NOVA News
October 16th, 2023
In the Fall of 2023, NOVA partnered with Sportable to pilot an adaptive swimming program. We saw a need for competitive swimming to be more accessible in the Greater Richmond area. NOVA provided the pool and swimming expertise while Sportable brought their expertise working with adaptive athletes and most importantly, the athletes. The goal of the program was to provide an inclusive and competitive swimming environment for adaptive athletes and promote swimming among the adaptive sports community.
The pilot session ran for eight weeks using the warm up pools at Regency and we have had two sessions since, refining the program each time. This Fall we offered two different options. The first forty-five minutes were skill focused lessons with athletes working one-on-one with coaches and volunteers learning the skills to thrive in any swimming program. The second half was a swim practice with Athletes using the pace clock and getting in a great workout. Swimmers from NOVA’s Senior programs as well as others from the community have served as awesome volunteers. Many swimmers jump right out of their afternoon double and slide over ready to help the Sportable Athletes.
To date, the program has served over two dozen athletes, with plans to continue in the spring and next fall. Sportable and NOVA share a vision of a fully integrated swimming community. For more information about the program, contact Coach Matt or Coach Wyatt.
This year NOVA was recgonized as Sportable's 2024 Commnity Partner of the Year. This honor was given to recognize those who have gone above and beyond in the past year. Nominated by Sportable staff, the individuals featured here have significantly contributed to our success, giving us countless reasons to celebrate, throughout all seasons. Congratulations to all who have volunteered, coached, and supported this amazing program.
Nonprofits often see a large portion (around 50%) of their annual donations come in the last three months of the year.
Tax benefits:
Many donors are motivated by the ability to claim tax deductions for their charitable contributions made before the end of the year.Holiday spirit:
The festive season encourages increased generosity among individuals.
Please visit novaswim.org to learn more and to make your donation. Your gift can inspire greatness in our swimmers and help propel the NOVA Regency Aquatic Center to new heights.
With gratitude,
Julie Farney
NOVA December Dip was a mid season championship meet held at NOVA- Regency. Swimmers raced hard and swam to win. NOVA achieved many best times, new time standards and new cuts. NOVA had many new swimmers achieve BB times allowing them to swim at the CGBD 8-12 Holiday Champs meet! Congrats swimmers and coaches!
Novice Bronze, Novice Silver, Novice Gold, Age Group Dev Bronze, Age Group Dev Silver, Age Group Dev Gold, Age Group Bronze, Age Group Silver, Senior Dev Bronze, Senior Dev. Silver, Senior Bronze, Senior Silver
RAYS Nutcracker Invitational took place at the Jeff Rouse Center this past weekend. This was a travel meet for parts of our senior program where NOVA raced with teams from all over Virginia. This prelims finals meet was a mid season championship meet and the swimmers stepped up BIG! NOVA swimmers made new friends and suppoted each other while they picked up many new best times and new Sr Champs, Age Champs and NCSA AG cuts. Great job swimmers, coaches and thank you chaperones!
Senior Dev Bronze, Senior Dev Silver, Senior Dev Gold, Senior Bronze, Senior Silver
The Power of Accountablilty
December is a time of reflection for swimmers, coaches, and families once the championship meets are finished. Reflecting on goals achieved, steps taken towards goals, or even results that did not turn out the way we wanted, is important to move forward. This reflection requires a bit of honesty and accountability with ourselves.
When swimmers look back on our big block of training, from September to December, they need to be honest with themselves about their level of effort. Did they go to as many practices as they could? Did they give their best effort mentally and physically in practice? Did they choose a weekend trip somewhere for fun instead of a Friday and Saturday practice? Did they eat the right things at a swim meet? Did they make sure to get consistent sleep through the training cycles? All of these things can change the outcomes of December meets, and if swimmers are not honest with their self evaluations, they can make the same mistakes in the spring. Thankfully, accountability isn’t just a solo reflection. Swimmers have accountability partners in all activities, making sure they are honest with themselves in their training. Coaches, teammates, and parents can help keep swimmers on track and remind them of their goals.
If athletes take the time to do all the right things, they will hopefully see a step in the right direction towards their goals. Whether this is a large time drop, or the ability to swim well over the course of a long meet, or finaling in an event, this positive result reinforces the changes that the athlete has made.
So this December encourage your athletes to do some self reflection, get support from teammates and coaches, and look forward to the Spring and what they still hope to accomplish. The phrase New Year New Me has become popular over the past decade, and many people use it to outline a set of New Year's resolutions to reinvent themselves. The phrase literally means starting the year as a completely new person. Self reflection, accountability and the willingness to change can make this next part of the season your swimmer’s best yet!
-Coach Sean
Speedo Winter JRS- 12/11-12/14
TAC Bilzard Blitz- 12/13-12/15
CGBD 8-12 Holiday Champs- 12/13-12/15
Novice Holiday Party- 12/13- Regency lobby 4:30-5:15pm
SDS Tacky Light Tour- 12/13- Gayton 4:30-8:30pm
AGB Pizza and Bingo- 12/13 Regency lobby 5:30-6:30pm
SB Holiday Breakfast- 12/14 Regency lobby 10am
AGS Holiday party- 12/16 Gayton following practice
SS Holiday event- 12/18 Lewis Ginter Gardenfest of lights 6:00pm
SG Holiday Party- 12/23- Pickleball group tournament
January Jumpstart- 1/10-1/12 Entry deadline 12/29 Commit HERE
NOVA's 2024-2025 Short Course meet schedule is posted to the NOVA website HERE!
The @orthovirginia Practice Performer of the Week for our 13 & Over swimmers this time is Gibson Jones, from Senior Development Gold. Gibson has had some absolutely killer practices recently. During SDG's last "Tight Ten" set (10x100 @ 1:05) before December Champs, he averaged :57. He was also the 4th swimmer ever to complete the entire annual SDG Thanksgiving 300 set - a beastly drop out set of 23x300 descend. Intervals become increasingly tough - with the last 300 on 3:00, where Gibson went a 2:57! These. practice performances are crazy impressive.
Way to go, Gibson!
