Piper Piranhas Swim Team Handbook

2026 Summer Season

WHO WE ARE:

We are a non-profit, registration-based, and volunteer-supported recreational swim team competing in the East Kansas League, open to swimmers of all calibers, who participate in practices and meets during the month of June. Our focus is on stroke-mechanics, teamwork, and sportsmanship.

 

Other participating teams in the league:

• Bonner Springs/Lake of the Forest Dolphins        

• Leavenworth Riptides

• Tonganoxie Tidal Waves

• Eudora Barracudas

• Lansing Sea Lions

• Lake Quivira Catfish

• Desoto Dolphins

• Olathe Otters

• Baldwin City Barracudas

 

CONTACTS:

Head Coach: Amy Bartlow 

Asst. Head Coach: Sandy Dailey

Team Managers: Holly Heininger & Megan Geist

 

Email: swimpiperpiranhas@gmail.com

Website: www.swimpiperpiranhas.com

Facebook: Piper Piranhas Swim Team (follow for updates!)

 

REQUIREMENTS:

This program is not a substitute for swimming lessons. Your child should be able to easily swim the length of the pool without assistance.  Safety is a primary concern; so if you have a question concerning the requirements, please speak to a manager or coach BEFORE you register. Your child will be learning competitive strokes including freestyle, back, breast, and butterfly during practice.  Our coaches will expect safe, responsible behavior from every swim team member at practice and at meets.
 

SWIM MEETS:

We will have 4 meets on Fridays in June. Meets usually begin at 7am (with earlier arrival times for warm-ups) and end by noon. If your child will not be able to attend a meet, please notify the team via email (swimpiperpiranhas@gmail.com) as soon as possible, as their absence may affect a relay team or number of entries in a specific age group/event. Coaches and managers determine the events in which each swimmer will compete. Coaches use your swimmers’ strengths and abilities to make event placements; and while we do our best to place swimmers in preferred events, we cannot honor every request for specific events.

 

Swimmers under 12 should be supervised at meets by a parent or other specified adult. Parents should be aware of the events their child is swimming and have swimmers ready as events are called. You can find your swimmer’s assigned events on the Swimmingly Fan app.

 

VOLUNTEERS:

It is essential that parents volunteer in order to help this organization be a success, therefore it is mandatory that one adult/person over the age of 15 work one shift per swimmer per meet. There are many opportunities available and training (if needed) will be provided. 

1. Timers- 1.5 hour shifts- stand at start/finish end of the pool, use Swimmingly app on personal phone to time races.

2. Stroke Judges- shift time dependent upon number of judges available- attend training to learn basic stroke requirements, use Swimmingly app to input stroke, swim, and turn infractions. *Can shadow a veteran stroke judge for one meet if interested* A $25 registration fee discount will be given to families who commit to judging at 2 meets and a $50 registration fee discount will be given to families who commit to judging all 4 meets. Reach out to Holly or Megan for the code. 

3. Score Table- 1.5 hour shifts- sit at score table, maintain Swimmingly app, provide log-in QR/codes to other volunteers (This is a fast paced position that requires use of an ipad and a basic understanding of meet operations) 

4. 6u and 8u Escorts- gather 6u and 8u swimmers from crash areas for their race events, maintain swimmer order in the clerk of the course 

5. Announcer- whole meet for 1-2 meets (would fulfill entire season's volunteer commitment) Use speaker to announce events, starts, exits, and upcoming events/heats.

6. Ribbons- time varies- done over the weekend- affix printed labels to ribbons, sort by category to be distributed the following Monday (this is reserved for a family/families with very young children who cannot safely supervise their swimmers and commit to being at a position on deck during the meets). Reach out to Holly or Megan. 

7. Hospitality- Provide water (at least 24 bottles in a cooler with ice) and distribute hourly to Piranhas volunteers at meets.

8. Fundraising- assist with minor fundraisers (donut sales, etc.) to help raise money for future needs

9. End of Year/Banquet -usually held at Bonner Aquatic Park- organize/plan

10. Volunteer Buyout-  please see Holly or Megan.

 

BEHAVIOR/PARTICIPATION EXPECTATIONS:

Athlete Agreement-

As a swimmer of the Piper Piranhas, I agree to the following code of conduct:

To train and swim to the best of my abilities and keep a positive can-do attitude.

Arrive promptly and ready-to-go for all practices, meets, and team functions.

Refrain from the use of profanity, both in and out of the pool.

Respect my teammates and opponents with only positive encouragement. Treat all coaches/managers/volunteers with respect and accept their decisions without argument. Exhibit humility when winning and grace when losing.

To remember that I represent my family, myself, my team, and my community with my actions, comments, and my effort in the pool.

