Stonewall Park Swim Team

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does my swimmer need to try out for the summer swim team?

A: No, there are no tryouts for our summer swim team as we accept all registrations. We offer a “Lil Seapups” program for those 4 and up which is for beginner swimmers who are at least 4 years old (by June 1) and must be:

• comfortable in the water without a parent
• willing to jump into the pool without a flotation device
• able to swim unassisted for several meters (any style -- it doesn't have to be a recognizable stroke).

Q: Do we need certain supplies for the swim team?

A: Yes. Your child will need to purchase a team bathing suit as well as goggles. Our swim team provides flippers and kick boards to each swimmer during practice (as well as other equipment for practice to increase stroke technique). We will provide additional information on our team suit, typically in April of each summer swim season.

Q: We are going on vacation/participating in summer camps etc. during swim season. Is it OK to miss practices and meets?

A: Absolutely! We realize that families have lives outside of the swim team. The great thing about the swim team is that you can participate at your level. There will be an online sign-up for meets where you can indicate if your child will be absent and we ask that you let the coaches know if your child will not attend a meet. However, once your child experiences the thrill of a swim meet, they will not want to miss one!

Q: What if it rains or the weather looks questionable on meet or practice day?

A: Inclement Weather Policy:

• Meets: If the weather is too severe to swim, the meets may be postponed or canceled by agreement of the Team’s League Representatives. Meets are held rain or shine and only delayed or canceled during thunderstorms. You will be contacted via email and updates will be posted on the Web site if a meet is cancelled.
• Practices: Practice is not canceled due to rain or impending rain. We follow our pool’s general rules regarding lightning and thunder. The presence of either requires that we vacate the pool and stay out for 30 minutes. Sometimes that can mean that a particular age group’s practice will be canceled or cut short, but other groups will not be affected. Your child’s safety is an utmost priority. As much as possible, we will communicate through email and the REMIND app regarding weather-related issues. We will also update the home page of the website with bulletins as often as we can. We will make every effort to contact you via the REMIND app, e-mail, and/or website in the event a meet or practice is postponed or canceled due to weather.

Q: How do I sign up my swimmer for meet events?

A: It is very important to attend all meets. Swimmers are encouraged to attend and participate in all meets, especially divisionals. Because of vacation plans and other conflicts, it is understood that this may not be possible. Each family is responsible for declaring their swimmers on our online meet sign-up site. Our coaching staff are responsible for assigning each swimmer to the individual events and relays. Click Here for instructions on how to sign-up (declare or undeclare) your swimmer from swim meets.

Q: What do I do if my swimmer or I won’t be at one of the meets?

A: Indicate on our online meet manager site before the meet to let the team know which swimmer(s) will not be at the meet. It is extremely helpful to know in advance so the computer entries and paperwork are correct on the day of the swim meet. Also contact your head volunteer so they can attempt to fill in your spot with another volunteer. Click Here for instructions on how to undeclare your swimmer from swim meets.

Q: What is the volunteer requirement and what positions are available?

A: Our swim team is run 100% by parent volunteers and we require that every family (at least one parent/family member) pitch in to help our meets run smoothly and to ensure our swimmers have the support they need to swim their best. It takes all parents to run a SPST home swim meet. Away meets also require about same amount of parent volunteers.

There are numerous opportunities to help out and we provide training to parents/family members prior to the first meet and throughout the season. We need volunteers to assist with concession help, clerk of course, timers, recorders, runners, ribbon preparation & distribution, set-up and tear-down crew, just to mention a few. Please review the complete listing of volunteer positions and their descriptions to see how you can help.

Q: Where do I get a heat sheet and how do I read it?

A: Heat sheets will be posted at the meet on the board and/or available on the Swimtopia App.

All swim events for the meet have an event number and are listed in the order they will be swam. For example, Event 17 in many meets is the girls 6 & under 25-yard freestyle. There are 6 lanes in the pool so if there are more than 6 swimmers, an additional heat is added for the event.

Q: Why doesn’t my swimmer have a seed time?

A: Seed time is established the first time a swimmer swims an event or from their best time if they have swum the event in the past.

Q: Do you offer refunds?

A: We will offer a refund of the Competitive Team fees if your child(ren) are withdrawn from the team prior to the first meet of the season. Your registration fee will be refunded to you, minus a $20 processing fee per child, to offset the registration fees from Swimtopia and the Prince William Swim League as well as other administrative costs. Please ensure you make notification to the Treasurer by emailing [email protected] before the first swim meet. After the first meet, a refund will only be issued in the event of a major medical emergency, or the relocation of a swimmer's residence. During the first week of practice, new swimmers registered to participate in the Lil’ Seapups program will be tested to determine their final eligibility. If a Seapup swimmer does not qualify for the program, a full refund for your swimmer will be provided. Exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Q: Is there a lost and found?

A: Yes. If you can’t find it, ask one of the life guards during practice or meets.

Q: How many swimmers are on the team?

A: Approximately 125 swimmers!

Stroke and Turn is a weekly, off-season clinic run by Coach Maurie and our SPST coaches. We offer the program during spring and fall at an indoor pool. There are NO swim meets during these off season clinics. 

Our 1-hour sessions are designed for swimmers who want to improve their ability to swim the four competitive strokes, learn correct starts and turns, gain strength, build on their skills from summer swim, and just have fun!

These off season clinics are open to all swimmers, including Seapups and new members.

We swim at Central Park Aquatic Center (CPAC), 10371 Central Park Drive, Manassas, VA 20110.