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MISSION STATEMENT:

Welcome to the Hanford Piranhas swim team!

Swimming is a team sport, as well as an individual sport, and each member of your team in important! Swimming provides great opportunity for our children to gain self-esteem and a sense of value.  It also teaches the art of teamwork in our children.


In order for our swimmers to improve, they need to attend practices regularly and participate at the swim meets. Our goal is to help each swimmer to get into shape, and to gain the speed and endurance to be able to meet the CVRSL Time Standards, which enables them to go to the Valley Time Trials and possibly the Valley Finals at the end of the season.


Registration and Tryouts

League rules stipulate that your child’s age on June 1st of the swim season determines his/her age for the season.  If you child is 9 on June 1, then he/she will swim in the 9-10 age group.


New swimmers must meet minimum swimming requirements.

Once the child has passed the swim test, they will have a regular one-hour practice (6 unders may practice less).  The decision will be made during the try out week as to whether or not the swimmer will qualify for the team. (in the event of a dispute, the board makes the final decision)

Registration fees, volunteer sign-ups, birth certificates, and emergency cards must be submitted before swimmers can start the swim season.


Registration Fees are as follows:

    1 swimmer         $90

    2nd swimmer      $150

    Family Max       $200

Registration Fees are non-refundable after the first week of practice.


Practice Guidelines

Swim practices will be held Monday through Thursday unless a meet or other event is scheduled that night. 


The practice schedule is dependent on the high school schedule, so this will fluctuate at times throughout the season (such as graduation week).  Updates will be given via the website and/or handouts from the coaches.  Our first practice date has not been set as of yet.  Check our website for when that is, and Piranhas will send out an information email when we learn of this date. Parents may wish to stay and observe and are welcome to do so.  Due to the regulations set forth by our insurance company, we do ask that all parents and siblings stay behind the fence and off the pool deck during practice.


If you have any questions for the coaches, they will be available before or after practices.  Please do not interrupt the coaches during practice, as they will be concentrating on the swimmers. [*Please recognize that the end of your child’s practice may also be the beginning of another child’s practice]


Do not PARK in the red zones at the high schools.  You can be ticketed.


Late parent notice……

*Always pick up your child on time. 

* Parents who are more than five minutes late picking up their child from practice can be charged for this time or their child may lose the opportunity to swim.


Swim Meet Schedule

Tuesday June 8                    Home          Mock Meet

Thursday June 10                 Away           Kingsburg Seawolves

TuesdayJune 15                Home           NASL Heat (new team)

Thursday June 17                 Away            Lemoore Aqua Jets

*Saturday June 19High School East Campus Fundraiser

Tuesday June 22                Away            Lindsay Skimmers

Thursday June 24              Away            Fowler Sea Dragons

Tuesday June 29                  Home           Corcoran Blue Dolphins

Thursday July 1                   Away            Coalinga Eels


Saturday, July 10             Time Trials   Lindsay

Saturday, July 17        Finals           Visalia (Waves) at Golden West H.S.


Swim Meet Guidelines

Swim meets are typically held on Tuesday and Thursday nights.  Meets start at 6:30 P.M. and end at approximately 10:00 P.M.  (See meet requirements)


*The locker room area and showers are OFF limits to all persons at Hanford West.  There are no exceptions and parents will be responsible for their swimmers should damage occur.  There has been damage done to the high school property in the past, and we are no longer allowed access to those areas.

*Swimmers must be at the pool ready to warm up/get numbers on hand by 5:15 P.M.

*Your child may leave the meet when all of his/her events are finished for the night.  But first…Your child must check out with their coach before they leave.

*It is the parent’s responsibility to transport their swimmer to and from the swim meets.  If you are unable to attend a meet, please make arrangements for another parent to transport your child as coaches will not transport swimmers. 

*Visit Mapquest or Yahoo maps for pool directions to our away meets or ask a board member.


***Helpful Hints:Bring sunscreen, shade, chairs, warm clothing, extra towels, blankets, coolers, insect bite relief, and money for the delicious snack bar.


