Connemara Swim Team

2026 Connemara Swim Team Parent Handbook

Welcome to the Connemara Connemarlins!

In this handbook, you will find details about our 2026 Summer Swim Season, as well as basic information about swimming at Connemara that will help the meets and our season as a whole run smoothly. We encourage everyone to read through the handbook to help make sure that we are all working together to make this a great season.

Swimmer Safety & Expectations at Practice & Meets

• At practices and meets, swimmers are expected to follow the coaches’ instructions and to inform the coaches if they have to leave early for any reason. The best way to keep accidents from happening is to have everyone being where they are supposed to be and doing what they are supposed to do.
• Parents are welcome at practices, but should try to avoid disrupting coaches during practice. They should be available before or after for any questions.
• All regular pool rules apply…there is no running, pushing, disrespectful language or unsportsmanlike conduct. Swimmers should not sit on the lane ropes or disrupt practice. Coaches have the right and responsibility to sit out any swimmer who does not follow the rules.
• There are not lifeguards at the pool during most practices (other than the coaches who are conducting practice). For this reason, any siblings or swimmers whose practices are complete are the responsibility of the parents. They are only allowed to swim at the discretion of and with the observation of their parents. They must remain in the area away from the lanes and avoid disrupting the practices.
• If you are not a member of the Connemara pool, you must leave the pool after practice. There will be exceptions for team scheduled events.

Team Leadership & Communications

• Coordinators: Amy Stanton (770-313-0198) 
• Coaches: Jenna Inlow and Cade Holder

We will also have a number of Assistant Coaches and Junior Coaches who will help instruct swimmers, lead practices, and run meets.

• Email: Our primary form of communication will be via email. We will send out weekly emails with everything you need to know about the upcoming practices and meet, including the volunteer schedule for the upcoming meet. On occasion we will also send emails about other special team activities. We will pledge not to waste your time with meaningless or unnecessary emails. We ask that you read what we send and respond as needed to help us avoid additional follow-up or miscommunication.
• Questions: We encourage you to share your suggestions, concerns, and affirmations with us. We are always working to make our team even better. Feel free to contact us with any needs or issues in relation to the team. Generally, if you have questions for the coaches, please try to address them at times when they are not “on duty”. Coaches are very busy at practices and meets.

2026 Calendar/Meet Schedule: (This will be updated with the 2026 schedule as soon as we have it)

Typical Meet Schedule:

  *Estimated times for these events.

Event Order:

Events 1-12 Backstroke

Events 13-22 Medley Relays

Events 23-34 Short Freestyle

Events 35-36 8 & Under Free Relays

• This is typically when 2nd shift volunteers take over
• This is also where swimmers 6 & under can leave once they have notified the coach and bullpen. No one should leave early without checking with coaches and notifying the bullpen to avoid confusion.

Events 37-44 Long Freestyle

Events 45-54 Individual Medley

Events 55-64 Breaststroke

Events 65-74 Butterfly

Events 75-82 Free Relays

Swim Meet Guidelines & Helpful Hints

1. Stuff to Bring:

• A couple towels. They will use one to dry off & one to sit on in the bullpen area.
• Swim cap & Goggles….no explanation necessary
• Camp chairs and Umbrellas. You will need to bring your own chair as a spectator and umbrellas help with blocking the sun.
• Highlighter. This may come in handy identifying your child’s races on the heat sheets (heat sheets are available for about $1 at the concession stand).
• Sharpie Marker. Writing your child’s events on their forearm helps us stay on track. It can also help to write their name on the back of their right shoulder as the bullpen and staging are trying to keep everyone in the right place.
• Cards/Games. This will help pass time in the bullpen, but we discourage bringing anything valuable that will get broken or lost.
• Extra snacks and water bottle. Support the pools (home and away) by purchasing from the concession stand, but feel free to bring your own snacks as well.
• Money to purchase heat sheets and items from the concession stand.

1. Check-In:

• Swimmers. Make sure that the first thing you do as you arrive is check in your kids, so that we know who is there (and who is missing). It is very important that we know ahead of time if there are any “no-shows” that we will have to cover for in relays. Please make every effort to let us know if you will be missing a meet before we seed it (by the Monday before) or will be late for a meet, so that we can plan accordingly.
• Bullpen. Drop your kids off to make a space in the bullpen with their friends. This is where we expect the kids to be when we need them (for warm-up and for their events), so encourage them to be there when they are not swimming. This really helps us more easily locate swimmers for their events. If they will be with you away from the bullpen, it is up to you to make sure they are in the bullpen when their event is called.
• Volunteers. Just like swimmers, we are counting on our volunteers. Please check in when you arrive and make sure that you know when and where to report for your role. Make sure to listen for the 2nd shift announcement if you’re working it.

1. Rain/Weather Delays:
   • If there is thunder or lightning, the meet will be delayed, but DO NOT LEAVE. We may even ask folks to head to their cars, but DO NOT LEAVE. Meets are often resumed after the storms pass. In the event that a meet has to be cancelled, we will let everyone know and inform you when it will be rescheduled.

4. Volunteers:

The families of swim team participants are required to help fill the volunteer positions required to run the swim meets. The volunteer positions will be divided equally among the swim team families. We certainly appreciate anyone who is willing to take on any additional responsibilities or families who have multiple parents volunteering. We will have sign-ups for volunteer positions. Positions may include helping at swim meets with concessions, timing, getting swimmers ready to swim, and helping at team parties.Thanks in advance for your willingness to help our meets run smoothly. As you are “learning the ropes” of your volunteer responsibilities, please feel free to ask more seasoned swim parents for help learning these roles.