A PDF of this material can be downloaded from the link at the bottom of the page.

Canyon Lake Aquahawks Swim Team

Handbook 2026

Welcome to the Canyon Lake Aquahawks Swim Team!

This handbook has been prepared to give you and your family information that is needed to know throughout the swim season. Please read it carefully especially if you are a new member of the team. We are excited to have you and your family as members of the Aquahawks Swim Team, and we look forward to another exciting and fun summer swim season. If you have any questions, ask the Swim Team Manager, Assistant Manager, or Head Coach.

2026 SEASON OVERVIEW

The 2026 Season program will last about two months. The program begins May 4th. On that date, the coaches may begin holding daily practices to improve strokes and build endurance. Until school is out for summer vacation, practice sessions will be held after school. On May 25th we will switch practices to morning and afternoon. Time trials are held during May practices, to evaluate each swimmer’s ability before the regular season begins. The dual meets will be held on Saturday mornings or Monday/Tuesday nights depending upon which day the host team conducts their meets. Refer to the team calendar on the website for meet dates.

The season concludes with an end of season party. Ribbons and medals from the Division Championship Meet as well as other team awards will be awarded at that time. Refer to the team calendar for this year’s date.

REGISTRATION

Eligibility

Swimmers are eligible to join the team if they are 4 to 18 years of age as of June 1, 2026. To join the team, a swimmer must consistently swim the following distances without holding onto the sides of the pool or lane lines (unless the swimmer is 6 or younger) or touching the bottom of the pool until the required swim distance has been completed.

• Ages 4­-10 yrs. Must be able to swim one stroke for 25 yards under two minutes. Note: Freestyle can mean any means of swimming across the pool to include “doggie paddle” for the youngest swimmers ages 4‐6.
• Ages 11 yrs. & Up Should be able to swim any two strokes for 50 yards or 2 lengths of the pool.

Swimmers should demonstrate their ability to meet the above requirements by the date of the first swim meet.

Registration Fees

The fees for swimmers:

• First swimmer in the family $140.00
• Second Swimmer in the family $100.00
• High School Swim Team members $70.00

A parent must complete a registration form, pay team fees, sign up for a minimum of 3 volunteer positions, and sign all waiver forms before attending any practice.

Late Registration

Swimmers may register late, or even after the regular season has begun (if space is available on the roster). However, they must register before the second scheduled meet in order to compete this summer. To qualify and compete in the Division Championship Meet, a swimmer must swim in at least one regular season dual meet.

Refunds

Please consider the commitment made by joining the swim team. A partial refund will be considered in the event of an injury preventing a swimmer to swim. Any other partial refunds will be at the board’s discretion.

PRACTICES

Practices are Important!!

Swimmers benefit greatly through regular attendance to practice. At practice swimmers receive instruction in the four competitive strokes, a racing dive technique, flip turns, and are given the opportunity to build physical endurance. Regular attendance also helps swimmers & their families keep up with important team information as it is distributed. A minimum of two days per week is required without prior approval from Team Manager and/or Head Coach.

In an attempt to maximize the benefits of the practice sessions all coaches work with each age group. This enables the coaches to get to know the swimmers better, to identify their strengths, and to work on their weaknesses. The coaches are then able to place the swimmers in the appropriate events for swim meets. Adjustments to your practice times can only be made if first approved by Team Manager or Head Coach.

Be on Time

Swimmers should be at the pool and ready to swim 10 minutes prior to the time their practice is scheduled to begins and get ready for stretching exercises. When the practice is over younger swimmers should return to a parent/adult who is responsible for that swimmer.

Practice Dos and Don’ts

All of our activities take place in the Canyon Lake High School pool. We are given special permission to use this pool. Swimmers are expected to obey all normal pool safety rules during practices and meets. Disruptive behavior not only wastes the coaches’ time, but also may jeopardize future use of a pool by the swim team. If necessary, a swimmer will be asked to leave the pool area. Parents who are present during practice are asked to help keep swimmers in order and to enforce pool rules. Please respect each group’s practice time and keep all swimmers that are not currently practicing off the steps and out of the pool.

Do You Need to Speak with a Coach?

The coaches are responsible for a large number of swimmers during practice sessions, and a lot must be accomplished at the practices. For these reasons, please do not hold conferences with the coaches during scheduled practice times. If you need to speak with a coach, please try to do so before or after the practice session or email him. If you have any concerns about a coach or instructor, please contact the swim team manager, Melissa Monroe, at practice or via email at [email protected]

SWIMSUIT REQUIREMENTS

Team suits will be available for purchase from SwimFreak at a specifically scheduled team practice (refer to team calendar for date). This is the only practice where team suits will be sold. After that date, you may go to their store location at 6413 Blanco Road in San Antonio and ask for the Canyon Lake team suit. This is the only swim suit store which keeps our team suits in stock. You will want to buy an alternate suit to wear at practice. Girls are required to wear a one piece suit to all practice sessions.

