Welcome

The official 2010 swim season will kick off on Sunday, May 16th with the annual Donaldson Run Ice Cream Social being held from 4:00 pm until 6:00 pm. Come enjoy some ice cream, meet your new coaches and teammates, and pick up your important goodies!

Are You Ready?

We are delighted to announce that Donaldson Run will compete in Division III of the Northern Virginia Swim League along with Fox Mill Woods, Wakefield Chapel, Dunn Loring, and Hunter Mill. Here’s what Head Coach Steve Menard has to say, “With the opening of the pool comes the beginning of a new NVSL season for the Thunderbolts, and a new opportunity for DR to show what we are made of. We have a lot activities planned for this year, and as your new coach, I have some fun and crazy things that I will be bringing to the team. I hope to get as many of you as possible to join me and become part of the 2010 Donaldson Run Thunderbolts. Big things are coming. Are you ready?”

Volunteer Commitment and Important Parent News

Success of summer swim team depends on parental involvement. Parents (or any mature family members) are expected to volunteer several times throughout the swim season, both at social events and swim meets. You may sign up to volunteer at our website at www.drra.org.   Please contact our Volunteer Coordinator at madeline.fleckenstein@gmail.com  if you have any questions. If you are interested in serving as an official, please contact Jeff Tarkenton at JTarkenton@wcsr.com  Prior experience  is not required! Because the NVSL offers many clinics on how to become a stroke and turn judge, referee or starter. If you are interested in learning more about officiating, please contact Jeff or go to http://nvsl.nvblu.com  Clinics are also offered for those wishing to be a head timer, clerk of course, or table worker.

Parents New to the Thunderbolts. If your family is new to swimming, all the different meets, practices and events can be overwhelming. Please plan to attend one of our new parent meetings on May 20th at 4 pm for swimmers 11 and older and at 5 pm for swimmers 10 and under. The parent meeting for 6 and under swimmers will be held on Thursday, June 3rd at 5 pm.

All Parents. For our team to do its best, we need every swimmer to be present as much as possible! Please schedule vacations and other activities to start after the end of our season.

Registration

We will again offer on-line registration through a secure site at drra.org beginning Saturday, May 1st. Registration fees are $120 for the first swimmer, $115 for the second swimmer, and $110 for three the third and any additional swimmers in a family. We encourage you to register your swimmers before the ice cream social so you have more time to meet the coaches and buy the team swim suit (Lunar Twist by Speedo) and DRRA swim team apparel. Outfit your family in the team t-shirt ($15), hoodie ($25), and car magnet. You will also have a chance to sign up for the new group tennis lessons to be held at Marcey Park following all three swim practices.

Plan Now to Be Here

The summer swimming season is short, and leaves plenty of room for other activities after the season. There are only five meets with team scores that determine team standings. For the team to do its best, we need every swimmer every Saturday from June 20 through July 18. Please schedule vacations and other activities to start after July 18th - the team needs you! The Divisional Meet is scheduled for July 25th and Individual All-Stars for August 1st.

Practice Schedule

May 17 - June 25  

4:00 – 5:15 p.m.     Ages 11 & over

5:00 – 6:00 p.m.     Ages 7 – 10; 6 & under start June 1st

Starting June 28 

Morning Practice Afternoon Practice and Clinics (T,W,Th) 

7:45 - 9:15 a.m.    Ages 11-18 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. Ages 11 and Up

9:00 - 10:15 a.m.   Ages 9-10 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. Ages 10 and Under

Morning Practice

Once morning practices begin, afternoon practices will continue for swimmers who cannot attend in the morning. The coaches, however, encourage swimmers to attend morning practice since so many afternoons are lost to Monday night meets, Friday spirit events, dive meets, relay events, and the inevitable late afternoon thunderstorm (even the Thunderbolts can't dodge a thunderstorm!).

Communication

E-mail This year we will again rely extensively on email to communicate important information about the team, and to do this we need your email addresses. Please make sure you include your email address(es) during registration. Also, let us know through the on-line registration page if your swimmer will be unable to attend any swim meets. Be sure to update that page if your plans change throughout the summer. Check the pool bulletin board for swim meet results and the ladder of times.

Mailboxes File boxes on the counter at the guard desk will have a folder for each swim team family. That’s where you will find items we cannot relay any other way, such as ribbons. In the front of the file boxes are folders to leave things for the team representatives or coaches; however, the best way to contact the team reps, the coaches, or the treasurer is by email kehoer@msn.com  and alexisconley@yahoo.com. 

Swim Meet Schedule 

Sat. June 19^th  9:00 am  Time Trials at DR

Mon. June 21^st  6:00 pm DR at Highlands

Sat. June 26^th  9:00 am DR at Fox Mill Woods

Mon. June 28^th  6:00 pm Overlee at DR

Sat. July 3^rd  9:00 am DR at Wakefield Chapel

Thurs. July 8^th  7:30 am IM Meet Dominion Hills at DR

Sat. July 10^th  9:00 am Fairfax at DR

Mon. July 12^th  6:00 pm Tuckahoe at DR

Wed. July 14^th  6:30 pm  Relay Carnival at Wakefield Chapel

Sat. July 17^th  9:00 am Dunn Loring at DR

Mon. July 19^th  6:00 pm DR at Arlington Forest

Wed. July 21^st  4:00 pm All Star Relays at Hayfield

Sat. July 24^th   9:00 am  DR at Hunter Mill

Mon. July 26^th  6:00 pm Chesterbrook at DR

Sat. July 31^st  8:00 am Divisionals at DR

Sat. August 7^th  8:00 am Individual All Stars at Broyhill Crest