NEPTUNES!

With this email I wanted to officially confirm your registration for the 2018 Newington Forest Neptunes swim team! Practice starts next week, so please bear with me as I cover some important details as we begin the season, starting with the most time sensitive.

1. INVITE FRIENDS!!  As you know by now, we are excited to offer all team members a newly designed, FREE Neptunes team t-shirt this season (thanks to our sponsors)!  But the catch is – they need to register by SUNDAY, MAY 27^th in order to receive the shirt.  (We will only have a very limited number of extra shirts available.)
2. TEAM SWIMSUITS:  If interested in a new team swimsuit, please contact Lisa Pratt at 202-491-4935 or [email protected] to set up a time to try on a suit. Suits ordered by May 27th will be delivered in time for Time Trials (unless on back order). We will have the sizing kit the first week of practice, but cannot guarantee you will have your suit by Time Trials if you wait to order. Also remember that a team suit is NOT required for swim meets, and as an alternative we recommend a solid colored black or blue swimsuit.
3. VOLUNTEER TRAINING:  As many of you know, it takes a village to run swim meets.  For new families, we ask that you review the Team Handbook and team website to learn more about volunteer roles.  Some positions have FREE training offered through NVSL (Northern Virginia Swim League).  A few important roles that I ask you to consider, have free training available at NVSL University on Saturday, June 2nd at Fairfax County Government Center on 12000 Government Center Parkway:  Chief Timer at 9:00am (preferably some parents who have worked a season or two as a Timer), Table Admin at 8:30am, and Clerk of Course at 9:30am.  We also need volunteers for Stroke & Turn (a position which REQUIRES NVSL training).  Additional dates and times for training clinics are listed here and on the attachment. **Please note: There are many other volunteer positions available for swim meets and through social events to ensure you meet your 15 hour family volunteer requirement.  It can be confusing, so please ask questions.
4. PAYMENTS:  Anyone who chose to pay by check, needs to submit their registration payment AND volunteer fee deposit BEFORE their kids can enter the pool for the first swim practice. Please drop off your checks to the HOA office, or at our Neptunes Info desk at the pool over Memorial Day weekend (times TBD), or at the first day of practice. (Contact me for other options).
5. PRACTICE STARTS: In less than a week, Tuesday May 29^th, afternoon practices begin. 4-5pm for ages 13-18. 5-6pm for ages 9-12. 6-6:50pm for ages 8 and under. **PLEASE REMEMBER that all swim team members and parents will need to bring their pool passes to afternoon practice daily, and have them scanned at the front desk!  Morning practices begin on Monday, June 18^th.
6. First Annual NEPTUNES Season Kick-off BBQ: SAVE THE DATE!!   Please RSVP (click link) for Sunday, June 3^rd from 5-7pm.  Come join us in the grassy area of the pool for food, fun & friends. Meet the coaches, swim team board, sponsors. Ask questions, purchase swim team swag, and learn about volunteer roles.  MINIS ARE WELCOMED TO JOIN US!!
7. MINI NEPTUNES: Mini Neptunes will be assessed between June 20-22 (stay tuned for details). MINI practices begin officially on Monday, June 25^th and run for 5 weeks. We still have plenty of spots open, so please invite your friends and neighbors.
8. UPDATED WEBSITE: Please take a few minutes to look over the newly updated team website. As you have requested, we added more helpful information for our team families. We have a new Team Handbook, the entire social calendar planned, listings and explanations of volunteer roles, practice & meet info, listing of coaches and the board, plus an online store to purchase swim team merchandise.  Please note:  Swim meets will be added to the Swimtopia schedule this week.  In the meantime, please find the FULL summer schedule (practices, meets, & social events) on the website and attachment.
9. COACHING STAFF: We are excited to have our same Neptunes coaches back this summer.
   • Head Coach: Jamie Visbeck
   • Assistant Coach: Miranda Parker
   • Assistant Coach: Wolfgang Kerat
   • Assistant Coach: Casey Barry
   • MINIS Coach: Christine Gilmore
   • Swimmer Coaches: Fiona Price, Ethan Gilmore & Craig Allison
10. And lastly, let me introduce myself. My name is Tyler Wyllie, and I am the new Team Rep for the season. Mike Cabot is the Assistant Team Rep, though is temporarily sidelined as he recovers from surgery. For the time being, I will be your main point of contact during the swim season. As a Team Rep, we run ALL of the swim meets, manage the coaches, and act as liaison between parents and coaches (This is to ensure that the coaches can coach during practices and swim meets. As a Team Rep, I can address your questions and concerns.)  Please do not hesitate to reach out with questions. I am here to help you and your kids have a FUN and productive swim season. And a HUGE shout out to Joe Flynn who was our fearless Team Rep for the past few years. Thankfully he isn’t going far, and will serve as one of our swim meet Referees this season!

The new swim team board and coaching staff are very excited to start a new swim season!  Feel free to contact me directly with any questions.  Email: [email protected]

LET’S GO NEPTUNES 2018!!
Tyler Wyllie, Team Rep