Piranha

Coordinators

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Social Coordinator

Social Coordinators will receive a budget from the PPA, which is based on the number of swimmers per training/practice group (Maia, Nautilus, Poseidon, Juniors, Senior).  As the Social Coordinator, you can use the budget how you want to organize social events for your swimmer’s training group during the year (e.g., poster making, bagel breakfasts, Popsicles, post practice pizza, fun team building activities such as wacky relays or any other creative idea).  It would be helpful if you communicate your plans with the Age Group Social Coordinator (Kathy Finnegan) and the Piranha Office to reserve classrooms, send training group email blasts, and request reimbursements. 

 

 

Special Events Coordinators

The PPA Special Events Coordinators oversee committees that organize a wide variety of fun activities such as the swimmers’ Holiday Party, the Parent Social and the Banquet. All require volunteer support. 

 

 

Fundraising Coordinator

The PPA Fundraising Coordinator manages the Team’s annual fundraiser.  Volunteers are needed to assist in organizing this event which alternates each year between a Swim-a-thon and a smaller fundraiser.  These funds support the purchase of new technology and equipment to enhance our program, training for coaches, coach travel and website enhancement, among other things.

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Meet Volunteers

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Meets 

The Piranhas largest volunteer responsibility each year is volunteering at meet.  All families, regardless of your volunteer commitments to the PPA and with the exception of on-deck officials are required to be meet volunteers.  Meets cannot run without these volunteers in turn our children cannot swim without these volunteers.  If your child is swimming in a meet, it is the understanding that you may need to volunteer.  

At home meets, jobs range from Timing Coordinator (coordinator of volunteers for a specific session of a meet) or timer, to working in the concession.  At away meets, according to the size of our entry, we are assigned a proportionate number of jobs (mostly as timers) and will be fined if our volunteer requirement is not met.  Working at a swim meet is a good way to meet other parents and increase your understanding and enjoyment of the swim program. Most parents actually find it more enjoyable to participate than to sit in the bleachers.  Please make your presence known to the Timer Coordinator to help the Team avoid a fine and ensure that no parent ends up working for an entire session. Volunteers for meets may also be contacted by a timing coordinator.  Remember, many hands make light work.
 
Any of the following jobs fulfill the meet volunteer requirements:
  • Timer Coordinator (away)
  • Meet Coordinator (home)
  • Timers (home &away)
  • Runners (home)
  • Posters (home)
  • Marshall (home)
  • Ribbons (home)
  • Program sales (home)

Meet Volunteer Sign up
The procedure for signing up to be a meet volunteer will essentially remain the same this year.  You may sign up to work at a meet either at the October parents meeting, on the Piranha bulletin board in the lobby of the YMCA or in response to an email blast or website notice.  

But new this year…. Based on these sign-ups, if we have not filled all of our spots for any given session of a meet, we will then pull names at random to fill the remaining spots. Please note, the names entered into this lottery will be of those families who have not yet volunteered.  This will eliminate the nagging requests for help and extensive emails back and forth.  If you are unable to work at a particular meet for which you have been chosen, you are responsible for finding your own replacement.  If your name is pulled, you will be notified by email and are expected to confirm within a timely manner.  It is recommended that you sign up in advance for at least two meets per swimmer for the short course season.This new procedure will hopefully ensure that everyone has the opportunity to volunteer and that our spots are easily filled.  If we eventually have the scenario where everyone has volunteered and we have not filled our meet volunteer spots, we will do the lottery from the entire entry pool.During the season, we will publish the names of families who have NOT volunteered at any meets.  Please periodically check this list to ensure that no mistakes have been made.


Championship Season
All parents of swimmers in Championship Meets (8/U Championships, Regionals, Age Groups and Seniors) will be expected to be a meet volunteer.  If your child is swimming in finals, you may need to work during both trials and finals.Additionally, distance meets always require that a swimmer provide his/her own timer.  Timing at these meets will count towards your volunteer requirement.

