Welcome to the

LMYA Dolphins Swim Team

Annual Parent Meeting

March 18, 2026

LMYA Parent Meeting 2026

• Welcome
• Team Philosophy
• Coaching Staff & Coaching Philosophy
• Meet & Practice Schedules
• Gutter Guppy Program
• Leadership Team
• “County” - our primary fundraiser
• Parent & Job Responsibilities
• Team Suits & Spirit Wear

(Short Break)

• Swim Team Basics - What you need to know
• Questions

LMYA Team Philosophy

• LMYA is a recreational competitive swim team

celebrating 60+ years!

• Commitment and success are what you make it.
• All athletes have the opportunity to participate and learn the fundamentals of swimming – the only requirement is that they can swim.
• No specific practice or meet attendance requirement. We encourage swimmers to attend as many workouts as possible to get the most out of the program.
• Swimmers are encouraged to communicate with their coaches.
• Coaches choose individual strokes for meets with input from Swimmers; Coaches also select relays and IMs.

LMYA Coaching Staff

Head Coach: Mackenzie Curtis

Assistant Coach/Gutter Guppy Coordinator: Heidi Farr

Assistant Coaches:

Keaton Curtis Claudia Dumais

Giulia Dumais Lucy Maguire

Mason Mak Avery Yasukochi

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Junior Coaches:

Past and present LMYA swim team members.

LMYA Coaching Philosophy

• We want LMYA to be a place where anyone at ANY level feels like they can be welcomed into a team full of good people and excellent swimmers
• As coaches we want to see your child succeed in whatever way that means for them
• it is our job to help guide and shape them to achieve that success
• we want all swimmers to understand and know what it means to race and compete in the sport but have the freedom to choose what they want out of the season
• We want to help support swimmers both in and out of the water
• swimming has a huge mental component to it, especially with competition, so as coaches we want to focusing on developing positive self-talk, mindfulness, and mental toughness throughout the season as well

LMYA Coaching Philosophy

• We want to provide a well-rounded approach to swimming when it comes to training, but still allowing us to meet swimmers where they are (both technique & endurance)
• we plan to group swimmers based on what kind of training they need to focus on while still having the same overall practice approach day to day
• We’re big on being kind to one another, how to be a good teammate, & work hard all at the same time
• We are always striving to learn and grow as coaches and believe there is always something new to learn or try to better support the team as a whole

2026 Meet Schedule

All on website under the 2026 Swim Season Tab

2026 Practice Schedule

All on website under the 2026 Swim Season Tab

May 4 to May 7 - Mon - Thu (first week only)

6 and under 4:30 - 5:00 PM

7/8 5:00 - 5:45 PM

9-12 5:30 - 6:30 PM

13 and up 5:30 - 6:30 PM

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May 10 to May 28 - Mon - Thu

6 and under 5:15 - 5:45 PM

7/8 5:45 - 6:30 PM

9-12 6:30 - 7:30 PM

13 and up 7:00 - 8:00 PM

2026 Practice Schedule

All on website under the 2026 Swim Season Tab

June 2 to July 25 - Mon - Fri

Mornings (Mon to Fri):

6 and under 10:45 - 11:15 AM

7/8 10:00 - 10:45 AM

9-12 9:00 - 10:00 AM

13 and up 8:15 - 9:45 AM

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Evenings (only Mon, Tues & Thurs):

10 and under 6:30 - 7:30 PM

11 and up 6:30 - 7:30 PM

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Option to swim morning or evening practices, but not both.

• The goal is to have our guppies confidently swimming by the end of the summer. Most years we have numerous kids "graduate" to the team after a few weeks of the program, others need the whole length of the program, and some return to the program for a multitude of reasons.
• Guppy-to-coach ratio & how to pair coach with guppy.
• Level progression: beginner, intermediate, advanced.
• Content is relatively the same (freestyle progression), just with less assistance as they level up.
• Bubble jumps, kickboard, streamline, superman, superman catch up - into freestyle with starfish breath, & seated dives (half way & back).
• Advanced group introduces side breathing - test out with one FULL lap (wall to wall) unassisted without grabbing side wall or lane line.

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2026 Gutter Guppy Program

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2026 Gutter Guppy Program

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• Key points to coaching guppies:
• #1 is to respect the parents’ wishes (specifically when the child is unsure about the water… example Murphy vs. Penny & Gus).
• Challenging the swimmer to get out of their comfort zone, while also being comforted at the same time; reassurance, encouragement, “positivity sandwich” and have FUN!
• The child will progress at their own rate. Factors to consider - muscle mass/endurance, ability to be brave AND trust not only themselves, but their coaches as well.
• Weekly emailed progress updates:
• Last year vs. this year.
• Weekly check ins with junior coaches for optimal coaching support.

