1. sports
2. swimming

Great Bridge Piranhas Registration & Information Packet
Introduction:
It’s that time of year again. We are thrilled to be getting ready for another exciting season of
summer swimming. We would like to welcome all the returning swimmers as well as all of our
new families and friends. We hope everyone is excited about the summer and being a part of our
Piranha Swim Team.
This information packet contains a great deal of information. Please read through it and keep it
handy throughout the season. The website, www.gbsrc.org, will be updated regularly with the
latest information. Information may also be placed in the swimmer’s mailboxes so check those
regularly too. Return the completed volunteer page so that we may have an accurate count of
positions filled.
The Virginia Beach Swim League (VBSL) Handbook is now available on their website, www.vbsl.net,
and includes valuable information that every parent will need to know. In the handbook and on
the VBSL website you can find maps to all participating pools, rules, procedures, official’s duties,
order of events and the VBSL records.
We are looking forward to a fun-filled summer with swimming, socializing and good team spirit!
Please contact us with questions and suggestions….
Team Reps:
Kristi Rinkus
[email protected]
Nancy Gray
[email protected]
Head Coach: Jordan Law
[email protected]
Asst. Coach:
[email protected]
Maggie Lamay
Equipment:*
Suit—TYR Phoenix (or last year’s suit is fine)
Caps—Piranha cap is required for all ages
Goggles—suggested for all ages
Fins—suggested for all ages
Pull-bouy—suggested for ages 13 and over
Kickboard—available at GBSRC
*Suits and personalized caps can be purchased on April Pool’s Day. Goggles and caps will be
available throughout the season from the team reps.
Swim Team Practice Schedule:
School Session:
May 26-June 13
6 and Under
10 U and 8U
11 and Over
Monday-Thursday
4:30-5:00 pm
5:00-5:45 pm
5:45-6:45 pm
Saturday
9:00-10:00 am
9:00-10:00 am
8:00-9:00 am
Summer Session:
Daily (M-F)
7:00-7:55 am
Daily (M-F)
8:00-8:55 am
Daily (M-F)
9:00-9:55 am
Mon/Wed/Thurs
6:00-7:00 pm
June 15-26
14 and under
18 and under
8 and under
10 and under
6 and under
12 and under
Summer School
Only—All ages
June 29- July 10
8 and under
10 and under
6 and under
12 and under
14 and under
18 and under
Summer School
Only—All ages
July 13-17
6 and under
12 and under
14 and under
18 and under
8 and under
10 and under
Summer School
Only—All ages
12 and under
13 and up
Summer School
Only—All ages
All ages
Summer School
Only—All ages
Divisionals
July 20-24
All Stars
July 27-31
NOTE: Summer Session practice on Mon/Wed/Thurs from 6:00-7:00 PM is ONLY for Summer
School Students and Swimmers who have special permission from one of the Coaches.
_____________________Last Name
Volunteer Positions:
When a child joins a swim team, so do the parents! This sport requires parents to be participants,
not just spectators. Swim meets are very labor intensive and simply can’t be run without the
majority of parents assisting at some stage of the meet. We are all volunteers! Training for most
jobs takes only a few minutes; others require attendance at clinics.
Each family is required to volunteer for 4 shifts (1/2 meet =1 shift)
Below is a list of volunteer opportunities that you may choose from.
Please check the activity/ies in which you wish to participate:
□ Stroke Judge—reports any violation of swimming style or turns*
□ Turn/Relay Judge—reports any violation of relay turns, finishing, or false starts*
□ Head Timer—instructs and assigns timers to lanes
□ Timers—the keeper of time of a lane; Best view of the competition!
□ Clerk-of-course helpers—assist Clerk-of-Course with swimmers
□ Runners—delivers time cards to the scoring table and collects DQ slips
□ Ribbon Assemblers—apply labels to ribbons and sort in mailboxes
□ Concessions—prepare/sell food and drink items at home meets
□ Programs—sell programs at home meets
□ Parking—assist in directing cars into the parking area for home meets
□ Set-up—the night before home Saturday meets, or the afternoon before home weeknight meets
□ Clean-up—after home meets, assist in putting pool deck back in order
*Requires yearly certification by attending official’s clinics. (See Piranha Calendar for dates/times)
Volunteers are also needed to: donate food for concessions, help with Piranha social events and
transport tents to away meets for Clerk-of-Course. Details will be available later for these events.
All families are asked to donate 2 12-packs of soda to sell at concessions-Pepsi or Coke products.
