Happy Hippos Information

HARDSCRABBLE HAPPY HIPPOS

Frequently Asked Questions

• Ages: Ideally suited for ages 5-6. Children younger than age 5 may benefit from participation but they must be able to listen in a group setting, follow 2-3 step directions independently, and be able to sit on the side of the pool without entering the water.  

• Who: Children that are eager to be in the water but cannot yet swim the length of the pool (25m) without adult assistance.  **Happy Hippos MUST be residents of Hardscrabble.**

What is Happy Hippos?

Happy Hippos is the developmental age group of the Hardscrabble Hippos Swim Team. Happy Hippos practice for 30 minutes Monday-Thursday with coaches in the water for assistance. Happy Hippos do not compete in the team swim meets, however they may choose to participate in the Developmental Swimmers race that occurs at the beginning of each meet. 

What is the purpose of Happy Hippos?

Happy Hippos is designed to be a fun way to help young swimmers develop a positive relationship with the pool, learn to be a part of a team, take instruction from a coach, and gain basic water safety and swim stroke skills. Keep in mind that young children develop water confidence and swimming skills at different paces.  It is not an expectation or guarantee that a Happy Hippo participant will be able to swim independently by the end of the season. Happy Hippos that do progress to being able to swim the length of the pool without assistance will be encouraged to participate in the swim team’s practices and meets for their age group.

Is Happy Hippos the same as swim lessons?

No.  Similar to other team sports like soccer or basketball, the Hardscrabble Swim Team and Happy Hippos are a team environment. Practices are designed to accommodate the instructional needs of the group. While some parts of practice may provide 1-on-1 interactions between the swimmer and coach or in small groups, Happy Hippos is not a “swim lesson.”  Swimmers will be offered opportunities to practice new skills independently (such as flutter kicking) with coach supervision, however individual coaching and formal 1-on-1 stroke instruction is not the focus of Happy Hippos practice. 

What types of skills will be covered in a Happy Hippos practice?

Coaches will work with young swimmers to build familiarity and understanding of a warmup “routine.”  Daily warmup routine includes stretching and basic strength exercises. Coaches will provide instruction of basic water safety concepts including sitting on the wall with feet in the water, holding onto the wall with body in the water, and safely entering and exiting the pool from the side of the deck.  Coaches will also provide general instruction of foundational swimming skills such as  flutter kicking, putting face in the water, holding breath underwater, comfort floating on back, and jumping off diving blocks. Please remember that Happy Hippos practice is in a team setting. Swimmers may receive some 1-on-1 direct instruction, but the most common form of instruction will come in a group or small group setting. 

What happens if my child becomes able to swim the length of the pool without assistance?

One of the goals of Happy Hippos is to help young swimmers develop some of the foundational swimming skills, strength, and endurance to swim the length of the pool without the assistance of a coach in the water or other floatation devices. If a Happy Hippo swimmer is able to successfully swim the length of the pool unassisted at any point during the swim season, they will have the opportunity to move up to join the swim team and practice with and compete in meet race(s) for their age group. 

What skills does my child need in order to be ready for Happy Hippos?

Children should have a familiarity with the water and have expressed an eagerness to be in the pool before joining Happy Hippos. The child should also be comfortable taking and following instructions given by the team’s coaches.  The child must also be able to follow directions including sitting on the pool deck without entering the pool until being instructed to do so by the coaches. 

The SAFETY of the swimmers and coaches is the top priority during Happy Hippos practice. Statistics show that for children ages 5-14, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury behind motor vehicle accidents. Water can be a very scary environment for some children. For the safety of the child, the other swimmers, and the coaches, children who express an unwillingness or wish to not to participate in an activity should not be bribed or forced. It is also important that no assistive swimwear (wetsuits, swimwear with floatation lining, flippers), floatation devices, or toys be used during Happy Hippos practice. 

What else is needed for my child to participate in Happy Hippos?

• A comfortable, well-fitting swimsuit. Happy Hippos do not need to purchase a team suit unless that is their preference. 

• A towel.

• Swim goggles are optional. Swimmers will practice putting their faces in the water, as this is a required skill to swim strokes correctly. If your swimmer would like to use goggles, we recommend using a competition-style goggle that just covers the eyes. Snorkeling masks or other recreational “fun” swim goggles can often present a bigger distraction for new swimmers and are not recommended. 

• Parent Supervision at ALL times - CONSTANT VISUAL SUPERVISION of the child BY THE SWIMMER’S PARENT is REQUIRED for the entire duration of Happy Hippos practice. 

• Please NO assistive swimwear (floaties, etc), toys, or food for Happy Hippo swimmers during their practice time. 

What if my child does not want to participate during practice(s)?

Even if your child loved the bath or the pool as a baby, it's not uncommon for young children to suddenly develop a hesitancy or fear of water. A child may love splashing in the shallow end, swimming with a parent or sibling, or swimming in their "floatie."  But the “big” swimming pool may now seem huge and frightening.  A parent may feel that their child is ready to join a swim team, but that doesn’t always mean the child themself feels THEY are ready.  Be patient with your child. Apprehension when trying new things is developmentally appropriate for young children. Many children also become aware that water can be a source of danger.  Bribing or forcing a child who feels uncomfortable into the pool is not safe and does not promote the child’s trust. 

If a child does not wish to try the new skill or physically participate in the practice, encouraging the child to watch others who are is a great opportunity for learning. Please support your child and listen without judgment to their concerns. Focus on the positives and parts of swim team that your child feels are fun. Remind your child that being a Happy Hippo means they are a part of the Hardscrabble Swim Team! Learning how to be a part of a sports team is a wonderful experience for young children.