If you've recently become a Piranha.... WELCOME TO THE FAMILY!

If you're on the team and still have a few questions, we'll try to answer them in this simple Q&A.

If you still have unanswered questions, please contact Nanette Freeman at Palm Harbor YMCA.

nfreeman@suncoastymca.org      727-787-9622 x116

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS....

What does my swimmer need to bring to practice?

Each swimmer should bring their goggles, swim fins, swim cap, a towel and WATER!! to their scheduled practice.

Pull buoys, kickboards, paddles and other training tools are available at your branch.  If your swimmer has a personal preference in training tools, they may bring their own.  Be sure to clearly identify these personal items - the clean up process is typically swift when items are put away in their bins.

What style of goggles should my child wear?

There are many styles and sizes of goggles available.  Be sure to find a pair of goggles that "fit your face" - there are Youth and Adult sizes.  Which goggle is for you comes down to the personal preference of each swimmer.

What kind of bathing suit should my child wear?

Girls should wear a 1 piece bathing suit.  Practice suits do not need to be racing suits, but should fit nicely and stay in place for swimming and diving.  Racing suits should be well fitted - no gaps for water to catch.  Boys can choose to wear jammer or brief style suits.  

PYP is a SPEEDO sponsored team and we encourage all swimmers to wear SPEEDO suits!

Are we required to purchase a team suit?

No, a PYP team suit is not required.  There is a team suit available and on file with our Sponsored Vendor - Total Team Wears that can be purchased.   www.totalteamwares.com   It is very important to wear a well-fitted suit when you are racing.  Check with your coach if you're not sure what type of suit to race in. 

We do require that PYP swimmers race in PYP caps.

Where can I get my PYP cap?

There are 2 types of PYP caps  -  Latex and Silicone.   Latex is thinner and costs $5   Silicone is thicker and costs $14

The type of cap you choose is based on your personal preference.

Caps can be purchased from your YMCA Membership Desk and are always available at swim meets from your Coach. 

There are a wide variety of practice caps available in latex, silicone and lycra - they can be purchased at local stores, online or at swim meets.

How do we know what's going on with the Piranhas?

Communication Folders!

Each branch of Piranhas has their own set of communication folders.  These are folders located pool side and setup by your family's last name.  It is our way of sharing information about practice and meet schedules, meet entry forms, activities, delivery of your ribbons/recognition and other pieces of important information.  Please check your folder daily!

Your coach also has a folder in the front for you to drop off meet entries, payments, questions and other important information you need to share.  This website also offers the email address for each coach of the PYP Piranhas in the ABOUT PYP section.  Please feel free to use this communication tool to ask questions.

There are terms the coaches use that my new swimmer doesn't understand.

One of the many benefits offered through USA Swimming is a Parent Section. Here you can find "The Basics" - "Glossary of terms"  or "swim slang" to help the kids learn the language of swimming.  Another great way for parents to better understand the sport of swimming,  "Swimming 101"  provides a great deal of information.

How do I know when my child is ready to swim at a meet?

Ask your swimmer's coach.   PYP offers a wide variety of meets for our swimmers to participate in:  PYP Meets, YMCA Meets, FL/USA Sanctioned Meets, Qualifying Meets, Championship Meets.  (meet type details)  

We encourage all of the swimmers to jump in and begin racing when they are ready. 

There are many technical aspects to each stroke that coaches work on daily at practice.  Simply communicate with your coach after practice, a note in their communication folder or by email.  They will be more than happy to recommend the stroke and distance your swimmer is ready to race.  Encouraging the swimmers to "go outside of the comfort zone" sometimes results in amazing racing!  Your coach will be happy to help select events for your swimmer!

USA Swimming provides a great amount of info in:  "Everything You Wanted to Know About Swim Meets But Were Afraid to Ask!"

What are entry forms,  psych sheets and heat sheets?

Entry Forms are created to help you enter your swimmers in a swim meet.  They provide the important details of the meet (i.e.: date, location, events, cost to attend, due date) and provide a consistent method to ensure accurate entry.  These forms are available in your communication folder - extras located in back of folder and on this website on the HOME page and MEET INFO page.  Please complete a separate entry form for each swimmer.  Payment for the meet entry is required when you submit your entry.   Meet entries received after the due date may risk not being entered in the team entry. 

