How to Register with USA Swimming for 2026 (and the remainder of 2025)

September calendar Labor Day : September 1st No practice. Monday/Wednesday Aquanauts and Bronze can swim a make up practice on Tuesday, September 2nd. Music City IMX: September 13th-14th (Registration deadline: September 5th) Macon, GA. Open to all Bronze, Silver, JV, Varsity, Gold, Teal & Black, as well as Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced homeschool. OST Fall Invite: September 20th-21st (Registration deadline: September 11th) Opelika, AL. Open to all Bronze, Silver, JV, Varsity, Gold, Teal & Black, as well as Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced homeschool. FST Mentor Meet/Block Party: September 27th Macon, GA. All Aquanauts, Bronze, Silver, and JV swimmers are invited to participate. Gold, Varsity, Teal & Black are encouraged to attend as timers/cheerleaders. 

August calendar Return to Swim - Important Dates : Training resumes the week of August 11th, Monday - Friday. Gold, Teal, Black, and Homeschool return to school-year schedule (Click here for Warner Robins, here for Macon). Dryland resumes the week of August 18th Saturday training resumes Saturday, September 6th Parent Meeting: August 21st Held via Zoom at 8:00 PM. Quick orientation meeting, season planning, and Captyn site walk-through. Details will be sent via email the week of the meeting. Fitter & Faster Freestyle and Backstroke Clinic: August 23rd-24th Warner Robins, GA. See more details at the following links: Click here for 9-12, click here for 13&O FST Mentor Meet: August 29th (Registration deadline: August 25th) Warner Robins, GA. All Aquanauts, Bronze, Silver, and JV swimmers are invited to participate. Gold, Varsity, Teal & Black are encouraged to attend as timers/cheerleaders. A Note from the Coach: 2025-2026 short course season The break is over and it's time to get to work! The days away from the pool weren't just rest, they are an important part of the training cycle. Breaks give swimmers a chance to recover physically, recharge mentally, and return with fresh energy for the new season and new challenges ahead. We've got big goals, fast swimming, and plenty of fun in store. Be sure to bring your focus, grit, and team-spirit from day one! Read more about the training cycles at this link . UPCOMING EVENTS Click here for the full short-course season schedule. Music City IMX Macon, GA September 13th-14th Opelika Fall Invite Opelika, AL September 20th-21st ...see more Committee Corner: Officials Want to get more involved in the sport? Become a USA Swimming official. We promise it's fun! Our team needs new officials! Officiating is a great way to make new friends, learn more about the sport, and support your swimmer! Start the process at this link , or email Amanda for more details and help getting started. U.S. Masters Swimming Parents: Do you love swimming and wish you could train and compete with a team? Our Masters team in Warner Robins is growing, and looking to add new team members! Email masters@wraswim.com for more details.

July calendar Independence Day Weekend: July 3rd - 5th July 3rd - No dryland for the Warner Robins training groups July 4th - Practice at 8:00, in Macon (All Advanced Homeschool, Varsity, Gold, Teal and Black) July 5th - Practice at 8:00, in Macon (All Teal and Black, as well as eligible Adv Homeschool, Varsity, and Gold) GCAT Last Chance: July 11th-12th (Registration deadline: July 1st) Savannah, GA. Long Course Meet, open to JV, Silver, Varsity, Gold, Teal and Black. SGSL Championship: July 13th (Registration deadline: June 7th) Macon, GA. Short Course. Open to all FST swimmers, but geared toward our Aquanaut, Bronze, Silver, and JV swimmers - this is a fun opportunity for short course racing! Age Group State Championship: July 17th-20th* (Registration deadline: July 6th) Columbus, GA. Prelim/Final long course meet. This meet has qualifying time standards (see 10&Under and B cuts here ). Swimmers who qualify at GCAT Last Chance or SGSL Championships will be permitted to sign up on July 13th. Senior State Championship: July 24th-27th* (Registration deadline: July 14th) Columbus, GA. Prelim/Final long course meet. This meet has qualifying time standards . Swimmers who qualify at Age Group State will be permitted to sign up on July 20th. Annual End-of-Season Break: July 25th-August 10th No practices. Training will resume the week of August 11th! A Note from the Coach: CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON STARTS WITH THE BASICS July is not for the faint of heart! Between last chance meets, state championships, and regional competitions, athletes are pushing their limits, and that means the basics matter more than ever. Sleep: Recovery starts at night. Aim for 8–10 hours of quality sleep to support