President's Corner

New background screening - USA Swimming has taken some steps to ensure the safety of all swimmers and now requires background screening for all coaches that are members of the organization. PVS is currently rolling out the new rule for our area. SDS screens new coaches during the hiring process and we have never had issues related to the conduct of our coaches. We support this new process.

Winter weather – keep warm so you don’t get sick. Just a reminder, we don’t want our swimmers to miss practices due to illness. Please cover your wet heads after practice and dress appropriately. It is easy to get sick when you are tired and cold after practice.

- Wendy Friedland

Attendance Month

February is attendance month and all swimmers are encouraged to focus on their practice attendance for the four weeks during the month of February. Any competitive swimmer that makes 100% attendance during the month of February will receive a special attendance month cap. Should you have any questions about attendance month, please see you coach.
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PVS to host Catch the Spirit Camps

Open to interested USA Swimming registered swimmers!!
New in 2007, PVS has decided to participate in the USA Swimming Catch the Spirit Camp Program. These camps are designed for ALL registered swimmers. They address many issues, from nutrition to race strategy. They are aimed at athletes interested in improving their skills and knowledge of competitive swimming.

The camps are broken down into four levels, based on age, experience and level.

Level I Novice: This level is aimed primarily at swimmers age 10 & under. Basic topics include sportsmanship, stroke skills, and simple training concepts.

Level II Developing Athletes: This level is aimed at swimmers age 12 & under. These camps address the many issues for swimmers to become more competitive. Nutrition, finishes, starts, turns, and more advanced training concepts are covered.

Level III Advanced Competitors: This level is aimed at swimmers ages 11-14. These camps help with goal setting, racing strategies, stroke improvement techniques, relaxation techniques, and developing leadership skills.

Level IV Advanced athletes: This level is aimed primarily at swimmers age 15 & over. These camps introduce necessary steps to move up to regional and national levels of competition. Topics include injury prevention, college prep, training requirements, as well as other aspects of training and time management.

NOTE: For more information, you can log on to the USA Swimming website at: http://www.usaswimming.org. Click on the Camps & Clinics link found in the upper left hand corner, and scroll down to the ‘Catch the Spirit Camps’ info & link.

The first camp offered by PVS will be on Saturday, April 29 at the Fairlands Aquatic Center from 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM. This will be a Level III Camp, for 11-14 year old swimmers. It will be open to the first 50 USA-S registered athletes who sign up. Registration forms are not yet posted, but will be posted on the PVS website http://www.pvswim.org/ when they become available. There will be a nominal fee for the camp and registration is limited to the first 50 swimmers who complete the registration form and send payment.
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Meet Matters

Marlins Invitational
On November 10-11, SDS swimmers traveled to Raleigh NC to swim a tri-meet with the Marlins of Raleigh and another local team. This was a great reunion for many Sea Devils and their former coach Ted Pierson who now coaches with M.O.R. The Sea Devils took second place and had many best times. One of the highlights of the trip was the dinner and movie night at the outdoor mall since the weather was a delightful 70 degrees.

Swim and Rock
The most popular and best-attended meet of the season is the Swim and Rock meet held at Oakmarr on November 17-19. SDS hosts this raucous event where fast swimming is intermingled with loud music and sometimes even dancing. The Sea Devils took third place out of twelve teams and Stephen Richards won the high point award for the 13-14 boys.

Blizzard Invitational
George Mason University was the site for the 2006 Blizzard Invitational on December 1-3. This was the championship meet for all SDS swimmers who did not swim in the Cassel’s meet. SDS swimmers were well represented in every age group and the team recorded over 75% best times!

Mitten Mini Meet
The Mitten Mini meet was held at Madeira on Saturday December 9th. Our SDS 9 and unders competed with invited guests the Blue Wave Swim Team.

Congratulations to the following Sea Devils who were multiple event winners: Kathleen Woodmancy, Thomas Brooks, Matthew Michael, Ryan Fischer, Pieter Fosburg. Swimmers and their families donated many wonderful items to a local homeless shelter. Way to go Sea Devils!!

Cassel’s Winter Classic
Our championship meet of the fall season was the Cassel’s Winter Classic Invitational held at George Mason University on December 14-17. Sea Devil Swimmers placed fifth out of eighteen teams with the combined team score of 2,067.5 points. The boys placed third and the girls placed sixth. Once again Stephen Richards won the high point award for the 13-14 boys. Congratulations to Ashley Danner who made her US Olympic Trials cut in the 100 Breaststroke.

