Vienna Woods Swim Parent Kick-off - MAY 24, 2021

Vienna Woods Swim
Parent Kick-off
MAY 24, 2021

Agenda
Welcome and Introductions   Pictures, Suits and Spirit Wear
Covid Update                Social
Communications              Volunteers
Swim Team/Practice Info     Officials
A Meet Information          Swim Team Awards
B Meet Information          Questions
Mini Stars Information

Introduction to Coaches
Head Coach
- Michelle Blanton mshlstr@gmail.com

Mini-Star Coach
- Megan Rourke vwministars@gmail.com.

Assistant Coaches
- Reilly Blanton
- Eddie Burrows
- Jules McHenry
- Reilly Rourke (most of the summer)

Junior Coaches
- Sophia Brown
- Jack Peterson
- PJ Pearson

Introduction to Board and Team Reps
Board Rep
- Mary Burrows                           Officials Chair
A Team Reps vwswimanddive@gmail.com      - Steve Kenney
- Tom Peterson                           Social Chair
- Molly Allred                           - Karen Van Raaphorst
B Team Reps viennawoodsbteam@gmail.com
- Nancy Cline
- Joel Cline

Covid Update
Governor’s Announcement – May 28th lifting all restrictions
The CDC guidelines state that fully-vaccinated individuals do not have to wear masks in most
indoor settings, except on public transit, in health care facilities, and in congregate settings.
Businesses retain the ability to require masks in their establishments. Employees who work in
certain business sectors—including restaurants, retail, fitness, personal care, and
entertainment—must continue to wear masks unless fully vaccinated, per CDC guidance. Those
who are unvaccinated or not fully-vaccinated are strongly encouraged to wear masks in all
settings.
NVSL Guidance
Still awaiting any further guidance – NVSL Board Meeting was May 23
Expecting requirements on masks given presence of unvaccinated children

Communications
Vienna Woods Swim Team Website
https://www.teamunify.com/Home.jsp?_tabid_=0&team=recvwsd

Vienna Woods Swim Team Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=vienna%20woods%20swim%20tea

Northern Virginia Swim League (NVSL)
www.mynvsl.com

E-mail Distribution Lists Through Team Unify for Registered Families

Swim Team Eligibility
All swimmers aged 7 and over will be automatically registered for the daily swim team practices, and will be
evaluated by the swim team coaches. Eligibility for the swim team is based on the following requirements.
These requirements are necessary to ensure the safety of all swimmers on the team.
● All swimmers must be able to swim 25 meters (one length of the pool at the diving end) without the aid of a
person or device and have the ability to complete a one-hour practice.
● 8 year olds and younger must demonstrate their ability to swim one length of the pool (25 meters), in legal
form.
● For the safety of all swimmers, children who cannot keep up in practice may be asked to take additional swim
lessons if the coaches deem such a move necessary.
● Swimmers who are unable to meet the minimum requirements may be placed in the Mini Stars swim program,
which is small group coaching designed to help swimmers advance their swimming skills to a point where they
are eligible to join their age appropriate swim practice sessions. Moving to Mini Stars will be handled on a case-
by-case basis, and intended as a short-term placement to gain confidence and necessary skills to participate in
the more advanced team practices.

Practice Expectations
• We anticipate that masks will be required for practices and that swimmers will need to be able to keep track of
  their masks.
• Swimmers must come prepared with swim cap, goggles, and a can-do attitude to every practice. Water bottles
  (labeled!) are encouraged for all swimmers. 12&Unders should have swim fins (labeled!) also.
• Swimmers are expected to attend practice. Coaches take attendance and miss you when you are gone!
  Absences must be discussed with coaching staff.
• USS swimmers should discuss their summer practice schedules with coaching staff.
• Swimmers must swim with their assigned practice groups.
• No parents should be on deck during practice. The coaches will be glad to talk with you after the end of the last
  practice session of the day or by appointment at another time. Please do not talk with coaches or swimmers
  during practice. Coaches need to give their full attention to conducting a safe and beneficial workout.
• Any swimmer who sustains an injury of any kind during the season should immediately notify the head coach.

Practice Schedule                                                        https://www.teamunify.com/SubTabGeneric.jsp?team=recvwsd&_stabid_=145626

SEASON BLAST OFF – THURSDAY MAY 27TH

11 and over: 6:00- 6:45

10 and under: 6:45-7:30

PRE-SEASON WEEKDAY PRACTICE

Tuesday, June 1 thru FCPS closing on June 11

11 & over:           5:00 pm - 6:00 pm (Monday - Friday)

10 & Under:          6:00 pm - 7:00 pm (Monday - Friday)

REGULAR SUMMER PRACTICE SCHEDULE: Beginning Monday, June 14

Senior Group:         7:00 am - 8:15 am, Mon-Fri (typically 13 & over)

Junior Group:        8:15 am - 9:00 am, Mon-Fri (typically 9 & under)

Intermediate Group: 9:00 am -10:00 am (typically 9-13 yrs)

MINI-STAR PRACTICE SCHEDULE: Beginning Monday, June 14 (must pass evaluation before practicing)

