YWCA St. Paul

About Us | Rates & Registrations | Member Info | Schedules

About Us

The Team:

The YWCA St. Paul Piranhas Swim Team is a novice to advanced swim team. We are a team that likes to win but still focuses upon the development of the swimmer as an individual. Each swimmer is encouraged to set goals relative to their own capabilities and at the same time contribute to the team. Getting fast is great-but being a good sport, showing discipline and team spirit is what makes you a winner on our team!

Our competitive season starts in September and finishes with State in February. Competition is not required, but strongly encouraged.

Meet the Coach:

Competitively swimming has been a huge part of Andrea Gleason's life for the past 18 years. Her love for the sport has lead her down the path to coaching and teaching individuals to swim. Andrea has coached YMCA teams, private swim clubs, and High school swim teams for the past nine years. She has continued to teach lessons for the past 11 years, including volunteering for the Courage Center in Golden Valley for two years with the adaptive aquatics program. As Head Coach for a swim club in Madison, Wisconsin, Andrea's team was recognized as the most improved in the league for three consecutive years. As the Head Coach for the YMCA in La Jolla, California, her team took second place at the invitational swim meets for two consecutive years and second and third place, concurrently, for two years at the State Championships. Her dedication to her teams has always resulted in great relationships with swimmers and their families.

Swim Team Try-out:

3 ways to try out for the Piranhas swim team:

1. Try-outs for the Piranhas Swim Team are available by appointment. Contact Andrea Gleason at agleason@ywcaofstpaul.org to schedule your try-out.
2. Scheduled try-outs will be available before each new session. See Class Catalog and/or website for upcoming dates.
3. New swimmers can also join one of our practices for a drop in rate of $12. You must contact Coach Andrea Gleason (agleason@ywcaofstpaul.org ) prior to practice.

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Rates and Registrations

Swim Team Registration:

Members and non-members are required to pay the appropriate class session registration fee prior to the registration deadline.

Meet Registration:

1. Coaches are responsible for distributing swim meet information and entry forms to swim team families via e-mail and at practices.
2. Swim team families are required to submit their meet entry form to Andrea and the entry fee to the Member Services Desk by the registration due date.
3. Swimmers may request their events. Coaches make final decision.
4. Coaches will not accept entries without the entry fee included. Your swimmer is not registered without the entry form and fee.
5. Coaches will not accept late registrations.

Swim Meet Rates **

Dual meets: $4/swimmer
Invites and Championship meets: $23/swimmer

** Fees are subject to change

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Member Info

Coach-swimmer Communication:
Announcements will be made at practice and put on Piranhas Swim Team bulletin board.

Coach-parent Communication:
Parents/guardians are strongly encouraged to communicate directly with Coach Andrea Gleason. Please feel free to visit practices and ask any questions before or after the scheduled practice times.

Andrea's Contact Information:
Email: agleason@ywcaofstpaul.org
Phone: (651) 265-0746

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Coach Commitments:
As the Piranhas Swim Team coach, my responsibility is to teach and train swimmers for success in life and competitions. This includes stroke mechanics as well as demonstrating good sportsmanship and responsibility to the team and teammates. I also promise to attend practices, competitions and team parties; continue good communication with swimmers, parents and administrators; and attend all related team and league meetings.

Swimmer Commitments:
Swimmers should be at practices and meets on time and ready to swim. On time means that you are IN the water at the time practice/meet is designated to start, not in the locker room changing. Being prompt is important. Swimmers will also take part in fundraising for the team.

Remember that this is your team. Make it an atmosphere full of fun, team work and positive encouragement. The better your teammates are, the better your team will be. Everyone is expected to work hard TOGETHER; this makes practice a more enjoyable time. We are team, so we work as ONE.

Parent Commitments:
It is the responsibility of the parents to make sure that their swimmer is at practice or meets on time and ready to swim. Late arrivals create distractions and waste time for the other swimmers and the coach. Consequences will follow after practice for late arrivals. Warm-ups are very important, as it is a time to warm up muscles to avoid injuries. Attending practice 10 minutes early will teach your child responsibility and discipline.

It is the responsibility of the parents to make sure your swimmer is passing on information obtained from the swimmers communication folder. Parents need to check the website and emails for information about Photo Galleries, schedule changes, fundraisers, etc.

Fundraisers, volunteering your time at swim meets and getting your child to practices and meets on time are very important roles of the parents. Showing your child that it is important to be committed, on time and positive is a great way to increase your child's swimming success. Remember that your child works hard. Please make sure they know that you recognize their efforts with positive encouragement.

Fundraisers:
The Piranhas Swim Team will be participating in fundraisers throughout the year. Fundraising is the way the team earns money to purchase new training equipment, team apparel, starting blocks, team software, etc. All swimmers and parents are expected to participate.

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Swim Meet Guidelines:
Meets are usually held on the weekends. Directions will be handed out in the communication folders prior to meet date. You must arrange your own transportation to home and away meets. Being on time is very important. If your swimmer is late for warm-ups, he/she may get minimum time in the water. Fewer warm-ups can result in injuries. If your swimmer is sick, please call the coach ASAP!

Some meets may take longer than others, so it is important to provide entertainment (books, cards, music, games) and healthy snacks for your swimmers. Swimmers must sit with their coach and teammates. I need to be able to find you to make sure you get to your events on time and discuss your races.

Behavior Expectations:
I want to make sure that every swimmer gets the most out of every practice. As a member of this team you are expected to act like a team player. I expect swimmers to listen and respect my time with them during practice. If I have to take time to discipline a swimmer, time is taken away from the others. Therefore, disobedience/horseplay will not be tolerated. The following will take place if this were to occur:

1st offense: Verbal warning from coach
2nd offense: Ages 10 and under: sit out time; Ages 11 and older: Ask to leave practice
3rd offense: Meeting with parents

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