I/we have read and understand the information on this page and agree to fulfill our volunteer obligations
for the Piranha Swim Team.
___________________________________
Signature
_____________________
Date
2015 Piranha Calendar
April 18
Saturday
April Pool’s Day—Registration Day
2-4 pm
May 26
Tuesday
Practice Begins! (see schedule)
4:30 pm
May 26
Tuesday
Second Registration Day
5-6 pm
May 30
Saturday
Officials Clinic @ Little Neck
(Referee/Starter/Stroke & Turn)
8-11 am
June
Parent Meeting
June 1
Monday
Meet Manager Scoring Clinic @ LN
7:00 pm
June 2
Tuesday
Officials Clinic @ Cavalier
(make-up date)
6-9 pm
June
Time Trials
June 15
Monday
Morning practice begins! (see schedule)
7:00 am
June 20
Saturday
GBSRC vs. Oceana
7:30 am
June 27
Saturday
GBSRC @ Princess Anne CC
7:30 am
July 1
Wednesday
GBSRC vs. Mallory
TBA (night)
July 11
Saturday
GBSRC vs. Larchmont
7:30 am
July 17
Friday
Piranha Pancake Breakfast
TBA
July 18
Saturday
GBSRC @ Alanton
7:30 am
July 25
Saturday
Divisionals @ Princess Anne CC
7:30 am
August 1
Saturday
All-Stars @ Little Neck
7:30 am
To Be Added:
Need Volunteers to Coordinate!
Parent Meeting, Time Trials, Piranha Beach Day, Piranha Banquet, Laser Quest, Movie Nt., Talent
Show, Team Pictures, Swim on for Safety…etc
Policies and Rules:
Team Philosophy:
The swim team enables children to participate in the sport of competitive swimming. The most important
goal of the swim team is to provide a climate of friendly competition where swimmers can develop a love
for the sport. All swimmers will be given the opportunity to compete, improve their swimming skills, and
learn the principles of good sportsmanship while having fun.
Attendance:
Swimmers must report to the pool on time for assigned practices. The coaches will check attendance 5
minutes after the scheduled start of practice. Swimmers arriving later than this time will not receive credit
for attendance at practice. In order to swim in a regular Saturday dual meet, swimmers must attend at
least 3 practices during the week. Swimmers may not attend a practice out of their age group. They must
come to either their scheduled practice or an afternoon practice. In order to qualify for the Divisional and
All- Star meets a swimmer must have participated in a minimum of 3 VBSL dual meets if 5 are scheduled
and 2 if there are only 4 meets scheduled.
Practices:
Morning Practices will be closed to everyone other than swimmers starting Monday, June 15. Parents and
non simmers will not be allowed in the fenced pool area. This is to ensure that concentration of both
swimmers and coaches are focused on practice. Afternoon practices are intended for swimmers who have
a conflict due to special circumstances (e.g. doctor’s appointments, summer school, camp etc.). Any
swimmer who wishes to attend an afternoon practice should contact the Coach for permission. Parents
are requested NOT to approach the coaches during or between practice sessions with questions or
grievances as this action diminishes the authority of the coaches in the eyes of the swimmers in addition to
disrupting practice. Please call or email the coaches to discuss any concerns or put a note in their mailbox.
Age/Practice Group Determination:
The age group of a swimmer is determined by the age of the swimmer as of June 15 th of the current year.
Children are grouped by age: 6 & under, 8 & under, 10 & under, 12 & under, 14 & under, and 18 & under.
(These age groups are mandated by VBSL.) Swimmers may swim up into a higher age group (as placed by
the coaches), but they may not swim in a lower age group.
Discipline:
Swimmers who misbehave during practice will be given two (2) warnings by the coach. If the undesired
behavior continues, they will be asked to leave the practice session.
Time Trials:
This is a “practice meet” held prior to the first meet. The coaches use these times to assist in making
entries for the meet. Time Trials are also used to help parents learn the different jobs in a meet as well as
give new swimmers a chance to see how an actual swim meet will be run.
Signing IN/OUT of Meets & Volunteer Responsibilities*****WILL BE DISCUSSED AT THE PARENT MEETING:
All swimmers must sign IN or OUT for all meets in the “Notebook”. This must be done no later than 10:00
AM the Wednesday before a Saturday meet. In case of sudden illness, please try to contact Coach Jordan
by 9:00 PM the Friday evening before a Meet. Coach Jordan can be reached on his cell @ 274-4800.
4/18 12:31 AM