2018 HANDBOOK PIRANHAS FOR LIFE!!

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1 2018 HANDBOOK PIRANHAS FOR LIFE!!

2 PERSIMMON CREEK SWIM TEAM 2018 Table of Contents 1. Introduction to 2018 Season 2. PCST Contacts and Coaches 3. Practice Schedule: Land, Pool, Morning and Evening Pool practices 4. Meet Schedule: Team Time Trials, Dual meets, Mini meet, SSL Time Trials and Championships 5. Socials/Special Team Events 6. Volunteering for PCST Opportunities/Requirements/Job Descriptions 7. Directions to Swim Meets 2

3 1. Introduction Welcome to our 2018 swim season! We are so glad to have your family be part of our PIRANHA FAMILY this season! Our handbook was created to explain everything you need to know about our team. If you can t find what you are looking for, please contact your swim team VPs or check us out on the web at pcswimclub.com. We are here to answer your questions and help make your experience as a Piranha a positive one! The Persimmon Creek Swim Team is a member of the Suburban Swim League (SSL) and operates in the Newark area. The SSL is made up of 3 divisions and Persimmon Creek is in the WHITE division. Visit the website of Suburban Swim League (SSL) at to find out more about the league. Our team is made up of swimmers 18 years old and younger. We have swimmers of varying degrees of ability ranging from the first time swimmer to the serious competitor. Swimmers enjoy the experience of competition throughout the eight dual meets, time trials, and championships. It is the philosophy of the Persimmon Creek Swim Team to provide ALL our swimmers with opportunities to improve their swimming technique and fitness level, participate in team activities, and most importantly, have FUN! Our Piranha Buddy Program is designed to build team spirit and unity. Younger Piranhas will be matched up with older, more experienced Piranhas by the coaches. Older buddies will be encouraged to check in with their younger buddies during practices, team events and meets. Buddies will also be there to cheer each other on during at swim meets. Through this program, we hope to foster friendships during the season and while just hanging out at the pool! ELIGIBILITY Each swimmer's family must be an active (2018) member of the Persimmon Creek Swim Club. The age group for a swimmer is determined by his/her age as of May 30, Swimmers are eligible to compete through age 18. The age groups are as follows: 15 & over, 13 &14, 11 &12, 9 &10, 8 &under and 6 &under. Our Mini s Program is designed for our youngest swimmers who need to develop their swimming skills and build their stroke mechanics. COMPETITION Our competitive season begins with a Crossover Meet, which involves a team from another division. The purpose of the Crossover Meet is to provide an opportunity for swimmers to experience a meet and prepare for competition with their own division. Crossover meets enable swimmers to gain experience in different strokes. Swim meets are held on Wednesday evenings (starting at 6 p.m.) and Saturday mornings (starting at 9 a.m.) All swimmers should be at the host pool 1 hour prior to the start of the meet. Each swimmer is permitted to swim up to 3 official events consisting of any combination of relays and individual events. Our Minis will participate in swim meets when they are able to confidently swim the length of the pool without stopping to grab the wall. Swimmers 6 years old and younger have an opportunity to swim the 25-yard freestyle and 25 backstroke at every meet. At the end of the regular season, swimmers may attend their designated Age Group Time Trial in order to qualify to compete in SSL Championships. All swimmers are welcome to participate in Time Trials. Swimmers are seeded into heats according to their best times in a particular event, with the top 16 swimmers advancing to the Suburban Swim League Championships. The top 8 swimmers in each event move into the final heat and the next 8 will swim in the consolation heat at Championships. 3

4 2. PCST Contacts and Coaches COACHES Head Coach: Senior Assistant s: Assistants: Nicole Farina Luke Roff Erin Dacey Madi McWatters Olivia Rayfield Miranda Reed Jack Roff Team Manager: Jenna Fisher SWIM TEAM BOARD MEMBERS Team VPs: Team Treasurer: Erin Young Katie Lakofsky Amy Shober LEAGUE REPRESENTATIVE COMMUNICATION Christine Kleinmeulman Our season is fast-paced with many different events and activities! We will use our new swim portal to communicate with our team. When you register, please be sure to include a cell phone number (in the parent/guardian section) where we can send texts to communicate about team items. Texts from the team will come from (858) Since this is our first year testing this system, we may also use Team App if we experience any glitches with new system. TeamApp allows you to get instant notification to your cell phone. Upcoming events and our team calendar are also posted on our website at pcswimclub.com and on our team bulletin board in the pool entrance hallway. Please contact the Team VPs for further information on the new swim team portal, TeamApp or with any questions. 4

