Foreword from the NVSL Handbook

The Northern Virginia Swimming League was founded in 1956 to sponsor competitive swimming and diving in and among community pools in that area of Northern Virginia contiguous to the District of Columbia, and to develop in the children affected by this program--A love for the sport, advanced aquatic skills, teamwork, and the principles of good sportsmanship.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The swim team’s objective is for each child to have fun while learning to improve his or her overall physical fitness and swimming skills. We emphasize development of swimming skills and team sportsmanship. Each swimmer should work equally hard for him or herself and for the team.

The Mount Vernon Park Gators are one of over 100 teams participating in the NVSL. The NVSL sanctions Saturday morning “A-meets” as well as a championship series in which these teams compete against each other both in individual events and relay events. In addition, the Gators hold regular practices to work on their swimming skills, compete with other teams in the neighborhood in Monday-night “B-meets” and hold social events aimed at team building and simply having fun. The B-meets are developmental meets which are unscored and open to all Gator swimmers who are ready, willing and able to compete.

Among NVSL teams, MVP has one of the lowest participation fees for membership on the team. Volunteers are a crucial part of our swim team and your assistance is imperative to ensure that the team is well-organized and operates efficiently for the benefit of our kids. Well-run meets benefit the swimmers by providing a safe and fair environment in which to compete. Your active participation will also provide you with a better understanding of the sport and enable you to help your child get the most out of the swim team experience. Unlike some other teams, volunteering is not required, but it is encouraged.

Standards of Conduct

The Mount Vernon Park Gators adhere to the NVSL Standards of Conduct:

The following Standards of Conduct shall guide swimming and diving within the Northern Virginia Swimming League (NVSL). They promote respect, fairness, civility, honesty, responsibility, and appropriate behavior. These Standards foster a positive environment at all swim and dive meets; establish an atmosphere of respect for all participants, officials, and spectators; produce positive learning outcomes for all; build participant and team spirit; and enhance the sports of swimming and diving.

All Athletes, Coaches, Team Representatives, Officials, Parents/ Spectators, and NVSL Leadership shall:

• • • Abide by the established rules of the NVSL.

    • Respect all officials at all times, and address them in a courteous manner.

    • Avoid using inappropriate language, profanity, humiliating or intimidating remarks or behavior (including through social media), verbal or physical assault toward any athlete, coach, team representative, official, NVSL leadership representative, or spectator.

    • Follow applicable management, pool, and facility rules, respecting others’ property at all times.

    • Display respect, courtesy, and good manners toward athletes, coaches, Team Representatives, and spectators. Team Representatives shall assist officials in maintaining control of spectators during meets.

    • Demonstrate humility in victory and courtesy in defeat.

Head Coaches shall:

• • • Ensure athletes and assistant coaches demonstrate maturity and good sportsmanship toward other athletes, officials, coaches, and spectators at all times.

    • Lead by example to instill a love for the sport, advanced aquatic skills, teamwork and good sportsmanship in their team.

Spectators shall:

• • • Maintain an appropriate distance from the competition area by remaining in established viewing areas and shall not encroach the pool deck or interfere with any officials.

    • Not engage in loud, intimidating, disrespectful, or negative behavior toward officials, athletes, other spectators, support personnel, or pool staff (including lifeguards).

Eligibility

Who is qualified? The swim team is open to Mount Vernon Park members 5-18 years of age (on June 1) who can swim across the 25-meter pool unassisted. Kids can join the team anytime during the season as their swimming abilities improve, and are strongly encouraged to do so.

Practices

Practices provide the swimmers with skills necessary to be a viable part of the swim team. Practice is not intended as a substitute for swim lessons, but as a means of developing the swimmer for team competition. Swim team members desiring to improve skills beyond what is available during practice can arrange for swim lessons.

Practice schedules are announced before the opening of the pool on Memorial Day. There are two separate sets of practice schedules—before public school ends and after. It is strongly encouraged that swimmers take part in the regularly scheduled practices. If swimmers are not away on vacation or ill, they are expected to attend at least one practice per week to qualify for seeding in an upcoming “A” meet.

