Season
Handbook2026–27

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Welcome to the Everton Park Sharks

Welcome to all our new and returning swimming families. Everton Park Sharks is a friendly, family-focused amateur swim club where children of all abilities are encouraged to enjoy swimming, build confidence and improve their skills in a relaxed and supportive environment.

• Having a go
• Doing your best
• Supporting each other
• Having fun

You don't need to be the fastest swimmer to belong here — we just want swimmers to jump in, try their best and enjoy being part of the club.

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About the club

The Everton Park State School Amateur Swimming Club (EPSSASC), also known as the Everton Park Sharks, operates as a sub-committee of the Everton Park State School P&C Association.

• The club is run on a non-profit basis
• All committee members and officials are volunteers
• Club activities operate under the EPSS P&C Constitution

A Special General Meeting is held at the end of each season to elect office bearers and officials.

Club meetings

Club management meetings are held when needed, and details are shared on the club website or Facebook page. All members of the school and club community are welcome to attend.

Club activities

• Friday night swimming club fixtures
• Club Championships
• Social and presentation events

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Where we swim

Club nights run on Fridays during Term 4 and Term 1. Gates open at 5:30pm and racing starts at 6:00pm.

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Membership

Membership is open to all families who agree to follow the club rules and policies. Applications are submitted using the club Membership Registration Form.

• Membership covers the full season — Term 4 and Term 1
• Each swimmer receives a free Park Sharks swim cap as part of their membership
• Membership fees are due by 16 October
• All members have equal rights and privileges
• Members aged 18 and over may vote at the AGM

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Parent & carer help

Everton Park Sharks is a volunteer-run club, and club nights cannot run without parent and carer help.

Parents and carers are expected to help at club nights by volunteering to timekeep across the season. Each club night needs six timekeepers. We occasionally need volunteers for other jobs too — the Shark Shack or the BBQ — and we'll ask through the Swim Club Connect app and the club Facebook page.

How to put your hand up

• Register for a role through the Swim Club Connect app
• Club nights will not start until all six timekeeper roles are filled
• Volunteers must be a parent or carer, or hold a current Blue Card
• Children must be supervised by an adult for the entire night

New to timekeeping? It only takes three taps in the app. Read the one-page timekeeping guide, which you can also print.

Helping out is a great way to meet other families and support the swimmers.

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Club captains

Two Senior and two Junior Club Captains are selected from a self-nomination process each season. Their role is to:

• Encourage and support other swimmers
• Help as spotters for the 12.5m events and with marshalling swimmers before races
• Assist at club nights

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What to wear

Club colours are black, green and gold.

• All swimmers must wear a swim cap at club nights
• Goggles are optional

Friday nights

Friday night club fixtures

Club fixtures are held on Friday nights during Term 4 and Term 1.

• Gates open at 5:30pm
• Racing starts at 6:00pm
• Swimmers must be financial members, except on Come & Try nights

Swimmers race against their own times, not against each other. This helps everyone focus on improvement and effort.

A BBQ and the Shark Shack canteen operate each club night.

Friday nights

Nominations

The club uses the Swim Club Connect Meet Manager app. Nominations must be in before 5:30pm on club night.

How to nominate

1. Download the app on iOS or Android
2. Create an account, select Everton Park Sharks Amateur Swim Club as your club, enter the club password, and create a swimmer for each registered family member
3. Select the relevant meet from the Meets tab at the bottom of the app
4. Nominate your swimmer in each race before 5:30pm on club night

Parents and swimmers should check nominations carefully. Any last-minute changes, after nominations have closed, must be discussed with the Announcer before racing begins.

Friday nights

Events & distances

Each club night usually includes:

• 12.5m, 25m and 50m races for three of the four strokes, alternating each week
• Two 100m events, alternating each week
• Special events such as relays, Top Gun relays (which parents can enter) or "Race the Parents" on selected nights

Boys and girls swim together in heats based on their individual times, and heats run in order from fast to fastest swimmers.

See the full fixtures program for what's on each week.

Friday nights

Distances & progression

Our progression system helps swimmers move up distances safely and confidently.

