Swimming

Athletic Clearance

FHS Athletic Clearance must be completed BEFORE you can tryout/begin practicing with the team

Please see link for instructions: https://foothill.pleasantonusd.net/activities-athletics/athletics/athletic-clearance

**Athletes who play in multiple sports need to register for each sport

Swimmer Goal Survey

All swimmers interested in joining the team need to fill out the form below with your goals for the season and best times

https://forms.gle/QrUgkz4oSGzcddGp6

Keep in mind, the top 4-5 times per event will compete at the varsity level during meets. Some events are super popular and very competitive to qualify for varsity, so if you’re thinking about one of these, encourage you to branch out and try something new - especially if you’re aiming for varsity this season.
Also, remember, the events you list as your top 3 don’t mean you’re locked into them for the whole season. If you want to try a different event, just talk to CoachES and we will work with you to get you in new events!

Absence Form:

Swimmers, fill this out BEFORE your absence: NEW FORM WILL BE POSTED CLOSER TO SEASON

Donations to support program

Please consider making your donation of $325 per swimmer/diver for the 2026 season

This covers only the essential costs of coaching stipends, invitational meets, NCS, State Championships, equipment (lane lines, flags, timing system, etc)

How to donate:

Checks made payable to "Foothill High School" with "Swim/Athlete's Name" in memo line (can be turned into coaches or office)
Via credit card by logging into your FHS Webstore Account: https://foothillfalcons.myschoolcentral.com/(S(zj3h35npa4pt2jvlzuakoz3i))/Index.aspx#/1/product/230

THANK YOU in advance for your donation and supporting your swimmers/divers!

Link to Pre-Season Meeting:

Welcome to the 2025 Swim Season!

Eligibility

STUDENT FIRST, ATHLETE SECOND!

Academic Eligibility: We will follow the school's policy of maintaining a minimum of a 2.0 GPA and no grades of an "F" in the preceding grading period (which includes quarters and semester grades).

Athletic Eligibility: We will do a test-set on the first day of practice. Cuts will be made if there is a safety concern for the athlete. Test-set: includes a 500 freestyle without stopping in under 10 minutes, 4x50 freestyle under 45 seconds, 3x50 fly, back, and breast under 1 minute

Practices

Attendance:

Swimmers are expected to miss no more than 1 afternoon practice per week unless illness/injury/family conflict/academic conflict
- Communication: any and all absences must be communicated directly with Coaches BEFORE the absence, and not through a teammate ***if you do not notify either coach of an absence, you will be scratched from the next meet***
- ABSENCE FORM: https://forms.gle/1HS2NnyA53HZGhTC7
Dual Sport Athletes: If you participate in sports other than swimming (ex: club water polo, dance, cheer, etc.) please communicate with Coaches if you are unable to make the minimum attendance requirements.
Club Swimmers: Although are not required to attend Foothill's practices if practicing with club team, club swimmers are always welcomed and highly encouraged to practice with Foothill whenever they can!
**Remember, the effort you put in is what you will get out...dedicating yourself to practice will set you up for success at the meets

Equipment:

Equipment is not required however highly recommended! All swimmers are encouraged to have paddles, buoy, and fins (team kick boards are provided)
- We will use fins EVERY DAY!
All gear needs to be on deck at the start of practice. Gear can be stored at the pool deck, encourage swimmers to get a mesh bag to store all equipment in.

Swim Meets

You are expected to attend ALL meets. Missing a meet for any reason besides illness/injury/family conflict/academic conflict can result in dismissal from the team
- You must email Coaches at least 1 week before the meet if you have a known conflict; notifying less than 24 hours before a meet for an unexcused absence will result in dismissal from the team.
- If you do not show up for a meet and do not notify any of the coaches, you will be dismissed from the team
Illness policy:
- If you are sick the day of the meet, you need to let Coaches know before 12!
- Swimmers will only be excused from a meet if they were also absent from school that day. If a swimmer calls out sick for a meet but attends school, the absence will be considered unexcused and they will be ineligible to compete in the next week
Reminder for all swimmers: missing meets directly impacts your teammates! Team scores include both relay and individual results, one absence can cost us a win!!!
**If you are not racing, you are cheering for your teammates!!
Events:
- Each swimmer is allowed to swim a maximum of 4 events at a meet; no more than 2 individual events (if a swimmer swims 1 individual event, they may swim in all 3 relays)
- Relays:
  - Varsity will swim an A and B relay, JV will swim A, B, and if the away meet team allows, C relays.
  - Relay orders will change throughout the season. Coaches will enter swimmers in different combinations and orders with the goal of giving all swimmers the best opportunities to drop times/splits.
  - For championship meets, including EBALs, NCS, and CIF, the top 4 splits per event will be granted a relay spot.

