet is done.
Please consult all of the other content under the Meet Info dropdown, keep an eye out for weekly emails with specific details for each meet, and email us at [email protected] if you have any further questions.