Initially, afternoon practices are held five days a week, Monday through Friday, until school is out. Morning practices are held five days a week during summer vacation through the end of the NVSL season (except for 6-and-unders, who do not practice on Friday). Supplemental afternoon practices are held Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at the times posted on the Bulletin Board. These afternoon practices are provided for those swimmers who are participating in summer school, day camps, and tennis activities or are working. They are not for swimmers who do not want to get up in the morning. The morning practices are more intensive and the swimmer will benefit more by swimming with his/her peers.

Parents are requested to stay off the deck during practices. While we need and encourage parent participation for meets, organization etc., it is a distraction to the coaches and swimmers if parents are on the deck during practice. The coaches must devote their full attention to the swimmers. For your child’s safety and instructional benefit, please do not enter the deck area until after practice is over. If you need to speak with the coaches, please do so after all practices are over.

Parents are reminded that the Park and ALL pools are closed during morning team practice. The Park staff needs the morning to prepare the pools and surrounding area. Please take the staff’s needs into consideration when joining your child in the pool area. No Park business can be conducted until the Park opens at 11:00 a.m. Unfortunately, this means that the playground is not open until 11:00 a.m. Return to the top.

Team Suits

Team suits are available for purchase at registration. They can also be purchased at Sport Fair. Caps, goggles and T-shirts will be sold throughout the season. Swimmers are encouraged to purchase a team suit, but it is not a requirement for participation in a meet. The head coach will determine the policy regarding requirement of swim caps. NVSL rules state “swimmers are not permitted to compete in swim caps which include the name or insignia of any team other than their NVSL team.” The swimsuit manufacturers change styles every two years requiring MVP to change suits also. Return to the top.

Vacations and Absences

Please indicate your vacation schedule on the Registration Form. It is essential that the coaches know in advance who will be available for an “A” meet to correctly seed the event and fill gaps. Please notify the Team Rep immediately of any illness preventing participation in an “A” meet.

Per NVSL rules for dual meets, once Team Reps have exchanged seeding sheets on Thursday before the meet, the meet is set. Neither team can shift swimmers around after the exchange. Substitutions are allowed on Saturday morning only under very strict rules. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THE TEAM REP AND COACHES KNOW BY THURSDAY MORNING IF A SWIMMER WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR A SATURDAY MEET. Return to the top.

Weather

We practice and hold meets rain or shine. If a thunderstorm causes pool closure during a meet, please take shelter in your cars and wait it out. The Team Reps and Referees will decide if it is necessary to cancel practice or reschedule the meet. DO NOT LEAVE UNLESS YOU TELL THE TEAM REP OR THE COACH - this is particularly important during meets. Return to the top.

Swim Lessons

Swim team coaches do not have the opportunity during practices to provide individualized swim lessons due to the number of swimmers and the practice schedule. Children must therefore know how to swim before joining the team. Individual lessons are available outside of practices for all members of the Mount Vernon Park Association at extremely reasonable rates. These private lessons are strongly encouraged to bring the child’s skills up to a level where they can participate in regular Gator practices without requiring constant assistance. Even experience Gators sometimes take lessons to work on one of their strokes. To arrange lessons, simply talk to any member of the coaching staff or any one of the lifeguards, line up times and dates, then go to the gatehouse to pay for the lessons. Coaches and lifeguards cannot accept money directly. The gatehouse will give you a receipt which you then give the coach at the time of the lesson. Return to the top.

Stroke and Turn Clinics

Stroke and Turn clinics will be scheduled intermittently throughout the season. Watch the bulletin Board for more information. All interested swimmer are encouraged to attend. This is the time for the swimmers to get tips and tricks to enhance their swimming capabilities. Return to the top.

Team Pictures

MVP contracts with a photographer to have team and individual pictures taken during the summer season. All swimmers are requested to participate in the team picture with no obligation. Individual pictures and packages with the team picture are available from the vendor. Notices will be placed on the bulletin board prior to the picture date. Order forms will be available for each swimmer. Return to the top.

