Garden Hills Cool Sharks

2026 registration is now open. 

If you already have a SwimTopia account (from any team including other Garden Hills teams), please log in before registration opens to be sure you remember your password and have no issues logging in.

If you are new to SwimTopia, please create your account in advance, to save time during registration, by going to https://my.swimtopia.com/.

Registration dates:

• March 1 - Summer Team Priority Registration (private registration link will be emailed the morning of 3/1 and go live at noon)
• March 5 - Summer Team Open Registration (public registration link will be posted on the home page at noon)

Priority Registration is for any family (including siblings) who met all of the following requirements: 

• participated on the 2025 Cool Sharks Summer Swim Team 
• competed in at least 2 summer meets (does not include Time Trials)
• earned at least 2 volunteer points (paying the volunteer fine does NOT earn priority registration for families of 12 & under swimmers). 

Priority Registration also includes new families who participated on the 2025 Fall Team. Priority Registration DOES NOT include 2025 Shark Pups (unless they are a Cool Shark sibling or participated on Fall Team). 

Requirements:

• Swimmers must be 5 years old by 5/31/2026. 4-year-olds may be allowed by special permission, if they meet the requirements below and have the maturity and independence required for our practices.
• NEW THIS YEAR: The Garden Hills Cool Sharks swim team is open to City of Atlanta residents only (non-residents who were on the 2025 team will be grandfathered).
• NEW THIS YEAR: All swimmers must be able to swim 25 yards of freestyle in under 60 seconds. They need to be comfortable putting their face in the water and breathing while swimming. We may allow 6&under swimmers who are close to this standard to join the team (at coach discretion), but for 7&over this is now a strict requirement.
• Older swimmers (age 11+) should already have a basic knowledge of all four strokes (freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly) and be able to swim at least three of the four strokes legally in competition (newer swimmers may need private lessons to catch up). 
• All NEW swimmers ages 10 & under must attend a swim evaluation. Evaluations will be held March 31st - April 2nd at Garden Hills Pool. Please click HERE for more information about our new swimmer evaluation. Please do not wait until after the evaluation to register your child! If you child does not pass, your registration will be refunded, but if you wait, registration will likely be full.
• Swimmers must be part of the team and attend practices to participate in meets - club swimmers should balance Cool Sharks practice with club practice.
• All families are required to volunteer (click HERE for volunteer policy).
• Families with an outstanding balance on their account from a previous season will not be allowed to register until the balance is paid in full. 
• Swimmers do not need to be a member of the Garden Hills pool in order to participate.

PLEASE NOTE: Meet participation is an expectation for our team. This is a competitive team not swim lessons. Swimmers who did not compete in at least two summer meets in 2025 (excluding Time Trials) will not be given priority early registration status as a returning member in 2026. 

Program Dates:

4/27 - 6/25

Practice Schedule:

Click HERE. Swimmers are assigned to age groups based on their age as of 5/31/2026 (this is the ASA league cutoff date).

Fee Structure for the 2026 Summer Season: 

• Cool Sharks Registration Fee: $275 per swimmer ages 5-12; $175 per swimmer ages 13-18 
• ASA League Fee: $50 per swimmer (includes $3 convenience charge) - this fee increases to $70 on 4/16
• SwimTopia Technology Fee: $3.30 per swimmer

*Registration fees include a personalized silicone Garden Hills swim cap, t-shirt, drawstring meet bag, and a team bag tag.

Late Registration:

Late registration may be offered on a very limited space-available basis starting 4/3. However, it is expected that most age groups will close before then.

*Late Registration will include a non-personalized silicone Garden Hills swim cap only (t-shirt, meet bag, and bag tag subject to availability)

Wait List:

If your swimmer's age group is full, you will see a message during registration, along with a link to register for the wait list. Your swimmer's name will be added to the wait list in the order in which you register. Openings on the team will be filled first with returning Cool Sharks and their siblings, then with former Shark Pups, and then with new swimmers. If you register for the wait list and would later like your name removed, please email your request to [email protected]. Once your child has been placed in an opening and your card has been charged, you will be subject to the refund policy below. Be sure to attend a new swimmer evaluation by 4/2 to be eligible for placement on the team.

Refunds:

• Full refunds, minus a $25 administration fee per swimmer, will be given for voluntary withdrawal before 4/2 if we are able to fill your spot with another swimmer from the waitlist.
• Partial refunds of $100 will be given through the first week of practice (until 5/2).
• Partial refunds of $50 will be given before the first meet (5/26).
• Payment processing fees are non-refundable.
• ASA League Fees will be refunded if a swimmer withdraws before 5/19. ASA convenience charges are non-refundable.
• SwimTopia Technology Fees will be refunded if a swimmer withdraws before 5/19.
• Children who attend evaluations but do not pass by 4/2 will have their registration automatically cancelled and receive a full refund (except convenience and processing fees).
• No refunds will be given after 5/26.