New Website!

Please visit us at www.FHDolphins.com

as this blog will be deleted within the next couple of days.

March Birthdays

Big Happy Birthday

shout out

to our

March Birthdays

Victoria E.

Christopher H.

Jennifer K.

Happy Birthday from
Your Dolphin Swim Team!!

Coolers

Dolphin Swimmers gathered around after practice tonight to receive a gift from the team. A cooler with some goodies for their upcoming Junior Olympic meet this weekend! A note of encouragement with a message to add some fruits to the mix. What an awesome send off. We all wish them the very best this weekend, they deserve it! Swim strong swim fast!!

Good Luck!

New Equipment Requirements

Beginning on MARCH 1st, 2008 the following list of swim equipment will be required for every swimmer.
Swimmers are to bring these items with them to every practice. The team will no longer be supplying this standard equipment to the swimmers.

Ø Swim Fins
ØSwim Cap
ØSwim Goggles
ØWater Bottle
ØMesh carry bag
ØCompetitive Quality Swimsuit

In exchange for this new requirement, your Fort Hood Dolphins Swim team will have the ability to purchase more specialized training aides and supplies that will better assist the swimmers and coaches with their drills.

FIRST COME- FIRST SERVE on newly purchased inventory fins. Various sizes available. $18

EOS Party

Your Dolphin Swim Team would like to invite you to our End of Season Short Course 2008 party!!

When: Friday March 14th
Time: 5:30p.m. - 7:00p.m.
Where: Abrams Pool
Bring: Your swimsuits, goggles and towels for pool fun!

The Team will be providing the pizza and drinks! There will be a sign up sheet at the pool for desserts and veggies.
All family members are welcome.
Come on out and have a great time and cheer on your
Dolphin Swimmers for a season well done!

February 2008 Birthdays

Big Happy Birthday
shout out
to our
February Birthdays

Yvonne D.

Sam M.

Happy Birthday from

Your Dolphin Swim Team!!

Water Bottle Requirement

All Swimmers are reminded that starting Friday, water bottles are part of their required practice equipment. Please mark your water bottles so that you can differentiate yours from everyone else. Sports Drinks are OK but make sure that the top will secure tightly and not leak if knocked in the pool.

v/r
Coach Vince
Swim Coach
Fort Hood Dolphins

Junior Olympic Entries

Junior Olympic entry deadline is fast approaching. All entries are due this Thursday Feb 7th by the end of practice. All information can be found here on our website or from the information packet at the pool. Take a moment and look at the list for your child's events that the coaches have suggested they can swim. Please make your JO entry only check or money order payable to FHD ( NO cash ). All swimmers are encouraged to participate as this is the last meet of our short course season. Keep in mind that some swimmers need this meet to earn their team towel. Information regarding earning your team towel can be found here Team Towel. These will be presented at the end of season party in March. Any questions or concerns please let us know.
Thanks,

Tonights Practice 30 January

Parents
You are strongly encouraged to attend the first 20 or so minutes of practice tonight as we go over meet responsibilities for both the swimmer and parent. Please do not drop and dash, we have some helpful information and a unique opportunity in which to give this information out to you and your swimmer. I know your time is valuable and I appreciate the time and effort you dedicate to the team.

v/r
Vincent
Swim Coach
Fort Hood Dolphins

Revised Team Schedule for 28 Jan - 1 Feb

I have moved the ribbon handout to Thursday. Any swimmer who cannot make it but will be there Wednesday I will hand out at that time. I will also go over parent swimmer responsibility on both Wednesday and Thursday. This will take just a few moments and should not effect
Thursday events.

Wednesday

Discussion on Swimmer and Parent responsibilities during each meet.
Goal Setting Exercise
Dryland Training
Stretching
Team Building Exercise Team Cheer competition

Thursday

Georgetown Meet Awards handouts and recognition
Discussion on Swimmer and Parent responsibilities during each meet.
Dryland TrainingVideos / Swimmer Goal Sheets
Teambuilding Exercise

Friday

Dryland Training
Nutritional Discussion
Competition Discussion
(Draft) Swimmer Group Progression Discussion

See You There
Vincent
Swim Coach
Fort Hood Dolphins

Practice Schedule 28 Jan - 1 Feb

Each swimmer is encouraged to attend practice during this week as it offers some unique opportunities to work on some things that we do not normally get during the busy swim practice period. Each swimmer should arrive on time and in exercise clothes(sweatpants and jacket with shorts, short sleeved shirt and shoes that will allow them to both work inside and or outside weather permitting. Each swimmer should bring a towel or exercise mat with them to work-out on. Each day will contain a combination of dryland exercises, stretching and group exercises and discussions on various subjects. On Thursday and time permitting Friday we will be conducting individual parent/swimmer expectations and goal setting sheets. These will help the swimmer focus long term, understand what is expected of them short term and their expected progression within the team based on their performance. The Nutritional discussion may be shifted based on what day or if we can geta nutritionist to come and talk to our group. If a speaker is not available for this I will lead this focusing on precompetitive, competitive and recovery nutrition very general centered around choices etc. I encourage each parent to come and congratulate our Georgetown swimmers and listen to our discussion on swimmer and parent responsibilities during each meet.