Bulletin Boards

The Bulletin Boards just past the gatehouse holds a wealth of information regarding the Park and Swim Team. Please make it a point to stop by and read it often. By the Bulletin Boards, you will also find file boxes with files for your family name; this is where you will find ribbons following meets and important notices. PLEASE CHECK THEM OFTEN. Return to the top.

Awards

During the season, ribbons are presented at all “A” and “B” meets. These will be placed in your family folder in the file boxes at the Bulletin Board. We try to get them into the boxes promptly, however, occasionally it may take a day or so.

The team holds an Awards Banquet at the end of the season, traditionally the weekend of Divisional Championships (usually the last weekend in July). At this time, swimmers are recognized with various awards. Although the number, nature and criteria for awards may vary from year to year, the team generally provides trophies for Most Valuable Team Members; Sportsmanship; Leadership; Age Group Awards; and Coaches Awards; as well as Participation Awards for all team members. Return to the top.

MEETS

NVSL “A” Meets

Beginning with the third or fourth Saturday in June and continuing through July, “A” meets are held each Saturday morning. The six teams in each division compete in these dual meets, with the division championship determined by the team with the best dual meet record for the season. The meets are scored on a 5-3-1 point basis for first through third place in individual events and 5-0 for relays. Each team may enter three swimmers in each individual event. Teams generally enter the three fastest swimmers in each age group in each event.

The “time trials” held on the Saturday before the first dual meet represents the first opportunity of the year to determine the fastest swimmers for that year’s team. If the swimmer does not have a swim in an event for the current year, the prior year’s time may be used. Once the swimmer has a swim in the current year, prior year’s times will no longer be used. During the season, the three fastest swimmers are determined on the basis of best times earned in time trials, “A” meets or “B” meets. “B” meet times can be used for seeding “A” meets but, in accordance with NVSL rules, cannot be used for seeding Divisionals if a swimmer has an “A” meet time.

Boys and girls compete in separate events and are grouped according to age: 8 and under; 9-10; 11-12; 13-14; and 15-18. A swimmer’s age is determined as June 1. In some meets a swimmer may be asked to compete in a higher age group to gain a competitive edge over the opposing team or to fill in a gap in the age group. Swimmers may “swim up” but never down in age group. No one may swim up in the Relay Carnival, mixed age relay or Divisionals. These events are age based.

Boys and girls compete in four strokes- freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly. Each swimmer may swim in only TWO individual events. Relays are for each age group and sex and there is a “mixed age” relay in which the youngest swimmer is 10 or under. Return to the top.

Emails

The Team Reps use email to inform swimmers and their parents of upcoming events. For A meets, emails go out on Wednesday afternoon to those swimmers seeded in the upcoming meet. Please be available for contact during this critical time period. If you do not respond to the email, a substitute swimmer may need to be inserted into the lineup. Please inform the Team Reps of a new email address. Return to the top.

Meet/Team Strategy for “A” meets

While the primary purpose of the NVSL is to develop good sportsmanship and a love of swimming that will last a lifetime, winning is clearly more fun than losing! An important factor in winning meets is “seeding” swimmers effectively in “A” meets (swimmers are not seeded in “B” meets). This involves placing the team’s swimmers in those events in which they are most likely to score points for the team. Swimmers may sometimes be asked to swim an event they do not like or is not their best stroke, but in which they are likely to gain more points for the team because they are projected to swim faster than their opponents. This is especially true if they are the only ones who can score points in a particular event, while any one of three swimmers could score points in another event.

While kids are naturally interested in records and personal bests, swim meets are team events. Meets will be seeded for the best possible team score. Remember Gator swimming is a team sport.

Per NVSL rules for dual meets, once Team Reps have exchanged seeding sheets on Thursday before the meet, the meet is set. Neither team can shift swimmers around after the exchange. Substitutions are allowed on Saturday morning only under very strict rules. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THE TEAM REP AND COACHES KNOW BY THURSDAY MORNING IF A SWIMMER WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR A SATURDAY MEET. Return to the top.

Seeding – MVP Policy

“A” meet seeding is one of the more challenging issue that coaches and team reps must address. MVP’s policy is as follows:

• • Seeding for dual and scored relay meets (Team Events) will be done by the coaches, with concurrence of the team rep, in an attempt to gain the team the most points.

