Who We Are

The Copperfield Dolphins (registered as Copperfield Swim Team Parents Association) is a not-for-profit summer swim team open for boys and girls from 4 to 18 years old who live in the Copperfield subdivision of Houston, Texas. The Dolphins compete in the Northwest Aquatic League (NWAL) and follow the official rules set forth by that organization.

Summer swim leagues are competitive, athletic activities. The Copperfield Dolphins is one of the oldest swim teams in the area, established in 1980, we emphasize the teaching of sound competitive swimming skills, good sportsmanship, the promotion of individual improvement, having a good time with friends and building a sense of community.

Swim Team Eligibility

Dolphins membership is open to anybody who satisfies the following criteria.

• A resident of the 7 Copperfield Villages: Copperfield Place, Easton Commons, Middlegate, Northmead, Southcreek, Southdown, or Westcreek; whose family is in good standing with his or her neighborhood community association and is eligible to use the pools in that neighborhood. 
  • If you are not a resident of the Copperfield Villages as described above, you can still be a Copperfield Dolphin by paying an additional out-of-boundaries fee during registration.

• A swimmer must be between 4 and 18 years of age as of May 1 of the respective swim year. 
• A novice swimmer as defined by the Northwest Aquatic League. A novice swimmer is anyone of age who does not participate in USA competition from the beginning of the NWAL season until the end of the NWAL season. The NWAL season begins on the Thursday before the first sanctioned meet and ends on the Monday after the Divisional meet. This rule is not intended to preclude any types of organized practice.

• A swimmer must participate in a minimum of two dual meets in order to swim in the Divisional Meet.

Safety and Requirements

We welcome kids of all swim skill and level, you do not have to be an expert to join summer swim! However, we are competitive team and we DO NOT provide swim lessons. Swimmer safety is of utmost importance to us, we require that all swimmers are water-safe and have the ability to:

• jump into the water from the side of the pool on from the starting blocks
• exit the pool without assistance or use of stairs
• propel themselves forward independently in the water
• float on their back with little to no help

These requirements are for the safety of your child as most practice groups have 20-30 swimmers in the water and our coaches do not have the ability to give every swimmer the individual attention needed to teach a child how to swim.

Each swimmer will be REQUIRED to float and propel themselves one complete length of the pool (25 yards) unassisted at Time Trials. Resting on the ropes is permissible but not preferable; pulling along the rope is not allowed. Any swimmer unable to meet this requirement will have the option for a partial refund as detailed on our Pricing Information page. 

• We ask that all swimmers under the age of 12 have an ADULT parent or guardian present on site at all times when attending meets.

Copperfield Swim Team is a member of the Northwest Aquatic League (NWAL) and has adopted the NWAL SafeKids Guidelines. NWAL and CDST are committed to ensuring the safety of all children who participate in our summer swimming league, to provide a safe environment and to prevent abuse and misconduct.

The following is a list of guidelines that CDST has taken to conform with NWAL’s guidelines:

• Physical, mental and verbal abuse is forbidden.
• Inappropriate touching is forbidden.
• Coaches are prohibited from socializing with the swimmers outside of CDST sponsored activities.
• Coaches are prohibited from giving rides to any CDST swimmer.
• If a child needs one-on-one attention in a non-public area, it requires the attendance of 2 adults at all times. 
• No photography or digital recording is allowed in the restricted area behind the starting blocks. 

We also observe USA Swimming SafeSport Best Practice Guidelines. Any concerns or possible abuse should be reported immediately to the Team Rep or a CDST Board Member. [email protected]

Practices take place at the Park Falls pool or Autumn Laurel pool in Southcreek Village. Practices occur 4 days a week, Tuesdays thru Fridays beginning in mid-April to the end of the season in mid-June. See the full Practice Schedule for actual times and locations.

Due to the large number of swimmers on the team, parking can be a problem at all of the pools. We ask that swimmers walk, ride bikes, or carpool to practice whenever possible and always be aware and courteous to the neighborhood residents in regard to parking. Please see the images beow for parking insutrctions.