Hello Killer Whales! 

Our SV Killer Whale migration back to the pool has begun and we are only four weeks away from the first swim practice of the year.  Registration opens April 28, 2025 for both our SVKW and our Beluga Whales. 

Please reach out if you have any questions sooner rather than the day registration opens. You'll need to select your family volunteer credits before completing your swimmer's registration, and popular time spots fill up quickly. 

• General registration and swim team questions: [email protected]
• Volunteer job sign-up and task questions:  [email protected]

Below you'll find volunteer information, the full-season jobs left to fill, the pool work day sign up, our new Head Coach announcement, our prospective family's Q&A night, and a list of our pre-meet practice dates and events. 

We're looking forward to another season of poolside days with our team!

SVKW Swim Board

We still need these vital season-long roles filled. 

Volunteering for these will fulfill all your volunteer credits, and training is provided (job descriptions are here). Email our team of volunteer coordinators to sign up or ask questions! 

• Time Drop Manager (Home Meets Only)
• Meet Administrator
• Ribbon Volunteer
• Order of Finish (OOF) judge

Registration Info and Reminders!

1. Read through our swimmer and parent code of conduct rules and practice policies. 
   
2. SV Pool Dues: Don’t forget to join the SV pool and pay the membership dues prior to April 28. Per TSA Rules, we cannot allow a child to attend practices or participate in meets until pool dues are paid (SV Pool Membership Info)
3. SVKW Team Dues: Our 2025 team dues are $115 per swimmer this year. This covers the cost of running the team as well as all social events.
4. Team Newsletter: Starting May 1st, we’ll be emailing these team updates to only those that have registered. You can always find copies of these emails under About-News on the SVKW Swimtopia website.
5. Family Volunteer Credits: Grab your calendar before April 28 and think through what jobs you can sign up for to fulfill your volunteer credits. Our team is 100% volunteer run and each family must fulfill their volunteer credits to continue to participate. You can look up deck volunteer jobs and shifts here (Most volunteer jobs will be split into first and second half positions). Email the Volunteer Coordinator, prior to April 28, if you have questions about a specific role.
   
6. Beluga Whales: We’re excited to offer our Beluga starter swim team program once again for our youngest swimmers ages 4-6. Rosemary Helmedag will be coaching again this summer. Contact Julie, the program coordinator, before registration opens to discuss your swimmer's qualification if you are unsure of which team to join (requirements+schedule+FAQ).
7. Download the SwimTopia App and enable notifications and alerts! We use this program to send out all last-minute weather and practice schedule changes. The Pro account has additional perks but is not necessary if you prefer the free version. 

Meet Jim Swartz, Our 2025 SVKW Head Coach

A warm welcome goes to Jim Swartz as we welcome him to our coaching team as Head Coach for the 2025 season. Jim is a dedicated swimming coach with a background in both competitive swimming and coaching. A 13-time Collegiate All-American, Jim swam throughout high school and college, ultimately graduating from Cortland State College with a degree in Physical Education. After his time as a swimmer, Jim honed his coaching skills as an assistant coach for the Schenectady Swim Club's age group program for three years. He went on to lead the Green Hope High School Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving teams as Head Coach for an impressive 10 years, guiding athletes to success both in and out of the pool.

We're also thrilled to welcome back Coach James (SVKW), Coach Rosemary (BW), and Junior Coaches Cally, Tori, and Tripp.

Save the date for the these start of the season activities:

• Sat 4/26 Member work day at pool. Bring work gloves and sign up here for specific tasks. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A49A4A723A0FB6-55611123-pool#/
• 4/28 Registration opens for SVKW and Beluga Whale
• Sat 5/3: Prospective Swim Team Family Q&A at the SV Pool. Have questions about the registration process or the team you want to ask before joining? Come ask us in person! New Families are welcome if you also have registration and general swim team questions. We will have additional info nights for new families that cover swim meets and other info helpful to team participation (Dates TBD). 
• Monday, 5/19 SVKW Evening practice starts
• Friday, 5/23 SVKW Welcome Back Event

Swimsuit info: 

https://shepherdsvineyard.swimtopia.com/swimsuits. SVKW swimmers MUST WEAR A RACING-STYLE SWIMSUIT IN TEAM COLORS - BLACK and/or RED to swim in dual meets. See the attached flier for where to purchase the team suit!