  • The coaches, with the concurrence of the team rep, may select a slower swimmer over a faster swimmer if the faster swimmer has a history of repeated disqualifications in that stroke, recently been ill/injured, missed numerous practice sessions, or exhibited conduct inappropriate for an MVP swimmer. Please see MVP Bylaws and Rules and Regulations.

  • On the rare occasion that a swimmer sets his fastest time during time trials but never equals it and other swimmers repeatedly best them, the coaches may, at their discretion, hold a swim-off.

  • A swimmer who has no recorded times for the current year for an event may use a prior year’s time to determine their position on the swim ladder, or may request the coaches and team rep establish times during or after practice. Such requests will be considered on an individual basis and be at the discretion of the coach.

  • Seeding for relays will be based on the swimmers’ position on the swim ladder. Whenever one swimmer is the top swimmer in two or more strokes, the head coach shall determine which leg of the relay that swimmer will swim, and the remaining legs will be filled by the top swimmers in the remaining strokes. The head coach may with the approval of the team rep request a 25M swim off to determine the swimmers for a relay.

Seeding for Division Individual Championships, IM invitational, etc will be based solely on the fastest times achieved during the current season. Return to the top.

Developmental “B” Meets

Usually held Monday evenings, “B” meets are informal individual competitions and do not count in the NVSL standings. Times may be used by the team to determine the A-meet swimmers but are not official NVSL times and are not used for lane seeding in meets. There are no team scores for these meets. Rather, this is a chance for young swimmers to experience a swim meet without the pressure of a sanctioned A-meet. The goal is to have a good time. Each member of the team is generally limited to swimming two strokes in these meets. In order to ensure that “B” swimmers are the stars of the evening, MVP’s policy is to restrict any swimmer who has placed first or second in a stroke in the preceding week’s “A” meet from swimming those strokes in that week’s “B” meet. They may swim a different stroke to improve their time. This continues as a rolling week restriction throughout the season, but may be waived in the coach's discretion. “B” meets operate under the same general rules as “A” meets. To allow all interested swimmers to compete, events may have more than one heat. Age and gender groups may be combined for expediency. Ribbons are awarded for all swimmers in all events. Return to the top.

Divisional Meets

Divisional Relay Carnival

On a Wednesday evening in the middle of the season, all teams in the division compete in a relay-only meet. Each team enters freestyle and medley relay team in each age group (boys and girls), as well as a mixed age freestyle relay team. The meet is age specific and no swimmer may “swim up” for this competition. The coaches and team rep seed this event using the time ladder. Generally only the 4 or 5 fastest swimmers in each age group participate. The meet is scored and the winning team receives a trophy as Division Relay Champion. The times of each winning relay are forwarded to the NVSL and the 18 fastest relay teams in each event are invited to the All Star Relay Carnival.

If you are selected to swim at the Divisional Relay Carnival, but will not be able to swim at the All Star Relay Carnival, you must inform the head coach of your planned absence immediately because only one substitution is allowed. Return to the top.

All Star Relay Carnival

On the following Wednesday evening, the 18 fastest relay teams from throughout the NVSL compete in an All Star Relay Carnival. Each member of a top finishing relay team receives an award. All participants and alternates have the opportunity to purchase a prized “All Star” T-shirt and swim cap. Return to the top.

Divisional Individual Championships

This meet determines champions in each age group, sex and stroke. The event is held on the Saturday after the last dual meet. Each Team may enter two swimmers in each event. There are two heats for each event. The top six finishers receive plaques, and places seven through twelve receive ribbons. Differences from a dual meet are that 8 and under swimmer may swim 25M butterfly and all swimmers may compete in the 100M individual medley. Times from the Division Individual Championships are submitted to the NVSL for seeding in the Individual All Star meet. MVP policy is for swimmers to choose strokes by order of fastest on the time ladder until all events are filled. Generally only the fastest swimmers in each age group swim at this event. Any unoccupied lanes resulting from scratches or lack of entries will be open to swimmers (bid-ins) as stated in the NVSL rules.

