1. AT A GLANCE (see sections below for details)

WHO WE ARE: An all-ages, all-abilities summer team geared toward having fun and improving team and individual performance. We are a volunteer-run team with a well-earned reputation for family fun. The season runs from Memorial Day through end of July. Ages 4–18 welcome.

PRACTICE:

• 1st day of practice will be Monday June 1, 5 days per week, after school.  Practice groups 8 and under up through 15 - 18.  No Little Piranhas.  
• Morning practices will start Monday June 22 and will run through mid-Divisionals week:  5 days per week, mornings, all ages (see times below). Afternoon practices on select dates listed on sign up calendar for age groups 8 and under up through 15-18. By sign up only. No Little Piranhas please (for safety reasons, no coaches in the water)

MEETS:

• B meets (all swimmers): Mondays at 6pm, warmups earlier, home or away
• A meets (select swimmers only 3 top-placing swimmers per event, maximum 2 individual events per swimmer): Saturdays at 9am, warmups earlier, home or away. Please declare availability in SwimTopia ASAP (even if you think your child won't qualify)

VOLUNTEERING: Yes! Opportunities are intermittent or regular, social or behind-the-scenes, requiring training or open to anyone. Plan to get involved – it’s more fun that way!

THE LEAGUE: Founded in 1956, the Northern Virginia Swim League (NVSL) has over 14,000 swimmers on 102 teams and is the largest summer swim league in the United States. Teams are ranked and divided into 17 divisions of five or six teams. Mansion House Piranhas are Division 10

REFUNDS: If you change your mind about swim team before the expiration of the early registration period, we can generally refund your money. Please contact us to discuss options. After the early registration period has expired and before 11:59 pm on the night before Time Trials, we can refund up to 50% of your registration fee. After that, we cannot offer refunds. If you have extreme extenuating circumstances (unexpected move out of state, etc), please let us know. Please note that a change in your swimmers' choice to swim does not constitute extreme extenuating circumstances.

GOT QUESTIONS? CONTACT your Team Reps, at [email protected].

READ ON for more detail.

2. THE TEAM

• The team is open to registered Mansion House Club member children.
• Little Piranhas are developmental swimmers, generally 4 to 8 years old. Little Ps learn freestyle and backstroke. They do not participate in A or B meets unless asked to by the coaches. Several special meets or events are held for Little Piranhas over the course of the season.
• Swimmers aged 5 to 18 are the competitive team. All swimmers are expected to swim in B Meets and can qualify into A Meets dependent on their rank per event. All swimmers work on learning and/or perfecting proper stroke techniques for freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly.
• Coaches can help decide whether beginner swimmers are best placed in Little Piranhas or 8 & Unders. Parents and coaches should consider the following information:

3. PRACTICES

• Monday June 1 - Friday June 19 (while FCPS is in session):

• Monday June 22 – week of Divisionals:

4. B MEETS (neighborhood meets)

• See the full schedule HERE
• Time trials: The first “meet” of the season where swimmers set their baseline times. This is a Piranhas-only event (no opposing team) that is run like a regular B Meet to help prepare swimmers for the first meet. All swimmers should plan to attend and swim whatever strokes they are “legal” in.
• B meets:
  • These Monday night meets are not sanctioned or scheduled by the NVSL. They are arranged with other local pools. Times recorded at these meets are not recognized by the NVSL, but can be used to qualify for A meets and Divisionals.
  • Each swimmer can swim a maximum of two strokes and the optional IM. Swimmers who have placed first, second, or third in the previous A meet cannot swim that stroke at a B meet without coach approval.
• IM Invitational:
• Invited swimmers only. Individual medleys (IMs) are the only events included at this meet. An IM consists of all four strokes (fly, back, breast, free) completed by the swimmer. 

Little Piranhas Mini Meet (Lollipop Meet)

• This is a meet designed for our Little Piranhas. It is the last event in the LP season, so the kids will have plenty of time to work on their strokes before the meet.
• • It takes place on a weekday morning the last full week of practice. See the calendar for exact date. The meet and is staffed by older swimmers and a highlight for all of our swimmers!

