There has been something special happening here at the Weinstein JCC with the Dolphin Club Swimming program.
With the “Fin Family”, athletes can experience competitive swimming in an environment that facilitates self-confidence, teaches patience throughout a process, and encourages positive relationship building.
Families now have the option of month-to-month payments! For more information visit the swim team website at teamunify.com/vadcst
Please contact Coach Craig Clift at [email protected] to set up a free evaluation/tryout to see which level is the best fit for your swimmer!
Evaluation takes 10-15 minutes depending on your athlete’s ability level.
Pre-requisites:
9–12-year-old swimmers must be able to complete a 25 yd freestyle & backstroke without assistance.
Tentative Practice Schedule:
Sunday
2:45-3:45 pm
Monday – Thursday
4:00-5:00 pm
DC recommends that Level 1 swimmers participate in monthly area swim meets to assess their progress.
Practice Recommendations
3 to 4 practices a week are recommended but not required. Each practice session lasts 1 hour. Swimmers can expect to work up to swimming 1,500 to 2,500 yards per practice session.
Level 1 is our introductory Dolphin group for 9- to 12-year-old swimmers as well as advanced 7- 8-year-old swimmers.
The Dolphin Group focuses on teaching the basics of all 4 competitive strokes and starts and turns in a fun, challenging environment.
Coaches will emphasize proper stroke technique, starts, and turns, and building cardiovascular endurance through drills, sets and enjoyable activities.
Coaches will work on the interpersonal skills necessary to compete in the sport of swimming– working with teammates, following directions, listening to the coaches, and having fun.
To register, download the application form here and email Coach Craig at [email protected] with the completed applications.
USA Swimming Registration will be done online. This is a (separate cost: $88 for the year).
Registration instructions will be emailed to you in September.
Pre-requisites for the Level 2 Wahoo Group:
Tentative Practice Schedule:
Sunday
3:45-5:00 pm
Monday – Thursday
5:00-6:15 pm
Practice Recommendations
4 to 5 practices a week are recommended but not required. Each swim practice session lasts 1 hour and 15 minutes. Swimmers can expect to work up to swimming 3,000 yards per practice session.
Level 2 Wahoo Group is designed for swimmers with previous swim team experience who are legal in all four strokes, know how to perform all starts & turns, as well as read the pace clock.
The Wahoo Group will continue to work on stroke technique while introducing race strategies in practice by learning and performing stroke-specific drills during practice.
Training will begin to include a focus on longer distance events and IMs. Coaches will introduce race strategies and techniques used by swimmers in the next level practice group and continue to emphasize the importance of working with teammates, following directions, listening to the coaches, and having fun.
Coaches will work with swimmers to understand and use USA Swimming time standards to set & achieve personal goals using interval training in practice. DC recommends participation in monthly swim meets with a focus on qualifying at the end of the season for regional and state championship meets.
To register, download the application form here and email Coach Craig at [email protected] with the completed applications.
USA Swimming Registration will be done online. This is a (separate cost: $88 for the year).
Registration instructions will be emailed to you in September.
Tentative Practice Schedule:
Sunday
5:00-6:30 pm
Monday – Thursday
6:15-7:45 pm
Practice Recommendations
4-5 practices a week is suggested if the goal is to achieve Age Group Championship time standards or higher.
Level 3 Marlin group is designed for 11-14-year-old swimmers who have goals of participating in District, Regional, State, and National level invitational meets.
Dolphin Club coaches emphasize proper stroke technique while working on overall athletic conditioning and endurance. The primary focus will be on competing in every event with a secondary focus on specific individual events.
The advanced race strategies and techniques used in the Level 3 group will be introduced. Each Sailfish swimmer will establish personal goals and work towards achieving those goals using interval training in practice.
Coaches will emphasize, encourage, and highlight important topics associated with achieving success both in and out of the pool. Topics will include teamwork, time management, race strategies, mental training, and other life lessons.
To register, download the application form here and email Coach Craig at [email protected] with the completed applications.
USA Swimming Registration will be done online. This is a (separate cost: $88 for the year).
Registration instructions will be emailed to you in September.