muscle repair, focus, and performance. Hydration: With temps soaring, dehydration can hit fast. Keep a water bottle nearby all day, not just at practice, and replenish electrolytes after hard sets. Nutrition: Fuel your body like you expect it to perform. Prioritize whole foods, balanced meals, and post-practice recovery snacks to keep energy high and inflammation low. No Shortcuts: Energy drinks and caffeinated beverages are not a replacement for sleep, hydration, or real nutrition. They can mask fatigue, but they don’t fix it, and they can put your health and performance at risk. Success in July starts with what you do outside of the pool. Take care of the little things. Your performance depends on it! This month we are entering cycle 4 of our season. Read more about the training cycles at this link . UPCOMING EVENTS Click here for the full long-course season schedule . Fitter & Faster Freestyle & Backstroke Clinic August 23rd & 24th Our short-course season calendar will be published soon! ...see more Committee Corner: Officials Want to get more involved in the sport? Become a USA Swimming official. We promise it's fun! Our team needs additional Admin Officials, as well as new stroke and turn judges. Officiating is a great way to make new friends, learn more about the sport, and support your swimmer! Start the process at this link , or email Amanda for more details and help getting started. U.S. Masters Swimming Parents: Do you love swimming and wish you could train and compete with a team? Our Masters team in Warner Robins is growing, and looking to add new team members! Email masters@wraswim.com for more details.

June calendar Junior Jag: June 6th-7th (Registration closed) Augusta, GA. Long Course Meet, open to Varsity, Gold, Teal and Black. SGSL Tidal Wave Splash: June 14th (Registration deadline: June 7th) Tifton, GA. Short Course. Open to all FST swimmers, but geared toward our Aquanaut, Bronze, Silver, and JV swimmers - this is a fun opportunity for short course racing! Juneteenth: June 19th Macon: All afternoon/evening groups will practice as usual. Teal & Black will practice from 8:00-10:00 (dryland at 7:20) Warner Robins: The aquatic center will be closed. See practice adjustments below. Gold/Teal/Black/Homeschool - Practice at usual times, in Macon Silver/JV/Varsity - Practice at usual times, in Macon Bronze: T/Th Bronze will have a make up practice on Wednesday, June 18th, at 7:15 PM Aquanauts: T/Th Aquanauts will have a make up practice on Wednesday, June 18th, at 5:30 PM. FST June Invite: June 27th-29th* (Registration deadline: June 19th) Warner Robins, GA. Prelim/Final long course meet. Open to all Intermediate & Advanced Homeschool, JV, Silver, Varsity, Gold, Teal & Black swimmers, as well as 10&Under Bronze and Aquanauts who have previously attended a meet (this is not an appropriate first-meet for new swimmers) sWIM LESSONS: Our summer lesson program is off to a great start in Macon! For those who don't know, FST is now a SwimAmerica Swim School. Swim America is a nationally-recognized curriculum, developed by top swim coaches at ASCA (American Swim Coaches Association). The curriculum is safety and technique focused, proven to help develop strong, confident swimmers. Classes are structured around 10 skill-based stations, and each swimmer is allowed to advance through the stations at their own pace. Class sizes are small, with an average 1:4 instructor-to-student ratio, so every swimmer gets the attention they deserve. Shout out to our awesome instructors who are dedicating their summer to teaching middle Georgia to Swim! Swimming is such an important life-skill, and we are excited to offer lessons to the community. If you know any aspiring swimmers, ages 4-15, please check out the information on the Group Lessons page of our website, or register at the link below. Our upcoming sessions start on June 16th and July 7th. Group lesson registration If you have any questions about our lesson program, please email Amanda at admin@swimfst.com A Note from the Coach: Why Racing Matters in Our Training Cycle We’re deep into our long course training cycle, and with three long-course meets already behind us (Warner Robins IMR/IMX, the Opelika Invite, and the FST LC Invite), it’s time to zoom out and talk about the why behind what we do: Specifically, why meet attendance is a crucial part of the training process, not an optional add-on. WE NEED TO PRACTICE RACING Meets aren’t just a reward for hard work, they are part of the hard work. Racing often throughout the season, especially when tired, teaches skills you simply cannot master in practice: learning how to pace under pressure, managing adrenaline, starting strong, finishing stronger, and adapting in real time. These are racing skills, and they are built through