FAQ's

• General Swim Team Questions
• Billing & Registration Questions
• Website Operation
• Swim Team Practices
• Swim Meets
• Swim Meet Officials
• Swim Meet Volunteer Work (Service Hours)
• Social Events
• Team Fundraising

A: Blue Wave Swim Team is a USA Swimming year-round competitive swim team sponsored by Ashburn Village offering high quality professional coaching and technique instruction for swimmers of all ages and abilities. There are many benefits to getting your child involved in competitive swimming, including:

A: It’s fun. It’s great exercise. It builds confidence. It’s a great way for your child to meet other kids in the neighborhood. It’s a great way for you to meet other parents.

A: Send your email questions to our coaches or click here. Your question will be answered or directed to the right person.

A: Freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly.

A: If your child is 5 to 18 and can swim a lap of the pool then they should contact the coaches for an evaluation.

A: A tryout is an evaluation done by our coaching staff to place each swimmer in the best possible group level. We start accepting swimmers out of lesson programs around the Y4 level. Each swimmer is different and may or may not be ready. The tryout will last about 10 minutes. Swimmers should be ready to swim with swimsuit, goggles, and a towel. If you are a senior level swimmer, please send us an email at coachmike@pvbluewave.com or click here before coming to a tryout. Older swimmers who have been on other teams can also come for a full practice as their tryout.

A: Swimmers must come to the evaluation session ready to swim. This includes:

• Proper swim training attire. Baggy shorts or ’beach wear’ are not acceptable. Call or email if you are unsure what this means.
• Goggles
• Swim cap if the child needs one (kids with long hair should wear a cap)

A: Please contact Assistant Head Coach Kira to schedule a try-out/evaluation. We generally hold them during the week between 3:00-3:45pm. Days and times are flexible, however, especially during our summer session.

A: You should discuss this with the coach.

A: The age groups are 8 & under, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-18. Every other year your child will have an "up" year when they are the oldest in their age group and a "down" year when they are the youngest in their age group. The system generally works well.

A: Potomac Valley Swimming (PVS) and USA Swimming (USAS) are the governing bodies of competitive swimming in our area and the U.S.A. respectively.

A: Congratulations on your decision. Here are the steps to follow:

1) Contact one of the Blue Wave Coaches and discuss with them your swimming experience. You can get a feel for which group might be right for you by visiting the Swim Groups Descriptions page. The coach may ask you to attend a practice session to be evaluated or schedule a separate evaluation. The practice times for all groups can be found on the Practice Schedule page. (See the above question on how to schedule a tryout and what a tryout means)
2) After agreeing with the coach on which group is right for you, fill out the registration form fully which was handed to you or go to the Forms/Documents page within the Membership Info link on the left side of the website. Print out the Swimmer Registration Forms.
3) Fill out the Swimmer Registration forms and mail with your payment to:

BLUE WAVE SWIM TEAM

20585 Ashburn Village Blvd.

Ashburn, VA 20147

5) When the AVCA Office Manager processes your paperwork, your family account will be made ’Active’ and you will receive an email with your login password. Use your primary account email address as your login ID to sign-in to the website to view areas not accessible to the general public.
6) If you’ve trained/competed under a previous USA Swimming-affiliated club, complete a Potomac Valley Swimming (PVS) Transfer Form. Send this form along with your registration form.
7) Spend some time reviewing all of the Blue Wave website – there is a lot of information available to you. If you have more questions, always feel free to ask one of the Coaches, Pool Representatives, or Committee Chairs. We are all available to help.

A: When a swimmer changes teams, the swimmer’s registration status with PVS is changed to "unattached". An unattached athlete is insured and may enter competitions but may not participate in relays. The unattached status ends 90 days after a swimmer’s last competition with his/her previous team. The Blue Wave Swim Team must comply with strict rules about unattached swimmers; therefore, a swimmer’s last competition date with his/her former team is critical.

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A: On the "Sign-In" page, click the link and your password will be emailed to you. Your password will be auto-emailed to the email address on file with your members-only account.

A: Yes. After you sign in, click on "Change Password" near the top-right corner of the home page. Then type the new password and click submit.

A: After signing in, Click on "My Account" and change your personal information. Make sure to click "Save" at the bottom when you are done.

A: Members-only login protects private information. Because our website draws traffic from all over, each family’s username and password allows access to their specific family account. Some portions of the website are activated by signing-in and are viewable only by registered Blue Wave families.

A: No. Membership is set up as ONE ACCOUNT PER FAMILY. A family account can cover multiple swimmers in that family.

A: All pages are navigational from the Home Page, as well as the upper and left menus. For further assistance, go to the double delta symbol (►►) at top right: The Blue Wave Site Map.

A: Some parts of the website are visible only after you sign-in.

A: First, you must sign-in with your member name and password. Then, click the "Members" tab under the main navigation bar- this takes you to the Member Search page. Here you may look up individual members or groups. Swimmer names, parent names, street address, email address and home number are visible for all members who have not indicated a preference in the "My Account" page to not be listed. Note that if you are not listed you can not see the directory either. In this section, you can also direct email any viewable BWST family member. When you are viewing the member search results, click on the postal letter graphic to launch the email tool.