Psych sheets are a preliminary listings of the swimmers entered in a meet, ranked by time in the various events. Psych sheets will give the swimmer some idea of where they will be seeded in an event.

Heat sheets are the program for a swim meet. They list each event by session providing the Heat and Lane each swimmer will be in.  We recommend you bring a highlighter to find your swimmer in the heat sheet throughout the meet. 
 

What is meant by "short course" and "long course" seasons?

Swim meets are categorized by the length of the pool being swum. Short Course refers to courses that are 25 yards or 25 meters in length  Short course season runs from August - March of each year.

Long Course refers to swim meets being run in pools measuring 50 meters long. Long course season runs from April-July of each year.  Some Piranha branches offer recreational yards swim programs during summer.  Swimming at the Summer Olympics is long course.
 

I keep hearing kids and parents referring to JO's. What is it?

When a parent or swimmer mentions J.O.’s, they are referring to the Florida Swimming Junior Olympic Age Group Championships held twice a year, one for Short Course and one for Long Course. Swimmers are divided into the recognized age groups by gender, 10 and Under, 11-12 years old, and 13-14 years old. They must achieve certain times in events to qualify for the meets. These times are posted on the Florida Swimming websiten and in this website under LINKS - TIME STANDARDS.
 

I hear other parents talking about cuts and letters. What do they mean?

Certain swim meets require the swimmers to achieve qualifying times or ‘cuts’ to enter the events.  Our schedule of meets that require "cuts" include Gator Meet, Junior Olympics, Senior Champs, Sectionals, Y Nationals and all National level meets.

USA Swimming publishes a list of times ranked by age which are called Motivational Times and are listed All Times, B, BB, A, AA, AAA, and AAAA. Beyond AAAA is the National Reportable Time or NRT.  These letters can be used to help each individual swimmer set their goals.

You can view the current time standards under Links/Sponsors

How do I pay my monthly fees for Piranhas?

PYP is a monthly program.  Your PYP program fee is determined by the division you practice with and the type of YMCA Membership you have.  Fees can be paid at your YMCA Membership Desk,  Online on this website's HOME page or at www.suncoastymca.org .

Payment for each month is due by the 10th of each month.  Attendance is taken daily and notice of unpaid program fees may result in a $10 late fee.

Where do I purchase PYP t-shirts, sweats and more?

Several times throughout the year, PYP Outfitting order forms will be made available at your branch or on this website.

We will offer PYP t-shirts, Sweatshirts/Sweatpants, Hoodies, Crew Necks, Tank Tops, Polos and more.  These orders are all prepaid.

This is your team and we invite your involvement in the design and the types of PYP items we offer.  To offer your input/suggestions/ideas, please contact Nanette Freeman at the PH YMCA.  nfreeman@suncoastymca.org   727-787-9622.

Total Team Wares offers additional items that can be personalized at Creative Embroidery or Image Depot  such as:  Parkas and Swim Bags.

How can I become a sponsor for the Piranhas?

PYP Team Sponsorship is an opportunity available at each YMCA Branch.  These tax-deductible donations help offset costs of providing PYP  Spirit T-shirts and other forms of recognition for our Piranha swimmers.

We will happily identify your contribution to the program by recognizing your family or business on our website and offer a "web link" with a simple click!  There are 4 levels of sponsorship:  Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze.

PYP Sponsorship Forms will soon be available for you to download and present to your coach! 

How do I become an official?

Every swim meet requires a certain number of USA certified swim officials and few meets ever have enough officials. The first step in becoming an official is to express an interest. Officials start as Stroke and Turn Judges, advance to Starter, to Deck Referee and then to Administrative Referee. Each level requires you to take an online, open book test, attend a seminar (usually held in between sessions at some meets) and then apprentice in the position for a certain number of hours with an experienced Official.

Bob Bentz is our lead PYP official.  He would be thrilled to spend time individually or as a group explaining the opportunity to become an official for PYP.  This is a great way to better understand your child's sport and be part of the fun!  Let your swimmer's coach know you're interested.

Contacts:  Palm Harbor YMCA: 727-787-9622     Coach Lisa Bitting:  lisa_lisa_1@netzero.net     Nanette Freeman:  nfreeman@suncoastymca.org    North Pinellas YMCA: 727-772-9622     Coach Scott Hernon:  pypnpinellas@yahoo.net