Tentative Practice Schedule:
Sunday
5:00-7:00pm
Monday – Thursday
6:15-8:00pm
Practice Recommendations
5 practices a week is suggested if the goal is to achieve Age and Senior Championship time standards or higher.
Level 4 Sailfish group is designed for 14–18-year-old swimmers who have goals of participating in District, Regional, State, and National level invitational meets.
Dolphin Club coaches emphasize proper stroke technique while working on overall athletic conditioning and endurance. The primary focus will be on competing in every event with a secondary focus on specific individual events.
The advanced race strategies and techniques used in the Level 4 group will be introduced. Each Sailfish swimmer will establish personal goals and work towards achieving those goals using interval training in practice.
Coaches will emphasize, encourage, and highlight important topics associated with achieving success both in and out of the pool. Topics will include teamwork, time management, race strategies, mental training, and other life lessons. Participation in monthly swim meets is suggested to help prepare athletes for end-of-the-season championship meets.
To register, download the application form here and email Coach Craig at [email protected] with the completed applications.
USA Swimming Registration will be done online. This is a (separate cost: $88 for the year).
Registration instructions will be emailed to you in September.
Practice Recommendations
2 practices a week are recommended but not required. Each practice session lasts 45 minutes. Swimmers can expect to work up to swimming 500 to 1,000 yards per practice session.
Pre-requisite for the Pre-Fin Group
Able to complete a 25 yd freestyle and backstroke without assistance
Get a Head Start with Pre-Fins!
The Pre-Fins program is a fantastic way to keep your child active while introducing them to our Dolphin Club swim team. It blends the best of swim team practice with group swim lessons, offering personalized coaching to refine their strokes and give them a taste of competitive swimming. Plus, we’ll host fun intra-squad meets at the JCC throughout the year!
In Pre-Fins, swimmers will master the basics of all four competitive strokes in a supportive and engaging environment. Our coaches focus on proper technique, starts and turns, and making swimming enjoyable through games and activities. We’ll also teach essential swimming skills like teamwork, following instructions, and having fun!
Pre-Fins is the perfect precursor to our year-round swim team program. Sign up today and let your child dive into a year of learning, fitness, and fun!
Coach Clift graduated from VCU with a Bachelor of Science in Recreation with a concentration in Finance and Management. While at VCU from 1982-1986, he swam for the Rams. He holds four individual records and was a part of five record-holding relay teams. Coach Clift has 31 years of coaching experience encompassing all ages and ranges, from Summer League and High School teams to teams with Age Group, Top 10-16 in the USA, Zone and National Select Camp athletes, NCSA Junior National, USA Junior National, US Open, Nationals, Olympic Trial athletes, and top 100 World ranked athletes. He has 25 years of team management experience and brings with him innovative and sound ideas for the Dolphin Club. Coach Craig is a lifetime member of the American Swim Coaches Association and is qualified for Level 4 certification. Craig Clift is the father of two children and enjoys living in Mechanicsville, VA.
Coach Craig brings a consistent philosophy of total involvement with athletes in and out of the water, development and education of swimmers and their families, guidance of swimmers progressively through their swimming experience at their own pace, dedication to the mastery of required technical skills before focusing on training to swim faster, program development from Novice through National programs recognizing that all successful clubs are built on a foundation of younger swimmers, teamwork, friendship, support and training for all athletes.
The Aquatics Program is supported in part by:
Gerrie Cairns Aquatics Fund and Evelyn Zaben Benson JCC Aquatics Endowment Fund.
All of our swim classes are supported by The Kathie and Steve Markel Learn to Swim Program.
Monday 5AM-10PM
Tuesday 5AM-10PM
Wednesday 5AM-10PM
Thursday 5AM-10PM
Friday 5AM-6PM
Saturday 7AM-6PM
Sunday 7AM-6PM
Pool opens 30 minutes after facility opening and closes 30 minutes prior to facility closing.
Monday 5AM-10PM
Tuesday 5AM-10PM
Wednesday 5AM-10PM
Thursday 5AM-10PM
Friday 5AM-6PM
Saturday 7AM-6PM
Sunday 7AM-6PM