Starting distances

• Swimmers aged 10 and under start at 12.5m or 25m
• Swimmers aged 11 and over may start at 50m if confident
• Returning swimmers: your PBs from last season in each stroke set your qualified distance for this season, and are the times your points are measured against
• A swimmer's first swim at a new distance in each stroke is treated as a time trial and earns 4 points. A distance already swum in a previous season doesn't count as new

Moving up a distance

Swimmers may move to a longer distance when they have swum the qualifying time and their stroke technique is safe and correct. Once a swimmer moves up:

• They stay at that distance for the season
• They don't move back to shorter distances — the exception is the 100m events, where swimmers may also swim 50m of the same stroke

Swimming 100m events

To swim a 100m event, swimmers must meet the 50m time below, so we know they can finish the distance safely and confidently.

Friday nights

Points system

Points reward effort, attendance and personal improvement. They are not about winning races.

Points are earned for each race a swimmer completes on a Friday club night, based on how they go compared to their own personal best — not their finishing place. Points from every race are added together across the season and don't reset each week.

Points against your personal best

At the end of the season, points trophies are awarded on total points, provided the swimmer meets the attendance requirement.

Friday nights

Club night rules

These rules help Friday nights run fairly, safely and smoothly for everyone.

Nominations & missed swims

• If a swimmer nominates for an event but doesn't swim it, they receive −1 point for that event
• In exceptional circumstances, such as serious injury, the committee may approve an exemption

School or other swimming carnivals

If a swimmer misses a club night because they are representing their school in swimming, or competing at another swimming carnival, they may receive:

• 1 point per missed swim, up to a maximum of 4 points
• An attendance acknowledgement for that club night

• Written notification and proof of the commitment must be emailed to evertonparksharks@gmail.com before the missed club night
• Points are not awarded for non-swimming activities

Graduation & time trials

When a swimmer moves up to a longer distance (12.5m → 25m, or 25m → 50m), all points already earned during the season are kept, and their next swim at the new distance is treated as a time trial.

Warm-up

• Warm-up runs between 5:30pm and 6:00pm, before racing begins
• Lanes 1 and 2 are for diving off the blocks only during warm-up

Marshalling & race conduct

• Swimmers must listen for their events and report to marshalling when called
• 12.5m events marshal at the grass area near the canteen, at the shallow end
• 25m, 50m and 100m events marshal near the Announcer's Office, at the deep end
• Races will not be delayed for missing swimmers

Quiet for starts

• When the referee's whistle sounds, everyone must be quiet
• Silence is required until the starter's signal is given
• Quiet is also needed during announcements, so swimmers and officials can hear instructions

Heats & racing

• Events are made up of multiple heats, created on the night based on nominations
• Swimmers race against their own personal best times, not against each other
• Points are awarded on personal improvement

Disqualifications

• Swimmers may be disqualified if their stroke or actions don't meet the required swimming rules. The referee or assistant referee will explain the reason to the swimmer
• Disqualified swimmers still receive 1 point

Starts & false starts

• A false start is signalled by the referee or starter, and their decision is final
• Under the one-start rule:
  • Swimmers starting before the signal may be disqualified
  • If the signal has already sounded, the race continues and the disqualification is applied afterwards
  • If the disqualification is declared before the signal, the race is restarted

Behaviour & discipline

• Swimmers must always follow instructions from officials
• The decisions of club officials are final
• Unsafe behaviour, repeated disobedience or poor conduct may result in suspension
• The Club Referee is responsible for procedures and discipline on Friday nights

Friday nights

Weather cancellations

Swimming may be cancelled due to adverse weather, including storms, at the discretion of the Executive Committee. This decision is final.

The club follows a Storm and Lightning Safety Policy to guide decisions in rain, thunder and lightning, with the safety of swimmers, families and volunteers as the priority. You can read the full Storm & Lightning Safety Plan, including the 30/30 rule, safe zones and who makes the cancellation call.

End of season

Club championships

Championships are held near the end of the season and give swimmers the chance to race for medals in their age group and celebrate their progress.

• Championship races are held in March
• They may run over one or two Friday nights
• The number of nights is decided by the Club Committee, based on nominations

Who can compete

To be eligible to swim in Championship events, swimmers must:

• Be a financial member of the club, and
• Have attended at least 60% of all available Friday night club fixtures during the season

Swimmers must only compete in the distance they have qualified for under the club's progression rules. Swimmers who have qualified and nominated for a 100m event may also swim the 50m event of the same stroke.

