FAQs
What is the minimum swimming ability required to practice with the Sharks and swim in meets?
To practice with the Sharks and compete in meets, a child must be able to swim at least one lap unassisted without stopping. A swimmer who can only swim half of a lap unassisted without stopping or requires assistance to complete a lap is welcome to participate in Guppies for the full season or until he/she can swim a full lap unassisted without stopping, at which point he/she can participate in Sharks practices and meets.
Why is my child swimming an event at a meet for which I did not declare him/her?
Although parents declare their Sharks for specific events on the weekend before the next meet, our coaches ultimately decide which events each Shark will swim at a meet. Usually, our coaches do not place Sharks in events for which their parents have declared them eligible or remove Sharks from events for which their parents have declared them eligible. But occasionally, for the benefit of the team, coaches will move a Shark from one of their declared events to another event. Coaches will not place a Shark in an event they do not believe he/she can complete.
How can I avoid having the coaches move my child from the specific events for which I declared him/her for the next meet?
The online form used to declare Sharks for the next meet includes a “Notes” section. Coaches review each Shark’s “Notes” section before deciding which events each Shark will swim in the next meet. Each parent is responsible for providing information in the “Notes” section that they want coaches to consider when deciding which events their Sharks will swim. If a Shark’s “Notes” section is blank, coaches will assume they may move that Shark to events that differ from the events for which their parents declared them.
What is Iron Shark?
Iron Shark is our way of recognizing each Shark who legally completes every individual event in a dual meet during a season. Each Iron Shark’s name will be included on that season’s Iron Shark shirt, which will be available for purchase.
How are relay teams formed?
Coaches review each available Shark’s times in recent meets and choose the Sharks who have the fastest times in the relevant strokes to compete on a relay team. In dual meets, coaches may decide to start multiple relay teams in some events. For example, at the coaches’ discretion, the 8-and-under freestyle relay may include a PCHM A relay team, a PCHM B relay team, etc. At Divisionals and at Championships & Classics, however, each team is limited to one relay team per event. The four Sharks with the fastest times in the relevant strokes during the season who are available to swim at Divisionals will represent the Sharks there. The same relay team members who compete at Divisionals will represent PCHM at Championships & Classics if their relay qualifies and all relay members are available to swim at Championships & Classics. If a Shark whose Divisionals relay team qualified for Championships & Classics is unavailable to compete at that meet, our coaches will select the Shark with the next-fastest time in the relevant stroke who is available to swim at Championships & Classics.
Do I have to volunteer at dual meets?
Yes, each household is expected to contribute a total of 1.5 meets’ worth of volunteer service during the dual meet season. So, for example, a household can meet this requirement if one parent volunteers for half of two meets and another parent volunteers for half of one meet.
The Board recognizes that some families’ circumstances do not allow them to volunteer during meets. If you are unable to fulfill the minimum volunteer requirement, please let a Board member know as early in the season as possible.
Do I have to volunteer at Divisionals?
If a Shark in your family is competing at Divisionals, you must be willing to volunteer at Divisionals, even if your household completed the minimum volunteer requirement during the dual meet season.
How are practice lane assignments determined at the beginning of the season?
To reduce chaos and confusion at practices early in the season, coaches will assign Sharks who practice at our 10-and-under practice to specific lanes before the season’s first practice. Those assignments will be communicated to parents in advance of the first practice and will be based solely on each Shark’s times at the end of last season and the number of Sharks in each lane. Sharks will be expected to go to their assigned lanes at the start of the first practice.
Coaches will assign Sharks who practice at our 11 and Up practice to lanes at the first practice.
Can practice lane assignments change during the season?
Yes, as the season progresses, coaches may reassign Sharks to different lanes depending on their ability, behavior, and/or to reduce crowding in a particular lane.
Does my child need to complete a preseason evaluation before he/she can practice with the Sharks?
If your child is seven years old or younger and has never competed on a swim team before, he/she will need to complete a preseason evaluation before he/she can participate in a Sharks practice. Board members will notify the families of each swimmer who must complete an evaluation by email in late April. Evaluations will be held on May 5 from 4-6 p.m. at the Pebble Creek pool and will be overseen by our coaches and Board members. At the evaluation, each swimmer must swim one lap unassisted without stopping to be permitted to practice with the Sharks. Swimmers who can complete only half a lap unassisted, without stopping, will be placed in Guppies. Swimmers who cannot complete half a lap unassisted without stopping will not be permitted to participate in Guppies or Sharks practice this season.
What are the minimum requirements to swim at Divisionals?
A Shark who wishes to compete at Divisionals must have legally completed an event in at least two dual meets.