5 3. Practice Schedule Swim practices are the foundation of a good team. It is great exercise and can be so much fun! Please make every effort to attend practices regularly. We realize that sometimes you may have unavoidable schedule conflicts with other sports and summer activities. Please let the coaching staff know if your child will be unable to attend practices. DRY LAND PRACTICE: For ages 6 and older. This practice will give the children an opportunity to become familiar with their coaches and begin conditioning. Tuesday, May 22 nd and Thursday, May 24 th from 6 7 pm in the pool parking lot area. Please wear sneakers and bring a water bottle and a towel to sit on. POOL PRACTICE: May 29 th to June 7 th (Monday through Friday) **Mini s will not begin Pool practice until June 11 th Ages 10 & under Ages 11 & older 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm June 11 th to July 12 th (Monday through Friday; NO July 4th) Ages 11 & older Ages 10 & younger Mini s 8:00 am to 9:30 am 9:30 am to 10:30 am 10:45 am to 11:30 am EVENING PRACTICES: (Mondays and Thursdays 2 pool lanes) June 11 th to July 12 th All age groups (NO MINIS) (NO July 4th) 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm The pool is still open for all members during this time so swim team will only use two lanes. MINI S PROGRAM: (Monday through Friday mornings beginning June 12 th ) Our Mini s Program runs from Monday, June 12 th Friday, July 14 th. Mini s practices are held Mon Fri MORNINGS ONLY from 10:45 am 11:30 am. Mini s practices utilize the entire width of the pool in the shallow end and require the entire coaching staff to be working in the water with our swimmers. For these reasons, we CANNOT offer Mini s practice in the evenings. 5

6 4. Meets and Meet Schedules If you will be unavailable for a meet, please advise the coaching staff at least two days in advance since your child(ren) s absence may affect other swimmers events. Please let the coach know at practice or contact them by phone or through TeamApp if you are unable to participate in a meet. We will post a list of meets on the team bulletin board in the entrance hallway for you to sign if your child(ren) will miss a meet. TEAM TIME TRIALS AND PARENT MEETING Saturday June 9 th, Warm-ups will be at 8:00 am, time trials will start at 9:00 am This is a required pre-season meet. The purpose is for the coaches to obtain times for each swimmer in all strokes and for the swimmers to become familiar with the events and structure of the meets. This event is also a good opportunity for volunteer timers and officials to develop their skills for the dual meet season and to learn a new job! Before Time Trials begin, there will be a short parent meeting. Please be there to find out how we can best all work together to make this a successful season!! DUAL MEETS The swim meet schedule can also be found at pcswimclub.com and at DATE DAY HOME/AWAY OPPONENT June 16 Saturday Away Nottingham June 20 Wednesday Away Sherwood Park June 23 Saturday Home (Olympic Day) Nottingham June 27 Wednesday Home Oaklands June 30 Saturday Home Bear Y July 7 Saturday Away Drummond Hill July 11 Wednesday Home Wedgewood July 14 Saturday Away Fairfield AWARDS for DUAL MEETS 1. Ribbons will be distributed to all children ages 12 and under. 2. Swimmers over the age of 12 may request to receive ribbons. Requests must be submitted in writing (before the first meet) to the Swim Team VPs. 3. All ribbons will be placed in the 'Swim Team Boxes' ( located in the clubhouse kitchen ), in each swimmer's family file. 4. If a swimmer is disqualified, he/she will receive a participant ribbon, noted with a 'DQ' in the corner. * Trophies will be given to all registered swimmers at the Swim Team Banquet. Additional individual awards may also be presented at the banquet at the coaching staff s discretion. 6

