Table of Contents

• Welcome
• Hercules Piranhas Board
• Parent Expectations and Team Operations
• Attendance & Practice Guidelines
• General Information
• Swimmer’s Information
• Team Information
• Equipment and Preparing for Meets
• Volunteer Commitment
• Meet Information
• Scoring and Awards
• Common Terms Used in Swimming
• Coaches Corner - Tips and Pointers

Welcome!

The Hercules Piranhas Swim Team (HPST) is a summer recreational swim program and a proud member of the Twin Counties Swim League. Open to swimmers ages 5 to 18, HPST provides a fun and competitive environment where athletes develop skills in freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly while building confidence, endurance, and teamwork.

Beyond swimming, we foster sportsmanship, team spirit, and a commitment to personal growth. Swimmers are encouraged to attend practices, improve their times, and support their teammates, contributing to both individual and team success. Families, swimmers, and coaches work together to create a positive, supportive, and thriving swim community.

Hercules Piranhas Board

Parent Expectations and Team Operations

At HPST, we believe swimming should be fun, rewarding, and enriching. Celebrate your child’s progress by reviewing the Swimmers’ Responsibilities and encouraging their development. To maintain a positive and welcoming environment, please review our Code of Conduct Policy. The HPST Board or coaches may ask individuals to leave if their behavior does not align with our team values.

HPST is powered by parent volunteers, with only our coaches and aquatics staff as paid personnel. Volunteering is a required part of team membership, and every family must contribute by supporting meets, fundraisers, and team events. Please review the Volunteer Policy to understand your responsibilities and available opportunities.

The Board of Directors, in collaboration with the City of Hercules Aquatic Recreation Coordinator and coaches, ensures the success of our program. The board meets bimonthly (April–September) and periodically in the off-season. If you're interested in helping shape the future of HPST, email [email protected]. All Board meetings are open to public and HPST will communicate to parents when and where Board meetings will be held.

We value and appreciate your feedback—your input helps us improve and continue providing a fun, inclusive, and supportive experience for all swimmers and families!

Attendance & Practice Guidelines

• Parents at Practice
• Parents are welcome to observe but must not disrupt coaches or swimmers.
• Ensure other children are supervised at all times; the Swim Center is not responsible for unsupervised children.
• Family Members at Practice
• Practice sessions are exclusively for team swimmers. Non-team members should not be dropped off.
• Swimmers must leave promptly at the end of practice for their safety.
• Practice Schedule
• Swimmers must arrive on time. Arrivals more than 15 minutes late will not be allowed to practice.
• Coaches will not wait; please pick up swimmers promptly after practice.
• Absences & Vacations
  • Notify the coach as soon as possible if your swimmer will be absent. Lack of communication may result in exclusion from meets, socials, or invitational events.
  • Submit vacation notifications in writing at least two weeks in advance to avoid scheduling conflicts.

• Meet Attendance & Early Departures
  • Meet sign-ups are announced on herculespiranhas.swimtopia.com. Swimmers must sign up by the Monday BEFORE a Wednesday night meet and the Wednesday BEFORE a Saturday meet. These are deadlines. If you fail to sign up, your swimmer may not be able to participate in the event.
  • Inform the Meet Director/Manager and coaches at least three days in advance if your swimmer cannot participate due to emergencies, illness, or other reasons. Be aware that you may be fined $50 for your volunteer shift being missed unless excused by the coach.
  • If a swimmer’s absence causes a relay elimination at an invitational, $50 may be deducted from your refundable deposit per offense.
  • It is the swimmer’s responsibility to notify the coaching staff if they need to leave early so adjustments can be made.
  • League Meet 7/25/2026: THIS IS A MANDATORY MEET. If your swimmer is unable to attend the League Meet, you are required to notify the coaching staff in writing at the beginning of the swim season in May. Piranha parents are required to work at this championship; if you fail to complete this portion of your Parent Obligation, a portion of your refundable deposit will be forfeited.

General Information

Transportation – Parents are responsible for their child's transportation to and from all team activities. Coaches are not permitted to transport swimmers. Additionally, swimmers under 18 may not transport other team members.

Lost & Found – Lost items can be checked with the aquatic staff. Unclaimed items may be donated due to limited space. Labeling personal belongings with a laundry marker helps prevent mix-ups.

Refund Policy – Refund requests must be directed to the City of Hercules. HPST does not manage refunds for fees paid.

