Welcome to the 2026 Cool Sharks Summer Swim Team!
WELCOME TO THE 2026 COOL SHARKS SUMMER SWIM TEAM!
Please read the entire email below for important information about our summer swim team (there is a lot).
COACHES - We have some new coaches this season! We will be led again by Head Coach Rebekah and Assistant Head Coaches Liam and Sarah. They will be joined by Senior Coaches Adrian, Alex, Elizabeth, Emily, Halle, and Margaret; and Junior Coaches Ava, Benjamin, Bobby, Jacquie, Jimmy, Lucki, Maggie, Rohan, and Sofia. Coach Rachel has moved over to the Shark Pups this year, but she will still help at our meets and some of our practices.
WEBSITE - If you haven't had a chance, please take a good look around our website (https://coolsharks.swimtopia.com/). This is where you will go for general information about the team. Please do not rely on the app for information - very little actual info is posted there and often without critical details. There is a lot of important information on our website, including dates and schedules, swimsuit information, and our weather and volunteer policies. Our meet schedule is also now posted, along with information about how meets work. The most important place you will go on the website is the Meet/Event Calendar (https://coolsharks.swimtopia.com/swim_meets). This is where you will sign up for meets and volunteer jobs, find directions and warm-up times, and where meet entries, heat sheets, and results will be posted. This is also where you will RSVP for team parties and volunteer to help or bring items.
Be sure to look at all the different tabs and drop-down menus to make sure you're getting all the information and know where to find answers when you have questions. Many of the questions we get during the season (and we get a lot!) have answers which can be found on the website - please take a few minutes to search for answers there before emailing us.
APP - Be sure you have downloaded the SwimTopia app! The app is great for receiving notifications of team alerts (practice cancellations, weather-related issues, etc.) - be sure you have notifications enabled. You can also view your swimmers' times and keep track of what jobs you've signed up for.
PRACTICES - Practices will start Monday April 27th. We do not have regular practice Memorial Weekend, although we will have a special practice the morning of Memorial Day if you're in town. Our June/Summer practice schedule will start Tuesday May 26th. Practice schedules are on the website at https://coolsharks.swimtopia.com/practice-schedule. Swimmers may attend as many or as few practices as they would like. There are no signups - just come when you can.
All swimmers must attend practice with their assigned age group. We cannot honor requests for siblings or friends to swim together, or allow swimmers to attend a different practice for the parent's convenience. Advanced swimmers should not "swim up" and struggling swimmers should not "swim down" - instead the coaches will work to provide them with an appropriate workout within their age group. Pease email [email protected] if you have questions or concerns about this.
As a reminder, parents will not be allowed inside the pool during practice while the pool is closed - this includes not walking your child in after the first day. You will drop your child off at the pool house entrance and pick them up at the back gate to the field. Parents you are welcome to observe practice from outside the fence but please do not try to speak with your swimmer or the coaches during practice. It is very important that the coaches are able to focus on the swimmers (and the swimmers on the coaches) without distractions. If you have something you would like to discuss with the coach, please email [email protected] to contact Coach Rebekah.
COOL SHARKS KICK-OFF - We are doing things a little differently this year! 11&over swimmers will have their Kickoff on Sunday April 26th, and 10&under swimmers will have their Kickoff on the first day of practice, April 27th. Please see the Meet/Event calendar (https://coolsharks.swimtopia.com/swim_meets) for more details.
A huge thank you to Buckhead Orthodontics for sponsoring King of Pops for our 10&under Kickoff!!!
MEETS - The 2026 schedule is now posted on the Meet/Event Calendar at https://coolsharks.swimtopia.com/swim_meets. We have 5 Dual Meets scheduled, with two HOME meets and three AWAY meets. We'll then end the season with the ASA Championship at Georgia Tech! This meet is open to ALL swimmers, and we would love to have everyone attend! Please make every effort to be at the Championship so we can defend our title :). This is always the most fun and exciting meet of the season!
Remember that meet attendance is an expectation for our team (the Cool Sharks are a competitive swim team not a lesson program). Swimmers need to attend at least 2 meets to earn priority registration next season.
SWIMSUITS & EQUIPMENT - All swimmers are strongly encouraged to purchase a team swimsuit to wear for meets (see information below). Swimmers are welcome to continue to wear their old suit if it still fits. Swimmers may wear their team suit or a different suit for practice. No swim shirts please! These really slow your child down and make it difficult to learn to swim properly.
Swimmers should wear their Garden Hills swim caps for meets (swim caps will be provided for each swimmer as part of their registration fees - see TEAM GEAR below). Caps are optional for practice but long hair should be tied back and out of your swimmer's face (be sure to have extra hair ties in your bag).
A good pair of goggles is REQUIRED for both practice and meets. Swimmers will not be allowed to practice without them, and we will no longer be loaning goggles to swimmers who forget. It's a good idea to have a back-up pair. No snorkel masks or play goggles please. Nothing is more discouraging for a young swimmer than a poorly-fitted leaky pair of goggles. See our website for suggestions of good brands for different ages and where to purchase.
For more information swimsuits and on other equipment needed for our team, please see https://coolsharks.swimtopia.com/team-swimwear.
TEAM SWIMSUITS - We have two swimsuit fittings - Saturday April 18th from 10:00am-2:00pm and Wednesday April 29th from 4:30-7:30pm. You will be able to try on team suits to purchase and take home with you. There will also be goggles and other items for sale at the fitting and online. If you are unable to attend, or if you already know your size, you may place an order online with Reddiset (https://reddiset.com/collections/garden-hills-cool-sharks). If you have questions or need help with any of this, please email [email protected]. The online order deadline is May 6 for delivery by the first meet.
TEAM GEAR - All swimmers will receive a drawstring bag with a personalized swim cap, a team t-shirt, and a team bag tag - we are planning to hand these out the first week of practice (week of 4/27) and during the second swimsuit fitting. If you miss the handout, they will be available in the pool house for pickup.
SPIRIT WEAR - We have adult Cool Sharks t-shirts and tank tops available for purchase at our home meets (or email us and we'll get them to you). NEW THIS YEAR we also have some spirit items available on our Reddiset team store (https://reddiset.com/collections/garden-hills-cool-sharks): Custom hoodies and flannels (in kids and adult sizes), hats & visors, towels, and water bottles. Items ordered through Reddiset will be shipped directly to you.
WEATHER POLICY - We will swim in the rain! Unless there is lightning or thunder, practice will go on as scheduled. If practice is cancelled, you will receive a notification from SwimTopia (be sure you have notifications enabled in your SwimTopia app or you will only receive an email). Please see https://coolsharks.swimtopia.com/weather-policy for our full weather policy.
We are looking forward to a great season! See you at practice! Go Cool Sharks!!!!