7 SPECIAL MEETS (Optional meets - Please see the coaches 2 weeks prior to meet for entries) Odd AgeMeet -- Sunday, June 24 at Skyline, warm-ups 8:00 am, meet starts at 9:00 am Stars & Stripes Meet -- Sunday, July 1 at Penn Acres, warm-ups 7:30 am, meet starts at 8:30 am Mini-Meet (age 7 & under) -- Sunday July 8 at North Star, warm-ups 8, meet starts at 8:45 am AGE GROUP TIME TRIALS Date Age Group Location Warm-up/Start Sunday July 15th 13 & Over Oakwood Valley 2:30 / 3:45 Monday July 16th Oaklands 4:20 / 5:30 Tuesday July 17th 9-10 Yorklyn 4:20 / 5:30 Wednesday July 18th 8&U Skyline 4:20 / 5:30 All swimmers will be asked to sign-up for time trials by June 22 nd. Swimmers will be asked to list their 1 st, 2 nd, and 3 rd choices of events this includes individual events and relays. The swimmers should work with their coaches to determine what events would work best. Every effort will be made to accommodate the swimmers choices, however, please be aware that the coaches will make final decisions regarding entries (based on times and number of swimmers allowed per event). It is important to note that there is a fee per swimmer and per event entered at Time Trials. Persimmon Creek Swim Team pays this fee. In addition to individual events, your swimmer may be placed in relay events with other swimmers from PCST at Time Trials. If a swimmer commits to signing up for a Time Trial, it is critical that they attend since their absence will affect other swimmers. CHAMPIONSHIPS Saturday, July 21, 2017 at the Western YMCA. Warm ups are at 7:30 am, meet starts 9:00 am. 7

8 5. Socials/Special Team Events AppleBee s Flapjack Fundraiser/Meet the Coaches Event April 28th 8am-10pm Come out to the AppleBee s in Suburban Plaza on Saturday, April 28 th anytime from 8am-10am to enjoy some breakfast! See your friends from last year and hang out with our coaching staff. A ticket is required for each person for entry and must be pre-paid. Tickets can be purchashed during registration ( ). If you have already registered, tickets can be purchased as an add-on product in the swim portal. ( ). PIRANHATHON JUNE 22nd Our Piranhathon is a fun event that includes silly swim races and beat the coach races along with the ever-popular dress up the coaches game. The kids have a blast while raising money to help fund the operation of the swim team! We hope for each child to raise at least $25 for the team by getting sponsors for the event! Donations will need to be turned in by July 15 th and we will award prizes to the top fundraisers at the Team Banquet! You also have the option to donate to the Piranhathon at Team Registration night! Thank you in advance for supporting our team!! SWIM TEAM BANQUET The PCST Banquet will be held on Saturday, July 22 nd (the evening of Championships) from 4 pm until 11 pm. A parent committee will plan and organize a wonderful celebration to end our 2017 swim season. The evening will include dinner, team trophies and awards presentation, music, dancing, and lots of fun for the whole family! SPECIAL ACTIVITIES Donut Day Pancake Day #1 Team Photo & Pizza Day Piranhathon/Pancake Day #2 Cereal Day Poptart Day Ice Cream Social/Pep Rally June 9, during Team Time Trials June 15, after each age group practice June 19, 8:30-11:30 am, entire team pictures June 22, during regular practice hours June 26,, after each age group practice June 29, after each practice July 13 at 6:00 pm PICTURES Please keep our team in mind while taking pictures throughout the season! Please post them to the Persimmon Creek Swim Club Facebook page or send them to us at swimteam@pcswimclub.com or to Bill McWatters at kjmcwatters@comcast.net. 8

9 6. VOLUNTEERS The success of our Persimmon Creek Swim Team depends on the commitment of all our Piranha parents! Thank you for volunteering your time and talents so that our children may benefit from competitive swimming. This year we are asking that each family sign-up to work 7 times throughout the season. You can fulfill this commitment in any combination of assignments at swim meets and/or special activities throughout the season. Sign-ups will be available in the swim portal ( ) no later than April 18th. Assignments will be filled on a first come, first served basis. We ask that the families of our Mini s volunteer as well speak with one of the VPs to find out how you can help. If you are unable to work your scheduled time/event, you are responsible for arranging a trade or finding a replacement. Please let the VPs know of this change so they can update the work schedules. Some jobs do require training at official clinics (visit for specific dates), so be sure to read the job descriptions attached if you are unsure of the job requirements. We especially need more parents to learn place judging, scoring, and stroke & turns. For the future success of our team, advanced planning for these positions is necessary as swimmers and their families age out and move on. Officials, Scorers and Coaches Clinics Monday, May 14 Wednesday, May 23 Tuesday, May 29 Monday, June 11 Monday, June 4 Wednesday, June 6 New Stroke & Turn Officials Western YMCA Youth Development Center 6:30 pm New Stroke & Turn Officials Western YMCA Youth Development Center 8:00 am New Referees 6:00 pm Experienced Referees & Starters 6:30 pm Shue-Medill Middle School Library New Referees 6:00 pm Experienced Referees & Starters 6:30 pm Experienced and New Stroke & Turn Officials 6:30 Western YMCA Youth Development Center Coaches Clinic - Beginner & Experienced Shue-Medill Middle School Cafeteria 6:30 pm Scorers Clinic - Mandatory for Head Coach Shue-Medill Middle School Library 6:30 pm 9