OTHER EQUIPMENT

Unlike other sports, very little equipment is required. Most swimmers like to wear swim goggles. All girls and boys MUST wear swim caps. TEAM SWIM CAPS are required at all dual and Championship Meets. Swimmers should get use to wearing caps at practice.

Please make sure that every item your swimmer brings to a practice or a meet has his or her name or initials on it including shirts, shorts, towels, goggles, swim caps, water bottles, etc. Fingernail polish works great on goggles and swim fins.
Also, please ensure that your swimmer is well protected against sunburns by using an appropriate level of sun block at all practices and meets. Sunscreen works best if it is applied 30 minutes before swimmers enter the water. DO NOT APPLY SUNSCREEN TO THE FACE (unless it is in “stick” form) RIGHT BEFORE SWIMMING. Sunscreen often runs, gets into the eyes and causes burning. SWIMMER’S EAR is a painful infection associated with people who are in the water a lot. To prevent Swimmer’s Ear, over‐the‐counter drops can be purchased at Walgreen’s, CVS, or HEB. Please be vigilant about using drops in your children’s ears to prevent a painful infection from ruining their summer of fun and exercise.

SWIM MEETS

Regular Season Meets

Each of the MSSL teams participates in four regular‐season meets held on Saturday mornings, or Monday/Tuesday nights as determined by the host team. The dual meets are usually between teams from the same division and may last 3 1⁄2 to 4 hours in length depending on the sizes of the competing teams and the number of entries. Swim meet dates can be found on the team calendar.

Events

At meets, swimmers compete against other swimmers of the same sex in the same age group. There are six age groups: 6 & under, 7‐8, 9‐10, 11‐12, 13‐14, and 15‐18.
A meet consists of seven types of events. There are five individual events: Freestyle, Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly, and Individual Medley (one‐fourth of the race is swum in the order butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle). The other two events are relays: Medley Relay and Freestyle Relay.

Each age group competes in every type of event except 6 & Under swimmers who compete only in Freestyle and Backstroke, but may be placed in an 8 & Under Freestyle or Medley Relay.

Entries

Swimmers may be entered in up to four events per meet of which one must be a relay event. The maximum number of individual events a swimmer may be entered in is three. However, the coaches may not enter all swimmers in the maximum number of events. Swimmers can only “swim‐up” two age groups.

There will be no additions or substitutions to individual events.

Heats and Scoring

Most events consist of more than one heat. A heat is when the swimmers race against other swimmers, usually six at a time, depending on the number of lanes in the pool. Heats are designated by numbers. If an event has four heats, they are designated Heats 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Ribbons

Place ribbons are awarded to all swimmers who come in 1st through 6th place, except in the case of a DQ, according to their times. The event, date, swimmer’s name, and official time will be recorded on the back.
The coaches, will distribute the ribbons as soon as possible, following the meets.

Disqualification (DQ’s)

Swimmers sometimes are disqualified during a race, usually for executing a stroke illegally or for starting or turning improperly. A disqualified swimmer will not score points for his/her team or receive a place ribbon for the event. The starter, stroke and turn judge, and the referee may disqualify swimmers. Parent volunteers who have been trained by MSSL fill these positions at dual meets. Their purpose is to help swimmers learn to swim properly and to assure that no swimmer gains an unfair advantage. Please respect yourself, your swimmer, and the team appropriately by being respectful of the officials.

Swimmers should realize that they are competing against the clock as well as other swimmers in the water. The swimmer’s goal should be to better his or her time at each meet.

Birthdays

Swimmers compete based on their ages as of June 1st of the current year. If they have a birthday during the swim season, they will not change age groups.

MEET PROCEDURES

Entry Procedures

It is very important for parents to understand the entry procedures and for swimmers to arrive at the meet at the prescribed time before the meet begins. Times will be listed on the team website prior to a meet. Swimmers entered in meets who don’t show up create extra work as substitutions must be arranged for relay events. Therefore, it is VERY important for parents to let the team manager or Head Coach know whether or not swimmers will be at each meet.

IF YOUR CHILD IS NOT ATTENDING A SWIM MEET, it is imperative that we are made aware of this. It is assumed that your child WILL be attending unless an absentee form has been submitted. Your child will NOT be entered in a relay in the next meet if he/she is a “no show”. If your child is a “no show” for two meets, he/she will not be entered for any events for the remainder of the season.

Please Check­In On Time!!!

It is essential that every swimmer check in on time at the check‐in table with the assigned volunteers on the day of the meet. If your swimmer shows up late to warm‐ ups, he/she may be scratched from a relay. Other swimmers will be given an opportunity to fill in for any scratched swimmer.

