2013 WAKEFIELD CHAPEL DIVE TEAM
www.wakefieldchapelrec.org
Wakefield Chapel Recreation Association
Phone, 703-323-8303
4625 Holborn Ave
Annandale VA 22003
Welcome to the WCRA Wahoo Dive Team! We hope this handbook will provide helpful information for divers and their family members. Please take a few minutes to review the contents and use it as a reference throughout the season. There are contacts listed below for any additional information you may need.
Wahoo Team Representatives
Jennifer Cassata:
(703) 585-3823 (cell)
(703) 425-5283 (home)
Anne Carey
(703) 795-0240 (cell)
(703) 426-0293 (home)
Wahoo Coaches
Patrick McCann, Head Coach (703) 764-5270 (home); (571) 230-6950 (cell)
We are very excited to announce that Patrick McCann, our terrific head coach from 2012 (and proud Wahoo diving alum), is returning for the 2013 season. Pat graduated from Annandale High School in 2012 and just completed his first season diving for the University of Delaware. This year he finished 4th on the 3m board competition at the Colonial Athletic Association Championship meet. He was a four-year letter winner at Annandale High School, and he competed at the Virginia State championship meet in his junior and senior years. He also competed for the Alexandria Dive Club before heading off to college. Pat got his diving start through the WCRA Dive Team!
Clark Girardin and Paul Helfgott, Assistant Coaches
We are pleased that both Clark Girardin and Paul Helfgott will be working as assistant coaches this summer . Clark is a senior at Annandale High School where he was a four year letter winner in diving. He qualified for the Northern Regional meet the last three years, and continues to train and compete with Mason Dive Academy. This will be his second year as an assistant dive coach. Paul is also a senior at Annandale High School, and has lettered for 4 years on their dive team. This year he was team captain and also competed at Northern Regionals. Both have been diving with the Wahoos for the last several years. It is thrilling to see that our own WCRA divers are successful in both high school and college, and that they are able to come share their skills, knowledge, and success with the next generation of Wahoos!
PRACTICE TIMES
May 28 – June 18
8 and under: 4:30 - 5:30 pm
9 and over: 5:30 - 6:30 pm
June 19 – July 26
MONDAYS and TUESDAYS
10 and under 11:00 – 12:00 noon
11 and over 12:00 – 1:00 pm
WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY
10 and under 4:30 – 5:30 pm
11 and over 5:30 – 6:30 pm
FRIDAYS
Practice plus “Fun Fridays”: 4:30 - 5:30 pm
Regular – full practice: 5:30 - 6:30 pm
**Age groupings subject to change depending on registrations. We will do our best to stick to this schedule and will inform you as soon as possible if there are to be any changes.
Please note that there are a number of times when dive practice times will need to be altered due to pool closings, swim meets and other social functions. These dates and times are listed on the calendar for those dates we are aware of ahead of time. For now, we know that the pool will be closed on July 10th in the afternoon - we will notify you of the times we are able to schedule practice for on those days. Any additional alterations will be sent to you via email.
Please do not let practice times prevent your child from taking part in dive team! We really want to cultivate a love of this sport and train our team with appropriate coaching and safety. There is always the option to pay for private dive coaching from one of the coaches. Please contact them if you would like to arrange for some private lessons.
GENERAL INFORMATION
We are looking forward to a great fourth season with our dive team and working with all those families whose spirit make this one of the best summer pools in the NVSL! Our goals remain the same: Spirit and Fun, Participation, Dive Safety and Developing Skills. We are competing in Division 4 this year.
Team Reps
If you have specific concerns or problems regarding the team, please talk to one of the team representatives first. The Team Reps’ job is to keep the team running smoothly and answer questions. The team reps are generally available during all practices. You can also call or email us. The team reps want to know what’s on your mind!
Finding out what’s going on – Mailbox, Board, Website
Be in the know, check the web site, bulletin board, and mailboxes often. The “Wahoo Mail” box will be available at practices starting on June 17. The box contains a folder for each family. Newsletters, handbooks, ribbons, and any notes to your family will go in the folder. Take the contents, but please leave the folder in place. You may also leave notes for the Team Reps and coaches in their folders.