Swimmer’s Information

• Practice & Attendance – Practice levels and times are set by the coaching staff based on experience. For accommodations, email the coaches.
• Swimmers are expected to:
  • Arrive on time—those more than 15 minutes late may not be allowed to practice unless pre-approved by coaches.
  • Listen carefully and respect the coaching staff at all times.
  • Be positive and encouraging to themselves and other swimmers, be responsible for your own actions, follow all posted and verbal pool rules, and take pride in all of your hard work and dedication towards the team.
  • Our objective is to have everyone reach his or her own swimming goals. We would appreciate each swimmer's effort to come to practice as much as possible. While we understand that everyone has a busy schedule, we also know that the more a swimmer attends practice the more that swimmer will improve their swimming skills and technique while having fun.
• Beginner Swimmers & Meets – All swimmers are encouraged to compete. However, those needing assistance (kickboard, coach in water) or unable to complete a full lap must wait until they can finish a race independently.
• Race Conduct – Swimmers who violate our code of conduct, delay races by stopping mid-lane or on the wall may be suspended from competition. Repeat offenses may result in removal from the team without a refund.
• Pool Deck Access – Only registered team members are allowed on deck. Parents must supervise non-team children at all times—failure to do so may result in being asked to leave. Adults and children 14+ may pay a drop-in fee for lap swim during designated hours.
• Time Trials – Time Trials introduce swimmers and parents to meet procedures. Parent participation is required and does not counts toward volunteer hours. Returning parents help train new volunteers.

Team Information

• Piranhas Announcement Board – Located in the pool lobby, this board contains meet schedules, work schedules, event details, and other important updates. Parents should check it regularly.
• Family Folders – Each family receives a folder at the start of the season (located in the pool lobby or on the pool deck). Check it daily for updates on meets, events, fundraisers, and team information.
• Team Communication (Email) – The team relies on email for important updates. Parents must ensure their email address is current with the City of Hercules and the Team Administrator to avoid missing critical information.
• Meet & Volunteer Sign-ups
  • Meet sign-ups are announced on herculespiranhas.swimtopia.com. Swimmer must sign up by the Monday BEFORE a Wednesday night meet and the Wednesday BEFORE a Saturday meet. These are deadlines. If you fail to sign up, your swimmer will not be able to participate in the event.
  • Volunteer assignments are determined by the Meet Director/Manager based on event needs, efficiency, and job rotation.
• Social Events & Fundraising – Team events and fundraisers build community and cover expenses like pool fees, coaching, equipment, and meet costs. 100% of funds support the team. Parents are strongly encouraged to participate in fundraisers like Jamba Juice, Piranha-Rama, and other seasonal events. Suggestions are welcome—contact the Board or Fundraising Coordinator.
• Shop & Support – Support the team by shopping at SwimOutlet: http://swimoutlet.com/herculespiranhasswimteam. A portion of sales benefits HPST.

Equipment & Preparing for Meets

• Swimsuit Guidelines
  • Only one-piece swimsuits allowed.
  • No zippers, ties, or swim shirts.
  • Jammers/tech suits cannot extend past the knees.
  • 13 & Up may wear tech suits. 12 & Under may wear approved (green check) woven tech suits.
• Team Suits – Team suits are encouraged but not mandatory. They promote team spirit and make swimmers easily identifiable.
• To extend the suit's lifespan, use it only for meets/invitationals, avoid sitting on rough surfaces, and rinse with cold water after each use.
• Team suits can be purchased at:https://rytesport.com/collections/hercules-piranhas.
• Caps – Piranha caps are available for purchase. To extend their lifespan, rinse, dry thoroughly, and powder inside and out after each use.
• Goggles – Optional but recommended, as some pool water may cause eye irritation. Swimmers should keep an extra pair available.
• Swim Meet Checklist (Meets can last 4+ hours—be prepared!)

Volunteer Commitment

• Fulfill your volunteer requirements—view the Volunteer Policy for full information.
• Volunteer opportunities are limited for certain jobs and subject to team needs.
• League Championship jobs differ from regular season jobs
• Volunteer Roles:
  • Meet Director – Ensures all volunteer roles are filled, tracks parent participation, and ensures volunteers receive breaks as needed.
  • Set-Up Crew – Prepares the pool area for the meet, including setting up lane lines, backstroke flags, bullpen tent/chairs, red/white flags, scoring table, ribbon table, and starter table. This role requires arrival by 7:00 AM.
  • Starter – Announces races, provides instructions to swimmers and timers, and operates the starter system. Must attend the Stroke and Turn Clinic in April.
  • Timer/Plunger – Records swimmers’ times using a stopwatch. Timers must start the watch when the swimmer leaves the wall and stop it when the swimmer touches the finish wall. Timers must be at the pool’s edge to confirm the finish before stopping the watch. Times are then given to the Recorder.
  • Recorder – Records swimmers’ times per event, verifies names, and ensures accurate spelling.
  • Runner – Collects event cards from Recorders and DQ slips from Stroke & Turn Officials, delivering them to the scoring desk. Two runners are preferred for home meets. Runners also provide short relief for timers and recorders when needed.
  • Ribbon Writer – Attaches pre-printed labels to ribbons or manually writes swimmer details at non-computerized meets. Ribbons are then filed in each swimmer’s folder.
  • Stroke & Turn Official – Evaluates the legality of swimmers’ strokes and turns. Must attend the Stroke and Turn Clinic in April.
  • Shepherd – Escorts 6 & under and 7/8 swimmers to the starting blocks, ensuring correct race order. Must remain with the group until the last swimmer is in the water. At home meets, Shepherds are responsible for removing the starting block from the water.
  • Colorado Timing System Operator – Assists in setting up and running the electronic timing system to record race results.
  • Computer Operator – Builds and records meet results, compiles swimmer times for awards, and tracks seasonal standings.
  • Clean-Up Crew – Helps restore the pool area post-meet, including removing equipment, picking up trash, and assisting aquatics staff.