Swim Team Rules

1.Practices are required to participate in meets.  However, vacation and sickness are taken into consideration.

2.During coach’s absences, other coaches may be substituted.

3.Relay Teams will be formed using the following criteria:

a. Participation in practices, times during practices & meets, and positive attitudes.



Fundraiser / Team expenses

Hanford Piranhas does not receive funds from any other organization.  Each year we hold a fundraiser, with all of the proceeds going toward the purchase of CVRSL dues, team awards, ribbons, coach salaries, pool fees, insurance, computers, end of season party, and other items needed to keep our club running.


Each swimmer must meet the minimum set for the team.  This year we will hold a dinner fundraiser.  Money must be collected by our first home meet or your swimmer will not participate in the swim meets.  More details to follow.


End of Season Party / Awards


Awards are given at the end of the swim season for the TOP 3 swimmers with the highest points in each age group, separated out by gender.  The awards are based on placement of finish in individual events during the swim meets.  (No points are given for relay events) A most improved award is also given out in each age group by gender.  Individual event points are awarded as follows:


First Place6 points

Second Place4 points

Third Place3 points

Fourth Place2 points

Fifth Place1 point

More information will follow regarding the party/awards ceremony, as the season comes to a close.  We hope to have our end of the year party at the Plunge again this season.



Time Trials & Finals

(multi-team swim meets)

These are the last two meets of the season.  Each individual must “qualify” for these meets by meeting the time standards as shown on the page titled “CVRSL Time Standards & Event Sheet”, along with attending a minimum of three meets.


Once your child has qualified individually or been selected to be on a qualified relay for the Time Trials, it is of the utmost importance that they attend and participate in the events in which they are qualified.


To qualify for the league Finals, the results of the Time Trials we attend are combined with two other Time Trials taking place on the same day in other locations.  The top 24 times in the individual events goes on to Finals.  Relay teams with the top 16 times will compete. 

Important

You must register your swimmer for time trials and finals, once they have qualified!

Here is what to do:


1.Fill out the registration sheet in this book, and give it to a board member or head coach.  If you do not fill out the form, your child will not be able to compete, even though they have qualified.

2. If you have a vacation planned for this time, please DO NOT FILL OUT THIS FORM.  This signed form is your commitment to attend both meets!

3. We will be using these forms to make sure that ALL of the children who qualify for Time Trials and/or Finals are listed in the programs and or t-shirts. 











Time Trials & Finals

Registration


Time Trials:Saturday, July 10, 2010, Lindsay

Finals:Saturday, July 17, 2010, Visalia


Yes!  My Child will Attend!


By signing this form, I agree to commit my child to attend these events.  No vacation has/will be planned for these dates.  I also agree that if something does come up, making it impossible for my child to attend, I will notify the coach immediately.



Please Print legible!  We will use this to put your child’s name on the T-shirts and programs at Time Trials/Finals.



Child’s First Name:

Child’s Last Name:


Child’s Age Group:


Parent’s Signature:


Cell Phone Number:

*By signing this form, you commit to volunteer 2-3 hours at each meet (should your child qualify for finals too).  Your child cannot swim without your commitment to do this.



Volunteer Hours

Each family needs to fulfill 4, 2 hour shifts.  These shifts need to be equally divided between home (including the mock meet) and away meets.  Each team provides timers and recorders for the swimmers.  Home teams provide many more volunteers to run the meet (snack bar / runners / computers / starter /announcer /head timers /hospitality / heat winner prizes).  The actual number of shifts could vary depending upon team size.



4 Volunteer Shifts my family needs to complete for our volunteer check to be returned:


WhoLocation/dateJob DutyTime



______________________________________




______________________________________




______________________________________




______________________________________


*Parents are responsible for completing 4 2-hour volunteer shifts in order to have their volunteer check returned.  If all four shifts are not completed, then Piranhas will cash your check.  Should your circumstances change after signing up for shifts, you are responsible for arranging your replacement.