Swim Team

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The Blue Streaks Swim Team is a great opportunity for children of all ages to be part of a team, improve swimming skills, and make friends.  This summer especially, our kids could all use a constructive outlet for their energy!

  • No competitive swimming experience is necessary for any age level to join, however we do require that swimmers be able to swim the length of the pool (25 yards) by themselves to ensure the safety of all swimmers.
  • Swim Team is a great team sport that provides both group (relay) and individual competition opportunities, and encourages teammate support.
  • Swim Team offers a very inexpensive summer opportunity for kids to be involved in an activity every day that is engaging and will wear them out!

Senior Assistant Coach: Kaila Hewitt

Coach Kaila will be returning this year as an assistant coach!  She was a year-round swimmer for NOVA, and just completed her freshman year in college.  She was a Blue Streak swimmer for 10 years, and we are very excited to have her back!

Assistant Coach: Brian Kwon

Coach Brian will be joining the Blue Streak staff this year with a wealth of swimming knowledge!  He was a year-round swimmer for NOVA since he was 5 years old, and was a swim instructor at the YMCA.  He just completed his freshman year in college.

Senior Assistant Coach: Grace Sadler

Coach Grace will be joining the Blue Streak staff this year bringing very valuable experiences!  She was a year-round swimmer for NOVA from age 6 – 14.  She then spent most of her free time during her senior year of high school teaching swim lessons and coaching swim team at Aquatots, where she became a supervising instructor.  She just completed her freshman year in college.

Volunteer Assistant Coach: Maddie Donovan

Coach Maddie has grown up as a Blue Streak, and is excited to volunteer as a swim coach this summer to learn the ropes for future years as an assistant coach.  She will be at all morning practices all summer, to help instruct the younger swimmers on technique and drills.  We are lucky to have her!

Aquatics VP

Catherine Rafferty
swimdiveBACA@gmail.com
804-852-8507

Catherine has two swimmers ages 14 and 12, and 3-year-old future blue streak! She has no personal experience swimming, but has grown to love swim team watching her children swim over the past 7 years. Catherine works in tech at a bank, and is a Bon Air native.

Blue Streaks Swim Team Captains

These parent volunteers have been hard at work organizing activities that make our swim team stronger and better:

  • Swim Rep: Kristen Hicks

    Kristen has a 14 year old son who swims at Bon Air. She grew up swimming in Chesterfield, and went on to swim in college. She has coached summer league teams in the past, and is excited to use her swimming knowledge to help the Blue Streaks. She works full time as a Physical Therapist.

  • Marketing and Fundraising: Ashley Rolfe

Bio and picture coming soon

  • Registration: Open

We’re looking for a parent to help with this in 2022!

  • Spirit Wear: Stacey Donovan & Courtney Kamer

Stacey has two daughters, a 13 year old Junior and an 11 year old Midget. She grew up in the Bon Air area and has been a member of BACA for several years. Stacey is a VA Tech graduate and loves seeing live music and reading/listening to a good book. She works as a Senior Underwriter for an insurance company.

Courtney’s bio and picture coming soon.

  • Social:  Katie Burgess and Kristen Grayson

Katie has 10 year old twins swimming for the Blue Streaks this year. Katie works as a school librarian at Spring Run Elementary School and has lived in Bon Air for five years. She lives in the Crestwood Farms neighborhood and has enjoyed meeting new people through being a member of BACA.

Kristen’s 9 year old son Luke has been swimming for Bon Air for four years.  Kristen is a former nurse, but now a working artist.  Most days she can be found painting in her home studio or at YellowDoor Studio here in Bon Air.  When she’s not painting, she’s poolside with her sister, Katie Burgess , corralling the cousins.

New to Swim Team or just new to BACA?  This FAQ document has a wealth of information to help orient families to our swim team.

Blue Streaks Swim Team FAQs

2022 Swim Team Fees

BACA Member Rate

 1 Swimmer $110.00
Sibling Swimmer $100.00
15-18 year old Swimmer $30.00

Swim Team Only Member Rate

 1 Swimmer $190.00
Sibling Swimmer $175.00

Registration

2022 Registration will run from 3/29 – 6/20.  Registrations and payments are all completed online.  We will have caps on the number of swimmers that we have in each age group, so sign up early to secure your spot!

Swimsuit Recommendation

The team swimsuit will look the same as the 2021 season.  All team swimsuits are blue with the “Bon Air” logo.

  • Boys: 
    • Speedo Lycra Jammer – $36
  • Girls: 
    • Speedo Lycra Thin Strap – $52
    • Jolyn Brandon (for older swimmers) – $60
    • Jolyn Chevy (for older swimmers) – $60

We will hold a suit “try-on” event at the BACA Clubhouse with our suit provider (Swim & Tri) on Thursday, 4/28 from 5:30-7:30.  We highly recommend bringing your swimmer to this event, because suit sizing can be very tricky!

If you are not able to make it to the “try-on” event, you can head over to their shop at SwimRVA when it is convenient for you. (Swim & Tri’s hours are Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM & Thursday: 2:30 PM – 6:30 PM)

Suits will be ordered by each family online through our Portal with Swim and Tri.  Suit orders are due by 4/29 if you do not want to have to pay for shipping.

