Many of you are familiar with the South Irvine Dolphins Children’s Swim Team, a recreational summer swim team for children ages 5-18. The Dolphins swim team is an all-parent run organization and is part of the 19-team Irvine Swim League (ISL), a non-profit youth sports organization.   The Dolphins are a City team, so children from several neighborhoods swim on it, but by far the largest subgroup is kids from University Hills (35% of the team last year). 

The Dolphins have practiced in many locations over the years, including UCI, and for the past two years, they have practiced at University High School. This year, Uni High is repairing its pool.  The facilities at UCI are no longer available, and other nearby neighborhoods have their own ISL teams, so the Dolphins are asking the University Hills HRB to consider allowing them to practice in the Los Trancos pool on some weekdays (no weekend use) this summer.

The HRB is favorable to allowing the team to use its facilities, and is working closely with the Dolphins to determine the best arrangement.  We invite your comments on the proposal below.  Please submit comments by January 10.

Days and Times of Use

The swim season lasts from June 6- August 12. The Dolphins are requesting weekday-only use of our facility.  The HRB is recommending two morning and two afternoon practices be held weekly, with the morning practice running from 9am-11am and the afternoon practice running from 3pm- 5:00pm.  During the time the practices are running, the pool would be unavailable for non-team resident use.  (The other two pools in University Hills would remain open and useable.)   A formal schedule would be posted on the web site as well as on the announcement board in front of the pool gate. The pool would not be used by the team on Friday afternoons. 

Supervision

Dolphin practices are led by a coaching staff that is American Red Cross lifeguard certified.  In addition, each member of the staff has undergone a background check as well as a drug-screening test.  Last year the Dolphins had 8 paid coaches who were assisted by 6 volunteer coaches and 2 high school volunteers.  They expect to have a similar level of staffing this year. Coaches supervise each lane of practice, and some members of the coaching staff would be available to oversee transitions.

Parking

Uhills families on the team would be asked to walk or ride bikes to practice.  Coaching staff would be asked to park in front of the homes of team members. The former ICHA lot would be used for parking, and the cut out parking closest to the pool would be set up as a drop off/ pick up area with the Dolphins providing coaches to oversee the traffic flow. 

Insurance

The ISL provides all teams and their practice facilities with general liability insurance.

Registration Preference

As a consideration to residents, children of University Hills residents would be given preference during registration.

Donation from Dolphins to Cover Any Additional Costs Incurred

The Dolphins would provide a donation of up to $4,500 depending on their use of the facility (e.g., if pool repairs at Uni High are completed at some point during the season, the team will practice there) to express their appreciation, and to cover any additional costs incurred as a result of the team using the pool for practice.

Questions?  Please contact Ginny Mumm, Dolphins President at ginnymumm@gmail.com .