Swimmers are NOT be eligible to swim in Divisional Individual Championships unless they were available to swim in three A meets, OR if there is no one else in that age group eligible to swim. This does not apply to Divisional Relays. Return to the top.

Individual All Star Meet

This meet is held on the Saturday following Divisionals and is the grand finale to the NVSL season. The fastest 18 swimmers for each event and age group from all NVSL teams qualify for the All Stars. Swimmers, however, may only compete in the two individual events they chose to swim at the Divisional meet. This allows more swimmers to participate in this meet which culminates the NVSL season. The top six finishers in each event generally receive a medal and swimmers in places seven trough twelve receive ribbons. All-Star group photographs (including all 18 swimmers in each event) are for sale as well. Return to the top.

Invitational Meets

There are a few invitational meets during the season, namely the Fort Hunt Sportsman Relay and Individual Medley Invitational. Swimmers are invited to invitational meets according to their times and the specific rules and requirements of the meet. Eligible swimmers will be specifically invited and asked if they are available to swim these meets. Please be prompt in verifying availability so that substitutes can be made if needed. Return to the top.

"DQs" or Disqualifications

DQ’s should be considered part of the learning process for our swimmers, not as a penalty. DQ’s are awarded swimmers for a number of reasons including false (early) starts, illegal strokes, turns and/or finishes. They are part of the learning process. All DQ’s will be discussed with the individual swimmer and instruction given at a following practice to correct his or her stroke. See here for more on DQs. Return to the top.

Team Records

Our pool records are posted on our records Board at the 25M pool. To qualify as a team record, the time must be achieved in an “A” meet, Division Championship, All-Star competition, or any meet sanctioned by the NVSL, conducted under NVSL rules and is approved by the Team Rep. A team record may also be set at Time Trials or the IM Invitational Meet. Times achieved in “B” meets or other informal competition are not considered official, and thus can not break a team record. If an existing pool record is beaten or tied by an individual swimmer or relay team, that record will be posted on the Records Board. Return to the top.

VOLUNTEERS

Officials

Listed below are the officials needed for each meet and descriptions of their duties. Please consider being an official. Your involvement is not dependent upon your swimming skills. Deck officials and table workers are requested to wear blue shorts/skirt and plain white shirt. Deck officials should not wear clothing displaying a team logo.

Referee: The Referee is the chief official for each swim meet and is responsible for the conduct of the meets and is the final authority on the interpretation and enforcement of all swimming rules – he/she runs the meet. The referee inspects facility to ensure compliance with NVSL requirements; instructs other officials on their duties during the meet; oversees the meet to ensure swimmers have a fair and equitable opportunity to compete. The referee must have good knowledge of swimming techniques and NVSL rules.

Starter: The Starter is responsible for insuring that all swimmers are given a fair and equitable start. The Starter calls swimmers to their starting positions; advises them of the stroke; instructs swimmers to take positions and signals start. Some knowledge of swimming technique is needed. Starters must attend NVSL training before the season starts and have experience as a Stroke and Turn Judge.

Stroke & Turn Judges: Observes swimmers during each event to ensure strokes and turns are performed in accordance with NVSL rules. Signals referee if a swimmer performs an illegal stroke or turn. With the concurrence of the referee, prepares a disqualification slip that explains the reason for disqualification. The “DQ slip” is given to the coach, who uses the information to help the swimmer eliminate the cause to the disqualification.

Relay Takeoff Judges: Observes start of each member to ensure proper stars. Does not need knowledge of swimming technique.

Timers/Chief Timer: Timers are the most important people to every swimmer because they determine each swimmer’s official time for the race. There are three timers for each lane (a mix of home and away team parents). The Head or Chief Timer collects the time cards from the timers, reviews them for accuracy and completeness, and forwards them on to the table workers. Does not need knowledge of swimming technique.

Head Time Recorder/Recorder: Checks scores and records times; keeps score. Works directly with other table workers. Does not need knowledge of swimming technique.

Computer Operator: Enters swimmers times in computer database; prints out ribbon back labels. Does not need knowledge of swimming technique.

