Please register by April 30 to receive a free 2016 Gator t-shirt and latex cap. Registration will still be open after this date, but the t-shirt will be $5 for gators. Click here to register now!
Welcome to the kickoff of the 2016 season! It’s been a long winter and I imagine everyone is excited to get back to the pool.
This newsletter is intended to give you some key information to begin the year – how to volunteer, coaches, our division information, leadership changes and opportunities and more. My email address is teamrepfhsc@gmail.com. I will use this address for all swim team communications.
Terry O’Brien
Team Rep
2016 Coaching
WELCOME Head Coach Natalie Cocozza and Head Assistant Coach Sarah Padrutt!!
Coach Natalie is our new Head Coach this summer. With her will be Coach Sarah as our summer season Head Assistant Coach. Both Natalie and Sarah have been with the team for as long as I can remember and I know the swimmers will benefit from their experience and love for the team!
Important Dates
- April 30 – last day to receive free t-shirt and cap for early registration
- June 1 – Gator Team Kickoff Meeting – this is a great opportunity to come out and meet the coaching staff, ask questions, and we will have the team suit vendor on site for swimsuit fittings. This is also when you can pick up t-shirts, caps, and order more gear!!!
- June 2 – First evening practice
- June 18 – Time trials and team picture
- June 20 – First B Meet
The whole schedule is available here.
NVSL Training
Most of the “meet officials” positions require training every two years. But, the NVSL makes it easy. If you are interested or did not renew your training in 2015 for various positions including stroke & turn judge, a referee, a starter or a head timer or learning more about clerk of course and table workers positions – the NVSL has a spot for you!
- June 4 – NVSL U – Fairfax Gov’t Center 8am-1pm
- Referee/Starter & New Starter Clinics – 8:00 am
- Table Admin with Hy-Tek Clinic – 8:00 am
- Fairfax County Food Safety Workshop – 10:30 am
- Team Rep Kickoff 10:30am
- Chief Timer Clinic – 10:30 am
- Clerk of Course and Announcer Clinic – 11:30 am
- June 11 – various pools – Stroke & Turn, Announcer, Chief Timer, Clerk of Course, Tables – 8:00 am
- June 14 – New Referee – Lee Graham – 7:00 pm
- June 19 – Referee/Starter; New Starter – 9:30 am – Mantua
- June 22 – Stroke & Turn – Hunt Valley – 7:00 pm
This information can also be found on NVSL’s website, www.mynvsl.com.
2016 Gator Merchandise
Mary Braisted starts her first season as our 2016 Merchandising Rep! Mary has been busy working to get us all ready for this season. We will have newly designed swim caps, t-shirts and other items.
We are going into the 2nd year of a 2-year suit. The suit is style is STYX and is by the swimwear company DOLFIN. I believe the suits are pretty well priced. We hope to have the suits on sale at the Kickoff Meeting Wednesday, June 1. Suits can also be purchased at Sports Fair in Arlington, VA. We highly recommend that each swimmer try on the suit at the team meeting or at Sports Fair to get the right fit.
Get all the Gator Gear details here.
2016 Practice Sessions
June 2 – June 23 PRE-SEASON PRACTICE
Evening practice (Lane Swimmers only) – If you are not sure your swimmer is ready for lane swimming, we will have evaluations on the first three evenings of preseason evening practice. Please ask the head coach or head assistant coach to help your swimmer be evaluated.
June 24 – July 29 SUMMER PRACTICE
Morning Practice
- 7:50 – 9:00 am: 13 & over
- 9:00 – 10:00 am: 9 – 12
- 10:00 – 10:45 am: 8 & Under
- 10:00 – 10:45 am: Mini Gators
Evening Practice: Tuesday and Thursday (for Gators unable to attend the morning practice)
- 5:00 – 6:00 pm – ALL AGES (mini gators too!)
- 6:00 – 7:00 pm – ALL AGES (mini gators too!)
Mini Gator Pre-season Lessons
Over the past several summers, the Gators have offered our Mini Gator swimmers a pre-season opportunity to get in the water before Mini swimming begins on June 28. These lessons are offered for a two week period – Monday/ Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday for 30 minutes each over a two week period. Each registered swimmer gets FOUR pre-season sessions. For 2016, we are once again offering these lessons. Please register online. We would like to have a minimum of 4 swimmers registered and we can take no more than 6 swimmers for each session.