Shady Hollow Stingrays
Season Overview & What to Expect
Everything families need to know about swim season -- from practices and meets to volunteering and Champs.
📍 3902 Capistrano Trail • Austin, TX 78739
About the Team
Who We Are
The Shady Hollow Stingrays are a volunteer-run summer swim team focused on friendly competition and personal growth. Our goal is for every child to become a more proficient swimmer while having a blast doing it. We compete in the Capital City Summer League (CCSL) alongside several teams.
The team is led by Head Coach Caitlin Elizondo, a longtime Stingray swimmer and returning coach who brings deep knowledge and enthusiasm to the pool deck.
Season at a Glance
How the Season Flows
The Stingray season runs roughly from late April through late June, wrapping up with the league-wide CCSL Champs meet.
| Late Apr / Early May |
Registration & Tryouts New swimmers try out; returning swimmers are automatically on the roster. |
| School Year |
Afternoon Practices Begin Practices are held Tuesday through Friday in the afternoon while school is in session. |
| Late May |
Practices Shift to Mornings Once school lets out, practices move to mornings and continue Tue–Fri through mid-to-late June. |
| Saturdays, May–Jun |
Weekly Swim Meets Meets are held Saturday mornings, home and away. Sign up for 1–3 individual events plus optional relay availability through SwimTopia by Thursday at noon. |
| Late June |
CCSL Champs 🏆 The season finale! Any swimmer with a legal time from a regular-season meet can compete. It's a celebration of improvement, team spirit, and personal bests. |
Race Day
What to Expect at a Swim Meet
Meet mornings are exciting, a little chaotic, and a lot of fun. Here's the rundown:
| ⏰ |
Arrive Early Meets start at 8 AM. Swimmers should arrive by 7:00–7:30 AM for warm-ups and relay check-in. Parent volunteer meeting is at 7:30. |
| ✍️ |
Marking Up Kids get their event, heat, and lane numbers written on their arms in permanent marker. "Zookeepers" can help, or learn to do it yourself with the heat sheet. |
| 🎉 |
Weekly Themes Each meet has a fun spirit theme: Blue Out, Star Wars, Hawaiian, Superhero, and more. Dress up and show your Stingray pride! |
| 🏅 |
Ribbons & Results Ribbons for top-6 finishers and personal-best times are available the Tue/Wed after each meet. Check the ribbons box for your swimmer's folder. |
| 🏊 |
Relays Relay teams are built automatically from the fastest available swimmers. Indicate relay availability when signing up and check the heat sheet before the meet. |
| 🍔 |
Fuel Up Right Good dinner the night before with plenty of carbs. Light breakfast: cereal, banana, or energy bar. Water and fruit juice are best; skip sugary drinks. |
🎵 What to Bring on Meet Day
Team swim suit, goggles (plus a backup pair), swim cap if desired, towel, sunscreen, water bottle, healthy snacks, a chair or blanket for the family, and any theme accessories. Label everything!
Getting Better Every Day
Practice
Practices run for 30 minutes after school and summer mornings Tuesday through Friday at the Shady Hollow pool — a 5-lane, 25-meter short course. Swimmers just need goggles and a towel. If your swimmer plans to race that week, coaches recommend attending at least 2 practices.
It Takes a Village
Volunteering
The Stingrays are a 100% volunteer-run team. Home meets need around 140 parent volunteers and away meets need about 80. When you sign your swimmer up for a meet, sign yourself up to volunteer too; it's an expectation, and it puts you closer to the action.
Roles include timers, stroke & turn judges, ready bench, computers, ribbons, concessions, hospitality, and more. To sign up, click the green "Job Signup" button when entering your swimmer for a meet.
Your Family, Your Pace
Flexibility & Vacations
Summer is busy: camps, vacations, family trips. We get it. You can participate at whatever level works for your family. Again, if you plan to race on Saturday we recommend attending at least 2 practices ! You get out of it what you put in.
Grand Finale
CCSL Champs
The season wraps with the league-wide CCSL Championship Meet. Any swimmer who has recorded a legal time in a regular-season meet is encouraged to compete — not just the medal contenders. Champs is a celebration of every swimmer's progress. To swim on a relay at Champs, swimmers must also enter at least one individual event.
New Family Quick Start
Your Season Checklist
| ✓ | Complete registration on SwimTopia |
| ✓ | Attend the New Parent Orientation |
| ✓ | Get a team swim suit & goggles |
| ✓ | Label all gear (goggles, suit, towel) |
| ✓ | Check the practice schedule for your age group |
| ✓ | Sign up for meets by Thursday at noon |
| ✓ | Volunteer for a meet-day position |
| ✓ | Join the Stingrays Facebook group |
| ✓ | Check out weekly meet themes |
| ✓ | Have an amazing season! |
🦈 Feel the Sting!
Questions? Reach out to any board member, check the SwimTopia page for details, or connect with the team on Facebook. We're so glad you're here. Let's make this a summer to remember!
Shady Hollow Stingrays
3902 Capistrano Trail • Austin, TX 78739
