Team Handbook
PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS
- Swimmers must be able to independently swim the length of the pool, which is 25 yards. NOTE: Swimmers in the six and under age division are required to “try out” for the team to ensure they can independently complete 25 yards of the pool. Please lookout for the try out dates listed under “Events” here on Swimtopia.
- Swim meets are a requirement of swim team. If your child does not want to compete, one-on-one swim lessons is a great alternative. Complete our Swim Lessons Request form, and one of our coaches will be in touch to schedule lessons beginning mid-May.
- Knowing the strokes is not a prerequisite to join the team. But swimmers' willingness to learn and swim the different strokes is required. The coaches work with all swimmers to improve their stroke technique and to help them become more comfortable in the water over the course of the season. For meets, swimmers will be asked their stroke preference, but oftentimes, our coaches will place swimmers in the heat they feel as though they will be best.
ATTENDANCE POLICY AT MEETS
Swimmers are expected to participate in all meets. However, we realize there are reasons to miss meets. Therefore, when this happens, it’s important that we know if a swimmer will be absent in advance.
If your child is going to miss a meet, this must be declared on Swimtopia, which will let the coaches know your swimmer will be missing the meet. If your child will only miss part of the meet, please list those details in the comments field.
You must declare your swimmer(s) at least SIX (6) DAYS prior to a meet date (i.e. Friday prior). Rosters are made and exchanged two days before a meet with the opposing team. Last minute changes can be an inconvenience and should be avoided by both teams.
If your child cannot attend AT LEAST half of the meet, then it's better for them to be absent from the whole meet. It is too difficult to work the line-up around swimmers who can’t swim for AT LEAST half of the meet and can end up penalizing the team by limiting the events other swimmers can be in.
Obviously, a sick child cannot be predicted, but you will still need to notify the Head Coach or Assistant Coach ASAP in order for the lineup to be revised.
Swimmers must check-in by 4:30 p.m. for each meet. If you realize the day of a meet that your child cannot attend, please contact the Head Coach and/or the Assistant Coach.
POOR WEATHER - SWIM MEETS
In the case of poor or threatening weather on a meet day, it is an ASA (Atlanta Swim Association) rule that both teams show up as planned and the meet must be called at the pool. However, if the weather is so bad that it is a danger for swimmers, you’ll receive an e-mail prior to the meet.
POOR WEATHER - PRACTICE AND MEETS
In the case of poor or threatening weather on a practice day, please check your e-mail OR the news board on our Swimtopia site. We’ll try our hardest to call a practice as early as possible. However, if you have not received an e-mail, please go to the pool for confirmation. Weather is monitored by radar consistently by our coaches. Local thunder and/or lightening is an automatic 30 minute delay (after the latest thunder heard), regardless of occurrence of rain. NO exceptions.
FUN FRIDAYS
Fun Fridays are exactly what they sound like: donuts, swim games, team building exercises, and loads of FUN! You won’t want to miss it!
Fun Fridays will be held each Friday starting after our first swim meet from 8 - 9:30 a.m. Fridays prior to our first swim meet will be utilized as practice time.
VOLUNTEER REPLACEMENT
If you cannot make a volunteer shift that you are assigned to, you must find your own replacement for the shift and make sure you notify the Volunteer Coordinator of the change so they are aware.