repetition. We don’t expect swimmers to go best times at every meet. In fact, the early part of our training cycle is designed to challenge athletes mentally and physically. We’re building a base, grinding it out, and laying the groundwork for peak performance later in the season. Time Comparisons: SEASON OVER SEASON When evaluating progress, the right question isn’t, “Did I go a best time?" It’s, “How am I doing at this point in the season compared to the same time last year?” If last May’s 100 Free was 1:10 and this May’s was 1:08, you’re right on track. We’re not trying to peak in May or June. We’re training through fatigue with July in our sights. So, keep perspective. We want to see seasonal progression, not a constant string of personal records. UPCOMING MEET SCHEDULE: Here’s what’s left on our summer calendar: June 6-8 - ASL Junior Jag (Augusta) June 14 - SGSL Block Party (Tifton, SCY) June 27-29 - FST LC P/F Invite (Warner Robins) July 11-12 - GCAT Last Chance (Savannah) July 13 - SGSL Championship (Macon, SCY) July 17-20 - Age Group State (Columbus) July 24-27 - Senior State (Athens) Spotlight: GCAT Last Chance - Not Just a “Last Chance” The GCAT Last Chance Meet (July 11-12) is more than its name suggests. It’s important for everyone: Your Season Finale: For many, it’s your last swim of the season - your shot to race hard and walk away proud. Your Last Opportunity to Qualify: If you’re close to State cuts, this meet matters a lot. It’s the final window to punch that ticket. Your Final Tune-Up: If you’re already going to State, GCAT is your race rehearsal. You check in on your body, your mindset, and your race strategy one more time. remember this: Training matters. The meets matter. The attitudes matter. Let’s stay locked in, show up, and keep the big picture in focus. Let’s train with purpose, race often, and trust the process. We’re building something here - one swim, one meet, one step at a time. -Coach Wes This month we are in cycle 2 and entering cycle 3. Read more about the training cycles at this link . UPCOMING EVENTS Click here for the full long-course season schedule . GCAT Last Chance Savannah July 11-12 SGSL Championship Macon July 13 ...see more Committee Corner: Officials Want to get more involved in the sport? Become a USA Swimming official. We promise it's fun! Our team needs additional Admin Officials, as well as new stroke and turn judges. Officiating is a great way to make new friends, learn more about the sport, and support your swimmer! Start the process at this link , or email Amanda for more details and help getting started. U.S. Masters Swimming Parents: Do you love swimming and wish you could train and compete with a team? Our Masters team in Warner Robins is growing, and looking to add new team members! Email masters@wraswim.com for more details.

MAY calendar OST Long Course Invite: May 3rd-4th (Registration closed) Opelika, AL. Long Course Meet, open to Varsity, Gold, Teal and Black, as well as 12&Under Silver and Bronze swimmers. FST Lifeguard Certification & Recertification: May 16th - 18th* (Registration deadline: May 11th) Macon, GA. Red Cross lifeguard certification & recertification course. Participants must be 15 or older. See details and register here . SGSL Block Party: May 23rd (Registration deadline: May 19th) Macon, GA. Short Course. Our first South Georgia Summer League meet of the season! Open to all FST swimmers, but geared toward our Aquanaut, Bronze, Silver, and JV swimmers. This meet will require USA registration (more details tba via email). Memorial Day: May 26th No practice. Enjoy your day off! FST Long Course Invite: May 30th - June 1st (Registration deadline: May 23rd) Warner Robins, GA. Long Course meet. All Intermediate & Advanced Homeschool, JV, Silver, Varsity, Gold, Teal & Black swimmers are encouraged to attend. summer schedule updates: Starting the week of Memorial Day, some training groups will switch to our Summer Training schedules. Please review the schedule for your site at the links below to see if/how your group is affected: Warner Robins summer schedule Macon summer schedule For the remainder of May: Teal, Black, Gold, and Varsity athletes from our Macon location will continue to have the option of attending Friday practices in Macon or long course practices in Warner Robins. All Saturday practices will continue to be held in Warner Robins for the duration of the long course season. As indicated on the schedules above, once we switch to the summer schedule, ALL Friday and Saturday practices will be held in Warner Robins. If you have any questions about the schedule, please email Amanda at admin@swimfst.com A Note from the Coach: Helpful Meet Tips for Swim Parents Swim meets are a great opportunity for athletes to test their skills, gain experience, and build