Penguin Swim Parent Meeting Handout 2026
GENERAL INFORMATION
●MAC is in the Gateway Swim Conference- CHAMPIONS of the 2025 Season!
●Monday June 1st : Swim practices begin
●Thursday June 4: the first meet (Time Trials) at MAC
●Monday July 13: End-of-year Swim Banquet Downtown MAC
●All meets start at 5:30pm. Warm-ups begin at 4:30pm for home meets. Warm-ups begin at 5pm for away meets.
●Our goal is to keep all meets around 3 hours in length.
- MAC is hosting Gateway Conference for 10U on Saturday, July 11th.
IMPORTANT DATES:
●Swim Meet Registration: May 27 - June 3, 2025
●Monday, June 1: Penguin Practice begins
●Tuesday, June 2: Puffins Practice begins (T/W/Th 11:45-12:15)
●Thursday, June 4: Penguin Time Trials
●Monday June 8: Home Meet vs. Pacific
●Monday June 15: Home Meet vs. Washington
●Monday June 22: Away Meet at LKCF
●Monday June 29: Away Meet at Cedarmill
●Tues, June 30: Meet at Lifetime Chesterfield (fun meet!)
●Friday July 3: NO PRACTICE.
●Monday July 6: Away Meet at Cool Dell
●Thursday, July 9: Puffin Meet followed by Spirit Night
●Friday, July 10 (evening): Conference for qualifying 11 & up at Washington
●Sat, July 11 (morning): Conference for qualifying 10 & under at MAC
●Monday, July 13 (evening): Swim Banquet/Trophy Presentation at Downtown MAC
AGE-LEVEL PRACTICES
8:00-8:45am 9/10 girls & 11/12 girls
8:45-9:30am 9/10 boys & 11/12 boys
9:30-10:15am 13 and over boys & girls
10:15-10:55am 6u boys & 7/8 boys
10:55-11:35am 6u girls & 7/8 girls
PUFFINS Practice begins June 2
11:45am-12:15pm Tues/Wed/Thurs- 4/5 year old Puffins
GOAL:
To allow each swimmer the opportunity to swim the minimum of 3 meets to qualify for conference, WHILE also keeping swim meets ~3 hours long.
PARENT TASKS
1.Register for meets - NO LIMIT on number of meets (unless specified)
a.Registration will be open from May 27 9:00am – June 3 5pm.
b.Register Yes or No for Penguin Meet (time trials) – highly encouraged for all, especially new swimmers.
c.To RSVP through the Swimtopia website:
▪Log in & Go to the Schedule tab at the top
▪Click on the Meet for which you are RSVPing
▪Click on the Green Meet Entry button. You will then be able to RSVP for each of your swimmers.
▪*SAVE at the bottom of the page.
▪There is also a NOTES page -- use this to tell us if your swimmer needs to leave early or arrive late - mark the specific time!
d.Swimmers are entered into events based on their readiness to legally swim each stroke, as observed during practices. Please do not submit requests to swim particular events. If you have questions about your child’s progress, email Lauren.
f.Swimmers should get in the habit of checking in with a coach after each race. Please do not leave the meet without checking with Lauren.
g. Families who do not swim in at least three meets for the season will not be considered returning families next year.
2.Register to work TWO swim meets. We cannot have meets without parent volunteers. (There are NO buyouts.) In addition, all families who qualify for Conference will be required to work the Conference meet.
a.You must stay for the whole meet if you are working. Please check in at least 20 minutes prior to the meet, inside by the snack bar for home meets.
b.You may not consume alcoholic beverages if you are working.
c.If you are a timer, it is important that you pay attention to the swimmer in your lane. Your times determine places, rankings, and records.
d.All families must work 2 swim meets.
e.Worker sign-ups open May 27 and close 1 week prior to each meet
f.If you have someone to work for you, they must be at least 16 years old. We will not be responsible for finding workers for you.
g.Fines will be charged to your member statement if you no-show for your designated shifts or do not sign up to work shifts: $150 for first shift. $250 for the second shift.
h. If families do not work meets for the season, they will not be considered a returning family next season.
PRACTICES:
●We will follow the schedule posted online/attached. Please be prompt - our practices run continuously, and we cannot allow late swimmers to swim past their scheduled time.
●Please attend practice as many times a week as possible. Swimmers improve the most with regular practice. Attendance will be taken.
●After the first week, lane assignments will be posted each Tuesday on a whiteboard. Please help your child find their lane (it stays the same for the whole week).
●All our coaches are experienced swimmers and very familiar with the MAC swim program. Coaches will change lanes daily. We cannot accommodate requests for particular coaches during practice.
●Please do not approach coaches during practice. Their focus needs to stay on the swimmers for everyone’s safety. Please email Lauren or ask your parent rep if you have any questions.
●Weather -- We WILL practice in the rain. Once thunder or lightning is heard/seen, practice will be paused for 30 minutes. We will not make up any lost practice time.
**HAVE FUN**
This is the theme of our swim program!! The meets run well, and the children have fun because of the awesome parents we have. Encourage your children, pump them up, encourage them to cheer on their teammates. Positive attitudes are contagious on the pool deck!
Ribbons will be distributed for the 10 and under swimmers only.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Swim Team Coach: Lauren Fonseca: [email protected]
Swim Team Volunteer Parent Reps: Kayla Alexander & Erin Russel
MAC Programs Manager: Joy Holdmeier: [email protected]