LMYA Leadership Team

Team Directors: Kat McCall & Stu Wong

Treasurer: Dennis Heinke

Parent Jobs: Milly Fan (+1 to help with Personnel)

Meet Directors: Heather Fivey and Neeraj Baheti

Stroke & Turn: OPEN

Concessions: OPEN

Set-up / Take Down Head: Jamie Punjabi

Starter: Chris Curtis

Spirit / Social: Christina Iglesia and Sarah Gardner

Achievement: Sausha Nguyen

Graphic Arts: Andrew Lin

Timing Systems/Desk: OPEN

Head Shepard: OPEN

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“County” �Contra Costa County Swim Championships�60+ years and counting… LMYA Swim’s primary fundraiser

LMYA County Meet Team

County Meet Director - Jeff Miller

Assistant Meet Director - Kate Scharf

Awards - Alexis Gough

Hospitality - Jessica Sultan

Fundraising and Vendors - Elly Amiri

Program - Andrew Lin

Parent Responsibilities: �Safety, Facilities & Sportsmanship

• Kids MUST be able to swim 25 yards in deep water without assistance.
• On-deck safety: no “wheels”, no running/pushing, children must be supervised and not left alone, etc.
• No pets & No alcohol per our agreement with AUHSD and your signed agreement at registration – the district has the facility under video surveillance.
• Respect the on-deck equipment: No playing with water polo balls, showers, lane ropes, ladders, disability devices, etc.
• Set a positive example and show positive encouragement.

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Parent Job Participation

• Our team is run on PARENT POWER – it takes a VILLAGE!
• Parent Participation Requirement:
• 5-8 regular meet jobs + 1 Conference job + 2 County job
• We may ask for additional help throughout season!

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• Buyout Options (may not be available to all who request)
• Regular season and conference (not County): $1,300
• County Meet only (August 3rd and 4th): $700
• Both: $2,000

Parent Job Sign-ups

• ALL PARENT JOB SIGN-UPS will open April 14th at 11:00 am and close Sunday, April 28th at 11:00am.

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• Plan ahead: Look at the meet schedule and type of jobs you might be interested in…
• Sign into your account, choose the event dates you want to work, select job and complete the signup process.
• Do NOT sign up for specialty (restricted) roles.
• Available roles include timers, set-up/take down, check-in, shepherd.
• We will send step by step procedures on how to sign up for jobs.
• After the job signup deadline passes, families who have not signed up for jobs will not be allowed to attend practices or meets until all jobs are scheduled.

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• Open specialty team jobs (Front Row Seat Action):
• Stroke & Turn – Training will be provided in person. This training is mandatory. We need 4-5 more people.
• Desk – Training will be provided. Only work home meets and County. We 1-2 people.

Team Suits

Team Spirit Wear

T-shirts, hats, sweatshirts, parkas and more

Special this year: Lululemon full zip scuba hoodies and Kuiu Base Camp jackets

Look for our LMYA Merch Store - coming in May!

Recommended Training Equipment

"The coaches have requested that these training equipment items be brought to practice daily.

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It is NOT mandatory, but HIGHLY recommended.

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The more you put in, the more you get out! Thank you!"

BREAK

• Please stay if you are new to the LMYA swim team or need a refresher!
• Swim Team 101 to follow…

Swim Team 101: Meets!

• Meets are held Wednesdays and most weekends in June - July
• Types of Meets:
• Time Trials (LMYA only, initial seed times/practice meet).
• Dual/Tri Meets (either home or away with 1 or 2 other teams).
• Invitational Meets (may require entry fee, longer duration: 1-2 days).
• Conference Championship Meet (7/25-7/26: ALL participate).
• Contra Costa County Meet (8/1-8/2: Qualifiers participate).
• Meet sign-ups are done through SportsEngine (Team Unify)
• Select the meet/event, “declare” your participation.
• Coaches will select swimmer/event and relay entries.
• Watch for emails and event information about Entry deadlines. We cannot accommodate late entries.

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Swim Team 101: Day of the Meet!

• Print meet program at home before meet.
• Arrive on time; set-up in LMYA designated area.
• MARK your swimmers hand BEFORE meet.
• RELAYS, RELAYS, RELAYS!! – SHOW UP.
• Listen for the cowbell for 8 and unders.
• Bring caps, goggles, MANY towels, swim parka / sweatshirts / jackets, chairs, games, tent, healthy snacks, sharpie, highlighter.

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Swim Team 101: Communication!

• All communication done via email. Please read the emails.
• We work to only send emails relevant to you. If you are registered for a meet you will not receive a reminder to register.

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THANK YOU FOR COMING!

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teamdirector@lmyaswim.com – Kat McCall and Stu Wong

parentjobs@lmyaswim.com – Milly Fan

coaches@lmyaswim.com – All coaches

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