Typical Season Timeline
Registration: early to mid April - click here for current information
Order team swimsuits, apparel & gear: early to mid April - early May
Mandatory Family Info Night: mid to late May
A mandatory information night is held prior to the season, usually in mid to late May. An overview of the specifics for that particular season is presented to Shark families, including schedules for practices, meets, events, and meet officials' training. An overall state of the team will be presented as well.
New families will be given an orientation on how the season transpires, what to expect, and what is expected from both parents and swimmers.
At this time each family is required to complete out a Parent Club registration form, a Parent Club media waiver, and a Parent Club Volunteer Agreement. The $70 refundable deposit for the Volunteer Agreement is also required at this time. Swimmers will not be allowed to participate until these requirements are met.
Stroke Clinic: mid May - not available for 2024
Stroke Clinic is an opportunity for coaches to more closely work with swimmers in developing their swimming strokes. The clinic is typically an hour or two practice at night, in the indoor pool at the Addison Aquatic Center, and for one week in mid to late May. Map and directions to the pool may be found here. Stroke Clinic is not mandatory, but is highly encouraged & recommended; and may or may not require a separate fee, depending on the season.
Wood Dale Memorial Day Parade: Memorial Day Holiday
All families are encouraged to march with the Sharks & the Wood Dale Park District in the annual Wood Dale Memorial Day Parade (see calendar for details)
Trial Week: Memorial Day week
Trial week allows new swimmers to evaluate the swim team and determine whether or not it is something in which they would like to participate. Swimmers must be registered in order to be able to participate in Trial Week. Trial week practices are held at night, the week of Memorial Day, at our home pool. A practice meet, or "Mock Meet" is held at the Friday night practice. Mock meets allow new parents, and veteran parents volunteering for new meet roles, to get an idea what to expect during actual meets. All Shark families are encouraged to participate, and new swimmers must be able to complete minimum swimming requirements at this time. Refunds for registration fees will be given no later than the following Monday.
Practices: week after Memorial Day week
Normal practices are held Monday through Friday, beginning the week after Memorial Day week, from 7:00 – 10:00am. Different age groups have different start times. Time slots and a specific schedule will be provided after registration when numbers in each age group are determined.
Regular Season Dual Meets: beginning early June
Regular season dual meets (against any 1 DSDC team) will be held home and away, on Wednesday nights beginning at 6:30pm, and on Saturday mornings beginning at 8:00am. Swimmers must arrive as early as an hour and half before start time to warm-up, depending on whether the meet is home or away.
Team Photo Day: Early June day (before practice)
Swimmers take individual & team photos (available for purchase online)
Swimathon: Early June day (in lieu of practice)
A team fundraising event in which swimmers obtain sponsors/donations and possibly earn prizes for a swimming marathon. This event is crucial in creating funds for everything the Parent Club provides for the team, including equipment, awards, social events, and our NEW SCHOLARSHIPS! This event is responsible for eliminating a Parent Club fee that has been required in all previous seasons. All swimmers are encouraged to participate so that fee does not return!
Annual Mid-Season Event: Late June to early July
A social event/activity for Sharks families, compliments of the Parent Club
Senior Night: Late June to early July meet
"Senior Night", typically held at the last home meet, acknowledges the final summer swim season of our high school senior Sharks.
TP Night: Wednesday night before the third to last weekend of July
Swimmers meet to eat together before teaming up to beautify the yards of participating Sharks homes with toilet paper and sidewalk chalk.
Conference Meets: mid to late July
2 season finale "Conference" meets will be held on the last two Saturday mornings of the season. In these meets, all four of the teams in our DSDC Division compete simultaneously. The combined results of these 2 meets determine the final results for our division, with the winner moving up to the next, higher ranked division.
In general, swimmers participate in either A or B Conference (as determined by the coaches), but not both. The exceptions being B Conference swimmers who compete in A Conference as a substitute or alternate.
B Conference : third to last Saturday morning of July
The goal of each swimmer in this meet is to improve upon their fastest recorded times of the season. B Conference participants and their events are determined by the coaches, but all Sharks are encouraged to attend the meet to support their teammates. There are no relay events in B Conference.
A Conference: second to last Saturday morning of July
Points in this meet are awarded based on finish placement, i.e. first, second, third, etc. A Conference participants and their events are determined by the coaches, including relay events.
Year-end Banquet/Pizza Party/Pool Party: Saturday evening of A Conference
This is a season ending celebration, beginning with a pizza party/team awards banquet, followed by a pool party. Parents are welcome to swim as well. The final Executive Board Meeting of the season is considered to be held simultaneously, and officers for the upcoming season are determined at this time.
Waterpark Trip: Sunday morning after A Conference
A team trip to a nearby waterpark, compliments of the Parent Club (transportation NOT included).
To view CURRENT season info, click here or view Calendar here