10 JOB DESCRIPTIONS Starter/Referee : Must attend an SSL Clinic. This can be two different people, or one person may do both. Referee must be knowledgeable about SSL rules and their interpretation. The starter signals the start each event. Descriptions in SSL handbook. Stroke & Turn Official : Must attend an SSL Clinic. Watches swimmers in each race for legal strokes and turns. Perfect for someone with a swimming background. Scorer : Must attend an SSL Clinic. Keeps official score according to SSL rules and prepares event cards from the coaches roster before the meet begins. Place Judge : Determines the order of finish for each race. It takes a person who is experienced and/or feels comfortable making decisions. When place judges disagree, times are used to assist in determining the order of finish. Announcer : Announces the swimmers for each event before it takes place and announces the results afterward, whenever possible. Runner : Verifies the swimmers and lanes at the start of each event; collects the times after each event is swum and gives the cards to the scorers' table. Clerk of Course : Line up the swimmers on the ready bench and check that they are directed to the proper lanes *Timers : Using a stopwatch, times each event, averages time with timer from opposing team and reports it to the Runner. *Head timer: Using a stop watch, times each event and provides back up to timers if needed. *Meet Set-up : Must be there at 3:30 on Wednesdays. Set up is Friday night for Saturday morning meets. Workers set up tables, chairs, connect speaker system, back stroke flags, and any help that is needed at the snack bar. *Snack Bar: The snack bar is a critical operation for our team s success. The money raised from our snack bar throughout the season helps fund the operations of our team. We need many volunteers to make this operation run smoothly. There are opportunities for set up, clean up, and half-meet shifts. You will be able to take breaks to watch your child(ren) swim their events. Parking and Traffic : Responsible for safely parking guest team swimmers and families to the area closest to the pool. Create a welcoming environment for our guests, promoting sportsmanship and a positive pool experience. Remind Persimmon Creek Swim families to park along Arbour and Lark Drive after dropping off their swimmer and equipment. People with health issues/disabilities are welcome to park closest to the pool. *Meet Clean-up : Cleans up the pool area, taking down flags, ropes, lane line, speaker system, etc. *It is important for volunteers to arrive 30 minutes prior to the start of the meet except those families doing snack bar set-up and check-in, who should arrive 1-hour prior. If you are splitting a job for a meet, change of shifts should occur by event 38a. 10

11 SNACK BAR FOOD DONATIONS HOME MEETS ONLY Each Family is required to donate selected food items for the snack bar for each HOME meet. The list of food assignments will be ed approximately one week before each home meet. The food items and amounts needed change for each meet and is determined by the size of the visiting team, the weather, and whether it is a Wednesday night or Saturday morning meet. On the day of the meet, please bring your donation to the snack bar one hour before the meet begins. If you are unable to make a meet, you are still responsible to supply your family s donation. Please contact the VPs with any questions. Thank you in advance for your commitment to our team -volunteering at meets, donating to the snack bar, and making the many fun events really FUN for our kids!!! We appreciate you!! GO PIRANHAS! 11