confidence. As a parent, you can help make that experience even more positive with a few simple habits: Be a cheerleader. Celebrate their effort, not just the outcome. A “great job for getting out there and racing hard!” can go a long way toward helping swimmers feel proud of themselves—regardless of the time on the scoreboard. Model calm, healthy reactions. Some helpful things parents often say after races include: “I loved watching you swim.” “You looked strong on that last 50!” “What did you think about the race?” “I’m proud of how hard you’re working.” Let the coaches handle the coaching. After a race, we consider what went well, what can be improved, and whether it’s the right time to focus on both—or just reinforce the positives. That timing is important. When swimmers get feedback from too many directions, it can be confusing and overwhelming. Support good choices. Help swimmers stay fueled, hydrated, and rested throughout the meet weekend. Encourage them to check in with their coach and stay focused between events—but also to enjoy their teammates and the fun of competition. This month, we are wrapping up cycle 1 and entering cycle 2. Read more about the training cycles at this link . UPCOMING EVENTS Click here for a tentative long-course season schedule. Junior Jag Augusta June 6-8 ...see more Committee Corner: Officials Want to get more involved in the sport? Become a USA Swimming official. Our team needs as many officials as possible to run successful meets! Start the process at this link , or email Amanda for more details and help getting started. U.S. Masters Swimming Parents: Do you love swimming and wish you could train and compete with a team? Our Masters team in Warner Robins is growing, and looking to add new team members! Email masters@wraswim.com for more details.

April calendar Spring Break: March 28th - April 4th* Warner Robins & Macon. No practices for any groups. Enjoy your break - we will see you back at practice the week of April 6th! FST Lifeguard Certification & Recertification: April 11th - 13th* (Registration deadline: April 7th) Macon, GA. Red Cross lifeguard certification & recertification course. Participants must be 15 or older. See details and register here . FST will be hiring Lifeguard and Swim Lesson instructors for our summer lessons in Macon, and Red Cross certification is required. Don't miss out on this fun summer work opportunity! *Additional certification courses are also being scheduled for May 16-18. FST Long Course IMX Meet: April 26th - 27th (Registration deadline: April 21st) Warner Robins, GA. Long Course meet. All Intermediate & Advanced Homeschool, JV, Silver, Varsity, Gold, Teal & Black swimmers are encouraged to attend, to obtain your IMX for long course season. spring fitter & faster clinic: fly & breast We are excited to share that we will be welcoming back our friends at Fitter & Faster for a Fast Butterfly & Breaststroke Technique Swim Camp on April 12 & 13 at the Tommy Stalnaker Aquatic Center. As the hosts, our team has the first opportunity to register for spots. Please use the links below to sign up as soon as possible. Learning from one of their elite clinicians will be an inspiring way for swimmers to kick off April. We highly recommend taking advantage of this opportunity if you’re able to. There will be two sessions available: one for swimmers ages 9-12 and another for ages 13 & over. The curriculum each day will be: April 12: Fast Butterfly Technique April 13: Fast Breaststroke Technique Ages 12 & under: CLICK HERE for details and registration Ages 13 & over: CLICK HERE for details and registration If you have any questions about the clinic email Michael Plantamura at Mplanty@fitterandfaster.com and he will help you out. A Note from the Coach: This year's Divisional Meet was a lot of fun, and we are so proud of our team, both for your effort/performance and for your Team Spirit! As we start training for long course, we will be focusing on goal-setting. Be on the lookout for your goal-setting forms, and in the meantime, watch the video from legendary Coach Bob Bowman found at the bottom of this news post. Read more about the training cycles at this link . UPCOMING EVENTS Click here for a tentative long-course season schedule. OST Long-Course Invite Opelika May 3-4 ...see more Committee Corner: Officials Want to get more involved in the sport? Become a USA Swimming official. Our team needs as many officials as possible to run successful meets! Start the process at this link , or email Amanda for more details and help getting started. U.S. Masters Swimming Parents: Do you love swimming and wish you could train and compete with a team? Our Masters team in Warner Robins is growing, and looking to add new team members! Email masters@wraswim.com for more details.

