The Danvers YMCA Dolfins have come together to become one of the premier programs in New England by building a culture of excellence based on swimming smarter, not harder, than the competition.

Swimming is a sport that requires swimmers always to be thinking. It requires swimmers to look inward and examine themselves like no other sport. 

Our staff always encourages the swimmers in the program to learn more about the whys of what they are doing. They encourage them to engage their brains and gain a better understanding of how their bodies work. 

Our staff is a teaching staff that believes that all swimmers are a work in progress, both as athletes and as people. Teaching them to have confidence in themselves and trust themselves is important to the program and the swimmers' development. 

Even though swimming is generally considered an individual sport, the staff strongly supports a team's ideal. We help swimmers work together and help each other improve. The forgotten team aspect of swimming is vital in keeping swimmers engaged in the sport.

Overall, the program does not believe in over-swimming and wants swimmers to have room to grow throughout their careers. We believe in fast-quality swimming, but the sport in general, has too high a burnout rate, and we strive to help swimmers throughout their careers, into college, and beyond.

The Danvers YMCA Dolfins are a team designed for all levels of swimmers, from novice to advanced. This program will always offer the highest-quality coaching and advice to swimmers of all ages to help them become the best people they can be.

Our Mission.

Teaching Swimmers Important Life Skills

Our Team

  • Tom Phillips - Head Coach

    ASCA Level 3 Certified SURGE Strength Dryland Certification

    Tom grew up on the pool deck, literally. His parents met on the East Carolina University swim team and both went on to coach at Gardner High School in Gardner, MA. Tom swam for legendary coach Don Lemieux and the Greenwood Memorial Swim Club.

    After a 20-year break from the pool Tom began swimming at the Masters level in the early 2000's. Over the last 20 years he has competed all over the world and amassed around 50 Top 10 USMS swims, a couple relay National Championships, and one National Championship, the 2019 Canadian SCM 50 meter freestyle. 

    For 20 years Tom worked in and around higher education as a career counselor/ coach and later as an executive search consultant to colleges and universities. Now in his second act, Tom brings his love for the water, his competitive fire, his outdated pop culture references, awkward dance moves, terrible singing voice, and his expertise in assisting others to the pool deck.

  • Amy Craigen - Lead Developmental Coach

    Amy has always had a passion for the water. Amy boasts a fantastic resume, including Open Water Marathon swimming in salt and freshwater. Amy’s favorite activities include swimming outside in the winter months and competing in an annual Ice Swimming Festival in Newport, VT.  She proudly represents the L Street Ice Swimmers of South Boston. Since 2020, Amy has been a member of the Blueseventy International Competition Team, which includes swimmers and athletes from around the globe. Amy is incredibly excited to share her love of the water and her unique insight into the world of open-water swimming. She is extremely patient with all types of swimmers and loves to laugh, sing, and be silly. Making that connection with her students is truly her favorite thing.

  • Sheila Galvin - Asst. Coach

    Sheila is a passionate and well-versed swim instructor with a diverse background in aquatics. Her competitive swimming journey began in local youth summer leagues, continued to the collegiate level at Keene State College, and has evolved into a love for open-water swimming events in the summer months. For over two decades, Sheila has also competed in and coached artistic swimming at the national level, honing skills that emphasize precision, technique, creativity, and teamwork. In addition, Sheila served as an ocean lifeguard and lifeguard supervisor at Salisbury Beach, gaining invaluable experience in water safety, leadership, and emergency response. These diverse experiences have shaped her recognition of the importance of building strong, foundational skills in all swimmers—whether they are focused on safety and confidence in the water, fitness, or pursuing competitive goals. As a full-time school psychologist, Sheila also brings a unique perspective to fostering a safe, consistent, and responsive learning environment for children and adolescents of various developmental levels and abilities. She takes great joy in helping her students benefit from the many developmental benefits of group swim lessons—such as improving listening skills, fostering cooperation, and enhancing motor coordination—all while building skills and confidence in the water. 

How to Become an Official

First you will register as an apprentice official. This will give you 60 days to complete your training.

Once your training is completed, you will register and pay membership dues as a full official.

Training To Do List: 

Learn More

Meet Timm: The Owner, Coach, Instructor

Timm took the opportunity to further develop his skill set while swimming in college. He is thrilled to have been able to pursue his passion for teaching swimming lessons and coaching swim teams, for over 20 years. He has developed a positive teaching style, with a focus on building confidence and skills progression. His classes are FUN, loosely structured, and fast-paced.  This approach keeps swimmers moving and focused on the task at hand. 

Location:

34 Pickering Street

Danvers, MA

01923

(978) 880-2023