Late breaking news, announcements, sign-up sheets, meet results, and such will appear on the Wakefield Chapel Recreation website, www.wakefieldchapelrec.org and will come through email.
Team Wear
Each diver will be provided with a t-shirt as part of their registration. Divers should wear their T-Shirts to every meet. Please have your diver put their name on the tag of their t-shirt!
Divers are welcome to purchase the Wahoo team suit (same as swim team). Please contact Jennifer for more information (dates that Suit Up will be at practice will be emailed to you).
NORTHERN VIRGINIA SWIM LEAGUE (NVSL)
The Wahoos compete in the NVSL. The NVSL web site is http://nvsldive.nvblu.com/. It has lots of interesting information. The league is made up of 48 community pool dive teams which are divided into 8 Divisions. (If you have any questions, please read the NVSL Handbook. The NVSL Handbook will be given to all officials and will be shared with any other family that requests one.)
The NVSL’s stated goal is to “develop in the children ... a love for the sport, advanced aquatic skills, teamwork, and the principles of good sportsmanship.”
Non Dive Team Members
According to our Association rules and NVSL safety regulations regarding insurance, no child, who is not a member of the dive team, should be left at the pool during the hours of summer dive team practice without a parent present. The pool opens at 11:00a.m. for general membership and not before. Any child not covered by team insurance is not covered by our pool insurance until regular operating hours. We appreciate your cooperation and your understanding of this important matter.
GENERAL MEET INFORMATION FOR ALL MEETS
Types of Meets
“A” Meets. Participation in A meets is based on number of required dives and age of the diver. “A” meets are scored meets and determine our standing in the NVSL. A meet divers will be notified by practice on Monday if they are eligible to dive that Tuesday night. ****Tuesday nights are A Meet nights. Please consider attending the meets whether diving or not to support the team, particularly home meets.****
Developmental Meets. These meets are generally held on Thursday evenings and are for all divers to have the opportunity to compete if they chose.
What to bring to the team area during a meet
Wear your team suit and shirt. Bring 2 towels. Please wear something on your feet. Bring a water bottle. It is a good idea to bring cards or books or other quiet amusements. Electronics are fine, but the team is not responsible for lost or stolen articles. PLEASE LABEL EVERYTHING. The Wahoo Lost & Found is huge after every meet. If your things are labelled, we will make every effort to get them back to you. If they are not labelled, they will be put in the lost and found at the pool.
Transportation and Directions
Divers are responsible for their own transportation to and from the meets. We encourage carpooling as much as possible – both for energy conservation, and the creation of camaraderie. Team reps can be called on to get kids to and from when there is no other way for divers to make it to a practice or a meet. Don’t let transportation stand in the way of getting your divers where they need to go and when – there’s always the option to be flexible to accommodate getting the kids somewhere.
Directions to all meets are posted on the website (under the Teams section). They will be emailed in the notification emails as well.
Please plan to arrive at the dive meet at the time specified in your email. Typically the visiting pool is allowed to practice on the board for 45 minutes prior to the start of the dive meet. This practice time is essential to give divers their practice on the actual board they’ll be diving on for the meet.
A” MEET (Tuesdays) INFORMATION
Schedule
6/25 Oakton at Wakefield Chapel 6:00 pm
7/2 Wakefield Chapel at Tuckahoe 6:00 pm
7/9 Wakefield Chapel at Highlands 6:00 pm
7/14 WALLY MARTIN at Oak Marr 8 am
7/16 Sleepy Hollow Bath and Racket at Wakefield Chapel 6:00 pm
7/23 Wakefield Chapel at Rolling Hills 6:00 pm
7/28 DIVISIONALS at Oakton
8/4 ALL STARS at Donaldson Run
All divers that have successfully completed the required number of dives for their age group will be eligible to participate in an A meet.