Meet Volunteer Job Descriptions

 

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Long Course Meet Schedule

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 2012 Long Course Meet Schedule

 

Start Date End Date Meet Name Meet Type Location Age Group Sign Up By Entries Results
May 5 May 5 NCY SM Meet USA New Canaan YMCA 8-12 yr old
Piranhas  Only		 Sent Results
May 4 May 6 Wilton Invite USA Wilton YMCA 13/Overs only Sent Results
May 11 May 11 OMNI Distance Meet USA Yale
University		 Selected 13/Overs Only Sent Entries Results
May 12 May 12

OMNI Invite
Saturday ONLY

 USA Yale All Piranhas Sent Entries Results
June 1 June 1 Zeus 9/Under Yard Meet USA Norwalk High School 9/Under Piranhas Only Sent Entries Results
June 2 June 3 Wilton Open Trials/Finals USA Wilton

All Piranhas

 Sent Entries Results
June 6 June 6 Piranha Intrasquad Meet Darien YMCA All House &
11/U Piranhas		 June 3 Entries Results
June 21 June 21 WRAT 9/Under SCY meet USA Westport YMCA 9/Under Piranhas Only May 25 Entries Results
June 23 June 24 GRYM Invite (13/Overs) USA Greenwich YMCA 13/Over Piranhas Only Sent Entries Results
June 23 June 24 CDOG Invite (12/Unders) USA Cheshire 12/Under Piranhas Only May 9 Entries Results
June 28 June 28 Tri-Meet vs WRAT & Orcas
Warm-up 4:30p / Start 5:00p		 Italian Center, Stamford All Posiedon, Nautilus
& Maia swimmers		 June 18 Entries Results
July 12 July 15 CT Senior Championships USA Wesleyan University 13/Over Piranha Qualifiers only N/A Entries Results
July 21 July 22 13/Over Regionals USA Wesleyan am 13/Overs
Only

TBA

 Entries Results
July 21 July 22 12/U Regionals USA Brookfield
 12/Unders

TBA

 Entries Results
July 27 July 29 12/Under CT Age Groups Championships USA Cheshire Community Pool 12/Under Qualifiers
(Finals @ Wesleyan)

N/A

 Entries Results
July 26 July 29 13/Over CT Age Group
Championships		 USA Wesleyan
University		 13/Over Qualifiers N/A Entries Results
August 2 August 5 Eastern Zone Speedo
Super Sectionals		 USA Buffalo, NY 13/Overs
Qualifiers		 N/A Entries Results

 

 

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Short Course Meet Schedule

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2012-13 Short Course Meet Schedule

Updated 11/20 – schedule subject to change

Start Date End Date Meet Name Meet Type Location Age Group Sign Up By Entries Results
October 17 October 17 Piranha Instrasquad Meet   Darien YMCA

10/U Piranhas
& all House

 Sent Entries Results
October 26

October 27 

Greenwich Invite

Friday & Saturday only  Friday for 13/overs

 USA Greenwich YMCA

9/O Piranhas Only
Friday night distance

Sent Entries Results
October 28 October
28		 Piranha 8/Under Quadrathon USA Darien YMCA 8/Under Piranhas Only Sent Entries Results
Nov 16 Nov 16 Piranha Distance Meet USA Darien YMCA

Selected 13/O
Only

 Sent Entries Results
Nov 16 Nov 18

Wilton Thanksgiving
Invite (11/O trials & Finals)

Event line-up

 YMCA Wilton YMCA 9/O Prianhas
Only
 Sent Entries Results
Nov 30 Nov 30 Dual v Wilton 8/Unders YMCA Darien YMCA 8/U  Piranhas
& House Only		 We will enter all eligible House and Piranha swimmers. Entries Results
Dec 1 Dec 1 BRS Invite USA Branford 9-12 Piranhas Only & 
13/Overs not going to TYR		 Sent Entries Results
Dec 2 Dec 2