Award Ceremony - April 6th

March calendar Southeastern Meet of Champions: March 6th-9th (Registration closed) August, GA. Sectional-level competition with qualifying standards . Southern Divisional Championships: March 14th-16th (Registration closed) Columbus, GA. Our biggest meet of the year - we can't wait to see you all there! Spirit Week details are below: Monday: Blackout Day - Wear all black to show our power and intensity! Tuesday: 80x/90s - Go retro with your best throwback looks - think neon, scrunchies, windbreakers and band tees! Wednesday: Wacky Tacky Wednesday - Mismatched, loud and wild - wear your craziest combo! Thursday: Crazy Sock Swap - Bring a pair of crazy (new) socks and swap with a teammate. Spirit Days at the meet: Saturday: 80x/90s (Round 2): Bring back the retro vibes on deck! Sunday: Blackout & Crazy Socks: Wear all black AND show off the crazy socks you got in the sock swap!* *Crazy socks are a fun choice all weekend!! FST Mentor Meet: March 21st (Registration deadline: March 19th) Warner Robins, GA. All Aquanauts, Bronze, Silver, and JV swimmers are invited to participate. Gold, Varsity, Teal & Black are encouraged to attend as timers/cheerleaders. FST Lifeguard Certification & Recertification: March 28th - 30th* (Registration deadline: March 21st) Macon, GA. Red Cross lifeguard certification & recertification course. Participants must be 15 or older. See details and register here . FST will be hiring Lifeguard and Swim Lesson instructors for our summer lessons in Macon, and Red Cross certification is required. Don't miss out on this fun summer work opportunity! *Additional certification courses are also being scheduled for April 11-13 and May 16-18. Spring Break: March 28th - April 4th* Warner Robins & Macon. No practices for any groups. Enjoy your break - we will see you back at practice the week of April 6th! spring fitter & faster clinic: fly & breast We are excited to share that we will be welcoming back our friends at Fitter & Faster for a Fast Butterfly & Breaststroke Technique Swim Camp on April 12 & 13 at the Tommy Stalnaker Aquatic Center. As the hosts, our team has the first opportunity to register for spots. Please use the links below to sign up as soon as possible. Learning from one of their elite clinicians will be an inspiring way for swimmers to kick off April. We highly recommend taking advantage of this opportunity if you’re able to. There will be two sessions available: one for swimmers ages 9-12 and another for ages 13 & over. The curriculum each day will be: April 12: Fast Butterfly Technique April 13: Fast Breaststroke Technique Ages 12 & under: CLICK HERE for details and registration Ages 13 & over: CLICK HERE for details and registration If you have any questions about the clinic email Michael Plantamura at Mplanty@fitterandfaster.com and he will help you out.  A Note from the Coach: This subject is very important with our upcoming Divisional Meet. Your food is your fuel and proper hydration is vital during meet weekends. Equally as important is the food you consume, and when you consume it. Don't let a season's worth of hard training be negated by what you do or don't eat at a meet. There is a wealth of great information available on the Nutrition & Wellness section of the the SwimStrong dryland site. When preparing for Divisionals, pay attention to the "Swim Meets" category. This is also a fantastic resource to use throughout the season. Take a look around and find tips for achieving peak performance through proper nutrition! At this point in the season, we are continuing to focus on: Being consistent in practice attendance Improving technique and building endurance through the effort put forth in practice Gaining race experience and developing racing strategies through meet participation Having a positive attitude at all times and learning to overcome adversity Read more about the training cycles at this link . UPCOMING EVENTS Click here for a tentative long-course season schedule. Long Course IMR/IMX Warner Robins April 26-27 OST Long-Course Invite Opelika May 3-4 ...see more Committee Corner: Officials Want to get more involved in the sport? Become a USA Swimming official. Our team needs as many officials as possible to run successful meets! Start the process at this link , or email Amanda for more details and help getting started. U.S. Masters Swimming Parents: Do you love swimming and wish you could train and compete with a team? Our Masters team in Warner Robins is growing, and looking to add new team members! Email masters@wraswim.com for more details.