 

Any behavior or action not in accordance with the code of conduct will follow the guidelines:

1st Offense – Verbal Warning 2nd Offense -- Time out of pool 3rd Offense – Phone call to notify parents 4th Offense – Removal from practice/meet

 

Parent/Guardian Agreement- 

As a parent/guardian for the Piper Piranhas, I agree to the following code of conduct:

To help my swimmer to meet team expectations and commitments and encourage my swimmer to do his/her best. Accept stroke entries as determined by the coach. Be encouraging and supportive of my swimmer's performance in the pool. Let the "coaches coach" and use affirming statements with my swimmer, i.e. "I enjoyed watching you swim today!" Be respectful and courteous to all coaches/managers/volunteers as well as swimmers and spectators and promote the emotional and physical well-being of the swimmers above any personal desire I may have for my child to win. Address any concerns regarding meet events with managers. Approaching coaches or volunteers such as timers and/or judges is strictly prohibited. Any spectator  violating this code of conduct may be asked to leave the pool deck or event entirely.

 

INCLEMENT WEATHER:

If there is inclement weather and we cannot hold water practices, dry-land practice (conditioning and stroke formation refinement) will take place or if practices will be canceled, we will send an email and this information will be shared to social media as soon as it is determined. Cancellation of a meet due to inclement weather shall be decided upon by the pool management of the meet location. In the event of a weather delay, meets will start no later than 10:00 a.m. and if need be, relays will be dropped to complete the meet in the time allotted. This information will be emailed and shared to social media as soon as it is determined. Due to our short season, canceled meets will not be rescheduled. 

 

FEES:

Register and pay through Swimmingly (must be completed before the child can enter the pool)

Each registration will include $18 for the Swimmingly platform plus:

$125 for the first swimmer in a family

$95 for second swimmer in a family

$50 for each additional swimmer

*If fees are a concern, please see a manager to inquire about scholarship opportunities

https://clubhouse.swimmingly.app/clubs/register/6ec3bc67-d29c-11eb-8b08-c2b3e1fb23ce

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FUNDRAISING

In addition to the registration fees, it is necessary to organize at least one fundraiser each year to help cover expenses. Examples include Culver’s/Chipotle nights, etc. If you have any ideas to assist in this area, please contact a manager.  We also accept donations from community organizations. If you currently work for an organization or are a member of an organization who would be interested in donating to the swim team, please let a manager know. We have several Sponsorship Opportunities that benefit the organization AND the soliciting family.

ATTIRE: 

To build team morale, swimmers are encouraged but not required to wear ‘like’ suits- this year, we ask that all swimmers wear a solid black suit of their choice (one-piece for girls, jammers for boys). These suits can be worn to all practices and meets. All swimmers will receive a purple Piranhas swim cap that coaches ask swimmers to wear at meets (practices optional)- this also helps quickly identify our swimmers at crowded meets!

 

PRACTICE INFO:

Where: Lansing High School Natatorium 

When: M, T, W, Th at the time determined by your child’s age and/or experience (see practice draft schedule) for the month of June only (with the exception of the first week- May 26-29, when practices will be Tuesday-Friday). Parents are welcome to drop and go or stay on the premises; although we do ask that you stay off the pool deck, as it gets very loud and swimmers have a hard time hearing coaches’ instructions. While a manager will be on site each day, there is no supervision provided prior to or upon dismissal from assigned practice times.

 

Times: Final practice times will be decided by the coaches after the first week of practice. Coaches will evaluate skill level and may move specific swimmers accordingly. For safety purposes, we may change practice times for specific age groups or lanes so that swimmers can be safely monitored in the pool each hour. If any changes are made, we will notify parents via email and social media. Please know that we cannot make changes to accommodate each family. Please bring your child to their assigned time listed below.

While practices are not mandatory, please let a manager know if your child will miss more than one practice in a week or has a regularly scheduled conflict that prevents practice attendance.

 

Draft Practice Schedule

11am-12pm:  

➡️13 years and older Boys & Girls, experienced swimmers only

➡️11/12 Girls- previous swim team members

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12pm-1pm: 

➡️11/12 Boys- previous swim team members

​➡️9/10 year old Boys and Girls- previous swim team members

➡️​9 years and older Boys & Girls- NEW to swim team ************************************************************************************

1pm-2pm: 

➡️7/8 year old Boys and Girls- regardless of experience 

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1:30pm-2pm: 

➡️5/6 year old Boys and Girls​- regardless of experience

MEET SCHEDULE

June 5, 2026

Bonner hosts Piper

@ Bonner Springs Aquatic Center

1200 S 134th St, Bonner Springs, KS 66012

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June 12, 2026

Tonganoxie hosts Piper

@ Tonganoxie Water Park

221 S. Main St, Tonganoxie, KS 66086

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​​June 19, 2026 

Leavenworth hosts Piper

@ Wollman Aquatic Center

1300 Shawnee St, Leavenworth, KS 66048

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June 26, 2026 

DeSoto hosts Piper 

@ DeSoto Aquatic Center 

32907 W. 84th St. DeSoto, KS 60118