It is also essential that all swimmers show up to the pool no matter what the weather is at your house. Only the Meet Referee can cancel a meet due to foul weather conditions. A team that does not show up forfeits the meet.

Check­In Policy & Times

Check‐in will take place at the pool where the meet is being held. Swimmers will need to go to the check‐in table to receive a slip with their events. Parents will still need to purchase a heat sheet to see the heat and lane the swimmer is in. Check –in times will be posted on the website prior to the meet.

Transportation to Away Meets

Please note that each family is responsible for providing transportation for swimmers to away meets. Carpooling may be an option for swimmers needing a ride.

Swimmers: Stay with Your Team!!

During the meets, swimmers should sit with the team in the designated swim team area until they are called to the ready area for an event. When swimmers arrive at the ready area they will check in with the Ready Bench person from our team. An event will begin on schedule whether or not all swimmers are present when the event begins.

Swimmers are responsible for reporting to the Ready Bench area on time!

Please be sure to look for the volunteer walking around with the event sign board showing which events are lining up. We do not want any swimmer to miss his or her event or to lose any points because he or she cannot be found!!!

Questions and Complaints

During the swim meets, any questions or complaints about actions of the officials or the opposing team must be directed to our Swim Team Manager, Liz Stearns, who will relay your question or complaint to the Meet Referee. MSSL rules prohibit parents or swimmers from directly approaching judges or referees.

Need to Leave Early??

Swimmers should not leave a meet before it is over. Coaches may need a swimmer to swim on a relay team for a person that did not show up. Swimmers leaving before completing their events may cause the team to lose points, and a relay team may have to be scratched, denying the remaining three swimmers on the relay team a chance to compete. However, if a swimmer must leave before the end of a meet, the swimmer must notify the head coach.

MSSL DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP MEETS

After the end of the regular season dual meets, the MSSL conducts the Division Championship Meets. Unlike regular season meets, the Championship Meet is when each team competes against ALL the teams in their division at the same meet. Teams scores are tracked and teams winning 1st through 3rd place earn a place banner. Swimmers are awarded 1st through 3rd place medals and 4th through 16th ribbons at the Division Championship Meet.
The league sells Championship Meet T‐Shirts (pre order only) and Heat Sheets (at the event). The Championship Meet is the MOST IMPORTANT meet of the summer!!

PARENT PARTICIPATION We cannot have this team without Volunteers!!

Because a swim team is run by volunteers – with the exception of a highly qualified, paid coaching staff – parent participation is ESSENTIAL at every swim meet. The Aquahawk Swim Team MUST furnish volunteers for both home, away meets as well as the championship meet, although more volunteers are required to host a home meet. Each family is expected to work at least three times during the swim season. At registration, parents must sign up to work at least three volunteer positions. Please be on time for your job and shift. If you have a schedule conflict or must be absent, it is up to you to schedule a replacement. The best way to do this is to contact people assigned to your same job at another meet and arrange a switch. If you become unavailable at the last minute, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, to assign a substitute in your place. Please do so as soon as you know you will not be able to attend the meet you signed up for.

NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED!!

Parents of new members are encouraged to sign up for these jobs. There are easy jobs to fit everyone’s skills or abilities. Each job is important and can be fun!! Equipment Set­Up and Take­Down Workers set up equipment before meets and pack equipment after meets. They also coordinate clean up of the pool area and parking lot after home meets.

Concession Workers aid in setting up the concession stand, selling refreshments, and cleaning up the concession stand at home meets.
Team Ready Bench Parents call swimmers to the ready area and help the coaches get swimmers lined up for the next events and maintains order in the ready area.
Timers use digital stopwatches to time and record the time on the lane timer sheets. Each lane has three times – one is in charge of the clipboard and legibly writing down the watch times, a second timer watches to ensure the times are correctly transcribed, and the third timer asks the swimmer his or her name to be sure the correct swimmer is in their event, heat, and lane.
Runners collect lane timer sheets and disqualification slips from timers and judging officials and take them to the scorekeeper’s table.
Ribbon Personnel attach a printed label with each swimmer’s results (recording the swimmer’s name, event, and time) to the appropriate place ribbon and sorts them in the family folder by last name. This job is done at home.

