Swim Teams

Welcome to the Dolphins Swim Team! The BHSJ Dolphins Swim Team is a YMCA competitive swim team open to swimmers ages 5–18. All swimmers are required to be members of the Benton Harbor St. Joseph YMCA and are expected to compete in a minimum of three regular season swim meets and the Michigan Cluster Meet. Our team will compete against other Michigan YMCA swim teams both locally and around the state.

In order to be eligible for the team, swimmers ages 5-8 must be able to swim the full length of the pool in both freestyle and backstroke without stopping. Swimmers ages 9-18 must be able to swim two lengths of the pool in both freestyle and backstroke without stopping. For all age groups, freestyle must be swum with the face in the water, using rotary breathing. All swimmers will be placed into practice groups based on their stroke proficiency. New swimmers should call the YMCA to sign up for an evaluation before registering for the Swim Team. Results from their evaluation will be sent to new swimmers after all evaluations are complete.

Registration:

• Registration for Returning Dolphin Swimmers ONLY: September 7-September 16

• New swimmer evaluations will be on Thursday, September 24 from 4:30-6:00 PM. Please call Member Services to schedule an evaluation time.

Mandatory Parent Meeting for new and returning swimmers: Monday, October 5

Practice begins Tuesday, October 6

The season runs from October 2026 through March 2027

The registration fee is due at the time of registration and is non-refundable. Swim team fees are due on October 1 and are also non-refundable. The total fee for the season must be paid in full. The team fee can be split into smaller payments, if necessary, but the full amount is expected regardless of vacation plans, illness, or leaving the team.

Practice Schedule*

This practice schedule is subject to change. It is our best pre-season estimate based on the size of our past practice groups. All practice groups and times will be finalized after registration is complete and practice groups are assigned.

** Dryland practice is for all Blue Group swimmers and 9th-12th-grade swimmers in the Aqua Group.

Please contact coach Kendra Gray, kgray@ymcagm.org, for additional information. 

REGISTER NOW              BECOME A Y MEMBER

Niles-Buchanan Mariners 

REGISTER NOW         BECOME A Y MEMBER

Ages 5–8 must be able to complete one length of both freestyle and backstroke, and ages 9–18 must be able to complete two lengths of both freestyle and backstroke. A YMCA membership is required to be a Mariner. For evaluations, contact Coach Will at (269) 683-1552 or mariners.team@ymcagm.org. If your child is unsure about joining, we offer a 2-week trial for $20! Registration is open year-round. 

Swim Team Try-Outs: September 14, 16, 18 | 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Sign up for try-outs below or contact Coach Will at (269) 683-1552 or mariners.team@ymcagm.org.

TRY-OUTS SIGN UP 

*one-time registration fee for Summer Session

Swim Team Levels

Red Group

• Skill requirements: 8 & under: swim 25 yards of backstroke and freestyle unassisted; 9 & overs: swim 50 yards of backstroke and freestyle unassisted
• Practices: 3 times per week, 1 hour each
• Equipment: kickboard (provided at pool), fins, pull buoy (check with coaches on sizing and availability before purchasing)
• Basic goals: foundation in all 4 strokes, legal turns for all 4 strokes, knowledge of a racing start (diving), increased endurance
• How to move to Yellow: complete a 100 freestyle, 100 backstroke, 100 IM, 50 butterfly, 50 breaststroke, legal racing starts and turns, demonstrate maturity and desire to move up

Yellow Group

• Skill requirements: proficient in all 4 strokes, legal racing starts, and turns
• Practices: 3 times per week, 1-hour &15 minutes each
• Equipment: kickboard (provided at pool), fins, pull buoy, paddles (check with coaches on sizing and availability before purchasing)
• Basic goals: introduction to pace clock and formal practice sets; a strong foundation in all 4 strokes; legal turns for all 4 strokes; increased endurance, strong racing starts and turns; introduction to racing mindset
• How to move to Blue: at least 1 YMCA state qualifying time, ability, and maturity to handle increased practice load, or Coach recommendation

Blue/Green Group

• Skill requirements: proficient in all 4 strokes, legal racing starts, and turns; ability to read pace clock for formal practice set structure; championship attitude
• Practices: 5 times per week, 2 hours each + dryland workouts
• Equipment: kickboard (provided at pool), fins, pull buoy, paddles, snorkel (check with coaches on sizing and availability before purchasing)
• Basic goals: understanding of race planning and strategy; proficiency in dryland and strengthening exercises; understand connection between effort put in and results; proficiency in pace clock math and formal practice sets; continued development of stroke, turn, and start mechanics; increased endurance (aerobic and anaerobic); championship attitude
• ​How to move to Green: at least 4 YMCA state qualifying times or at least 1 YMCA zone qualifying time, ability and maturity to handle increased practice load