Spirit Wear

We will continue selling the Blue Streaks t-shirt design this year that premiered in 2021, along with our classic Blue Streaks swim caps.  To purchase these items contact Stacey Donovan (our Spirit Wear Captain).

This year you can also purchase additional Swim and Dive Team Spirit Wear through the Swim and Tri Portal (towels, swim bags, sweatpants, etc.).  A portion of our sales from Swim and Tri are donated to our team!!!

RMAL has decided that they will drop the named classifications for swimmers (ex. Mites, Midgets, etc.), and will instead refer to the swimmer groups by age ranges.  The ranges are defined below.

Age on May 31, 2022:

  • 6 & Under *
  • 7 & 8
  • 9 & 10
  • 11 & 12
  • 13 & 14
  • 15 & Up

* Bon Air requires that all Swim Team members be able to swim the length of the pool unassisted (doggie paddle is fine).  This will ensure that practices can be run safely, and that our youngest swimmers are not frightened by the prospect of swim meets before they are ready.  Any 4-6 year olds that are able to swim, but cannot make it across the pool unassisted should register for our Pre-Swim team group.

Dates Practice Days Age Group Practice Time
2022
Spring
Schedule		 5/23 – 6/9 * M, T, W, R, F 11 & Up 4:30-5:30 pm
9 & 10 5:30-6:15 pm
7 & 8 6:15-6:45 pm
6/6 – 6/9 * 6 & Under 6:45-7:15 pm
2022
Summer
Schedule		 6/13 – 7/19 **
All swimmers
7/20 – 7/22
Champs practice only		 M, T, W, R, F
(morning option)		 6 & Under 8:30-9:00 am
7 & 8 9:00-9:45 am
9 & 10 9:45-10:30 am
11 & Up 10:30-11:30 am
M, W, R
(evening  option***)		 Pre-Swim Team (Guppies) **** 5:00-5:30 pm
7-18 5:30-6:30 pm
6 & Under 6:30-7:00 pm

* 5/30 – No practice on Memorial Day, 6/3 & 6/10 No practice due to high traffic evenings at the pool

** 6/16 Evening practice shifted to 6/14 (due to first meet of season falling on a Thursday), 7/4 – No practice for July 4th Holiday

*** Evening Practice only for those who cannot attend morning practice.  We only have 18 spots available for evening practice, due to limited capacity of the pool and this being high traffic hours.  These spots will be filled first come, first served.  Please indicate your need for evening practice on your registration.

**** Pre-Swim Team practice will be held Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, from 6/13-6/30 (3 weeks).  Any practices that cannot be held due to weather will be shifted to the next corresponding evening practice day after 6/30.

We have an exiting new program in 2022 for our youngest Blue Streaks that aren’t fully ready for Swim Team:  Pre-Swim Team!  We’ll call these swimmers our “Guppies”.

Every parent wants their child to have a safe and happy introduction to Swim Team.  Unfortunately, introducing a child to Swim Team before they are strong enough swimmers can be scary for them at swim meets, and can present safety concerns during practice.  Bon Air requires that all Swim Team members be able to swim the length of the pool unassisted (doggie paddle is fine).  Any 4-6 year olds who are not able to swim the length of the pool unassisted, but are still able to swim, should join our Pre-Swim Team program!

FAQs

  • Do Guppies need to know how to swim?
    • Yes!  This is not a “learn to swim” program.  These swimmers should be able to tread water, and safely keep their head above water.  This program is for building their endurance and introducing them to basic freestyle, so that they will be ready for Swim Team next year.
    • If your child does not know how to swim, we have private swim lessons available.
  • How do I know if my child should be a Guppie (Pre-Swim Team) or a Goldfish (Swim Team)?
    • If you are not sure if your child can swim the length of the pool unassisted, now is a great time to sign them up for swimming lessons at nearby locations, such as AquaTots, YMCA, ACAC, MAC, SwimRVA, and NOVA.
    • Additionally, our coaches will be conducting swim tests at the beginning of the season to ensure that the younger children are in the correct group.
  • When do Guppies practice?
    • Guppie practice is 5:00-5:30 pm, Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, from 6/13-6/30 (3 weeks).  Any practices that cannot be held due to weather will be shifted to the next corresponding evening practice day after 6/30.
  • Do Guppies swim in meets?
    • No, Guppies do not swim in swim meets.
  • Can Guppies graduate to Swim Team during this season?
    • Yes, our coaches will be assessing the Guppies’ progress throughout their lessons, and will graduate individual Guppies to Swim Team if they are ready and if the parents are comfortable with that change.
  • Will there be a limit to the number of spots in Pre-Swim Team?
    • Yes, we will only be able to accommodate 8 Guppies this year.
  • How much does Pre-Swim Team cost?
    • The cost is the same as regular Swim Team.
  • How do I register my child for Pre-Swim Team?
    • Just register them in our Swim Team program, but be sure to select “Guppie” as the level for your swimmer.
Date Opponent Home/Away
6/16/22 Charter Colony Away
6/21/22 Walton Park Home
6/28/22 Willow Oaks Home
7/5/22 Brandermill Away
7/12/22 Shenandoah Home
7/18/22 Brighton Green Away

Warm-up Times for Swim Meets

Swimmers are expected to arrive for warm-ups at 4:45 pm for home meets and 5:00 pm for away meets unless otherwise instructed by the coaches.

