Hello OBST parents seasoned and new,

I am so happy to welcome our families to the Orange Beach Swim Team this Fall 2026! Many of you just completed a successful Summer, enjoyed a little break, and are chomping at the bit to start the new (swim) year.

We have a great season ahead that meshes the high school season, early qualifying competitions, goal-setting, team camaraderie, holiday fun and more!

Please know that monthly newsletters will be delivered via my city e-mail address or through SwimTopia throughout the season. If you are not receiving regular information, please check your spam folder and let me know ASAP.

I'd like to ask families to please be prepared to follow a couple of important procedures upon arrival to the pool on your swimmer's first day of practice this Monday, August 10th. 

1. FACILITY ENTRY (PICK-UP & DROP-OFF)
When arriving at the pool, athletes need to be signed into the aquatics center. If your athlete is under the age of 14, an approved member from your drop-off/pick-up list (completed during registration) will need to accompany them. Athletes 14+ are able to sign themselves into the facility. The same procedure applies for pick-up.

If your athlete attends the Orange Beach Elementary School and/or attends EE after practice, we offer a member of the coaching/aquatics center staff to pick-up student-athletes at the OBES crosswalk and walk them over to the facility for practice. The coach or employee will sign-in your swimmer. I do communicate with the school and provide a list of those on the swim team, however, it is extremely beneficial if you inform OBES/EE as well. Please tell Principal Hart or your child's teacher to release them as walkers at dismissal. 

If your athlete is in the Expect Excellence afterschool program, the EE counselors will sign your swimmer in/out of their program. Parents are responsible for informing EE about their children's activities. 

2. SWIMTOPIA (TEAM WEBSITE) & SLACK APP
If you are a new swim family, the e-mail you registered with should have received a notice from SwimTopia asking you to create/complete your account. If you haven't done so, please do so as this is the platform we utilize to host our website, manage RSVPs for competitions and events, publish monthly newsletters, etc. I recommend downloading the app and enabling notifications to ensure you stay updated; however, the app is not necessary. You can access everything the app offers through the web.

In addition to SwimTopia, we have been utilizing the communication app called "Slack". You should also have received an invitation to collaborate with OBST in your inbox. Once you join Slack, I will be alerted and ensure you are a member of your swimmer's appropriate group. This allows all of us to communicate quickly for more urgent needs (i.e. lightning, sickness, cancellations, etc.) without exchanging cell phone numbers. My door is always open, please feel free to use my cell contact if necessary, Slack just makes things a bit easier as our team grows.

I suggest downloading Meet Mobile as well. USA Swimming will report competition events and results on this platform in real time. If your child is a USAS athlete, you will frequently use Meet Mobile for digital heat sheets and swim meet results. There is an annual subscription.

3. EQUIPMENT NEEDS
I kindly ask that efforts are made to have all required equipment in-hand by the third week after joining the team (in other words, a two-week grace period is offered). All kickboards and pull buoys are available onsite at our facility for athlete use. As for fins, snorkels, etc. it is acceptable to purchase gear from your brand of choice, however, Arena is preferred.

We partner with Agon Sport for the ordering and distributing of swim suits & apparel. Otherwise, you may purchase equipment through SwimOutlet or another retailer of your choice. Those links are provided on SwimTopia and in the handbook.

Additionally, t-shirts and caps are available for purchase at our facility's front desk.

BLUE
OBST cap, goggles, training suit, OBST meet suit, short blade fins, mesh bag, water bottle

ORANGE
OBST cap, goggles, training suit, OBST meet suit, short blade fins, training snorkel, fingertip paddles, mesh bag, water bottle

JUNIOR
OBST cap, goggles, training suit, OBST meet suit, tech suit (optional), short blade fins, training snorkel, fingertip and/or hand paddles, ankle band, mesh bag, water bottle

SENIOR
OBST cap, goggles, training suit, OBST meet suit, tech suit (optional), short blade fins, training snorkel, fingertip and/or hand paddles, ankle band, mesh bag, water bottle

4. USA SWIMMING MEMBERSHIP
For those of you who are not familiar, in the competitive swimming world, the year is broken into two seasons: short course or 25 yards (Sept-March) and long course or 50 meters (April-August). Therefore, a new swim year begins on September 1st in the eyes of USA Swimming. I mention this because many of our athletes are USAS members and compete year-round. 

During the Fall, all of our swimmers can still participate in rec-level meets when offered, however, my goal is to steer athletes toward and grow our USAS presence. If your swimmer is a year-round athlete, you must establish or renew their USAS membership ON OR AFTER September 1st to compete in 2026-2027 meets. If you establish or renew before 9/1, that transaction will be considered 2025-2026 registration and you will have to pay again. 

To attach to OBST under USA Swimming membership, please visit this link (again, ON OR AFTER September 1st):
https://omr.usaswimming.org/omr/welcome/ED964C6195E8CC

In lieu of a parent meeting, I will gladly make myself available at the facility through 7 p.m. on Monday if anyone, especially new families, would like to discuss anything further or ask questions. 

Furthermore, all of the above is available on our website under the "About" tab in our official handbook. I have also attached it here for easy reference. 

I look forward to seeing everyone! Go makos! :)