Willowsford South Waves

OVERVIEW

What is the Waves program?

The Willowsford Waves is a competitive summer swim program for members of the Willowsford community. The team offers swimmers the opportunity to develop their swimming abilities while learning the importance of hard work, sportsmanship, and teamwork. We seek to provide an environment in which all eligible swimmers can learn and improve their swimming skills, become the best swimmers they can, and be recognized for their accomplishments.

The Waves is not a swim lesson program. We compete against other teams in the Old Dominion Swim League (ODSL) throughout the season and our focus is on building skills for competition.

ELIGIBILITY

What are the eligibility requirements?

The South team is open to all Willowsford residents residing in the Greens and Grove ages 5-18 who are registered and in good standing with the HOA. Families with a signed contract may register ONLY if there is availability after registration for current residents closes.

To join the team, swimmers ages 8 & under must be able to swim 25m (1 length of the pool) on top of the water without touching the bottom or using the lane line for assistance. Swimmers ages 9 & older must be able to swim 50m (2 lengths of the pool) on top of the water without touching the bottom or using the lane line for assistance. Evaluations will be conducted in March to make sure new swimmers meet these requirements.

Do you offer a program for more inexperienced swimmers who are not yet ready for swim team?

Yes, we offer a Mini-Waves program for swimmers ages 4-7 who are not yet ready for the “big” team. Please see the “Mini-Waves FAQ” page for more information about this program.

REGISTRATION

When is swim team registration?

Registration will open Sunday March 7th 8:00 a.m. Registration will be conducted on our team website

How much is registration?

For the 2026 season, registration will be $260 for the first swimmer in a family, and $245 for each additional family member. There will be a $60 cancelation fee per swimmer for all cancelation requests received by June 1. After June 1, all fees are non-refundable. The registration fee includes a team swim cap and t-shirt.

How long is the summer swim season?

The 2026 swim season will begin on Tuesday, May 26th and conclude with a final meet on Saturday, July 18th for most swimmers. Swimmers who qualify for All-Stars will be invited to attend an extra week of practice from July 20-24th and the All-Star Meet on Saturday, July 25th.

PRACTICES

When are practices?

Specific practice times are assigned by age group and can be viewed under the schedules tab.

Where are practices held?

Practices for the Waves South team are held at the Lodge pool.

Are all practices mandatory?

Swimmers will see the most improvement from consistent practice and training. While the coaches recommend attending as many practices as possible, it is understood that summer is filled with other commitments and family vacations. Please communicate extended absences in advance to the coaching staff.

What happens during a Waves practice?

The head coach will assign your swimmer to a lane after evaluations on the first day of practice. Your swimmer should report to that lane for all future practices unless a coach asks them to switch to a different lane. The purpose of the lane assignments is to group children by skill level, so swimmers should not move to be with a friend.

There will be coaches in the water working with swimmers during practice. For safety reasons, please hold any questions for the coaches until after practice or by email.

What equipment is needed for practices?

All swimmers need goggles, fins, a kickboard, and a towel. Swim caps are recommended but not required. Girls should wear a one-piece fitted bathing suit (no ruffles or skirts). Boys should wear a jammer style bathing suit (no baggy swim trunks). Swimmers may wear their team suits to practice as long as they remain in good condition for meets.

How will I know if practice is canceled?

If practice is canceled due to weather conditions, we will send out email and text notifications to all member families as quickly as possible and we will try to post on facebook as well. Please be aware that sometimes weather conditions worsen after practice has started and the decision to cancel practice is made midway through.

Can siblings use the pool or baby pool during morning practices?

NO, children are not permitted to use the pool, baby pool, or water features during morning swim practices. Swimmers may only be in the pool during their designated practice times and are asked to leave the pool area when their practice is complete. This is important for maintaining safety and to allow the Coaches to focus on the swimmers attending practice.

Please note: At the conclusion of morning swim practices, ALL FAMILIES MUST EXIT THE POOL in order to allow the lifeguards to perform their duties before the pool officially opens at 11:00 am. Please do not leave your belongings to “save” chairs or cabanas while you reenter the pool. Coaches/lifeguards will remove any belongings that are left behind and place them in the lost-and-found.

MEETS

How many meets will there be?

For the 2026 season, there will be regular season meets as well as an All-Star Meet for qualifying swimmers. You can view the complete meet schedule under the Schedules tab.

What is the schedule for meets?

The schedule for meets is generally as follows:

• Wednesday meets: 5:00 pm arrival, 5:15 pm warmup, 6:00 pm start time.
• Saturday meets: 7:00 am arrival, 7:15 am warmup, 8:00 am start time.

What equipment is needed for meets?

Swimmers need goggles (an extra pair is a good idea), their team swim cap, and their team bathing suit for swim meets. (Caps are provided by the team, while team suits will be available for purchase closer to the start of the season.) Plan to also bring at least two towels and plenty of water and snacks. There is typically a designated area outside of the pool deck for swimmers and parents to sit during the meet, so it is a good idea to bring a chair or blanket for seating.

VOLUNTEERING

What is the volunteer commitment?

The Waves is entirely dependent on volunteer hours to ensure the success of our summer season. It takes 30+ volunteers just to run a swim meet, plus many more to oversee team events throughout the season.

The team uses a point system to keep track of volunteer hours. Each job performed during or outside of meet competition is worth a certain number of points, and each family is required to earn a predetermined number of points by the end of the season. The list of jobs and their point values will be posted on the website under the volunteer tab. Signups for jobs occur at the beginning of the season and will be communicated by our Volunteer Coordinator.

QUESTIONS

Who can I contact with questions or concerns?

For all general questions, please email [email protected]

How do I find out about Swim Team activities?

The team keeps all of its members updated via the email addresses provided at registration. You can also stay up-to-date by checking the Meets& Events page of our team website and joining our Facebook page.