🦈 IMPORTANT: Major Updates for the 2026 Sharks Season + Registration Info
Hi Shark Families,
I hope everyone is doing well and getting excited for another fun summer at the pool. As we get ready for the 2026 season, there are several important updates and changes I want to share. Please take a few minutes to read everything below so you’re fully up to date.
📅 Registration
- Returning Families: March 8
- New Stone Ridge Families: March 22
At this time, we are not planning to open registration to families outside Stone Ridge. If we end up having space, we will share that later.
🏠 Parent Meeting
Date: TBD – coming soon!
This meeting will be very important this year because of volunteer assignments and our new policies.
🆕 What’s New for 2026
I want to clearly outline what’s changing and why, so nothing is confusing when registration opens.
1. Kickboarder Age Adjustment
Kickboarders this year will be ages 5–7 only.
We will no longer accept 4-year-olds — they were simply just too young to keep up safely and confidently in a large group setting.
Also, we will no longer have 8-year-old Kickboarders.
And just to be extra clear:
All 8-year-olds need to be able to swim as at least a Little Shark.
This gives them the experience they need before the huge jump to 50s at age 9. The last few seasons, we’ve had several 8-year-olds in Kickboarders who struggled the next year when the distances doubled. This change is meant to support them, not stress them.
2. Registration Cost Changes
I want to be really honest with you about this:
We didn’t want to raise registration, but we have reached a point where we must.
Since COVID, the price of almost every supply and piece of meet equipment has gone up significantly. We’ve absorbed those increases for the past six seasons without adjusting registration enough to keep up.
And last year, we were hit with several big-ticket replacements:
- New lane lines
- New backstroke flag poles
- New flags
Even without those unexpected expenses, our normal annual costs have been rising substantially, but our income hasn’t kept pace. To keep the program healthy and sustainable, we have to make an adjustment.
New 2026 Fees
- Kickboarders: $200 EACH
SWIM TEAM:
- Swimmer 1: $250
- Swimmer 2: $225
- Swimmer 3+: $200
3. Volunteer Deposit – Please Read Carefully
We will be collecting a $500 volunteer check this season (this is a deposit only — as always, it will not be cashed if you complete your volunteer requirements).
New Policy:
All volunteer checks MUST be turned in at the Parent Meeting.
No exceptions.
The house drop-off system became a major issue the last few years — including people ringing doorbells at 11 PM. To protect the sanity of the families collecting checks, we are not doing that anymore. The Parent Meeting is the only place to drop off checks.
4. Volunteer Structure Change
This year, instead of signing up for random jobs each week, families will select a volunteer committee they’ll stay with for the season. This helps everyone feel trained, confident, and part of a team.
Committees will include:
- Timers
- Officials
- Events
- Concessions
- Chef helpers
You will sign up at the Parent Meeting. If you can’t attend, we’ll assign you a committee based on need.
5. Meet Participation Requirement
All swimmers must swim in at least two meets this season.
We’re a swim team — not swim lessons — and our practice space is limited. We need to use that space for swimmers who are planning to participate in meets.
6. New Team Suits for 2026
We will be introducing a new team suit and cap this summer. This will be the only one you can buy moving forward.
- 2026: You may still use the old suit/cap
- 2027: Everyone must have the new suit/cap
More info coming soon!
🏊 Evaluations
Sunday, April 12 at Propel
Times and specific details will be sent out as soon as they’re finalized.
🦈 A Personal Note
This will officially be my last season as President. I absolutely love this team and our community, and I’m not disappearing, but it’s time for others to step up so the Sharks continue to grow and thrive long after my kids age out. I’m grateful for all the support you’ve given over the years, and I can’t wait for one more amazing season together.
2026 Sharks Board & Leads
- President: Marianne Cornell
- Vice President: Kristina Patrick
- Secretary/Volunteers: Amelia Liu
- Treasurer: Mark Ziminsky
- Registration/Webmaster: Maureen Thaivalappil
- Head Referee: Ryan Mulholland
- Team Rep: John Evankovich
- Computer Operators: Geoff Schoppett & Marc Wergley
- Parent Liaison: Amanda Cherry
- Concessions: Brittany Webb
Thanks for reading all of this and for supporting the Sharks. More details and dates are coming soon, and I truly can’t wait to kick off the 2026 season.
Go Sharks! 🦈💙
Marianne Cornell
Stone Ridge Sharks President