Dolphin Aquatics

The nashville dolphins swim team provides year-round swim practices and competition to over 100 children and adults with intellectual disabilities at no cost to any participant. Swimmers must be able to swim 25 yards independently and take direction from a coach on deck to participate on the swim team. We currently offer practices two times a week year-round. The dolphins swim team competes in special olympics locally, regionally, and nationally and our swimmers take great pride in being part of a team like their siblings and peers. Opportunities for adults with disabilities diminish after the age of 21, leaving many sedentary, lonely, and often overweight and unhealthy. We not only make available weekly aerobic exercise, but we also provide many out-of-water socializing opportunities for our team members including parties, movie outings, a prom, a triathlon, swim across america, usms grown up swimming, and more. We also encourage our swimmers to give back to the community, so we volunteer with various non-profits around nashville.

The junior dolphins program provides swim instruction to those participants with disabilities who can swim several yards independently but need more experience before they are able to join our swim team. The junior dolphins lead instructors and volunteers are in the water with our swimmers, teaching proper technique on all four strokes and proper breathing. They also work to build each swimmer's endurance and confidence. Typically, volunteers are positioned down the swim lane, so swimmers begin to do laps during practice with rest and instruction all along the way. The junior dolphins classes help prepare the swimmers to gain the skills needed to join the swim team.

The little phins, our newest program, is designed for our smallest swimmers, ages 1-3. This class empowers parents to engage in an aquatic experience with their little ones, with emphasis on safety and exploration of the many ways we can start to teach small children the fundamentals of swimming.