League History and General Information

During the summer of 1978, the West Little Rock Optimist Club, in cooperation with three homeowners’ associations, initiated a summer swim program designed to acquaint the youth of West Little Rock with competitive swimming. Working with the Walnut Valley, Pleasant Valley and Pleasant Tree Homeowner’s Associations and the Little Rock Dolphins Swim Team, four teams were organized. Over 120 youths participated in the program. Dual meets were held weekly and the program ended with a four-team meet held at the Little Rock Racquet Club. Since those early years, the swim program has matured and grown to new heights and provided a great experience for our youth.

The West Little Rock Optimist Club has completely funded the Summer Swim Program every summer since 1978. In 1989, the club asked the parents and homeowners’ associations to make more of a commitment to the program. The homeowners’ association would be responsible for the hiring of the coach(es) and the operations of the dual meets and paying a fifty dollar per team participation fee.

Last year, thirteen homeowners’ associations sponsored neighborhood teams and over four hundred swimmers participated. This year, the West Little Rock Optimist Club will be sponsoring the summer swim program with the format of practice sessions, dual meets and the championship meet at the end of the season.

The dual meets will start Tuesday, June 24 and continue for five weeks. The season finale will be the Championship meet at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Donaghey Student Center Pool on July 27.

Source: The Optimist Club of West Little Rock Coaches Handout
Small Logo