Welcome to Forrester Woods Swim Team!

There are many things to learn about summer swimming. Hopefully, the information displayed here will answer many of your questions. If not, please ask! We’ve all been new to swimming and understand that it can be a little overwhelming at first.

Here’s some general information: Every neighborhood swim team in Greenville County swims in SAIL (Swim Association Invitational League). There are over 30 teams and approximately 5000 swimmers. The teams are divided into 6 Divisions: Red, Purple, White, Blue, Green and Gold, with Red being the biggest (and most competitive) division. We are in the Purple Division. At the end of the 5 regular meet season, teams participate in Divisionals where all teams in the division compete.

New Parent Cheat Sheet

The New Parent Liaison is Kayla Leader. Her contact info will be provided to you at the New Parent Orientation.

Success checklist - Parent edition

• MOST IMPORTANT: Read emails and newsletters sent during the season for info. There will be lots of emails and notifications. Don't ignore them. Your swimmer may miss important events. The website is also a great resource for calendar updates, etc.
• Volunteer. The easiest way to learn about swim team is to be a volunteer. Sign ups will be sent before the meets. Parents are required to sign up for each half. Check our volunteer page for more details on available roles. HERE
• Make sure your swimmer arrives on time for practices and meets.
• Sign up your swimmer for 3 events by noon on Saturday BEFORE each meet. Reminders will be sent for this each week! Note: coaches may adjust these events if needed.
• Pack for meets like you’re going to a tailgate. Chairs, water, snacks, umbrella, sunscreen, extra goggles and towels.
• Download the SwimTopia app. This will tell you which events your child is swimming in and provide live updates during the meet.
• Check the social calendar for fun events during the season (volunteer when you can!) HERE

Success checklist - Swimmer edition

• Show up for practice and meets ON TIME and prepared to swim.
• Practice the strokes: freestyle (free), back stroke, breast stroke and butterfly (fly).
• Take swim lessons if needed. Many of our coaches provide lessons outside of the swim practice times.
• Listen to the coaches and volunteers.
• Attend social events and get to know teammates outside of the pool.
• For meets, each swimmer should know which events they are competing in. Parents can find this info on the Swimtopia app and the heat sheet. A lot of swimmers write their events on their arm or leg with a Sharpie pen. Talk to your swimmer if you don’t want them to do this.

Practices

• Once a day (afternoon) May 12th until school ends May 22nd
• Twice a day (morning & afternoon) starting May 26th
• Check the practice schedule for your swimmer's practice times HERE

Meet must haves / to-dos

• Swimmers will need:
  • Swimsuit
  • Goggles
  • Swim cap
  • Towel
  • Chair
  • Sunscreen
  • Sharpie to write events on arm/leg
  • Drinks & snacks and/or money for concessions
• Swimmers must stay in the tent area when they are not swimming.
• Volunteers need to check-in prior to the meet. Shifts are divided into 1st & 2nd half. Arrive 20 minutes prior to each shift. Don’t worry. You’ll be able to watch your swimmer’s events. 
• Concessions typically takes cash or Venmo.

Basic Meet Info 

• Meets are every Thursday
• Warm up /swimmer arrival time is 3:45pm (swimmers arrive prepared to swim)
• Meets start at 5pm (note exact times may change based on the host team)
• Meets have 80 events
  • 10 events for each stroke; one for each age group & gender
    • 8&Under
    • 9-10
    • 11-12
    • 13-14
    • 15&Up
  • First half
    • 1-10 Medley relay
    • 11-20 Short Freestyle
    • 21-30 100 IM (Individual Medley)
    • 31-40 Breaststroke
  • Short break
  • Second half
    • 41-50 Long Freestyle
    • 51-60 Backstroke
    • 61-70 Butterfly
    • 71-80 Freestyle relay
    • Clean up after meet
• Meets typically run until 9-10pm if no delays.
• Rain delays do happen. Most of the time, a meet will NOT be cancelled unless  the weather is severe.
  • Light rain = meet continues.
  • Thunder/ Lightning = 30 minute delay. (Resets for each rumble.)
  • Occasionally a meet will be cancelled and/or postponed to another day.
  • Typically parents and swimmers will wait in their cars during a delay. Don’t count on space in the clubhouse for shelter. Notifications will be sent via SwimTopia when the meet will resume.

REMEMBER - All parents were new parents at some point. Please ask someone if you aren't sure what to do or where your swimmer needs to be.