Little Hunting Park's Gators Swim Team is a seasonal team and charter member of the Northern Virginia Swimming League (NVSL). Summer 2022 marks LHP's 67th season. The Team's goal is to provide every swimmer an opportunity to improve swimming skills and achieve success for the Team and for themselves. The Gators focus on stroke development, sportsmanship, Team camaraderie, recognition of achievement and fun!
Winter Swim 2022-23
Winter Swim Practice is underway!
No swim dates: 10/16, 11/27, 12/25, 1/1, 2/19, 4/9
Age Group Swimmers:
Practice is at Lee District Rec Center every Sunday from 6-7 pm and 7-8 pm (later practice until December 18th only):
- Waitlisted Age Group Swimmers will swim in the 7-8 pm practice, along with specific families who have been contacted to switch. If you originally registered for the 6-7 pm Age Group practice and were not waitlisted or contacted, you are still practicing at 6 pm.
- Please bring your fins, goggles, and a towel to practice.
- If anyone in the 6 pm practice would like to move to the 7 pm practice until December, please email Brooke. You will still retain your spot in the 6 pm practice once we resume in January.
Green Gator Swimmers:
- Two groups: one from 6-6:45 and one from 6:50-7:35, also at Lee District Rec Center.
- Please bring fins, a towel, and goggles. If you are new and don't have fins for the first practice, no worries.
Swim-a-thon Tuesday, July 19, 2022
Proceeds will benefit the National Breast Cancer Foundation. All donations to be made at this website:
https://fundraise.nbcf.org/lhpgators
Thanks to Anna Althouse for spearheading our annual fundraising event.
Swimmers collect pledges per lap completed.
We can always use a few parent volunteers to count laps and contribute snacks.
Volunteer HERE
Special Meets: Mandatory Registration
Several fun and exciting "special meets" are upcoming. Click the Swim Meets tab for the most up-to-date information on the Woodley Mini Meet, and Fort Hunt IM Invitational.
If your swimmer wishes to participate, you MUST declare availability by the deadline for your swimmer to be eligible.
Divisionals: (Saturday, July 23) Coach selection top 2 swimmers per event/age-gender
Deadline to register Saturday July 16, 9:00 pm
Click HERE to find out more about these meets
More Gator Merch
Gator Gratitude
Many thanks to 2022 Swim Team Sponsor
Nancy Perkins
TTR Sotheby's International Realty
for her generous support of Team and Club!
Swim Team Eligibility
Little Hunting Park members, who are between the ages of 5 and 18 (as of June 1) are eligible to join the Gators. Additionally, swimmers must be able to swim the length of the pool unassisted and be judged by the Head Coach to be capable of effectively participating in 30-minute practice sessions. Swimmers who have developed sufficient skills to participate in practice sessions may join the Team anytime throughout the season and are strongly encouraged to do so.
The Basics
Always bring a water bottle to practices and meets. Hydration is a critical component to your swimmers' comfort and success. During meets, healthy snacks should be packed to discourage runs on concessions alternatives....(uphill battle, we understand)
Swimmers should wear an appropriate "racing" swimsuit, well-fitting goggles and cap to practices and meets.
Good quality goggles, suits, training fins and other swimming related gear are available at Sport Fair in Arlington.
Spare goggles and caps are often handy. Don't forget a towel (or two)!
Reminders
For Parents:
Please declare swimmers' availability at all meets on this site.
Please remain off the deck during practices and meets (unless in an official capacity).
Please refrain from conversation with Coaches during practices and meets.
Please ensure your swimmer remains in the Team area during meets.
These requests are made with the intent to maximize the success of the Team.
Registration for 2022 Season
We look forward to a FUN 2022 Swim Team Season.
Registration for the 2022 Season is open NOW!
Look for the blue "Register Now" button on this page.
There will be NO ADDITIONAL FEES for online payment. Please pay online if you are able to do so.
When registering be sure to have the following information handy: LHP membership number, swimmer's physician contact, health insurance info, two emergency contacts.
Returning Team members should login to their Swimtopia accounts prior to registering. This will pre-populate information from the prior season on the form.
Swim Team Dues:
1 Swimmer = $165 2 Swimmers = $300 3 or More Swimmers = $380
TWO WEEK TRIAL PERIOD: The swim team offers a trial period for on-the-edge swimmers. When registering, choose "pay by check" option. Contact Brooke and Tony if utilizing this option.
