NOVA News

It’s finally happening! This weekend marks the soft opening of NOVA’s brand-new second floor!

After years of planning, months of construction, and countless hours of teamwork, we’re thrilled to begin welcoming swimmers, families, and visiting teams into our expanded space.

This weekend is the first step in our transition to fully operating on two levels. We’ve received our temporary occupancy, and while we are so excited to share this milestone with you, please keep in mind that we are still working through a few final punch-list items. You may notice small details still being completed or experience the occasional “glitch” as we learn our way into managing this new space safely and efficiently.

We appreciate your patience, flexibility, and good humor as we take these final steps toward completion. Every day brings us closer to the finish line, and we promise it will be worth the wait!

Our official Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony will take place on Friday, November 7th, kicking off the Mid-Atlantic Age Group Championship Showdown (MAAGCS) weekend. By then, we’ll be ready to celebrate in full NOVA style, with stands full of RED, roaring swimmers, and an incredible new home for our families and community.

Thank you for being part of this exciting moment in NOVA’s history. Your support and enthusiasm have made this dream a reality. Check out all of the information below for specific details.

— Leigh & the NOVA Team

This shift helps swimmers grow as independent athletes and teammates.

When athletes sit together on deck, they:

• Build sportsmanship and team spirit
  

• Learn to communicate with coaches and peers
  

• Gain experience in higher-level competition environments, where parent-free deck space is the norm
  

Our coaches have seen tremendous benefits from this setup, both in confidence and team camaraderie, and we’re excited to help all swimmers grow into this new routine.

We know this is a big change for some families, and readiness will vary based on each swimmer’s age, development, and experience.

At Regency meets, here’s what to expect for each age group:

10 & Under Swimmers

• Encouraged, but not required, to sit on deck.
  

• May choose to sit with parents in the stands or on deck with the option to check in with parents as needed.
  

• Deck Parents will be assigned to supervise and help swimmers know when it’s time to check in with a coach.
  

• Swimmers seated in the stands must closely follow the heat sheet to ensure they report to coaches before each event.

11 & Older Swimmers

• Required to sit on deck with their teammates for the entire session.
  

• Expected to remain on deck throughout all events unless given permission otherwise.

We’re confident this adjustment will create a stronger, more connected NOVA team culture — one that supports our swimmers’ growth both in and out of the pool.

We’ll continue refining this policy over the next few weeks and appreciate everyone’s support and cooperation as we learn and grow together.

Questions? Please don’t hesitate to reach out to your swimmer’s coach with any questions or feedback.

With the opening of the second floor mezzanine, there will be new logistics for parking, athlete drop off / pick up, and Spectator entry points we want to share. During all meets, first floor Pool Deck access will be limited to Athletes, Coaches, Officials and Volunteers during competition.

The second floor provides several new options for all meet participants to enter and exit the facility.

At the top of the parking deck ramp, there are specific traffic patterns everyone must follow. Please be vigilant of stop signs and other directional signage, if in doubt, give others the right of way, and please limit your speed when navigating the Regency parking lot.

Entering and Exiting the 2nd Floor Parking Deck:

The easiest way to access the 2nd floor of the parking deck is to bypass the ramp completely. Because there is only 1 entrance to the top of the deck, this can be a confusing traffic pattern to understand.

Entering the 2nd Floor Parking Deck:

• If you approach the parking deck entrance from the EAST, or the Parham Road side of Regency, there is a straight shot to parking with no limitations. This is the recommended entry route.

• If you are trying to get from the 1st to the 2nd floors of the deck from NOVA, it is recommended to go around the apartments and Mall (take a right from under the deck and continue to take right turns around the mall property).

• Families coming from the West and heading straight to the 2nd floor parking deck (via Quioccosin or Patterson) should consider accessing the Regency property at these EAST entrance points.

• At the top of the ramp, there are NO LEFT or U TURNS allowed to directly enter 2nd floor parking. Proceed straight at the stop sign, go past the yellow median, and turn left into the parking aisles. At this point, you will need to work your way back towards NOVA Way in order to take a right into the parking deck.

Exiting the 2nd Floor Parking Deck:

• After stopping at the Deck entrance, again, the easiest guidance is to proceed straight off the ramp towards the Parham Rd mall exit. You can also turn left before reaching Parham road to head to points West on Quioccasin Rd.

• If you are trying to get from the 2nd to 1st floors of the deck from NOVA, it is again recommended to go around the Mall property for access (proceed straight off the deck, turn left at the old JC Penny and continue to take left turns around the mall property).

• At the Deck exit, there are NO RIGHT turns allowed.

It will take some practice to get the hang of navigating the 2nd floor parking deck. Please be patient as everyone gets used to this additional parking option!

As NOVA grows into our expanded Regency facility, we’re thrilled to introduce one of the most exciting additions — the new Community Room. This bright, flexible space is designed to bring people together for a variety of purposes that strengthen our team culture and community partnerships.

The Community Room will host group events, guest speakers, team-wide gatherings, and pre-meet meals for our high school swimmers. It will also be available for outside rentals, including collaborations with Henrico County Government officials and Henrico County Public Schools (HCPS) to further connect NOVA with the broader community.

To create a welcoming and professional environment, the room is being outfitted with all new furniture and technology, including large-screen TVs. Because of the upkeep required—furniture care, bathroom maintenance, and the fact that there is no full-time staff on the upper level—the Community Room will remain locked unless reserved for a specific event.

This is part of our “Season One“ operational plan as we learn how to best manage our expanded 29,000-square-foot facility and ensure it continues to serve both the NOVA family and our community partners safely and effectively.

If you’d like to reserve the Community Room for a specific purpose, please contact Drew Hirth, Director of Operations, at coachdrew@novaswim.org.

A friendly reminder: the market runs on the honor system and is monitored by cameras, so if your swimmer grabs something, consider it purchased. Please help us keep this awesome new addition running smoothly (and honestly!) so everyone can enjoy the convenience.

We hope you to check it out and happy snacking!

The energy around NOVA’s Regency facility has never been higher! The Grand Opening of the Second Floor, marks a major milestone in our Capital Campaign journey. From the new viewing areas and team spaces to the buzz of excitement during our first-ever Red Out, it’s clear that this new addition is already transforming the NOVA experience for swimmers and families alike.

But we’re not done yet. To bring this project fully to life, we have just $592,000 left to raise. Completing this final stretch will allow us to finish key amenities that will take NOVA to the next level, including the weight room, concessions kitchen, and live streaming capabilities that will benefit every athlete, parent, and fan for years to come.

The momentum is building! Our National Group is setting the pace with an incredible 80% participation rate. This is a true example of leadership and team spirit. Now, we’re calling on every NOVA family to join in and help us cross the finish line strong.

All new pledges of $2,500 or more made between now and December 31st will be recognized on the NOVA Donor Wall in January, ensuring your family’s name becomes a lasting part of NOVA history.

Let’s finish what we started—together. Every gift, every pledge, and every show of support brings us closer to completing a facility that reflects the strength and unity of our NOVA community.

Make your pledge today and help us complete the vision!

NOVA Pledge 2025

October is Breast Cancer awareness month. The Swim Shop has pink caps for sale that swimmers may wear in meets and at practice.

All Speedo equipment is 20% off everyday and every dollar spent in the VA swim shop goes back to NOVA and benefits the TEAM.

Plug into NOVA Power, and see your business on the NOVA scoreboard during all NOVA hosted events. Contact Julie Farney, julie.farney@novaswim.org for more information.

Please click the links below.