Dual Meet @ Wilton 9-12 yr olds

Event line-up

 YMCA Wilton YMCA 9-12 yr old
Piranhas & House		 Sent Entries Results
Dec 7 Dec 7 Dual vs New Canaan
10/Unders 		 YMCA Darien YMCA

10/U Piranhas
& 10/U House

 Sent Entries Results
Dec 7 Dec 7 Dual @ New Canaan
11/12’s		 YMCA New Canaan

11/12 Piranhas
& 11/12 House

 Sent Entries Results
Dec 14 Dec 16 TYR Capital Classic
(Must have 2 cuts)		 YMCA Cary, NC 13/Overs
Qualifiers Only		 N/A Entries Results
Jan 5 Jan 5 15-18 yr old YMCA States YMCA Wilton YMCA 15-18 yr old Piranhas
Only

Sent

 Entries Results
Jan 6 Jan 6 13/14 yr old YMCA States YMCA Wilton YMCA 13/14 yr old Piranhas Only

Sent

 Entries Results
Jan 5 Jan 6 WAC Invite USA Albertus Magnus
College, New Haven		 9-12 Piranhas
Only

Sent

 Entries Results
Jan 12 Jan 12 12/Under dual meet v WCYM YMCA Brookfield YMCA 12/U Piranhas
& 12/U House Only

1/4

 Entries Results
Jan 18 Jan 20

GRYM Invite

 USA Greenwich YMCA 9/O Piranhas
Only

12/20

 Entries  Results
Jan 25 Jan 25 Piranha Distance Meet USA Darien YMCA

Selected 13/O
Only

Selected 13/O – coaches will speak with swimmers about entry

 Entries Results
Feb 9 Feb 10 12/Under YMCA States YMCA Cheshire Community Pool 12/U Piranhas
Only

TBA

 Entries Results
Feb 16 Feb 16

WRAT Invite

 USA

Westport YMCA

9/Over Piranhas only

TBA

 Entries Results
March 2 March 3 CT Regionals USA Norwalk, New Haven or New Canaan 9/Over
Piranhas

TBA

 Entries Results
March 7 March 10 CT Age Group
Championships		 USA Wesleyan University 9/Over Qualifiers TBA Entries Results
March 21 March 24 CT Seniors Championships USA Wesleyan University 13/Over Qualifiers TBA Entries Results
TBD TBD 12/Under YMCA New Englands
 YMCA TBD 12/Under Qualifiers TBA Entries Results
April 3 April 6 YMCA National
Championship		 YMCA Greensboro, NC 13/Overs
Qualifiers		 N/A Entries Results

 

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Job Description

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AWAY MEETS

  • Timer Coordinator – Prior to an away swim meet,  the age group coordinators will provide the timer coordinator with a list of the volunteers for the meet.  Volunteers will have already been notified that they are timing and have been told which shift.  At the meet, the timer coordinator checks in with the volunteer table, collects and distributes stopwatches and receives lane assignments.  The timer coordinator locates our timers, informs them of the location of the timers‘ meeting and makes sure each shift of timers knows who is replacing them and when.  If a timer is a no-show, the timer coordinator needs to find someone to take their spot or replace them themselves.  When the meet is over, it is very important that you email darienpiranhaswim@gmail.com to give an accurate list of your volunteers.
  • Timers – assigned to time a lane at either home or away meets (shifts should not be more than 1 1/2 hours).  Needs to check in with our timing coordinator at the beginning of the meet.  When the Piranhas are assigned a timing assignment, it is for the entire meet.  No leaving until you are relieved or the meet has ended.

