MVP Dolphins · 2026 Season
Parent Information
Everything you need to know for the season. Bookmark this page.
About our team
- MVP Dolphins is a volunteer-run community team — we cannot operate without parent participation
- Volunteering is mandatory for all families (see below)
- Pool access: We rent the GW pool for practice time only. Swimmers may not enter the pool before practice begins unless they are separately members of the GW pool. This applies to siblings as well
Team suits, caps & equipment
- Team suit and cap are provided by us — please come to at least one practice in the first two weeks to pick yours up
- One suit is included with registration. If the suit doesn't fit or you need to exchange it, bring it in the original box with tags still attached and we can swap it out.
- Your swimmer does not have to wear the team suit, but all suits must meet PMSL competition regulations
- If you need a waiver, contact info@mvpdolphins.com
PMSL swimwear regulations (follows USA Swimming rules)
- Suits for men may not extend above the navel or below the knee; suits for women may not cover the neck, extend past the shoulders, or go below the knee
- No zippers or fastening devices are allowed, except for a waist tie on a brief or jammer
- Suits must be textile material — no rubberized materials such as polyurethane or neoprene
- Swimmers must wear only one swimsuit (one or two pieces); a single set of garments may be worn underneath for modesty or privacy
- Waiver requests for medical, religious, or other reasons must be submitted to the League President at least 72 hours before the swimmer's first meet
Volunteer requirements — Required
Each family is required to volunteer at a minimum of 2 events during the season. Families who do not fulfill this requirement will be placed on the waitlist for the following season and are not guaranteed a spot.
- No training required for most volunteer positions
- Roles include timing, officiating, concessions, setup, and breakdown
- Sign up on this site under each meet and event listing
Schedule & practices
- The full practice schedule is posted on this site
- Ideally swimmers attend 3 practices per week — but there is no formal attendance requirement
Evening practices
Hour 1 — 10 & Under
Hour 2 — 11 & Over
Morning practices
7:00 AM — 10 & Under
8:00 AM — 11 & Over
- Morning practices are more flexible — families are welcome to attend whichever session fits their schedule
- 9–10 year olds: Due to the high volume of younger swimmers, some strong 9-10 year olds may be placed in the evening second hour group. Coaches will communicate this before the season begins
Swim meets
- One meet per week, held on Saturday mornings
- Exact deck time will be communicated the week of the meet — generally plan for 7:00–7:30 AM depending on location and warm-up time
- Meets run until approximately noon
Event heat limits: Due to league rules, breaststroke, butterfly, and IM are limited to 2 heats; freestyle and backstroke are limited to 4 heats. Spots in these events are not guaranteed and are assigned by the coaches.
Scratching policy ⚠️ Important
Deadline: 8:00 PM the Tuesday before each meet — no exceptions.
- The scratch form is on this site under each meet listing
- It is very important to scratch if you do not plan on attending
- If your swimmer is entered in an event and does not show up, you have taken a spot from another swimmer who could have swum — this directly impacts your teammates
Divisionals & All Stars
- Divisionals is the end-of-season championship meet — the top 2 swimmers per event on our team qualify
- Because swimmers are limited in the number of events they can compete in and some qualifiers may be unavailable, you may find yourself qualifying unexpectedly — stay engaged all season
- All Stars is the next level beyond Divisionals — you must have competed at Divisionals to be eligible
- The top finisher from each Divisionals event qualifies, with additional spots filled by the next-fastest swimmers across the entire league up to a maximum of three heats
- The scratch deadline for both meets is 8:00 PM the Tuesday before the meet — please scratch promptly if you cannot attend so alternates can be notified in time
Social events
- 4 pizza parties — held on the Thursday after each practice; sign-ups on this site
- We must vacate the pool by 8:30 PM including cleanup time
- End-of-season banquet — July 14th at 6:00 PM, St. Patrick's School Gymnasium; all families are expected to help with food, setup, and breakdown. Details and sign-ups to follow on this site