Waves FAQs
What is the Waves program?
The Willowsford Waves is made up of two competitive summer swim programs for members of the Willowsford community. The teams offer 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, achieve their goals, and be recognized for their accomplishments. We compete against other teams in the Old Dominion Swim League (ODSL) throughout the season and our focus is on building skills for competition.
What are the eligibility requirements?
The North Waves team is open to all Willowsford residents in the Grange and Grant 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.
When is swim team registration?
Registration will open on March 22, 2026 at 8:00 am. Registration will be conducted on our team website at northwaves.swimtopia.com.
How much is registration?
Big Waves: $299, $290 for each additional swimmer
Mini Waves: $265
The registration fee includes a team swim cap and t-shirt for Big Waves. Mini Waves will receive a t-shirt. There will be a $25 cancellation fee per swimmer for all cancellation requests. After June 15, all fees are non-refundable.
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 20-24 and the All-Star Meet on Saturday, July 25.
When and where are practices?
Please see: Practice Schedule. Practices are held at the Sycamore Pool.
- From May 26 to June 12, practices will be held in the evenings between 4:30 and 7:30 pm. No practice on June 15th (LCPS last day of school).
- From June 16 to July 17, practices will be held in the mornings between 7:00 am and 10:30 am.
- From July 20 to July 24, practices for All-Star swimmers will be held in the mornings.
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.
What equipment is needed for practices?
All swimmers need goggles, fins, a kickboard, and a towel. Swim caps are recommended but not required.
How many meets will there be?
For the 2026 season, there will be 7 regular season meets as well as a Divisionals meet and an All-Star Meet for qualifying swimmers. The meet schedule will be posted as soon as it becomes available.
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 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.
Who can I contact with questions or concerns?
For all general questions, please email [email protected]. For coaching questions, please email Coach Eric at [email protected].