HOME MEETS

  • Meet Coordinator – Prior to a home meet, the age group coordinators will provide the meet coordinator with a list of the volunteers for the meet.  Volunteers will have already been notified that they are working and have been told which position and shift.  In addition to coordinating the timers (see timer coordinator above), the meet coordinator also needs to coordinate the runners, posters, Marshall, ribbons and program sales positions.  Finally, they are there to assist the piranha coaching staff with any needs they may have to keep the meet running smoothly.  When the meet is over, it is very important that you email darienpiranhaswim@gmail.com to give an accurate list of your volunteers.
  • Timers – assigned to time a lane at either home or away meets (shifts should not be more than 1 1/2 hours).  Needs to check in with our timing coordinator at the beginning of the meet.  Timing assignments are for the entire meet.  No leaving until you have been relieved or the meet has ended.
  • Runners – collects the timing sheets from timers and delivers to the scorer’s table.
  • Posters – posts the results as events finish periodically throughout the meet.
  • Marshall – one male and one female, periodically checks the bathrooms.
  • Ribbons – gathers ribbons from the swim office.  Applies name and place sticker to the back of the ribbons and sorts by club.
  • Meet Coordinator – at home meets only, coordinates all of the above volunteers.  Works as a liaison with the coaching staff.
  • Program sales – sells programs and signs in volunteers.

Officials for both home and away meets are coordinated separately.  Our Officials lessen our timing commitment!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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Officials

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The Piranhas have a great tradition of having many USA Swimming Officials affiliated with the Team. It is a requirement that all USA Swimming Meets have a sufficient number of USA registered Officials on deck. Without Officials, the meet cannot be considered a USA Swimming sanctioned meet.  Having Officials affiliated with the Team is a huge benefit.  

 

Becoming an Official entails participating in a class and taking an on-line open book test.  Once you have done both, you must work at least four meets as a trainee after the fourth meet you are a Stroke and Turn Official.  
 

 

 

 

 

  

  

 
 
Darien Officials

Name Type Email

David Oulighan

Referee

oulighan@gmail.com

Gigi Kearney

 Referee

chiquitapt@optonline.net

Erica Merrill

Starter

ammetm@optonline.net

Tom Ryan

Starter

 tkkeryan@yahoo.com

Pat Begos

Starter

jbegos@optonline.net

Charlie Hom

Stroke & Turn

cleehom@aol.com

Nancy Grune

Stroke & Turn

thegrunes@aol.com
Craig Lovegrove Stroke & Turn

trl121@hotmail.com
   

 
   

 


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Training Groups

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About Training Groups

The Piranha Swim Team incorporates seven training groups:  House, Maia, Poseidon, Nautilus, Junior I & II, and Senior. The group a swimmer trains with is determined by commitment, age, ability and experience.  Coaches place all swimmers in training groups.   

Specific attendance requirements and suggestions for each training group are included in the training group descriptions below.  A swimmer’s promotion and improvement is contingent on commitment; age and ability are a distant second and third on the list of reasons for promotion.  Although we try to keep swimmers grouped by age, eventually a swimmer’s lack of attendance and dedication to the Team will catch up with him/her in many ways. Swimmers who are committed and attend practice as outlined for their group will find themselves rewarded in their advancement through the training groups, their development as a swimmer and improvement in their times.   

Maia

The Greek goddess of growth.  The Maia level consists of swimmers who are between the ages of 7-9 and have some competitive swimming experience.  Swimmers must be able to legally complete at least 25 yards of freestyle and backstroke and butterfly or breaststroke.  Maia swimmers will focus on stroke technique and learn the basics of competitive swimming, team spirit and fun.  The Coaching Staff recommends that Maia swimmers attend at least 2 practices per week. 

Nautilus I & II

Greek word meaning sailor.  Nautilus I & II swimmers have competitive swimming experience and are usually between the ages of 9 and 11, depending on ability.  This group will focus on stroke technique, swimming all four strokes and simple sets.  The goal of the Nautilus group is to have fun while learning about competitive swimming.  The Coaching Staff recommends that these swimmers attend 3 workouts per week.  Nautilus II swimmers are 9 years old who have opted to join the Team for the winter season only.  These swimmers are offered practice 4 days per week.  Nautilus I are full year swimmers and are offered practice 6 days per week.