Wednesday
Georgetown Meet Awards handouts and recognition
Discussion on Swimmer and Parent responsibilities during each meet.
Goal Setting Exercise
Dryland Training
Stretching
Team Building Exercise Team Cheer competition

Thursday
Dryland Training
Videos / Swimmer Goal Sheets
Teambuilding Exercise

Friday
Dryland Training
Nutritional Discussion
Competition Discussion(Draft) Swimmer Group Progression Discussion

See You There

Coach Vincent
Assistant Swim Coach
Fort Hood Dolphins

Georgetown Meet Recap

Parents and Swimmers,

I just wanted to take a moment to express how extremely proud I am of you and your performance at Georgetown Swim Meet this past weekend. Your performance mirrored your hard work that you have been dedicating to your swimming over the past months of the short course season. Our swimmers achieved 10 National Age Group B times and one BB time this weekend, a remarkable achievement. This was led by Jamie S who swam 3 B times in the 5 events she swam, all first swims. Another first time B time achievement was accomplished by Sarah S who swam 2 of her 3 events at B or better. Nearly half of our swimmers have achieved a B time or better since we have been actively tracking their progress during the past 6 months. More are sure to follow.Time is just one measure and not my favorite. The Georgetown meet was a very challenging meet as the conditions were very crowded and at times nearly unmanageable. Through it all, your swimmers displayed a great sense of sportsmanship and maturity well beyond their age. At no time did any of the swimmers complain or display an attitude of anything other than enthusiasm. They made an, at times, unbearable situation workable and I thank the parents for allowing me to work with some amazing kids. I am very proud of them and their performance and not just in the pool. Time is not my favorite measure but I realize that I am probably more harshly judged against it than the team and I accept that but I want each parent to take a moment to realize that swimming offers so much more than just swimming fast, faster or even fasterester. Swimming takes a certain kind of commitment that is just not found in (m)any other sports. Time management, personal accountability individual yet team accomplishment and dedication to hard work are of a magnitude not realized in any other youth sport. Each swimmer is an individual and their swimming experience will be just as individual. My only measure is whether they arrive with a smile and leave with one, I hope that is a measure that many of you use. It does not mean that we do not push our swimmers, or hope for great performances, rather we keep each in perspective.Thanks again for allowing me to be your coach,

Coach Vincent
Assistant Swim Coach
Fort Hood Dolphins
Ed Reese,"The magic is in the kids."

Georgetown Results

What an awesome time had by all at this weekends Georgetown meet. Over there to your left you'll be able to see your childs' times by seasonal or individual under Swimmers' Times. Keep up the awesome work swimmers you really ROCKED the pool this weekend!!

January 2008 Birthdays

Big Happy Birthday

shout out

to our

January Birthdays

Madison G.

Andrew R.

Larissa R.

Shelby W.

Happy Birthday from
Your Dolphin Swim Team!!

January UT & Georgetown Entries

Because of schedule changes Entries for UT & Georgetown will now be due Wednesday Jan 2, 2008 by the end of practice. If you could get them in this week if you know you won't be there next Wednesday that would be fabulous! If you want to email me your entries please do so as well. Keep in mind for Georgetown if you didn't attend the one in December an Assumption of Risk form is needed for each swimmer. Those that do not need are listed in the folder at the pool. UT entries have went up to $8 and 200+ events have time requirements. All meet information can be found to your left. If you have any questions please feel free to let us know!

December Birthdays

Big Happy Birthday
shout out
to our
December Birthdays

Lauren S

Happy Birthday from

Your
Dolphin Swim Team!!

Swim Team Party

HI everyone:
Here are the details for the Fort Hood Dolphins Swim Team Holiday Party.
Date: December 11th, Tuesday
Time: 5:30 pm (regular practice time)
Place: Killeen Skate Palace

We are renting the entire rink for the Swim Team and their families. Cost is $8 per person (incl. rental) or you can bring your own. Regardless of whether you are skating or not. The team will be providing pizza and drinks and we are asking families to bring a side or dessert.PLEASE PRE-PAY at the pool! NLT December 1st. There is a folder on the box with a sign-up sheet on the back. Please fill it out with the number of people per family. Place your CHECK ONLY to FHD (memo:skate party) into that BLUE FOLDER! Please indicate if you will be bringing a side dish or a dessert.

Holiday Schedule

Parents & Swimmers,
Even though the holidays are upon us, this is our sports' biggest time of the year. Even though the kids will be out of school for the holidays, we will be for the most part still on a regular practice schedule. Listed below are the days that Abrams will be closed or closing prior to our practice time, therefore we will not have practice. Only exception will be day after Thanksgiving even though the pool is open we will not have practice, so everyone may enjoy the long holiday weekend.

Nov 22-23 No practice Thanksgiving Holiday

Dec 24-25 No practice Christmas Holiday

Dec 31-Jan 1 Happy 2008 No practice

Mark those calendars and Have a safe and Happy Holiday!

Hoodies

We are still in need of some orders to get to our 25 required orders! Hoodies are $25 and the order form is at the pool. What a great Christmas gift for your swimmer and family. And just in time for a Texas cold front! All orders will need to be prepaid. If you have any questions please feel free to contact a board member!
Thanks,

November Birthdays!

Big Happy Birthday

shout out

to our

November Birthdays

Kiersten K.

&

Cassie T.
Happy Birthdayfrom Your

Dolphin Swim Team!!