Team Handbook
This guide is intended to cover the most common questions and issues that arise during the swim season. Please remember that all times TAAF and City of Carrollton rules must be followed. Any situations not covered in this document, pool rules, or TAAF rules will be the decision of the coach or the CARS board.Volunteer Deposit?
Carrollton hosts two swim meets each year. It takes about 80 volunteers (working 1/2 sessions) to have a well organized swim meet. In past seasons we have struggled at times finding enough volunteers. The goal of the deposit is to encourage each family to provide one volunteer to work two sessions. We will try to accommodate your preference for time/job when possible. For those families that provide a volunteer they will receive their deposit back at the end of year swim party or can carry it forward to the next season.Read more about being a volunteer.
Registering for Meets
In past years swimmers have only needed to pre-register for relay teams for most swim meets. Many teams are now using software to manage their swim meets; this requires us to submit our swimmer information on Tuesday or Wednesday before the meet. To make the process more consistent we are asking swimmers to select the events they would like to swim in on Mondays. This can be done at practice or on the team web site. The weekly team email will contain a link and details on how many events can be swam that week. The preferred method is for families to use the team web site this allows us to fully automate the process.Family Folders
Family folders will be available at morning practices on Mondays and Thursdays. The folders contain any ribbons or paperwork. Please check your folders weekly.Relay Teams
Medley relay teams will be a coaching decision. During most regular season meets, swimmers can make their own free-relay teams. For Regional and State meets coaches will set all relay teams. You must be willing to participate on a relay team, if selected, to swim in regional and state meets. If you are selected as an alternate for a regional or state team you must be at the event ready to swim.Regional Swim Meets
There are two regional swim meets each year. The A Regional meet is for all swimmers who have qualifying times, the B Regional meet is for swimmers who do not have A qualifying times. If you have an A qualifying time you can not swim that event in B regional. If you swim an A qualifying time in the B regional you will not receive a ribbon, but you will receive a certificate for achieving an A time.Swimmers can track their times using the My Times page or Top Times page. There will also be a top times print out available at practices.
State Swim Meet
The top five swimmers (as of 2010) for each event in the A regional meet qualify to swim at the state meet. Swimmers will need to declare their intention to go to the state meet at the A regional meet. If you know in advance you will not be attending state, then you should not be on an A regional relay team.State T-Shirts
State T-Shirts can be ordered only on the day of the A regional swim meet. Please bring cash or check to the A regional and check with the team table.State Swim Meet Hotels
A limited number of rooms are pre-reserved for CARS each year at state. These are available on a first come first server basis at the state swim meet. You must have a credit card to reserve the room.Why are my times different? Yards / Meters
The pools we swim at during the regular season vary in length. All times posted to the web site are converted to a time based on a meter length pool. When converting from a 25 yard pool multiply the time by 1.11.Team Party
Team registration includes the fee for your entire family to attend the team party each year. Check the schedule for exact date and time. Please RSVP promptly, so we can plan the party.Team Pictures
Watch the calendar for a date on when team pictures will be taken. Order forms will be available at practice or online the week of the pictures. When the pictures are ready they will be available in family folders.Board Positions
The CARS board is an all volunteer board made of parents and members of the Carrollton swim community. There is almost always a need for more members, please do not hesitate to contact a board member if you are interested in joining.Parent Expectations
Everything you need to know about CARS family rules - Parent ExpectationsRefunds
Full refunds will be granted to any parent/guardian/swimmer who submits a written request to be dropped from the team, to the President or Treasurer of CARS, prior to May 15th of the current swim year. NO refunds will be made after May 15th of the current swim year.More Questions? Please email us.