12 7. DIRECTIONS TO POOLS ARUNDEL Arundel is on the north side of Limestone Road (Rt. 7) between Millltown Rd and Pike Creek Valley. At the traffic light on Limestone Rd. turn onto Arundel Dr. Go to the second left (at the stop sign) and turn onto Elderon Drive. The pool is on the right CRESTMOOR From West Kirkwood Hwy to Rt. 41, East on 41 and left on Boxwood Rd (past GM) Left on North Ave (opposite Conrad Jr. High tennis courts) Proceed to pool From 1-95 Newport Exit. Right on Rt. 4 (Newport Pike) and left on Boxwood Road, right on North Ave. Proceed to the pool. DRUMMOND HILL Take Kirkwood Hwy to Polly Drummond Hill Rd. Follow North to Forge Rd. Turn right onto Forge Rd. and first left onto Alton Rd. The pool is at the end of the road on the right. FAIRFIELD From Kirkwood HWY to Cleveland Ave to 896 North. Turn right at the light at Fairfield Shopping Center onto Fremont Rd. The pool is one block down on the left Hockessin Athletic Center (HAC) From Paper Mill Road make a left onto Limestone Road (Rt. 7 North), turn right onto Valley Road (just past Lantana Square Shopping Center) the HAC will be on your left. KENNETT Y From Limestone Rd (DE 7 N). Limestone Rd becomes Kaolin Rd. Turn Left to stay on Kaolin Rd. Kaolin Rd becomes S Union St. Turn Right onto E South St/PA-82. Turn Left onto S Walnut St. End at 636 S Walnut St Kennett Square PA MAPLE VALLEY West on Kirkwood HWY makes a right turn onto Old Possum Park Rd. between Yasik Funeral Home and Tom Livizos Reality. Pool is one block on right. Coming east on Kirkwood HWY make a U turn at Delaplane Avenue (Pizza Hut on right) Follow above directions. NORTH STAR From Rt 7 (Limestone Rd) to Rt 72 (Papermill Rd) follow Rt 72 towards Newark past the Independence School. Turn right onto North Star Road. Proceed 1 mile and turn right onto Neptune Dr. follow Neptune to the end where you reach Jupiter Dr. turn right onto Jupiter and proceed approx 50 yards to Saturn Dr. turn right on Saturn and follow it to the end where the pool is located. NOTTINGHAM GREEN Rt. 273 West to Radcliffe Dr. Turn left at sign for Nottingham Green development. Pool is on second corner on right. OAKLANDS Follow West Main St. Newark past the Deer Part Restaurant straight onto Rt 273 West. Go across the railroad tracks and turn left at the first traffic light onto Hillside Rd. The pool is approx ¼ mile on the left. PENN ACRES When coming South on Rt 141 (Basin Rd) turn left onto Crippen Dr at the traffic light at Penn Mart Shopping Center. Go approx 4/10 mile to stop sign at Fithian Dr. Turn left and the pool is about 200 yards on right. SHERWOOD PARK Rt 7 North to Milltown Rd (Take right exit lane immediately after funeral home). Go straight at traffic light onto McKennan s Church Rd. Go 3-blocks and then left on Bardell St (last left before Delcastle Recreation Area). Take first left onto Highgate. The pool is on the right. 12

13 SKYLINE From Newark take Kirkwood Hwy east turn left onto Polly Drummond Hill Rd. Go to Linden Hill Rd and turn right. Follow to second traffic light. Turn right onto Skyline Drive the pool is about ¼ mile on left. (Across from Skyline Jr. High) UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE Located on South College Avenue (Rt. 896 ) Turn in the gate at the Field House. Go left and then right toward the Ice Arena in back. Pool is located behind the Ice Arena. Go into the lobby of the Ice Arena and out door on right to get out to the pool VALLEYBROOK Follow Milltown Rd to W. Parris Drive at the entrance to Cedarcrest development. The pool is on the right. WEDGEWOOD From Newark go east on Rt 273 to Eagle Glenn Development. Turn right onto Wedgefield Dr. (between Rt 7 and Appleby Rd.) Pool is on the right. WESTERN YMCA On Kirkwood Hwy across from the Farmers Market. Drive thru parking lot on right of building to rear of building. Outdoor pool is on your left. WESTMINSTER From Kirkwood Hwy turn North on Rt 41 (Newport Gap Pike). Proceed North on Rt. 41 to Millcreek-Hercules Rd (Emily Bissell Hospital). Continue North on Rt. 41 ¼ mile to Westminster sign on right. Turn right onto Cheltenham Dr. Pool is on the right at the first driveway. YORKLYN From traffic light at Lancaster Pike (Rt 141) & Yorklyn Rd. in Hockessin, turn North on Yorklyn Rd in Hockessin, turn North on Yorklyn Rd. Go about 2 miles past NVF over the Red Clay Creek Bridge and bear right. At the Y in the road (CCA sign) take the left fork toward CCA Center. At the end of the row houses on the left, turn left onto Yorklyn Pool entrance road. Pool is at the top of the hill. Park at the bottom of the hill. 13

Swim Team Swim Season

Swim Team Swim Season Drummond Hill Swim Team GO DRAGONS! 2016 Swim Season 2016 DRUMMOND HILL SWIM TEAM HEAD COACH Emily Hunter 252-7846 (cell) 737-4490 (home) emmygirl222@gmail.com ASSISTANT COACHES Nathan Hunter Aidan Meese