Clerk of Course: The “gatekeeper” for all swimmers in the meet: checks swimmers against meet sheets; organizes swimmers in lanes; sends them to the start at the proper time. Needs patience but does not need knowledge of swimming technique.

Table workers -- The time cards from the timers and any disqualification slips (a little more on this later) go the Table Workers who determine the order of finish for each event, score the meet, and prepare ribbons for the participants. Several people from each team perform these functions to insure that errors are caught before the results are announced.

Announcer: Assists coaches, swimmers and spectators by announcing upcoming events and results of previous heats.

Marshals: Volunteer parents to observe swimmers during warm-up periods to ensure their safety. Keeps deck clear. Maintains quiet during starts.

Runners: Two younger children (non-swimmers) to collect time cards from Chief Timer and deliver to referee. Return to the top.

Officials Needed for Home Meets

Referee, Starter, Chief Timer, Stroke & Turn (2), Relay Takeoff (4) (at A meets only), Head Time Recorder, Computer Operator, Head Scorer/Assistant, Runners (2), Awards Clerk/Asst, Announcer, Marshals (2), Timers (9), Clerk(s) of Course. Return to the top.

Officials Needed for Away Meets

Assistant Chief Timer, Stroke &Turn (2), Relay Takeoff Judge (4) (at A meets only), Assistant Time Recorder, Assistant Scorer, Assistant Awards Clerk, Timers (9), Assistant Clerk of Course. Return to the top.

Officials Instructional Clinics

Referee, Starter, and Stroke and Turn officials are required to attend clinics at least once every two years to reinforce their skills on the deck. NVSL Clinics are held each year for the various positions necessary to ensure fairness during any dual meet. Clinic times and locations will be announced at the registration meeting in May and are normally conducted on weekends prior to the first dual meet. Return to the top.

Concessions

Concessions are a big part of our fund raising. The profits go toward social activities of our swimmers and competition equipment for our pool. Your volunteer time and contributions of baked goods greatly enhances these efforts. If you would like to donate items for sale at the meet concession, contact the Concession Manager for guidance. Return to the top.

Social Activities

We try to schedule social activities for the swimmers during the summer. Parents are needed to organize and chaperone these events. In the past, these have included pep rallies, movie nights at the park and teen nights. Without significant parental support, these will not happen. Please consider offering your assistance with one or more of these events. Return to the top.

Pool Set Up / Take Down

A team of volunteer parents and senior swimmers sets up the pool for all home meets. MVP staff participates only to the extent that they remove and reinstall the diving boards and pool ladders. All other set up is the responsibility of the team. Setting up the pool for a home meet at MVP takes approximately an hour with a team of 10-12 people. This is an especially good volunteer job for those parents who want to sit and enjoy the meet. Return to the top.

NVSL Team Representative

While not considered an “Official” by the NVSL, the MVP Team Representatives are the cornerstone of the team. The Teams Reps are responsible for the overall continuity and structure of the team. They are instrumental in hiring coaches for the team, bidding for meet locations, making sure that officials know when and where training clinics are scheduled, maintaining a list of eligible officials and maintaining times and profiles of each team member. The Team Reps attend several meetings during the swim season relating to team seeding within the divisions, swimmer seeding for the Division meets, approving and finalizing meet sheets, exchange of meet sheets with other Team Reps and numerous other activities. In addition, the Team Reps must know and understand the rules and inner workings of the NVSL.

The Team Reps are the primary point of contact between the swim team NVSL, as well as between the swim team and the Mount Vernon Park Board and the Park Manager. If you have a swim team-related matter that you would like to have brought to the attention of the Board and/or the Park Manager, please first discuss that with one of the Team Reps. Return to the top.

Team Treasurer

The Swim Team Treasurer records all receipts, makes bank deposits and pays all expenditures as approved by the Team Reps and is responsible for providing an annual report of swim team financial activity to the MVP Board. Return to the top.

To volunteer, contact the Team Reps or the Volunteer Coordinator for the specific opportunities that interest you from the links on our Volunteer Page.