Age groups

A swimmer's age group is the age they turn during the calendar year in which the Championships are held. Events are conducted separately for boys and girls in these age groups:

• 6 years and under, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 years
• 13–14 years
• 15–17 years
• Open — 18 years and over

Races may be made up of mixed ages or genders depending on swimmer numbers. Places and medals are still awarded within each age group for boys and girls, based on finishing times.

Events & distances

• All four strokes — freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly
• 25m and 50m distances, based on qualification
• 100m Freestyle and 100m Individual Medley

Swimmers may only enter events they are qualified and eligible for.

Medals & results

• Gold, silver and bronze medals go to swimmers placing first, second and third in each event and age group
• Championship races are judged by appointed officials, and their decisions are final
• Placings are determined by finish order within the swimmer's age group

Nominations

Nominations are made through the Swim Club Connect app and usually open about two weeks before the Championships.

End of season

Trophies & awards

Trophies and awards are presented at the end of the season to recognise commitment, effort, improvement and attendance across Friday night club fixtures. Awards are based on the points system, so the focus is participation and personal progress rather than finishing position or speed.

Points trophies

Points Trophies are awarded to swimmers who have attended 60% or more of all available Friday night fixtures and accumulated the highest total points within their age division. First, second and third place trophies are awarded in each age division.

Overall Club Champion trophies

Club Champion Trophies recognise consistent effort and commitment across the whole season, and go to the swimmers with the highest season points total who also meet or exceed the 60% attendance requirement:

• Junior Boy and Junior Girl — 10 years and under
• Senior Boy and Senior Girl — 11 years and over

100% attendance award

Awarded to swimmers who attend every Friday night club fixture during the season.

Club awards

Awarded to swimmers who regularly attend club nights through the season, in two categories: 60% and above, and 59% and below.

All trophies and awards are intended to encourage regular attendance, reward effort and improvement, and celebrate participation and club spirit. Every swimmer's journey and achievement is different, and we ask families to support and celebrate all of them.

Our partners

Redfin Aquatics

Welcome to our new swim school partner

Redfin Aquatics is now based at the Everton Park State School pool. Led by former Australian Swimming Champion Codie Grimsey, Redfin offers Learn to Swim and Squad programs for all ages.

Book your free swimming assessment

Our partners

Sponsors & supporters

Thank you to the local supporters who help keep the Sharks swimming.

• Tim Mander MPState Member for EvertonVisit website
• Cr Tracy DavisCouncillor for McDowall WardVisit Facebook page
• Redfin AquaticsSwim school partnerVisit website

Interested in supporting the club? Contact our sponsorship coordinator, Dean Jenkins, at evertonparksharks@gmail.com.

Reference

Season calendar

Term 4 — 2026

• Fri 9 & Fri 16 October

  'Come & Try' nights

  Visitors welcome — please invite your friends and family. Free swim and warm-up from 5:30pm, fixtures from 6:00pm. All four strokes are swum over 12.5m, 25m and 50m, with no 100m events, so these two nights are a chance to set qualifying times and fine-tune starts before the season proper. No points are awarded.

  Any existing member who refers a new family receives a $20 Shark Shack canteen voucher once that family becomes a fully paid member.

• Fri 11 December

  Christmas pool party

  To be confirmed, depending on the date of the school carols.

Term 1 — 2027

• Fri 5 February

  Club fixtures resume

  Racing from 6:00pm.

• Fri 12 March

  Club Championships — all events

• Sat 13 March

  Club Championships — back-up night

  Only if Friday 12 March is cancelled due to bad weather.

• Fri 19 March

  End of season break-up party

  Trophy and awards presentation.

Reference

Fixtures program

What's on each week across the 2026–27 season. Events 2–4, 5–7 and 8–10 are the 12.5m, 25m and 50m races for that stroke.

Reference

Office bearers & officials

Office bearers

• PresidentAndrew Hancox
• SecretaryPaul Maloney
• TreasurerJacqui Hancox

Club officials

• RefereeLisa Coakley
• StarterLisa Coakley
• AnnouncerAndrew Hancox
• Chief recorderAndrew Hancox
• Chief timekeeperSwim Club Connect Meet Manager
• Chief marshallKathryn Maloney
• Marketing & social mediaKathryn Maloney
• SponsorshipDean Jenkins
• MembershipsAli Jenkins
• Canteen convenorJacqui Hancox
• Grill masterMatt Edwards
• Senior club captainsTBC
• Junior club captainsTBC