Poseidon

The Greek god of the sea.  The Poseidon group is swimmers usually between the ages of 11-14. They are experienced swimmers who will focus on stroke technique, interval training, discipline, competition and fun.  Poseidon swimmers be ooffered dry lands once per week through the Y.  The Coaching Staff recommends that these swimmers attend 4 workouts per week to receive optimal training and have the opportunity to develop the necessary strength and skills for continued development. 

To earn promotion into the Junior training group, a Poseidon swimmer must demonstrate he/she is committed to the Piranhas year round and has shown the coaching staff he/she can handle Junior level training and the commitment that comes with this level of training.

Junior I & II Training Groups
The Junior training groups are reserved for our 13/Overs (12/Unders aging up to 13 before the end of season may be eligible for one of the Junior groups.)   To earn promotion into one of the Junior training group, a Poseidon swimmer must demonstrate he/she is committed to the Piranhas year round and has shown the coaching staff he/she can handle Junior level training and the commitment that comes with this level of training.
Junior II
This group will focus on building an aerobic training base, continued work on technique and building strength. The Coaching Staff recommends that these swimmers attend 5 workouts per week to receive optimal training. This group will also have dry lands at least twice per week. The goal of the Junior II group is to demonstrate the necessary dedication and skills development to become a Junior I swimmer.

Junior I
This group of athletes are experienced swimmers who are focusing on attaining the necessary skills to become a Senior Swimmer. Conditioning will become more of a focus for these swimmers and stroke technique will continue to play a major role in this training group. Dry-land sessions will be available along with morning workouts. The Coaching Staff recommends these swimmers attend 5 workouts per week to receive optimal training and have the opportunity to develop the necessary strength and skills for continued development.

To earn promotion into the Senior group, a Junior swimmer must demonstrate he/she is a dedicated member of the Piranhas, can handle the dedication and commitment necessary for Senior level training and have multiple CT Senior cuts.   As a prerequisite for joining the Senior group a swimmer must be able to swim 30 x 100 Free @ 1:20, 15 x 200 IM @ 3:00, have a Freestyle threshold of 1:15 or better and have swum following events either short course or long course; 1650/1500 or 1000/800, 500/400 Freestyle, 400 IM and all 200’s of stroke and IM.

Senior

The Senior training group is reserved for year round swimmers who have dedicate themselves to the sport of swimming and the Piranhas. A swimmer in this group must demonstrate he/she is socially, mentally and physically mature enough to handle demands of an elite swimming program. This group is the highest level of swimming offered by the Darien YMCA.   These swimmers receive the most practice time, and resources the Piranhas have to offer and they work directly with the Head Coach. Senior swimmers are 13 years of age and older.  Criteria to be promoted to the Senior group and detailed expectations to remain in the Senior groups can be viewed by clicking on the link.

 


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Coaching Staff

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Henk Jansen

Head Coach 

Henk, an ASCA Level IV Coach, starts his 9th season with the Piranha Swim Team. Before joining the Piranhas,he was an Assistant Coach with the OMNI Swim Club of New Haven from 199-2004, Head Coach at East Haven from 1997-98, and a Volunteer Assistant at Southern Connecticut State University for the 1997-98 season while working full-time as a Computer Analyst for SNET (now AT&T) in New Haven.   Henk graduated from Southern Connecticut State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Corporate Communications and a minor in Computer Science. Over the course of his 15 year coaching career Henk has sent numerous swimmers to compete at the collegiate level and has developed multiple USA Senior and Junior National qualifiers and in 2008 coached Piranha Peter Geissinger to the 2008 USA Olympic Team Trials in Omaha, Nebraska. In 2006, for his accomplishments and contributions to the sport of swimming, Henk was inducted into the East Haven High School’s Athletic Hall of Fame and in 2007 he was honored by his alma mater, Southern Connecticut with the Bruce Hutchinson Alumni Award.   From 2006-2010 Henk severed as Connecticut Swimming’s Senior Chair and he is currently a member of the CT Swim’s Technical Planning Committee. Henk resides in Shelton with his wife, Michele, daughters Olivia and Avery and his son Zach.
jason_c

