Heights Hammerheads Swim Team

Welcome to the Heights Hammerheads 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. You will find information about the coaches and practice sessions as well as the procedure for letting the team know whether your child will be swimming in the meet. If you have any questions, ask the Swim Team Rep, Amber @ [email protected] | 770-298-0078 or Head Coach, Melissa Callister @ 707-816-1666.

The swim team’s goal is to support our swimmers: help them to enjoy swimming, display good sportsmanship, have a positive work ethic with a growth mindset, and progress throughout the season. Our goal is for each swimmer to learn how to improve their stroke techniques in order to swim faster. We strive to create a sense of community with good communication and organization.

The team is a member of the Lone Star Summer Swim League (LSSSL), which organizes the summer swim program for 22 swim teams (4 different divisions) in San Antonio.

We are excited to have you and your family as members of the Hammerheads Swim Team, and we look forward to an exciting and fun summer swim season.

Team Goals

The goal of the Hammerheads Swim Team is to provide our neighborhood youth with a quality summer swim program. The team provides a program in which swimmers improve their competence in swimming, confidence, connection, character and to have lots of fun with our swim family.

Season Overview

The Heights of Hammerheads Swim Program will last 6 weeks, starting the second week of May to the end of June.

Eligibility

Swimmers are eligible to join the team if they are 5 to 18 years of age (or their summer immediately following high school graduation whichever comes last) as of June 1 of the current year and pass the swim assessment.

Swim Assessment

All new swimmers to our team must complete a swim assessment on May 4th or 5th from 3:30p - 5:30p. Swimmers who are 10 and under must be able to swim the entire 25 meters of the pool without assistance and under 1 minute and 15 seconds, without stopping and without touching the wall, floor, or ropes and float on their backs for 30 seconds. Swimmers will be expected to swim multiple laps starting the first day of practice. Swimmers 11 and over must be able to swim 50 meters of the pool.

If your child is unable to pass the assessment, you will receive a full refund.

Upon registration, you will receive a confirmation email that will give you links to sign up for a New Swimmer Assessment time. If you cannot make any of the times provided, please contact head coach Melissa Callister (707-816-1666) for alternate arrangements.

The Heights Hammerheads have formed a "Pups" group (limited to 10 swimmers) for swimmers ages 5–8, who are evaluated and do not meet the requirements to compete. This is a NON-COMPETITIVE group. Pups will be offered for swimmers that are comfortable in the water but still need to develop skills and endurance to compete. What is included? 

• Morning swim sessions from June 1st through June 26th to learn strokes and build endurance & confidence in the water 

• Heights Hammerheads team t-shirt 

• Mock meet for the Pups 

• All social events (including team picture)

Payment is only online through Stripe.

Registration Includes:

- 24 Practices

- Team swim cap

- Team shirt

- 4 coaches

- 1 intrasquad meet

- 4 dual meets

- Swimmer's insurance

- League dues and fees

- Ribbons and awards

- End of season party

PRACTICES

Practices are Important! Swimmers benefit greatly from regular attendance to practice sessions. At practice swimmers receive instruction in the four competitive strokes, racing dives, flip turns (for older swimmers), and are given the opportunity to build physical endurance. Regular attendance at practice also helps the swimmers and their families keep up with what is going on. By regular attendance, this also enables the coach 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.

Be On Time

Swimmers should be at the pool and ready to swim 10 minutes prior the time their practice session is scheduled to begin, get ready for stretching exercises, and check their name off on the attendance roster.

Practice Schedule for the Summer

Each practice will be designed around where the swimmers are with their technique, allowing the coaches to help them grow individually. Our goal is for every swimmer to be able to swim all four strokes legally. Swimmers will be placed in practices and lanes according to their current ability and can be moved around as their techniques improve. Practices are Monday through Thursday. 

Practice Times May 11 - May 28, 2026

Practice Times June 1 - June 26, 2026

If you have any questions about the practice set up please contact our coach:

Melissa Callister at 707-816-1666

Practice Dos and Don'ts

All of our activities take place at our community pool. We are given special permission to use the pool by our HOA board. 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 the rules set.

No one is allowed to play in the Baby Pool during swim practice or meets.

Swim caps are required for all swim team activities, both for practice and meets.

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 call/text/email and they will get back to you. Coach Melissa’s contact information is 707-816-1666 or [email protected]

Swimsuit Requirements

It is required for all swimmers to wear the approved team swimsuit and swim cap for all swim meets. The Heights Hammerheads' 2024 team suits will be plain black with an embroidered Hammerheads logo. Boys may wear jammers or briefs. See our swimsuit information page for more details. Team suits are available for purchase through SwimFreak for online and in person ordering.

