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Indiana YMCA Piranhas:
Guidelines and General Information

Contents:

  • Team Eligibility
  • Competitive Age Groups and Events
  • Types of Meets
  • USA Swimming rules for swim meets
  • Team Communication
  • Districts qualifying times (from the WPYSL website)
  • Nationals qualifying times (from the WPYSL website)

Team Eligibility

Any member of the Indiana County YMCA between the ages of 5 and 18 (and still and high school senior) who can swim 25 yards (50 yards for ages 9 and up) unassisted is eligible for the swim team. The child's age on December 1 determines his or her ages for the winter swim season and May 1 for the summer season. The swimmer must be an amateur and may not represent any other organization (except high school) in open or closed competition during the period of September 1 to April 30. Individuals on the Piranha swim team are representatives of the Indiana County YMCA. Their conduct at all times should be in accordance with YMCA policies and principles.

Competitive Age Groups and Events

Swimmers are grouped into the following category by age as of December 1.

  • Novice: 8 and under
  • Cadet: 9 and 10 yrs
  • Prep: 11 and 12 yrs
  • Junior: 13-14 yrs
  • Senior: 15-18 yrs

Swimmers may participate in individual and or relay events.

Freestyle relays: consist of four swimmers. Depending on age, each swimmer swims one or two lengths of the pool freestyle.

Medley relays: consist of four swimmers. Depending on age, each swimmer swims one or two lengths of a different stroke. Strokes are in the following order: backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, freestyle.

Individual freestyle events: 25 yds (8 yrs. and under only), 50 yds, 100 yds, 200 yds, 500 yds

Individual backstroke events: 25 yds (8 yrs. and under only), 50 yds, 100 yds

Individual breaststroke events: 25 yds (8 yrs. and under only), 50 yds, 100 yds

Individual butterfly events: 25 yds (8 yrs. and under only), 50 yds, 100 yds

Individual medley: 100 yd (one length each butterfly, backstroke, breast stroke, freestyle) 200 yd (two lengths each butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle)

Types of Meets

YMCA teams participate in several types of meets. Some are mandatory, some are optional, and some require swimmers and relay teams to qualify to participate by meeting event time standards. All meets are held on weekends.

  • Dual Meets: At a dual meet, a YMCA team swims against another team in its league and division. Dual Meets run from December through February and are mandatory for all Piranha team members. They last approximately 3 hours.

     
  • Invitationals: Teams in the WPYSL can choose to hold invitationals, which are open to other Y teams. Invitationals provide swimmers the opportunity to compete with other swimmers from all the divisions in the WPYSL -- about 15 teams. Piranha swimmers can choose whether or not they want to participate in invitationals. Our coaches recommend participation in certain invitationals, but participation is optional. Invitationals run from October through February. Plan to spend at least 5 hours at an invitational. If your swimmers span several age groups, plan to spend all day at an invitational.

     
  • Districts, States, and Nationals: Individual swimmers and relay teams must qualify for Districts, States, and Nationals by meeting time standards for events. Time standards are available at the WPYSL site. Districts and States take place in March, Winter Nationals take place in April, Summer Nationals in August. Participation is optional but greatly encouraged!

USA Swimming Rules

The Piranhas are in Division I of the Western Pa. YMCA Swim League (WPYSL). As of the 2006/7 season, YCMA teams have adopted USA Swimming rules. Among other things, the rules explain how meets operate and what can disqualify a swimmer (false start, illegal stroke, etc.).

  • Download USA Swimming Rules and Regulations (PDF)
     
  • Download the USA Rules Adoption Guide, which explains what has and hasn't changed (PDF)
     

Team Communication

Email news and swim team family folders are the backbone of our communication system! Please provide email addresses on registration forms. Email is the quickest, easiest, and most economical way to keep you all informed.

Swim team news will also be posted on the bulletin board located across from the locker room doors in the hall lobby of the YMCA.