Jason Cochran

Head Assistant Coach 

Jason, a graduate of West Virginia University with a degree in Broadcast Journalism and an ASCA level III coach, starts his 5th year of coaching with the Piranhas. He was promoted to Head Assistant Coach of the Piranhas in 2008 and currently an assistant coach with the Darien High School Girl’s Swim Team. Before joining the Piranhas, he was an Assistant Coach for the Whippany Waves of Whippany, NJ for three years working with all levels of swimmers from developmental and novice to senior athletes. Over his 5 years with the Piranhas, Jason has coached every training group on the Team. In 2008 his 8/Unders won the New England Championship and in 2010 his 9/10’s won the same title. Also in 2009 his 9/10 200 Medley and 400 Freestyle relay Teams broke CT State records. He works primarily with the Junior and Poseidon groups, but often coaches the Nautilus swimmers as well. He currently resides in Stamford.
 

Liz Blau

Assistant Coach 

Liz Blau, is starting her 3rd year of coaching with the Piranhas and her 2nd as a full-time coach. Liz brings a wealth of coaching experience and knowledge to the team. Before joining the Piranhas, Liz was the Men’s and Women’s Head Swim Coach at Rutgers University, an Assistant Coach at the Red Bank YMCA and an Assistant Coach with Scarlet Aquatic Club of New Jersey. She will working primarily with the House, Nautilus and Poseidon groups. Liz resides in Stamford with her husband Fritz and their three children, Ashley, Billy and Haley.
jim_m

Jim Matthews

Assistant Coach (YMCA Aquatics Director) 

Jim Matthews, the Darien YMCA Aquatics and Waterfront Director is the longest tenured Piranha Coach on staff. Before joining the Darien YMCA in 2000, Jim was an Aquatics Director at the Wilton YMCA. He has taught hundres if not thousands of kids how to swim in the Fairfield County Area. He brings decades of coaching and teaching experience to the Piranhas. His duties with the Piranhas include working primarily with the Maia group. He is a native of Rainbow Lakes, NJ, and currently resides in Stamford with wife Susanna.
amy_d

Amy D’Andrea

Assistant Coach (YMCA Assistant Aquatics Director) 

Amy, starting her 8th year of coaching with the Piranhas, is the Darien YMCA Aquatics Programming Director. Before joining the Darien YMCA, Amy coached and taught swim lessons at the Merrimack Valley YMCA in Andover, Mass. She was a competitive swimmer, diver and synchronized swimmer and is a graduate of Springfield College with a degree in Psychology. With the Piranhas, she works primarily with the Maia group. She resides in Stamford with her husband Dan and their children Jessie, Mia, Samantha and Daniel.
Jess

Jessica Johnston

Assistant Coach

Jessica starts her 5th year of coaching with the Piranhas. She was a full-time Piranha Assistant from 2010-11 before she moved back to Syracuse for a year. She is a graduate of Lemoyne College in upstate New York with a degree in Psychology. While at Lemoyne she was a four year member of the Lemoyne Varsity Swim Team and captain her senior year. Since coming to the Piranhas she has coached every group on the Team and has assisted on many of the Senior travel meet trips. She works primarily with the Nautilus and Poseidon groups. She is a native of Syracuse, New York and currently resides in Norwalk.

timea

Timea Libertiny

Assistant Coach 

Timea, a teacher for the Montessori School in Greenwich, is starting her 7th year of coaching with the Piranhas. She is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University in upstate New York where she studied History and was a collegiate swimmer for four years. Before joining the Piranhas, Timea was Assistant Coach with the Iona Gaels Swim Team in New Rochelle, New York for a year as well as a coached at the New Canaan Country Club for two summers. Over her tenure, Timea has coached every group on the Team except the Seniors. She currently works primarily with the House group. Timea resides in Norwalk.
 

