Welcome New Dolphin Families! 

We wanted to introduce ourselves as your 2024 Bullpen Coordinators and share helpful information about the Dolphin bullpens with our new swim families. Bullpens are a fun part of summer swim, and many great memories are made there each season. Bullpens are also a critical component in making our swim meets happen. A well-run bullpen is key to ensuring that our meets run smoothly and that swimmers do not miss their races! Below are some “FAQs” that will be helpful in better understanding what a bullpen is and how it works at DHGC. If you have signed up to work in a bullpen this season, we have many resources to support you in that job. First, we will be offering in person training sessions during practice on May 7th at 5:15 p.m. (Director’s Room) and May 11th at 9 a.m. (Founder’s Bar). If you are new to swimming, we strongly encourage attending a session to learn more about what you will be doing in the bullpen. You will also have a chance to ask any questions that you may have. Additionally, we have several BP training videos available on our SwimTopia site: https://dhgcdolphins.swimtopia.com/family-shift-education. Finally, we have a handy dandy BP guide that should be reviewed before your first BP shift: (need to add this to Swimtopia and paste the link here). We look forward to getting to know you and your swimmers. Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions that you may have!

Warmly, 

Luci, Molly and Beth 

Luci David - [email protected]

Molly Malone - [email protected]

Beth Krebs - [email protected]

Dolphin Bullpen FAQs 

What is a Bullpen (BP)? In spite of its name, there are actually not any bulls in the bullpen. The bullpen is where we manage and stage the Dolphins prior to their events ensuring that the right swimmers get to the right lanes at the right time. The bullpens are grouped by gender and age (6 and under; 8 and under; 10 and under; 12 and under; 14 and under) and are managed by Bullpen Parents (75 and under) and a Dolphin Grad Assistant (for the younger aged BPs).

Where are the BPs located? You can find the bullpens on deck surrounding the pool, and they are clearly labeled with white sandwich board signs.

What do the kids do in the bullpen when they are not swimming? Swimmers play games, read books, write on each other with Sharpies (it’s a swim thing), and eat snacks. The kids have a lot of fun in the BP and enjoy hanging out with their teammates. 

What about eating meals in the bullpen? We encourage packing healthy snacks for your swimmer to enjoy in the bullpen. Swimmers should also be mindful of what and when they eat. Eating large meals in the BP right before the swim meet begins is discouraged for a number of reasons. First, some children can experience an upset stomach which could result in a “green out” (vomiting in the pool which will shut down the meet). Second, eating a large meal before an event can inhibit a swimmer’s performance in the pool (e.g. slow them down). 

Can my swimmer leave the bullpen during the meet? Unless they are using the restroom, we ask that swimmers please stay in their respective BP. The meets move fast. The deck can be crowded and chaotic, making it hard for our BP Workers to track down feral swimmers. Additionally, when a worker has to go on a seek and find mission, one less person is managing/staging the kids in the BP. Our BP Workers try to keep swimmers in the BP. It is a critical step in getting them to the starting blocks and ultimately, touching the wall. It is rare, but when a Dolphin goes missing before his/her event, it is disappointing to the swimmer and the team. We appreciate parents reminding their kids to please remain in their BP.

May I visit my child in the bullpen? You may visit your child in the BP during a meet (e.g. to bring them a meal); however, we ask that you please try to minimize your time there to prevent distractions and allow the workers to effectively manage and stage the swimmers. Also, space in the bullpen can be tight!

Why does my child get written on with a sharpie in the BP? The BP Workers will write your swimmer’s name on his/her back, and will also write their swim “schedule” for the meet on their arm/leg. You have no idea how similar 220+ wet kids in goggles and matching caps/swimsuits can look. This enables the coaches to provide direction to the right Dolphin, helps the Bullpen Parents get the right kid to the right event, and ensures you don’t take someone else’s kid home at the end of the night.

For more helpful information, please make plans to attend our Bullpen Bootcamps on May 7th and 11th! 

Thank you, 

Beth, Luci, and Molly