Greenville Country Club

GUPPY PARENT INFORMATION 2026

Welcome to Guppies!!

Guppies is a month long FUN intro to swimming at GCC! Swimmers will work on basic skills and stroke techniques while also becoming more familiar with aspects of swim team participation such as practice, meets, and social events.

Guppy Readiness:

• There is not a specific age limit requirement for guppies, but your child does have to be at least 4 years old to participate. Typical ages are 4-7, depending on ability.
• Guppies should be comfortable putting their faces in the water and be able to jump into the pool and come up to the surface.
• Floaties or puddle jumpers are not allowed.
• Guppies should be able to swim several yards unassisted; however, it is fine if swimmers still need some assistance in the pool.
• Guppy assessments will occur prior to the beginning of guppy season. Parents will be informed if a swimmer is not ready for guppies, and a refund of registration fees will be issued.
• Guppies does not serve as a substitute for swim lessons. However, many swim team coaches will offer private lessons during the summer for guppy participants. More info about this will be available on Swimtopia under the Guppies tab.

Junior Giants Program: Our Junior Giants Program provides more advanced instruction for guppies who are almost ready for big swim team. Coaches will invite guppies to participate in Junior Giants based on assessments and/or their observations during guppy practices. Swimmers who are ready by the end of the season will have the opportunity to swim with the Green Giants in one of our big swim team meets.

Fees & Registration: Guppy fees this year are $120. This includes a GCC swim t-shirt if you register BEFORE April 27th (due to having to have order placed by this date). This will be billed to your GCC account. To register, please visit gccswim.swimtopia.com. Registration will close on Friday, May 15th. You will be asked to create an account during the registration process. Important: We will need a copy of the birth certificate for any new swimmers at GCC. These can be submitted to Julia Bragg at [email protected].

Communication:

• Website: The Guppy page on our Swimtopia website will be our primary method of communication throughout the season. Guppy practice and meet schedules can be found there. The Swimtopia site also contains info on this season’s coaches, swim team handbooks, and so much more!
• Swimtopia App & Weather Alerts: We will communicate last-minute weather delays or cancellations via Swimtopia alerts. These will appear as notifications on your mobile device. Most of the website functionalities are NOT available on the app, but you will need it in order to receive notifications. To allow notifications:
  
  
  
  
  • Download the Swimtopia app (free).
  • Sign into your Swimtopia account (created during registration).
  • Allow notifications.
  • If you prefer not to use the app/allow notifications, alerts will be delivered to the email address associated with your Swimtopia account.
• Social Media: You may also follow us on Instagram @gccguppyswim. Please be aware that some key information may not appear on social media. Always best to check the Swimtopia website guppy page.
• Email: From time to time, you will receive emails with key information. During the season, we will send regular weekly Guppy updates.

Schedule:

• Guppy Assessments (May 26 and May 27, 3:00 PM): Choose one session to attend. Assessments are quick in-pool observations of each swimmer. These will allow the coaches to assess the swimmer’s skill level and readiness for guppies at the beginning of the season. If coaches determine a swimmer is not ready for guppies, parents will be notified, and registration fees will be refunded. If your child cannot attend one of the formal assessment dates, an assessment will be performed on the swimmer’s first day of practice attendance.

• Practices: Practices will run Monday, June 1 through Tuesday, June 23.
  
  
  
  
  • 11:00- 11:45 AM or 3:00- 3:45 PM (Monday-Thursday)
  • No afternoon practices on Thursdays due to big swim team meets
  • No practice on Fridays
  • No practice on day of Guppy meets
  • Swimmers are only expected to attend one practice per day. Daily attendance at practice is not mandatory, but of course, having swimmers in the pool as much as possible will maximize the guppy experience!

• Meets: June 10 and June 23.
  
  
  
  
  • 5:30 arrival, 6pm meet starts.
  • Usually last about an hour.
  • RSVP will be required to plan heat assignments for the event.
  • Guppy meets do not involve competing against another team.
  • Children will be given heat and lane assignments just like big swim team. A sign up genius will be sent out ahead of time for parent volunteers (about 10 are needed to help with lining up the guppies.)
  • Each child will swim two times with assistance from the guppy coaches as needed.
  • Swimmers will be awarded ribbons for both meets during the cookout following the final guppy meet on June 23rd.

• Social Events: See calendar and Swimtopia for additional details. Please RSVP as needed.
  
  
  
  
  • Wednesday, June 3rd - Guppy Ice Cream Social, immediately following both practices
  • Wednesday, June 10th – Guppy parade (before meet) at 5:30
  • Wednesday, June 17th - Guppy Bingo after afternoon practice
  • Monday, June 17th- Green Giant Gifts given at both practices
  • Tuesday June 23rd- Guppy Banquet immediately following the meet

Finally!

If you have questions, please contact the guppy moms at [email protected].

Guppy Moms:

Caroline Barrington- 803-206-7858

Stacy Schroder - 256-282-6882