Swimmers who have a qualifying time, or are BACA’s top swimmers, are invited to swim the annual Richmond Metro Aquatic League (RMAL) championships.

  • Location:  Collegiate Aquatics Center (Swim RVA)
  • Date: Monday, July 25, 2022
  • Times (from 2021, 2022 may be different):
    • 10 & under:  8:00 am – noon
    • 11 & older:  noon – 5:00 pm

Swim Team will cover the cost of entry for each swimmer in 2022! (Thanks to our wonderful sponsors!!!)

TBD

We have awesome Spirit Wear again this year!

T-shirts are a super soft 60/40 blend, with Adult Sizes Small through X-Large, and Kids Sizes Medium & Large.

  • Adult T-shirts $15
  • Kids T-Shirts $10
  • Coozies $5
  • Latex Swim Caps $5
  • Silicone Swim Caps $12

Stacey (our Spirit Wear Captain) will be selling these items at some of our spring swim practices.

Swim Team is Volunteer Powered!

Swim meets are run by the families of the two pools competing.  Without volunteers, we can’t have the meet!

All families must complete 4 volunteer time slots across all of the season meets.  This is per family, not per swimmer.  Families who do not complete their volunteer slots for the season will pay a $25 fee per slot (this may be arranged in advance for families that know they will have unavoidable conflicts).  We will be cross-checking that each family has met their volunteer commitment at the end of the season (and actually volunteered at each meet that they signed up for).  Any families that did not meet their commitment will be charged the applicable fee, and will not be able to swim next year until this fee is paid.

Families will sign up via Signup Genius for their volunteer shifts.

Volunteer Signup

Descriptions for each position can be found below (tap or scroll over each position to see the description).

  • Timer

    Novice

    Three timers are assigned to each lane to independently time the swimmers (a mix of timers from each team).  The computers average the times for each swimmer.

  • Runner

    Novice

    The runners are responsible for bringing DQ slips from the Judges to the
    Referee and then from the Referee to the Table workers.  They also collect the timer
    sheets at the end of each event and bring them to the table workers.

  • Heat Winner Awarder

    Novice

    Hands out awards (usually lollipops) to the winner of each heat immediately after the event.

  • 8 & Under Helpers

    Novice

    Keeps the kids that are 8 and under lined up, and ensures that they stay in the right order as they move from Clerk of Course to the side of the pool for their event.

  • Clerk of Course

    Novice

    The Clerk of Course workers call swimmers with a bullhorn to line up for upcoming events in the meet, ensures they are lined up in the right order as they enter the pool deck to wait for their event, and tells swimmers when to advance through the waiting area.

  • Announcer

    Intermediate

    Announces the progression of events and provides periodic reports on meet results over a loudspeaker.

  • Head Timer

    Intermediate

    Ensures that all timers understand their jobs prior to the start of the shift, handles the “backup stopwatch” used in the event of equipment malfunction, and troubleshoots any timing issues that may arise.

  • Computer Operators

    Intermediate

    The Computer Operators (Meet Managers) ensure that the times from the Dolphin timer system are placed correctly in the computer program used to score the meet.  They also verify that the times in the computer match the times on the timers’ clipboard sheets and ensuring the DQs are appropriately noted.  And yes, they DO get to take breaks to see their kids’ events!

    RMAL Training provided and required.

  • Starter

    Intermediate

    The Starter person starts each race, and watches for “false starts” (when a swimmer enters the pool before they were supposed to).

    RMAL Training provided and required.

  • Strokes and Turn Judges

    Expert

    Strokes and Turns Judges are responsible for ensuring a level playing field (pool) for all swimmers.  They judge whether the swimmers have completed the race legally.  If they observe infractions they raise their hand a fill out a DQ (disqualification) slip.

    RMAL Training provided and required.

  • Head Referee

    Expert

    The head referee is responsible for ensuring the meet is run appropriately and within the rules.

    RMAL Training provided and required.

This google calendar can be imported by families to ensure that they never miss a swim event!

BON AIR AQUATICS ARE PROUDLY SPONSORED BY:

Once Upon a Child

9770 Midlothian Turnpike
(804) 272-2229
We buy & sell gently used kids’ stuff

Ashley Rolfe, Realtor || Alicia O’Brien, Senior Mortgage Consultant

(804) 248-0504 || (804) 855-4590
We take the “Blues” out of the home buying process!

Patrick Loth, Realtor

Keller Williams Midlothian
804-339-0060 (cell)  |  804-858-9000 (office)
Bon Air native and swim enthusiast, ready to help with any real-estate needs!

Patient First

8110 Midlothian Turnpike
804-320-8160
Open from 8am until 10pm, 365 days a year, with no appointment necessary, to meet all your urgent and primary care needs.

Bruce Davis

River City Insurance, LLC
bruce@RiverCityLLC.com
(804) 539-5091