Age Group / Required # of Dives / Required Dives (numbers in parentheses are the dive numbers)Freshman
10 and under / 3 / Forward dive (101) and back dive (201) and one optional dive. (Inward dive- 401, forward Somersault- 102, back somersault- 202, Reverse Dive- 301, Twist Dive- 5111). A front (100) or back jump (200) may be used.
Junior
11 and 12 / 4 / Forward dive (101) and back dive (201) and two optional dives, each from different groups of dives.
Intermediate
13 and 14 / 5 / Forward dive (101) and back dive (201) and three optional dives, each from different groups of dives.
Senior
15 through 18 / 6 / Forward dive (101), back dive (201), and inward dive (401) and three optional dives, each from different groups of dives.
B MEET INFORMATION
6/20 Wakefield Chapel at Truro 6:00 pm
6/27 Wakefield Chapel at Walden Glen 6:00 pm
7/11 Ilda at Wakefield Chapel 6:00 pm
7/18 Blue and Orange Meet at Wakefield Chapel 6:00 pm
7/25 Mantua at Wakefield Chapel 6:00 pm
Developmental or “B” meets are for all divers. There are no restrictions for those who dive in the developmental meets and we encourage all divers to dive these as soon as the diver and coach feel they are ready. B meets are scored like a regular dive meet but the scores do not affect divisional standing.
Special Meets
Sunday, July 21 Crackerjack Meet at Mansion House
The Crackerjack meet is open to any diver who places below the 5th place in all-star meet scores. This meet is one of the largest dive meets in the country. Divers compete against divers their age (6, 7, 8, etc.). You don’t need to spend the whole day here but be on time for the scheduled times for your diver.
Sunday, July 14 Wally Martin 3M Meet at Oak Marr Recreation Center
Wakefield Chapel divers have participated in this meet for the past three years. It is a fun opportunity to try the “high dive” but is completely optional. There is opportunity to practice at Oak Marr prior to the meet. If you have questions, please talk to Jennifer, Anne, or one of the coaches.
VOLUNTEERING!!!!
The Dive Team is a non -profit organization run by volunteers. The only paid members of this organization are the coaches. Everything else is done for the love of our kids and the sport. We cannot run the meets without a full slate of volunteers.
Each family is expected to work in some capacity during at least 2 meets.
To run a successful team, it truly takes a village. The Dive Team is asking for your help. We need to provide judges and table workers for each meet. We also need certified referees. Families are required to volunteer in some capacity at two meets, plus help with social events.
For those interested in learning to judge or referee, here are some dates for clinics. They are quick and painless and you learn A LOT about diving! No experience is required and you do not need to register in advance. They are free and all are located close to WCRA!
Judging Clinics
June 18 at 6:30 pm at Sleepy Hollow Recreation Association
June 26 at 6:30 pm at Annandale
Referee Clinics
June 11 at 6:30 pm at Mantua
June 20 at 6:30 pm at Truro (we will already be there for a B meet that night!)
For the meets, you can judge, announce (home meets only), referee, or do table work. We will need lots of help at home meets setting up for the meet and putting everything back at the completion of the meet. Once you sign up, you are responsible for that job at that time and must find a replacement if you can’t make it. Sign-ups will be done electronically. Contact Jennifer if you have any issues or questions.
THE FUN STUFF
Fun Days
We hope to plan some “fun days” this season. If any parent is willing to help plan some events – pool based or not, please step up and volunteer – let Melissa or Courtney know what you have in mind and we’ll do all we can to encourage our divers to have some fun social events outside of their routine practices and meets.
Ice Cream Social
Like the swim team, the dive team will have an ice cream social of our own, down by the dive well. Izabella Thomas (mom to Aidan and Jesse) has coordinated this in the past and has volunteered to do it again. Stay tuned for this fun event!
End of Year Party
This year, we will be holding our own, personal dive team end of season party where we can celebrate our accomplishments at greater length and have some fun too! Stay tuned for more information on that fun event and stand ready to volunteer. Those divers who are also members of the swim team, or who have a sibling who swims, will still be able to participate in that wonderful event as well.
4