A: Returning swimmers must have coach’s approval before changing practice groups. New swimmers should use information at Groups Descriptions to narrow down their choices, and then may attend trial practices and work with coaches to find the best fit. Coaches will always make the final group placement decisions. For a coach-to-parent discussion of your child’s needs please call or e-mail Coach Mike.

A: The Practice Schedule page shows the practice times all training groups.

A: It depends on the practice, but in general swimmers should be on deck, dressed and ready to go, 15 minutes before practice is scheduled to start.

A: We will have practice as long as the facility is open, so it does not matter if school is cancelled. If practice is cancelled we will send out an e-mail update and have it posted on the team’s website as soon as we can.

• If the pool is closed due to thunder & lighting (but the pavilion is open) we will still hold dryland training for the groups.  Times may be adjusted.

A: Look at the Group Descriptions for a list of workout equipment that your swimmer will need. All swimmers (if wearing a swim cap) MUST wear a Blue Wave logo cap. We do this so ALL swimmers become part of the team. If you are new, there is a grace period. Please contact Coach Kira ASAP to purchase Blue Wave swim caps (latex or silicone) for your swimmer. If you have any questions, please ask the coach assigned to your swimmer. All swimmers are given a BWST cap at the beginning of the year and may purchase more during the year.

A: While we understand a parent’s desire to see their child learn to swim, it is not encouraged that you remain in the pool facility. For Breaker and Typhoon groups, parents may sit/stand in the spectator seating area to watch their child’s practice. However, we respectfully request that you do not interfere with the practice session being given and remain a bystander. Our highly trained coaches know the best way to instruct your child and parental guidance is not necessary during this time. At levels above Typhoon, it is in everyone’s best interest (swimmers, coaches, and parents) if you remain away from the pool deck until it is time to pick your swimmer up at the end of practice.

A: Refer to our Meets / Events tab at the top menu for all dates, eligibility, forms, travel information, and results.

A: At the beginning of every season, our coaching staff publishes a meet schedule. This seasons schedule is currently located under “MEETS / EVENTS” tab. The schedule will list which groups can attend which meets. Please plan your schedule around these meets so that your child can attend. Please also plan on volunteering at meets, as meets can not run without parent volunteers. If you have a schedule change during the season and can not attend a meet that you had originally planned on attending, you need to let you coach know. All parents must pay for their swimmers entries fees, even if they don’t end up swimming in the meet. Paying for meets will be done online through the website.

A: Team suits should be worn at all team meets as they are part of the team uniform. The team suit does not need to be worn at swim practices, however, so that it does not get worn out. Swimmers should have different practice suits to wear at practice.

A: All of our team apparel and equipment can be purchased through Cassel’s.

A: Look at a classroom full of school children. The diversity in size and shape is remarkable. Even though these children are similar in chronological age (calendar age) they may be very different in biological age (physical/sexual maturity). Puberty is a critical point in the developmental process. It is well known that girls mature more rapidly than boys do. In fact, the average girl matures 2-2.5 years earlier than the average boy (see sidebar on next page). However, these values are merely averages and the range can be several years within each gender.

It is important to remember that “early bloomers”-children who move through biological maturation more rapidly than average- tend to be more physically developed. This can sometimes be an advantage for them in the swimming pool. “Late bloomers” tend to catch-up over time and will often become even more proficient at the sport. Regardless of the maturational pace of your child, she needs to focus on her personal improvements over time.

A: By following these steps:

• Attending an Apprentice Swimming Official Clinic
• Taking the written PVS/USA Swimming Official test
• USA swimming Non-Athlete registration
• Finishing a minimum of four (4) apprentice sessions within two (2) meets

A: Blue Wave officials do not get paid at meets, but they get volunteer service hours credit for the sessions they work.

A: You are required to work a minimum of 4 sessions per year to maintain certification.

A: You can contact _______________, Blue Wave Officials Coordinator.

A: Yes, it is the best seats in the house are down on the deck. Timers and officials are a necessity to the success or a meet. You can help the meet run smoother by volunteering.

A: No, if you can push a button, we can teach you how to use a stopwatch. Timing is a great first step in getting involved at swim meets.

A: All events are announced on the website’s “News" area at the upper right corner of the homepage. Also, check out the "General Calendar" on the Blue Wave Calendar tab. Some social events will require advance sign-up in the “Events" area at the lower right corner of the homepage.

A: From the Blue Wave ’Back-To-Swim BBQ’ in the fall to the annual awards & recognition spring picnic, the Team tries to offer varied social activities for groups of all ages. These include food and socializing during BBQ (fall only); Halloween and Christmas holiday break activities such as bowling, movies, or gym time; team dinners during travel meets; training-group-specific activities; and the annual spring picnic. Poolside social activities and summertime picnics are also coordinated during long-course season. Most of the activities depend on you, the parent to help organize and staff these type of social events.

A: Please contact Director of Volunteers _______________.

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