Meet Information

The Hercules Swim Center doors will open at the designated time listed below for parents from both teams to set up; parents who are early WILL NOT be allowed into the facility.

Dual Meet Schedule & Arrival Times (Unless Otherwise Notified)

• Wednesday Evening Meets (6:00 PM – 9:00 PM)
  • Home Meets – Arrive by 4:30 PM, Warm-ups: 5:00 PM – 5:20 PM
  • Away Meets – Arrive by 5:15 PM (subject to change)
• Saturday Dual Meets (8:30 AM – 12:00 PM, subject to change)
  • Home Meets – Arrive by 7:00 AM, Warm-ups: 7:30 AM – 7:50 AM
  • Away Meets – Arrive by 8:00 AM, unless otherwise notified.
• Warm-Ups: Mandatory team activity—not optional. Warm-ups allow coaches to observe strokes and turns to help swimmers perform their best.
• Lane Assignments:
  • Home team uses even-numbered lanes,
  • Visiting team uses odd-numbered lanes.

Dual Meets:

• Held on Wednesday nights and Saturday mornings, with a 9:00 PM curfew on Wednesdays and 12:00 PM on Saturdays due to limited heats.
• Unlike invitationals, which require entry fees, dual meets are included in the team registration fee. Per league rules, the hosting team provides ribbons for 1st–6th place for boys and girls in each event, with all heats counting toward placements.

Age Groups for boy and girls for all events except IM shall be:

• 6 & Under
• 7-8
• 9-10
• 11-12
• 13-14
• 15-18

There is no 6 & Under Individual Medley (IM). IM consists of one lap each of fly, back, breast, and free. If a 6 & under wishes to participate in the IM, he/she may do so with the 7 - 8 group.

• Age Cut Off
  • June 15th is the date where swimmers' ages will be determined.
  • If a swimmer has a birthday before the cutoff date, then they will be moved to the appropriate age group. If a swimmer has a birthday after the cut off, they will continue to swim in the age group they are currently in.
• Order of Events
  • Medley Relay (MR)
  • Individual Medley (IM)
  • Freestyle (Fr)
  • Breaststroke (Br)
  • Butterfly (By)
  • Backstroke (Bk)
  • Free Relay (FR)
• Distances
  • 6 – Under & 7 – 8 swim 25-yard races. (One lap)
  • 9 – 10, 11 – 2, & 13 – 14 swim 50-yard races. (Two laps)
  • 15 – 18 swim 100-yard races. (Four laps)
  • All Individual Medley (IM) races are 100 yards
• League Meet
  • THIS IS A MANDATORY MEET. If your swimmer is unable to attend the League Meet, you are required to notify the coaching staff in writing at the beginning of the swim season in May.
  • Piranha parents are required to work at this championship; if you fail to complete this portion of your Parent Obligation, a portion of your refundable deposit will be forfeited.

Scoring and Awards

Scoring: All events count for points whether or not the opposing team has entries.

Only the A Relay team contributes to scoring.

• Ribbons
  • Ribbons are awarded at all meets and are given out to swimmers who participate at dual or invitational meets.
  • Note that our ribbon policy applies only to home meets. The ribbon policy at away meets is dependent upon the host team.
• Trophies
  • All swimmers who attend meets earn a trophy. Along with a regular season trophy, swimmers may be voted for the following categories listed below:
    • Most Improved – this is awarded to one boy and one girl in each age group with the most improved time in that age group; must attend the League Meet to be a candidate
    • Most valuable – this is awarded to one boy and one girl in each age group who earned the most points in both dual and invitational meets in that age group. HPST will be including invitational points for this category, and will be using an internal point system, as each invitational award widely varying points and places. The point system for invitationals is as follows:

Some invitationals would distinguish between A (Advance) and B (Intermediate) divisions; scoring then breaks down to:

Each swimmer must have attended the League Meet to be a candidate.