2022 Swim Season: What to Expect
Practices:
Pre-season: May 31- JUN 09 4:00-8:00 pm multiple sessions run slow-to-fast.
Daily, weekday morning practices will be held June 13-July 22.
7:00-8:00 am Advanced
8:00-9:00 am Intermediate/Advanced
9:00-10:00 am Intermediate
10:00-10:30 am Green Gators
Evening "make-up" Practices June 14 - July 21: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 7-8 pm. No evening practices Wednesdays, June 22 and July 6.
Competition:
The Gators will be competing in NVSL's Division 5!
Time Trials: Saturday June 11 Hollin Hills (HH) @ LHP
NVSL Dual meets: Saturdays
June 18 LHP @ Hiddenbrook (HB)
June 25 LHP @ Mount Vernon Park (MVP)
July 2 Virginia Run (VR) @ LHP
July 9 Brandywine (B) @ LHP
July 16 LHP @ Virginia Hills (VH)
NVSL Division Relay Carnival and Individual Divisional Championship:
July 6 Wednesday Relay Carnival @ Virginia Run (VR)
July 23 Divisionals @ LHP
NVSL All Star Relay Carnival and Individual All Stars: July 13 @Hamlet (HSC) and July 30 @ Orange Hunt (OH)
Monday meets:
June 13 LHP @ LHP
June 20 Stratford (SRA) @ LHP
June 27 LHP @ Hollin Meadows (HM)
July 4 LHP @ Virginia Hills (VH) MORNING MEET
July 11 Mount Vernon Park (MVP) @ LHP
Other meets:
June 22 (Wednesday) Fort Hunt Sportsmen's Relays @ Stratford (SRA)
July 17 (Sunday) Woodley Invitational Mini Meet (10U) @ Woodley (W)
July 18 IM Invitational @ Hayfield Farms (HF)
Friday Night FUN!
Friday Nights are FUN nights during the Swim Season. The following events are
OPEN to ALL LHP MEMBERS.
Fridays June 10- July 15
Lollipop Races 5:45 pm (No L-pop races 17 JUN, Team Photo)
An opportunity for the youngest Gators (and pre-Gators) to get their first taste of competition and a sweet treat! Flotation assistance (kickboards/noodles) allowed and strongly encouraged if there are any doubts.
Pasta Dinner 6:30 pm
A long-standing, popular tradition at LHP. Socialize with old friends, while making new friends. Swim and Tennis Teams' weekly awards presentations and pep rally. The Coaches judge the coveted "Pasta of the Week" award.
Quadruple Elevation: Division 5
The LHP Gators have been elevated from Division 9 to 5 for the upcoming season. This is the greatest elevation in Team history. This elevation was enabled by the dedication and hard work of ALL swimmers, parents and Coaches.
Competitively, this will be a very challenging year. All participants are encouraged to focus upon "controllables". Utmost Sportsmanship, Improvement of Times/Performance, Team Camaraderie.
History: the last time the Gators were in a division that you could count on one hand was 1970. There were far fewer divisions at the time.
Regardless of W-L-T record, 2022 will be a season for the record books.
LHP has been selected by the League to host again the Divisionals meet. This selection is a tremendous source of pride and speaks to the Team's track record of Hospitality, Ideal Facilities and Excellence in Execution.
Help Wanted: Officials
Certified race officials are essential for competitive swimming. The Gators have long enjoyed an exceptional pool of officiating talent, best exemplified by Head of Officials, Don McIlwain, universally regarded as one of the top officials in the league. While the Gators' current bench of officiating talent is very strong, it is also quite thin. ALL parents are strongly encouraged to consider these volunteer roles; especially those parents with any of the following qualifications:
Kids are year-round swimmers
Previous (or current) competitive swimming experience
A love of the sport, whether long held or newly acquired.
League training is free of charge and takes just a couple of hours.
Please contact Brooke, Tony or Don for more information
Volunteer Opportunities
Why should the kids have all the fun? Parents may participate in swim meets in a variety of fun and exciting ways: marshals, concessions, timers, data table, judges, starters, announcers, runner, clerks of course etc.
While updating your swimmers' availability at meets, be sure to volunteer for your preferred role, before someone else does!
More detailed descriptions of roles found here