Home Meets

Swimmers will show up on the pool deck and check in with Coaches change as soon as dismissed from class
Swimmers must stay until the end of the meet to help clean up, tarp the pool, cheer on teammates, etc.
Parents, we will need volunteers to help time, run the snack bar, set up, clean up, etc. A Sign-Up Genius will be sent prior to the meet to volunteer. Huge thanks in advance to all parents!!

Away Meets

Swimmers will check out with Coaches on the side loop (near band room) at the required dismissal time. Dismissal times will be posted on schedule and reminders will be sent out week of the meet
- If you do not check out with a coach, you will be on probation and/or dismissed from the team
When arriving at the meet, get changed and ready for warm-ups
Transportation:
- Swimmers are NOT allowed to drive themselves unless they have filled out the proper paperwork to do so
- You are responsible for finding a ride to and from the meet

EBALs

Swimmers must notify Coach Ali 2 weeks prior to EBALs that they will not be attending, or their varsity letter may be jeopardized
Qualification:
- Swimmers are allowed to swim a maximum of 2 individual and 2 relays at EBALs.
- Swimmers must have swam in at least 2 dual meets in season and swam entered events at least once.
- Only times swum in season will qualify for EBALs.

NCS

Qualification:
- The top 40 swimmers per event in the NCS schools are eligible to swim at NCS.
- Swimmers who achieve the automatic time or faster will automatically qualify for the meet
- If there are fewer than 40 swimmers with automatic times, the swimmers with the fastest times between automatic and consideration times will be awarded entries until all 40 spots are filled
- ***qualifying times must be made during the current high school season at interscholastic competitions. No USA swimming meet times are accepted***
- Each school is limited to 4 qualifiers per individual event and 1 relay per event.
  - If we have more than 4 swimmers who achieve an automatic/consideration time in an event, only the top 4 times can be submitted to NCS for qualification
Time Standards: https://www.cifncs.org/sports/swimdive/Swimming_Results_History/2025_AUTO-CONSIDERATION_TIMES.pdf
NCS Website: https://www.cifncs.org/sports/swimdive/index

States

Qualification:
- The top 3 finishers (boys and girls) from the NCS championship finals on Saturday, May 10th, will automatically qualify for CIF swimming championships.
- CIF allows a total of 40 swimmers per event, additional swimmers from each section may be entered to the meet until the 40th spot is filled.
Time Standards: https://www.cifstate.org/sports/swimming_and_diving/qualifying_times
CIF Website: https://www.cifstate.org/sports/swimming_and_diving/index

Varsity Letter Eligibility

Swimmer must swim at ALL meets and compete at the Varsity level at any ONE of the meets.
Seniors will letter regardless of if they have competed at the varsity level at a meet
Swimmers attend minimum practice requirements
Swimmers meet school academic eligibility requirements

Probation

Swimmers may be placed on probation from the team for the following:
- Failure to notify coaches they will not attend a meet at least 1 week prior (2 weeks prior for EBALs)
- Failure to communicate directly with coaches before any absence
- Failure to check in with coaches after being dismissed from class for all swim meets
Discipline:
- Swimmers who are on probation from the team will be ineligible to compete in relays and/or the varsity level for 2 weeks

Other

You must display good sportsmanship and be respectful to other athletes on the team, coaches, school faculty, other students at Foothill, and all individuals at the schools we compete against
When you are at practice, meets, or a team outing, you represent the team and our school, Consider your actions on and off the pool deck
Win and lose with grace!! be the first person to shake your opponent's hands after your race, win or lose.
LETS HAVE A GREAT SEASON FALCONS!!!

Coaching Staff

Head Coach: Ali Smith

alisonnsmith@yahoo.com

Hey Falcons! This will be my 5th season coaching at Foothill, and my 4th as Head Coach. I'm incredibly passionate about coaching, especially here at Foothill, and it has been amazing to watch our team grow over the past few seasons.

I grew up in Pleasanton, swam with FAST and PVC, competed all 4 years at Foothill, and graduated in 2018. I later studied Criminal Justice and Business at the University of Nevada, Reno, while continuing to compete in masters swimming. I still compete today (go Club Hot Tub!)

Outside of coaching, I work full time as a Director of Sales in the software industry and am grateful to continue coaching at Foothill. Looking forward to another great season, go Falcons!

Head Coach: Rachel Knowles

Assistant Coach: Kylie Coburn

Hi! I'm Coach Kylie. I've been swimming for 16 years, 4 of those at Foothill and the rest at a variety of gold medal clubs, including Pleasanton Seahawks. I specialize in swimming long distance, and currently swim the 500 freestyle and more at an intercollegiate level.