Chris McCabe 

Assistant Coach 

Chris, a former Piranha parent, will be starting her 3rd year as Piranha coach. She was an instructor with Joan LaClair Swim School for over 10 years. Chris was a varsity swimmer while at St. Lawrence University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Math and Economics. She lives in Darien with her two children James and Caroline, who at one time swam for the Piranhas and her husband Jim. Chris will works primarily with House.
 

Michelle Krizni 

Assistant Coach 

Michelle, a long time Pre-School teacher at the Darien Y, starts her 3rd year with the Piranhas. She graduated in 2005 from Roger Williams College with a degree in Art History. Before joining the Piranhas, Michelle has taught every level from swim lessons to swim team the last 9 years. With the Piranhas, she will work primarily with the Nautilus and Poseidon groups. Michelle is an accomplished artist and plays clarinet in the New Canaan Community Band. She lives in Danbury with her husband Anthony and their Siberian Husky, Sasha.
 

 


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Team Competition

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piranha_team_comp

About Team Competition

Swim Meets

Each season will offer USA and YMCA meets.  These meets predominately take place on the weekends at different sites throughout Fairfield County and the Greater New Haven area.  A schedule will be available at the beginning of each season and meet information for each meet detailing events to be swum; start times, location, directions, etc will be available on-line and on the bulletin board located in the lobby of the YMCA. 
 

The coaching staff decides in which meets the Team will compete. All swimmers are encouraged to attend all scheduled meets, unless told otherwise by the coaches.  There will be sign-up sheets posted on the bulletin board for all meets.  It is the swimmer’s and parent’s responsibility to sign up for a meet.  If a swimmer is signed up for a meet and fails to attend, he/she will be responsible for the meet fees.  Meet fees only apply to USA and YMCA Invitational meets.  Generally, there are no meet fees for dual meets.  At the end of each season, USA and YMCA Swimming offer championship meets for all swimmers of varying levels of ability. There are qualification standards for certain championship meets.

 

Transportation to swim meets is a responsibility of each swimmer.  The Team does not provide transportation to any YMCA dual meets or USA Swimming meets. 
 

YMCA Swimming

The YMCA of the USA is the governing body of YMCA swimming.  YMCA swimming offers the Piranhas its dual meet competitions (Piranhas vs. one other team) and invitational meets.  As a YMCA team, Piranhas compete against other YMCA teams in the CT YMCA Swimming League.  The short course season usually consists of 2 or 3 YMCA meets and there are usually no Y dual meets during the LC season.  In March there is a New England YMCA Championship meet for 12/unders offered at the end of the season.  A swimmer must swim in at least two YMCA meets and meet a qualification standard to be eligible for the New England YMCA Championship meet.  The age of the swimmer for Y meets is determined by the swimmer’s age on the date of the meet. 

 

At the culmination of the winter season, Piranhas who meet the following qualifications will travel to the YMCA National meet (Y-Nationals).  In addition to achieving qualifying time standards, a swimmer must be at least 13 years of age and have swum in the equivalent of four YMCA meets during the season.  There are a sufficient number of Y meets on our schedule to meet this requirement. Swimmers are responsible for participating in these Y meets.  I will not add meets to the schedule for kids who neglected to participate in the required number of meets.  Also, a swimmer must be in financial good standing, have shown that he/she is a dedicated “Senior” member of the Team and mature enough to handle an overnight trip.  The coaching staff reserves the right to select which swimmers attend the Y-Nationals meet based on the standards listed above.  We do not attend the Summer Y National meet.  Swimmers travel as a Team to YMCA Nationals and other National-level out of region meets.
 