5. A Meets

• See the full schedule HERE
• A Meets (NVSL dual meets)
  • These Saturday morning meets are scored; therefore, the fastest swimmers on the team swim. Three swimmers for each age group and gender are selected to swim each event based on times and swimmer availability. Swimmers may swim only 2 individual events and up to two relays (if selected) maximum.
• Divisional Relay Carnival
  • All six teams in the division compete in freestyle and medley relay races. Swimmers will be invited to swim based on times. This meet is on a Wednesday night and is the selection meet for the All-Star Relay Carnival.
• Divisionals
  • On the final week of the season, each division has an individual championship meet, Divisionals. Coaches select two swimmers per event based on ranking, and a swimmer can enter no more than two events. To be eligible, a swimmer must have competed in at least one of five A meets during the regular season. This is the selection meet for Individual All-Stars.
• Individual All-Stars
  • The sole criterion for selection to All Stars is to have one of the 18 fastest times in the whole NVSL in a particular event at the Divisional meet. This decision is made at the league level.

6. DISQUALIFICATIONS (DQs)

Most young swimmers disqualify (DQ) several times even if they are “legal” in the various strokes. Coaches expect this and will simply work with the children to help them understand the reasons for the DQ. Frequent causes, by stroke, are:

• Freestyle:
  • Propelling by use of the lane ropes
  • Pushing off the bottom of the pool
  • Exiting the pool before swimming the specified distance
• Backstroke:
  • Turning over before touching the wall at the finish
  • Feet above water line at the start
  • Flipping over too early on the turn (50M) and needing to kick or take additional strokes to reach the wall
• Breaststroke:
  • More than one underwater pull at the start
  • Incorrect kick, such as a scissors kick or flutter kick
  • Failure to simultaneously touch the wall with two hands
  • One-arm pull
  • Pulling down below the waist after the first stroke
• Butterfly:
  • Flutter kick
  • Non-simultaneous stroke
  • Failure to simultaneously touch the wall with two hands
• False start:
  • Forward motion before starting signal
  • Disqualifying unless the referee attributes it to something outside the swimmer’s control

When a Stroke and Turn Judge observes a violation, they raise their hand to signify a violation, which is written up on a DQ slip. The judge then takes the slip to the referee, who verifies that a rule has been broken and can question the Stroke and Turn Judge. The referee then gives a copy of the DQ slip to the Table Workers.

7. VOLUNTEERS

The coaches provide the expertise to help your children excel at swimming, but we volunteers are who set the team up for success. A normal A or B meet requires at least 40 adults to properly run the meet. PLEASE plan to volunteer, and plan to HAVE FUN! 😊

The uniform for indicated positions is an unmarked/plain white shirt and navy blue shorts or skirt

8. SOCIAL

• Pep rallies are held the Friday before each A Meet – ALL SWIMMERS & their families are welcome. These are potluck-style. Costumes and accessories encouraged!
• Team breakfasts: On select Tuesdays, all age groups are welcome to stay for a themed breakfast after practice.
• Swim-a-thon: A family-oriented fundraiser event for a local charity (TBD). Coach, swim rep, and family relays may be held…!
• A “Swim Team Prom” meal event is held for all swimmers in age groups 13+ and older. Date not required!

9. MANSION HOUSE CLUB SWIM TEAM STANDARDS OF CONDUCT

• Any swimmer who engages in violent or abusive conduct toward another swimmer or coach may be subject to a suspension from team activities at the discretion of the Head Coach, Assistant Head Coach, and the Swim Reps. Violent or abusive conduct includes, but is not limited to, aggressive physical conduct that causes physical injury, and verbal, written, or electronic threats to cause physical injury. In the case of suspension under this rule there will be no refunds for missed practices. A first offense may lead to up to a 3-day suspension from all team activities. Second or subsequent offenses may lead to a removal from all team activities. 
• Regular participation in practice builds skills and encourages teamwork. Swimmers are expected to attend and participate in practices. With the exception of camps, family travel, work, club swim practices, or illness, failure to participate in practice may affect a swimmer’s selection to swim in A meets or relay carnivals regardless of that swimmer’s rank on the ladder.
• If parents withdraw their swimmer(s) from swim team by 11:59 p.m. on the night before time trials they may receive a refund in the amount of 50% of their paid registration. After that time, no refunds will be possible except in the event of uncontrollable circumstances (such as a sudden move or other unexpected event), which will be handled on a case-by-case basis

10. NVSL STANDARDS OF CONDUCT

The following Standards of Conduct shall guide swimming and diving within the 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

• 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, 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

• Assist officials in maintaining control of spectators during meets.
• Demonstrate humility in victory and courtesy in defeat.

Head Coaches

• 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

• 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).

11. AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

• NVSL ribbons are awarded at A Meets for 1st through 6th place finishers. Ribbons at B Meets are awarded for places 1st through 6th place.
• A catered awards banquet is held at the conclusion of the season to recognize swimmers, coaches, and outstanding volunteers.