8:15 am – 9:00 am: Monday/Wednesday/Friday

Saturday A Meet Overview
The Vienna Woods swim coaches will select the swimmers for the dual meets (Saturdays) and relay carnivals (Wednesdays). There are a
fixed number of heats and limited entries for these meets.
Swimmers who are scheduled by the coaches to swim in Saturday meets will be notified during practice as early as Thursday morning
before the meet and an email notification will be sent to the swimmer’s parents. A copy of the meet sheet and entry list of swimmers
will also be sent to the swimmer’s parents.
Swimmers are eligible to swim no more than two individual events in a meet. Be sure to check the line up every week because the
swimmers and the events they swim may change from week to week. Swim Team members are expected to swim in an A-meet when
they are selected. It is imperative that parents communicate clearly with coaches and team reps any conflict pertaining to a Saturday
meet entry.
If your child will be unavailable to swim, please email the the A-Team Reps and let the coaches know immediately. Swimmers who will
be absent for longer periods during the summer swim season must also notify the A-Team Rep of the dates that they will be away by
sending them an email at the above address. Please notify the team reps as soon as possible as other absences arise during the
summer. Coaches or team reps need to know if your swimmer will be absent for a Saturday meet before Tuesday of that same week
so they can enter another swimmer in the meet.
Swimmers and parents will meet at a predetermined time in the upper parking lot at Vienna Woods pool and caravan together to the
opposing pool. Maps and directions will be available to all drivers.
Swimmers must check in with the team rep or coaches upon arriving to ensure that all swimmers are present

Saturday/A Meet Schedule
Saturday, June 12: Time Trials @ VW (ALL SWIMMERS ATTEND)
Saturday, June 19: Hunt Valley @ VW
Saturday, June 26: VW @ Little Rocky Run
Saturday, July 3: Fair Oaks @ VW
Wednesday, July 7: Divisional Relays @ Virginia Run
Saturday, July 10: Virginia Run @ VW
Wednesday, July 14: All-Star Relays @ Hamlet
Saturday, July 17: VW @ High Point Pool
Saturday, July 24: Divisionals @ Little Rocky Run
Saturday, July 31: Individual All-Stars @ Springboard
https://www.teamunify.com/SubTabGeneric.jsp?team=recvwsd&_stabid_=164919

Monday B Meet Overview
Vienna Woods will hold five Monday evening developmental meets in 2021. These meets are not scored and are open to all swim team
members (mini star participation in these meets will be determined by the mini star head coach).
Registration for each Monday meet must be done via Team Unify by midnight Sunday. Please make every effort to register your swimmer
via Team Unify, as the B meet reps may not be able to accommodate entry requests made by email or on deck.
Most swimmers are eligible to compete in two individual events at Monday meets. However, if your child swam in the prior Saturday
meet, the NVSL rules outlined below may limit your swimmer’s participation on Monday.
NVSL Rules for Saturday/ A Meet Swimmers
1. Swimmers who place 1st or 2nd in a Saturday/ A meet will be allotted a total of THREE individual events (this does not include relays)
over the course of the A meet and the following Monday/ B meet. Therefore, if they swim TWO individual events in an A meet, they can
swim only ONE event in the following B meet. IMs count as an event.
2. Swimmers who place 1st or 2nd in the prior A meet may swim as unofficial swimmers in the following B meet. They may NOT swim the
same stroke(s) that they placed in at the A meet and they are not eligible for place ribbons.
3. Swimmers who earned 3rd place in the previous A meet may NOT swim that same stroke in the following B meet, but they may swim
another stroke for place.
All 10 & under swimmers must have approval by a swim coach to swim butterfly, breaststroke or IM events at a B meet. Times achieved at
B meets DO NOT count toward team records. Team records must be achieved at A meets, Divisionals or All Star meets.

Monday/ B Meet Schedule
June 14: vs. Dunn Loring
June 21: @ Hunter Mill
June 28: @ Cardinal Hill
July 5: Off Week
July 12: vs. Shouse Village
July 19:vs. Lakevale

https://www.teamunify.com/SubTabGeneric.jsp?team=recvwsd&_stabid_=164919

Mini Stars
The Mini Star program is only for children 6 & under who pass the Mini Star assessment. There
will be some flexibility for children who are 7 years old. Children 8 & older will need to join the
swim team.
A mandatory assessment for is required for all potential Mini-Stars.
All Mini Star participants MUST be evaluated and placed in a coaching group PRIOR to the first
Mini-Star practice on Monday, June 14th. There will be no evaluations held during the first Mini-
Star practice.
Vienna Woods also offers an extensive swim lesson program for those working toward meeting
the eligibility requirements. If you have any questions about whether your child should be in
Mini Stars or the full team, please contact Megan Rourke at vwministars@gmail.com.

Mini Stars Key Dates
Week of June 7th – Mini Star assessments, daily from 4:00-4:45pm and 6:15-7:00 pm

Saturday, June 12th – Mini Star assessment, after time trials conclude, approximately 12:00pm

June 14th – First Mini Star practice – 8:15am-9:00 am

July 23th – Last Mini Star Practice

We also hope to host or participate in the annual “Lollipop” meet sometime in July.

