Manchester Stingrays Swim Parent Survival Guide

Welcome to the Stingray family, we are so happy you are here!
The swim team is headed up by some wonderful parent volunteers and we are looking for more!

Communication:

• Website – Team Unify will allow for online meet sign-ups, volunteer sign-up and email updates/reminders sent to the team.
• Mailboxes – Starting with the second week of practice, the team mailboxes will be out on the tables during the practice sessions and are used for relaying messages, team social information and awards. Each family has a folder.
• Coaches/Parent Reps/Volunteer Coordinator – See contact page for information.

Practice and Practice Groups:  Practice is held Monday through Friday.  Rain or shine.  If there is severe weather in the area, please call the pool (636-391-6326, ext. 405) to see if practice has been cancelled.  If it is just raining, practice will be held as scheduled.   

• Ages 11-14                6:45 a.m. – 7:45 a.m.
• Ages 15-18                7:45 a.m. – 8:55 a.m.
• Ages 10 & Under       9:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.

NOTE: Some swimmers will be asked to swim at a different practice, based on ability.  Coaches will notify swimmers.

*** Parents are kindly asked to stay off the pool deck during practice. ***

• If you need to speak to one of the coaches, please try to catch him or her before or after practice.
• Please confer with Coach Austin Scarlas before bringing or moving your swimmer to a different practice time.

What to bring to each Practice: Please make sure to label all of your items!

• Goggles                
• Towel
• Water Bottle
• Fins (if you have them)
• Sweatshirt/Sweatpants(if it’s chilly)
• A smile and a positive, hardworking attitude

Team Pictures with Tom Paule Photography: June 17th

Team Swim Suits: Swimsuits can be purchased at B&B Aquatics.  There are two locations, Des Peres and Chesterfield.  The team suit for the 2024 - 2025 season is the Red/Black Dolfin Forcefield.  Swimmers are not required to wear a team suit. 

Swim Team Shirts: Registration includes 1 shirt per registered swimmer. Registrations after June 1st are subject to shirt availability.

You can purchase more shirts or other gear from the team Swag Store (store closes midnight on June 1st):  https://stingrays2025.itemorder.com/shop/home/

Additional Fun Activity Schedule for 2025: 

• 5/21: Swim Team Parent Meeting with Kona @ 7 pm
• 6/1: Shirt & Swag Orders Due
• 6/2: First Day of Practice
• 6/16: Picture Day with Tom Paule Photography
• 6/18: Tie Dye Day & Fun Practice (7:45-9:45am)
• 6/25: Home Swim Meet Pizza Party
• 6/26: Fun Practice (7:45-9:45am)
• 7/3: Fun Practice (7:45-9:45am)
• 7/10: Pancake Breakfast & Fun Practice (7:45-9:45am)
• 7/22: Team Outing
• 7/23: End of the Year Swim Banquet
• 7/24: Team Outing

Ribbons and Awards:

• Awards will be in folders by the third practice after each meet.
• Regular Dual Meets: 10 & Under ribbons are for 1^st-3^rd place by heat and participant ribbons for all swimmers. 11 & Over are awarded 1^st-3^rd place ribbons by heat.
• Conference medals and ribbons are awarded for 1^st-16^th place at Conference Finals.  These will be handed out at the banquet. There are NO participation ribbons for conference.

Have any questions?  Just ask one of the parent reps!

MEET ATTENDANCE: PLEASE READ….You will sign up to attend meets.  If you do not sign up for the meet, your swimmer WILL NOT be entered into the meet.  All meet sign-ups will be done on the website 1 week prior to the meet.

Work Requirements:

• Each family is required to fulfill 3 work shifts during the regular season.
• If you have a swimmer entered in prelims, you must fulfill 1 work shift at prelims.
• If your swimmer qualifies for finals (top 16), you must fulfill 1 work shift at finals.

What to Bring to a Meet:

• Team Suit/Cap (optional)
• Goggles (a spare pair is a good idea)
• Warm Clothing
• Towels (at least 2)
• Water bottle
• Healthy Snacks
• Blanket or sleeping bag to sit on
• Sharpie for writing events on your arm 
• A positive Attitude
• Good Sportsmanship

• Several Aquatic Centers have asked that swimmers refrain from writing on their back and back of their legs at meets.  The marker rubs off on the chairs and stains the rubber webbing.
• During swim meets it is important for swimmers to stay with the team in the Bullpen.  Swimmers should not be in the lazy rivers or casual pools.  Please make sure to pick up your trash and any trash in your area before you leave for the evening.
• Please do not leave a swim meet early without your child informing the coach.  Many swimmers are placed in relay events, and if you leave early this leaves the team short swimmers and affects the team’s ability to form complete relay teams.

Conference Prelims & Finals Primer:

• Swimming Prelims are early in the morning over two days.  (Prelims are held in the mornings to accommodate the volume of swimmers and parents, and allow the Aquatic Center to operate as usual.)
• The top 16 swimmers plus two alternates will advance to the Conference Finals.
• If your child is an alternate in an event (17^th or 18^th place), they will need to attend Finals.
• Warm up times will be posted closer to the events.
• If you cannot attend or participate in prelims AND finals, you will not be entered into Conference Prelims.

Swim Conference Prelims
Held at Manchester Aquatic Center 7:00 am
Monday, July 14 – Prelims, ages 11 and older
Tuesday, July 15 – Prelims, ages 10 and under (Rain date: July 16)
Swim Conference Finals
Held at North Pointe Aquatic Center
Thursday, July 17 – All Ages
Time: 6:00 pm
(Rain date is July 18)