USA Swim Meets

USA Swimming is the governing body for Swimming in the United States. USA Swimming provides competition for swimmers of all ages, levels and abilities at the regional, Senior and international levels. Meets are offered throughout the winter and summer seasons, and both seasons culminate with Championship meets. In order to swim in meets, a swimmer must be a registered member of USA Swimming.  Connecticut participates as a LSC (Local Swimming Committee) of USA Swimming.  Our Club code with USA Swimming is PSDY.

 

USA Swimming Meets are conveniently held on weekends and meet locations are usually in the Greater New Haven, Middlesex and Fairfield County areas, as well as other areas of Connecticut.  Swimmers are grouped by age for competitions, and the age group a swimmer competes in is determined by their age the day the meet begins.  Usual age groupings are as follows: 8/Under, 9/10, 11/12, 13/14, 15/Over, Senior. 

 

At the end of the winter and summer seasons, Connecticut hosts a variety of USA Swimming year end championship meets including Regionals, Age Groups, Seniors and 8/Under Championships (winter only).  In order to compete, a swimmer must have swum in at least two USA sanctioned meets during that season.  In order to swim in Age Groups and/or Seniors a swimmer must also meet a qualifying time standard.  CT Seniors is a meet for 13/overs only.   

 

In the summer the Piranhas may travel to the Speedo Sectional Championship meet and/or the USA Junior or senior National Championship Meet dependant upon qualifiers.  These are USA Swimming sanctioned meets hosted by USA Swimming.  In order to swim one or both of these meets, a swimmer must be 13 years of age or older and meet a qualifying time standard. Also, a swimmer must have demonstrated that he/she is a dedicated “Senior” member of the team, mature enough to handle an overnight trip and in good financial standing with the Darien YMCA and Team.  The coaching staff reserves the right to select which swimmers attend these meets based on the standards listed above.  Swimmers will travel as a Team and room with other Team members at these meets.
 

Championship Meets

As stated earlier, each season culminates in a Championship meet.  As members of the Piranhas we ask that all swimmers make time for their respective Championship meet. We post the meet schedule very early in the season to facilitate your commitment.  Aside from the fact that we are a competitive swim team and all swimmers must compete, we view all meets, especially a Championship Swim Meet, as a Team event and the Team needs all swimmers that qualify to swim.  We see this no different than the Team needing it players to participate in the championship soccer game or championship lacrosse game.  We understand that scheduling is difficult, but please make time for these meets as we need the swimmers to participate and the parents to volunteer. Please remember that in order for a swimmer to be eligible for any of these meets, his/her parents must have timed at two meets, minimum.   Please see Parent Commitment page for more details about this policy.

 

Swim Meet Attendance

The Piranhas is a competitive swim team. Because we are a competitive Swim Team, all members of the Darien YCMA Piranha Swim Team will be expected to attend meets faithfully. The major difference between Piranhas and swim lessons is that Piranhas do compete in swim meets. All Team members will need to attend at least two CT USA in-season meets for the winter season (meets between September and the end of February) and one CT USA in-season meet for the summer season (April-July) to be eligible for any CT USA Championship meet, Piranha Intrasquad meets and Y meets do not count towards these requirements, but time achieved at those meet do count. Also, any swimmer who does not meet these criteria will risk losing his/her spot on the Team the following Fall.

Swimming in meets is a part of the developmental process for swimmers. Learning how to race, how to split races properly, how to ‘win’ and how to ‘lose’, is as much a part of swimming as learning proper stroke technique. A swimmer is missing a huge part of the sport if they do not compete. Please make time for swim meets.

 

 


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Mission & Vision Statement

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Mission Statement

 

Along with the YMCA core values of respect, caring, honesty and responsibility, we the Piranha Swim Club are committed to excellence and dedicated to developing the finest of athletes as well as the finest of citizens through the sport of swimming and our swimming program.

 

Vision Statement

 

We the Piranha swim club will achieve through:

 

  • Attending Practice Faithfully
  • Hard Work and Dedication
  • Adding Members Who Share  in Our  Vision
  • Hiring Competent Coaches
  • Creating a Fun Swimming Environment Conducive to the Development of Children


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