Pictures, Suits and Spirit Wear
Pictures - Individual and family pictures will be held on Tuesday, June 15th starting at 7:30 am. A sign-up genius will be sent out.

Suit Sales
Swim suits for this season are the Speedo Poly suit in Black. Sportfair will selling the black suits at VW on the two below dates. The
VW logo will be pressed on the suit upon purchase. You can also buy a black suit of your choice from Sportfair, and they will press
the VW logo on it. Suits bought through other retailers will not be allowed to have the VW logo pressed on them. The
back options for the female suit are the Flyback or the One Back. The options for the male suit are the Jammer or Briefs.

Suits Sales In The Grove - Monday, June 7th from 4:30-6:30pm and Tuesday, June 15 from 8:00-10:00am

Team T-shirts and Latex Caps (included in registration) - Expected to be in by Time Trials on June 12th.

Spirit Wear Pick-up
Will be distributed by Amanda Siddon (amanda.siddon@gmail.com) when our orders arrive (typically around Time Trials). Lookout
for announcements about distribution dates via email and the VW Facebook page!

Social
Social Committee Members (Chair: Karen Van Raaphorst – karen.vanraaphorst@gmail.com)
Social Key Dates
June 15th – Bagel breakfast
July 20th – Pancake breakfast
Pep Rallies – Friday nights before A Meets
 •Friday, June 11th – “The Woods” themed banner making (timing will align with the afternoon practice schedule)
 •Friday, June 18th – Jungle theme, BYOP (bring your own pasta) blastoff dinner
 •Friday, June 25th – Dress as parents or coaches theme, activity TBD
 •Friday, July 2nd – “Red, white and blue” Olympic games
 •Friday, July 9th – Black Out theme pizza bingo
Sunday, July 11th – 70’s Senior Progressive Dinner (13 and up)
Friday, July 16th – Nerds themed lip sync competition
Saturday, July 24th – End of Season Banquet
*Lasertag TBD

Volunteers
Volunteer Hours Commitment – All families must be willing to complete a MINIMUM of 10
hours of volunteer time to have their children participate in summer swim team. Families of
swimmers in Mini-Stars only will have this requirement waived. As the season gets closer, we
will provide more details and ask people to sign-up for specific jobs to complete these hours, but
we are asking everyone to be aware during registration that this is a requirement of
participation.
Our swimmers benefit from the team effort of the parents. It takes over 40 volunteers to run
each meet and many, many volunteers to help coordinate all the fun social events and activities
throughout the season.
The Team Reps will ask for volunteers by volunteer registration tools on Team Unify. Please
respond to requests so that we know who is able to help at specific events. Please notify us if
you are unable to attend an event you signed up for and, if possible, please help find a
replacement volunteer for your position.

Officials
Officials Chair – Steve Kenney
2021 NVSL Officials Clinic Sign Up Form

                       Remaining Virtual Clinics

Thursday, May 27th                            Sunday, June 13th

· New Referee (7PM)                           · Referee/Starter Recertification (9:30AM)
Saturday, June 5th                            · New Starter (9:30AM)
· New Stroke and Turn Judge (8AM)             · New Stroke and Turn Judge (9:30AM)
· Stroke and Turn Recertification (8AM)       · Stroke and Turn Recertification (9:30AM)
Wednesday, June 9th                           Wednesday, June 16th
· New Referee (7PM)                           · New Stroke and Turn Judge (7PM)
                                              · Stroke and Turn Recertification (7PM)

Vienna Wood Swim Team Awards
H. Roy Fisk Award - Recognizes the Outstanding Swimmer who displays exemplary qualities in performance, team spirit, attitude,
sportsmanship, attendance, hard work, cooperation, leadership, and helping others.
Tommy Beach & Tammy Alonge Award - Recognizes the Outstanding 12 and Under Swimmer who exhibits team spirit, sportsmanship and
aquatic ability.
Barbara Williams Award - Recognizes the Outstanding 8 and Under Swimmer who exhibits team spirit, sportsmanship and aquatic ability.
Bob Merrill Award - Recognizes Outstanding Volunteers who through their attitude, team spirit, leadership and hard work enable the
continued success of the Vienna Woods Organization.
Christian Schopp Award - Recognizes the swimmer and/or diver who shows an Outstanding Commitment.
Keystone Award (13/14 and 15-18 Most Improved) - The keystone is the most important stone, and that's why this word is also used
figuratively to mean the most important part of anything. A stone arch or vault gains its stability from the placement of the keystone,
which is often the last one placed
Coaches Awards - (One award per coach) awards are presented to those swimmers that have exemplified the meaning of participation,
commitment, fun, sportsmanship, courage, and self-determination.
Most Improved Swimmer of the season - (One award per gender, except 13/14 and 15-18)
Outstanding Swimmer of the season - (One award per gender per age group)

Questions?

Thank You!
It’s going to be a great summer!