POSITIONS REQUIRING TRAINING
At A Free, Annual MSSL Clinic
**Please sign up to work as a starter or stroke and turn judge only if you have a competitive swim background either at the high school or college level.
Meet Referee has complete responsibility for a speedy and impartial conduct of the competition, knows the MSSL and swim stroke rules, is familiar with the whistle start procedures, inspects the pool and equipment, and conducts an officials’ meeting before the meet begins. The Meet Referee usually has worked as a Stroke & Turn Judge for at least two swim seasons and could be, but DOES NOT have to be a nationally certified official.
Starter’s primary job is to ensure all swimmers have a fair and equitable start, knows the MSSL rules and how they are applied, and is familiar with the whistle start procedures.
Stroke and Turn Judge observes the swimmers in their assigned lanes, makes disqualifications when applicable, and understands the MSSL and swim stroke rules and how they are applied.
Scorekeeper takes the data from the lane timer sheets and inputs it into the Meet Manager software. Periodically through the meet, the scorekeeper will print the ribbon labels for swimmers who place 1st ‐6th. At the end of the meet, the scorekeeper asks the Referee and the 2 Head Coaches to sign the final score sheet.

Again, the Aquahawks Swim Team cannot continue to exist without the assistance of parent volunteers. ALL PARENTS MUST PARTICIPATE FOR CONTINUED SWIM TEAM SUCCESS at MOUNTAIN LODGE!
TEAM PICTURES

The team provides an opportunity to order and pay for a picture consisting of a group team photo and/or individual photos.

END OF SEASON PARTY

Bring the entire family out to celebrate a great season at Aquahawk’s pool. Please refer to the team calendar for date.

MAVERICK SUMMER SWIM LEAGUE

The Manta Ray Swim Team is a member of the Maverick Summer Swim League (MSSL). The MSSL is a non‐ profit organization that coordinates competitive swimming events between 19 local teams of varying sizes in the greater northern San Antonio and outlying areas. The Maverick Summer Swim League maintains a web site which contains a lot of useful information for swimmers, parents, coaches, and volunteers. The MSSL site is www.maverickssl.org.

COMPETING TEAMS

Currently the 20 teams of the MSSL are divided into three divisions; Division 1, 2, and 3. The placement in divisions is determined by team roster size from the previous season, the team’s placement at the previous Championship Meet, and the historical make‐up (age groups) of the team.

Function of the MSSL

The MSSL Board of Directors is the league’s governing body comprised of one representative from each member swim team and the President. The MSSL Board functions as the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches of government for all the league’s member teams. The Board determines the meet schedules, sets all policies and rules, and votes on new team applications to the league.

The MSSL provides liability, sexual misconduct, and medical insurance for all member teams, HOA and their pools as well as Directors and Officers insurance for the MSSL Board members. The board determines the league’s budget, pays all bills associated with the operation of the league, solicits sponsorship money, creates new ways of earning revenue for the league in order to keep team costs low, and collects fees from the member teams that covers part of the costs of insurance, awards, and operation of the league’s Championship Meets and All‐Star Meet.

The MSSL provides free training clinics for stroke and turn judges, referees, and starters, free Hy‐Tek swim
software Meet and Team Manager clinics for scorekeepers, team reps, and Head Coaches, and free rules clinics for all Head and Assistant coaches. The league runs criminal background checks for every team’s coaching staff at no cost to the member teams.

MSSL secures the venue and provides the necessary coordination amongst all league teams for the Division Championship Meets and the All‐Star Meet. To ensure fairness for all swimmers, the league hires nationally certified officials to officiate at the Division Championship and All‐Star Meets.

The league contracts the services of a person who is highly proficient with the swim software, Hy‐Tek Team and Meet Manager. This person conducts several free yearly clinics to team personnel. Additionally, she works with all team scorekeepers, Head Coaches or team reps to work through any software problems they may experience throughout the competition season.

The MSSL keeps official score sheets for all the dual/tri meets and lane timer sheets and meet results from all current Division Championship Meets and archives from previous Championship Meets. The league posts the MSSL swim records on the league web site which is updated at the end of each season.

MSSL RULES

The League keeps a current copy of the MSSL Rules on its web site. The rules include information regarding meet equipment and organization, team personnel, season and uniforms, safety, meet management with the order of events at the meets, information regarding timing, ribbons and scoring, judging officials’ rules, DQ’s and protests, violations of the rules, and the rules for swimming the strokes. The current MSSL rules are located on the league web site at www.maverickssl.org.

MSSL UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP

In 2006 the league began a scholarship program to honor former swimmers who aged out in the previous season and awarded each swimmer with a $500.00 scholarship. The MSSL hopes to encourage more swimmers to compete through their final year of eligibility with their team.

The scholarship application is a simple process. Criteria for applying includes: having swum at least two years on their MSSL team, competed through age 18, and must have at least an 80 or above GPA. Candidates may download the application from the league web site. Students submit a letter of admittance from the college they choose to attend, a copy of their SAT scores, a high school transcript through the end of the first semester of their senior year, and a counselor’s recommendation form. The application also requires their Team Rep’s signature.
If the MSSL Board deems that extra money is available, more than two scholarships may be awarded.

If you have any questions, please ask!
 

GO AQUAHAWKS

Have a Safe and Successful Swim!!