Equipment for Practice

Swim Suit, cap, goggles, and fins are required for each practice.

It is required for all swimmers to bring their own swim fins for practice. Check out some options here: https://www.swimfreak.com/tritan-tritan-straight-f...

The Hammerheads will provide kickboards, pull buoys, or any other necessary equipment.

PARENT PARTICIPATION

It is the parent's responsibility to make sure their swimmer(s) are aware of when their event is and when they should start lining up. We expect all athletes to sit together during the meet. Coaches and other team parents will not be responsible to track down missing swimmers that are being called to get ready. It would be very unfortunate for a swimmer to miss one of their events because they couldn't be found.

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 Hammerheads Swim Team must furnish volunteers for both home and away meets, although more volunteers are required to host a home meet.

It is required that at least one parent commit to volunteer at every meet in some form or another.

If you have a schedule conflict or must be absent, it is up to you to schedule a replacement. It is also up to you to contact the Volunteer Coordinator making them aware of the current changes.

Swim Meets

Parents are responsible for signing their swimmer(s) up for each meet.

**IMPORTANT: If your swimmer(s) plan to compete in an upcoming meet or if they will NOT be participating, their status needs to be confirmed by Tuesday evening the week of the meet.NO EXCEPTIONS! If your swimmer is not declared for the meet by this time, they will not be able to participate. You can confirm your swimmer's status by:

1.Going to Swim Meets under the "2025 Season Info" tab when the meet is open for registration.

2.Selecting "Meet Entry" for the meet you are trying to confirm.

3.Selecting your child(ren)'s status:

• Unmarked status will be automatically assumed that a swimmer is NOT attending the meet and will make them ineligible for that weekend's meet.
• If your swimmer(s) is marked as "Attending" and is put into a relay race, but fails to show up for the meet, this will hinder them from being put on future relay races.

Swim meets are the most fun part of swimming, but your first meet can be intimidating. Here are some helpful hints.

What to do on meet day

• Arrive on time with all necessary equipment.
  • suit on, goggles, towel, permanent marker, highlighter, heat sheet, cash for concessions stand
• Parents check in with the volunteer coordinator, Stephanie Mecham, who will be located at a table near the entrance of the pool.
• Check in with the coach immediately upon arrival and get the slip of paper that shows which events you will swim. This is also is an attendance check for the coaches.
• Write the events in permanent marker on your arm or leg after applying sunscreen, as follows:

Write your name on the back of your shoulder to help our bullpen volunteers.

• Stay by the pool deck while waiting for your events.
  • DO NOT LEAVE THE POOL TO GO TO THE PARK!
• Go to the ready bench ten heats before your event.
• Sit quietly on the ready bench and listen for your name to be called to line up at your lane.
• When it’s time to swim, line up at your lane and pay close attention to the starter.
• Swim your event as best you can! Feel free to ask for your time when you are done swimming. Then come see one of the coaches.
• Return to your family to wait for your next event. Have a healthy snack and relax!

After the meet

• Help clean up the pool deck.
• Collect all of your belongings (goggles are easy to leave behind).

Championship Meets

In order for swimmers to be eligible for the Championship meet at the end of the season, they will need to have competed in at least two regular season meets and have marked availability to be able to participate.

Championship meets are NOT like regular season meets. With the Lonestar League each team within the division has a certain amount of entries they are allowed to for both individual and relay events. Individual events are limited to six entries per age group, per event. Relays are limited to one relay team per event. Attendance, individual times that are legally executed, commitment to the team, and fulfilling volunteer requirements will all be taken into account when selecting who gets to attend Champs. If your swimmer is selected to attend Champs, you will be contacted by the coach.

Refunds

A partial refund will be given only if a swimmer drops off the team at the Friday of the first week of practices. After that, no refund will be given. NO exceptions.

WELCOME TO THE HAMMERHEADS SWIM TEAM!

Receive text messages* to keep informed of updates, practice changes, and other Hammerheads news!

For updates regarding the whole team, text @82gdb74 to 81010

Team Rep

Amber Rockwood | [email protected] | 770-298-0078

Cara Reed | Assistant Team Rep

Coaches

Melissa Callister | Head Coach 707-816-1666

Addie Bishop

Lydia Barrett

Clayton Mecham

Allie Callister

Officials & Judges

Erin Richter | Ref

Craig Mayo & Tushar Pandya | Scorekeepers

Amber Rockwood | Starter

Max Gorham | Stroke & Turn Judge

Volunteers

Stephanie Mecham | Volunteer Coordinator

Allison Bills I Concessions Coordinator

Ashley Hanselman I Sponsorship Rep