Most Inspirational – this is awarded to one boy and one girl in each age group, by the coach of that age group. Criteria may include the swimmer who works the hardest, makes the most of practices and meets, pushes themselves to improve, and inspires other swimmers or their coach with their efforts. Each swimmer must have attended the League Meet to be a candidate.

Coach's Award – this is awarded to one swimmer who, in the opinion of the coaches, epitomizes the definition of a swim team member. Criteria may include working hard at all practices without complaint, helping younger swimmers to improve themselves, swimming whatever event their coach request without complaint, respect of other swimmers and coaches, overcoming a setback, etc. Each swimmer must have attended the League Meet to be a candidate. All selections will be made by the coaches and based on statistical performance.

Common Terms Used in Swimming

Coaches Corner – Tips and Pointers

What to Do When You Arrive at a Meet

• Find the Team Area – Look for the HPST flag and set up with your team.
• Warm-Up (Mandatory) – Be ready in the water at the designated warm-up time. Warm-ups prepare you physically and mentally for competition and help you adjust to the pool's conditions.
  • Enter the water using a 3-point entry (sit and slide in).
  • Complete the assigned warm-up from your coach.
  • Do at least two dive starts—your coach must be present for these.
• Check Your Heat & Lane Assignments – Most meets are pre-seeded. Write your events, heats, and lanes on your arm for easy reference.
• Check in with Your Coach – Inform your coach of your heat and lane for any last-minute advice. If time does not allow, go directly to your lane.
• Go to the Clerk of Course (Invitationals & Championships Only) – Follow the instructions of the parent volunteers assisting with the staging process.
• Report to the Timers Before Your Event – Wait behind the timers until your heat is called.
• Swim Your Race! Don’t forget good sports conduct by saying good luck before the start and saying good race after to your fellow swimmers.
• Cool-Down (if available) – Cool-down is typically for swimmers 13 and over and must be used for swimming only—no playing or loitering. No diving or starts allowed.
• Check in with Your Coach Post-Race – Receive feedback before returning to the team area.
• Stay Until the End of the Meet – Swimmers are expected to remain until the meet concludes and stay for relays. Please check with the coach before leaving.

Coaches Corner: General Rules – Warmups and Cool Downs

• Coaches must be present.
• 3-point entry required. Sit and slide into the pool (no diving/jumping).
• Racing Starts – Coaches must be present before diving. Swimmers must:
  • Dive in, swim to the opposite end, move under the lane line, and return in a non-diving lane.
• Warm-Up & Cool-Down Lanes – Must be used strictly for swimming, not socializing. Some facilities allow only 13 & older in these areas.

Coaches Corner: General Rules – Basic Competitive Swimming Rules (Parents, please help remind swimmers, but let coaches handle technique and strategy.)

Butterfly:

• Touch the wall with two hands simultaneously (give the wall a high ten).
• Feet must stay together (no flutter kick).
• Arms must exit the water together and move forward simultaneously.

Backstroke:

• Stay on your back throughout the race.
• Touch the wall on your back at the finish.
• Flip turns are allowed—briefly turning to your stomach is only permitted during the flip turn.

Breaststroke:

• Touch the wall with two hands simultaneously.
• Follow the correct pull-out sequence (if applicable).
• Stroke pattern: Breathe & pull, then kick, then glide.

Freestyle:

• Swim fast and keep your head down in the finish zone!
• Flip turns are recommended but optional. 
• If you miss the wall with your feet, turn back and touch the wall with your hand before continuing.

Individual Medley Order:

1. Butterfly
2. Backstroke
3. Breaststroke
4. Freestyle

Turns - touch the wall as you would normally finish each stroke (2 hands on fly, towards your back for backstroke, and 2 hands for breast), immediately get into ready position, streamline, and push off for the next stroke.

Coaches Corner: General Rules: Relays 

• You must follow the rules for the stroke that you are swimming
• Your teammate must touch the wall before your feet leave the blocks or edges of the pool for you to start your stroke.
• A 100 Medley relay would be broken down into 4x25 where each swimmer swims 25 yards of their assigned stroke, a 200 would be 4 x 50
• Medley relay Order:
  • Backstroke
  • Breaststroke
  • Butterfly
  • Freestyle

Swim Meet Etiquette for Newbies

• New to swim meets? Sit with an experienced family who will show you the ropes!
• Read the Code of Conduct
• Respect Volunteers – Swim meets require a lot of work, and most people assisting are volunteers. Treat all coaches, officials, referees, and fellow competitors with respect.
• Start of Races – Be Silent! – Once the starter calls swimmers to the blocks, remain silent until the buzzer sounds. Excessive noise can distract swimmers and impact fair starts.
• No recording races from behind the starting point!
• End of Races – Stay in the Water – Swimmers must stay in the pool until all competitors in their heat have finished. If the meet is using fly-over starts, remain in the water until the next heat begins.
• HAVE FUN!