General - Piranha Member Information:
 
Website
Our website has a lot of information.  Practice schedules, Meet schedules and deadlines, and articles!  Please use our website as a tool to get information.  Not everything will make emails, though we try.  Using the website will help assure you have up to date information.
(If you ever see an error, as we are not perfect, please send an email to Ian Hoover-Grinde at [email protected]  for correction.
 
SWIMMER PICK-UP POLICY
Please be sure to be on time to pick up your swimmers.  Coaches are in need of getting home and should not be staying 45 minutes after practice waiting on a child to be picked up.  We have a 15 minute policy-meaning swimmers have 15 minutes to get changed after practice and be picked up.
 
BULLYING POLICY
Is found here. The Piranhas has a strict policy against bullying in any manner on our team. Use the link for specifics on bullying and actions for such acts.
 
ELECTRONIC POLICY
Is found here. The Piranhas staff are not to "friend" any swimmer on the team. There also guidelines on acceptable and unacceptable forms of communication. Please review those with the link provided.
 
MEET ENTRY DATE DEADLINES
Many people have asked to enter a meet after our deadline to enter the meet has passed.  We will not be taking any late entries.  You may notice that at times a meet packet will state a later date than ours for entries to be submitted.  That does NOT mean that the meet will be open that long.  Our deadline may be October 1st, and the packet may say that we have until October 20th to submit entries.  However, if a meet fills up to its maximum allowed swimmers before that time, we can not get in the meet.  For that reason, the team will always submit entries on the first day entries are accepted to be sure we have a higher probability of being accepted into the meet.  Please use our website weekly and look at deadlines.
 
 
 
 
 
BELOW IS A LIST OF INFORMATION on what to bring, what to do the night before and the day of the meet.  Most important, be at warmup 10 minutes early and have the swimmer go on deck at the pool to find the coaches. (ready to swim) Note for new parents: Parents are not allowed on the pool deck unless timing.  IF you are timing, there will be a timing meeting at the end of the warmup session.
 
 
Suggestions - Items To Bring To A Swim Meet

  • Swimsuit(s): your swimmer should wear their competition suit to the meet.

  • Swim Bag: should contain at least 2-3 towels, 2 swim caps (as caps rip easily), 2 pairs of goggles (as straps can break), extra swimsuit, warm clothing for cover up between events, change of clothes for after the meet (don’t forget the underwear!), and flip flops (as the pool deck can be slippery or hot – if outdoors).

  • Inhaler: if your swimmer is asthmatic, make sure to bring this as some pool atmospheres can have a variety of triggers for an attack.

  • Black Fine Point Sharpie:to write the numbers of your swimmer’s E/H/L (event/heat/lane) on their leg, forearm, or hand.

  • Highlighter:to highlight your swimmer’s event information throughout the swim meet program/heat sheet.

  • Money:to purchase items at concession stand, purchase swim meet program – cost ranges from $5 - $10, or to purchase items from the swim meet vendor (swimsuits, novelty caps, goggles, and a variety of other swim related accessories.

  • Snack Bag/Cooler:to bring your own bottled drinks and snacks such as trail mix, vegetables, raisins, crackers, string cheese, energy bars, beef jerky, dry cereal, bagels with peanut butter, etc.

  • Sleeping Bag/Blanket:to lay out in hallway/gym “crash” area at swim meet for kids to sit on and rest while waiting for their events (a pillow can be helpful too).

  • Entertainment:IPod (with high energy songs!), DVD players, cards, other small board games, books, etc, to keep your swimmer busy and relaxed as they wait for their events.

  • Chairs:a bleacher seat for comfortable seating while watching your swimmer or folding chairs for parents to sit and rest in the “crash” area while waiting for your swimmers events.

  • SWIMMERS MAY NOT WEAR ANY WATCHES, JEWELRY, OR ANKLE BRACELETS OF ANY KIND, AS THEY WILL BE DISQUALIFIED FROM THEIR RACE.
 
Suggestions – What To Do The Night Before A Swim Meet

  • Offer your swimmer a “carb” loaded dinner!

  • Get extra sleep for you and your swimmer! It can be an early start and/or a long day at a swim meet if you have multiple swimmers.

  • Get the swim bag and snack bag packed. Also, organize items for your cooler so you don’t forget anything.

  • Set out your blankets, chairs, entertainment items, etc for the meet (and put your name on items in case of something being mis-placed at the meet – there are lost & found areas).

  • Log-into your account in the member area and write down the event numbers your swimmer is entered in- that will make looking through the program easier.

  • Be familiar with the pool location. Print out directions/phone number to the natatorium or have the address available for your GPS.

  • If attending an outdoor meet and the weather is questionable, check our website for any meet delay/cancellation notices or call the swim meet director (information listed on the swim meet document on our website in the Schedule & Statistic link area).
 
Suggestions – What To Do For Your Swimmer At The Meet

  • Be early or on time for the swim meet! This will allow you and your swimmer to get organized in the bleachers or hallway/gym crash area and be ready for the upcoming events.

  • Bring your swimmers event list (which you printed from our website the night before) and assist your swimmer in writing the E/H/L (event/heat/lane) numbers on their forearm, hand, or leg. (If you can do this BEFORE warmup- it will make for a much smoother day!)

  • Some meets have “Positive Check-In” so make sure your swimmer has checked in for all of their events, especially IL hosted swim meets and for distance events (500yd, 1000yd, 400m, 800m, etc).

  • Find the PSC coach on the pool deck before warm-ups for lane assignment. This coach may not be your regular practice coach so look for their PSC apparel.

  • Determine if swim meet has a “Clerk of Course” area. This is usually for the 10 & Under age group swimmers but can be for 12 & Under at some meets. Find location prior to start of swim meet. THE COACHES WILL HELP WITH THIS.

  • Encourage your swimmer to find the PSC coach and visit with them before and after their swim events (great for immediate reinforcement of things to remember for event and positive feedback of a job well done – keeps the swimmers head in the game).

  • Very important to let the PSC coach do the coaching! Your role as a parent is to be positive, encouraging, and supportive towards your swimmer. Let them know how PROUD you are of them!

  • Keep your swimmer hydrated between events. If they are hungry, offer one of those healthy snack choices from your cooler or visit the swim meet concession stand but watch your timing between events.

  • RELAX! It’s your swimmers time to shine. If you’re relaxed, they will be relaxed.

  • Let the coach know when you are leaving the swim meet. In some cases, a previously scheduled swimmer for a relay may not be able to swim and an alternate will be needed.
 
Suggestions – Other Helpful Swim Meet Related Tips
  • To remove sharpie markings on your swimmer, use spray sunscreen.