January Open
The January Open meet always seems to be a challenge when it comes to the weather. For the second year in a row we had snow over the weekend but it did not stop the Sea Devils from coming out in force to swim at the PG Sport and Learning Center on January 20 and 21.  Over 60 swimmers braved the elements to swim their events in pursuit of cuts for our spring championship meets. Congratulations to event winners Malena Lair-Ferrari, Elizabeth Foshburg, Gavin Springer, James Michael and Brendan Whipkey.
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PVS Stroke and Turn and Starter Clinics to be held on February 11

For parents interested in becoming certified Potomac Valley/U.S. Swimming officials, required instructional clinics will be held on Sunday, February 11 at the Germantown Indoor Swim Center.

The session for prospective Starters will take place from 8:30-10:30 am, and the session for prospective Stroke and Turn officials will take place from 11:00 am to 1:00 p.m. Prospective New Officials should plan to attend the Stroke and Turn clinic.

Germantown Indoor Swim Center is located at 18000 Central Park Circle in Boyds, Maryland. Directions to the Center are posted on the Potomac Valley Swimming web site, pvswim.org . Click under the link entitled “Officials Clinic” (third news item on the home page).

All parents are encouraged to consider becoming certified officials. General information on the process is posted on the Sea Devils Swimming web site.
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Spring Break Schedule

Competitive Programs (weekday programs)

Beginning Saturday, March 31 thru Sunday, April 8 the competitive programs at all pools except St Albans will be on Spring Break. Regular practice schedule will resume Monday, April 9, 2007.

Please note: St Albans will take their spring break the last week in March 26-30 and will practice while the rest of the team takes their break.

Clinic Programs (once a weekend swim clinics)

All clinics will take off Easter weekend, April 7/8. We will also face a blackout date at Holton in the latter part of March. Specific detail and alternative practice location(s) information will be distributed at the clinics beginning March 3rd.

Masters Programs

Masters will continue to have practice over the spring breaks. Please check the masters online calendar as March approaches for more details on masters practice schedule over the break.

Should you have any questions about spring break, please contact your coach.

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Inclement Weather Policy

The Capitol Sea Devils aim to keep members informed regarding inclement weather and practice cancellations.

Our standard policy is as follows:

Sea Devils will not hold practice when the public school of the jurisdiction identified for each pool are closed or dismissed early for bad weather.

Holton : Holton families should check the Holton Arms School homepage http://www.holton-arms.edu/template/index_flash.cfm The Holton Head of School will determine whether the campus/school will be open or closed times of inclement weather.   If Holton Arm School is closed or closes early for inclement weather we will not hold Sea Devil practices.

The Holton Arms staff maintains the web site at the link above.  Closure of the facility will be at the discretion of the Holton Arms School administration.  We must abide by decisions made by school officials.

Those who train in the early morning should check with their coach on their individual plans when the weather is bad.

Holton-Arms inclement weather policy was updated February 9, 2007.

Madeira: Arlington County (Arlington Co weather hotline number is 866-322-4277)

Tuckahoe: Arlington County (Arlington Co weather hotline number is 866-322-4277)

St Albans: St Albans families should call the St Alban pool directly at 202 537-6462. When weather is inclement, there will be an outgoing message citing the pool status and practice availability. Closure will be at the discretion of the St Albans Headmaster, who will roughly follow the DC Public Schools System, but will also consider the safety of day students commuting to outlying areas. We must abide by decisions made by school officials.

 The Lab School: Lab families should check the Lab School homepage http://my.labschool.org and click on “Dragon Swimming.” Scroll all the way down to our daily availability or call the Lab pool desk 202 454-2256. The Lab School aquatics director maintains this page and provides up to date status of the pool availability. Closure of the facility will be at the discretion of the Lab School administration, who historically follows the DC public Schools System, but will also consider the safety of the community. We must abide by decisions made by school officials.
 
If schools have a delayed opening, afternoon practices will be held. When snow starts late in the day, listen to TV/radio for information regarding evening activities for the school systems. If after school/evening activities are cancelled, Sea Devils will not hold practice. Please keep an eye on our web site for up to date information regarding practices during inclement weather.

Swimmers who regularly train in the early AM should double check with their coach regarding their individual practice cancellation policies because school systems normally make their announcements after we have already started our early am practices. Contact your coach!

Over weekends the pool coach/clinic director at your pool will check with the facility managers to determine whether or not we can hold practice. We will put an update up on our web site www.seadevils.org. Clinic Families can also call the Sea Devil Voicemail system 703 917-9208 and press 8 for an outgoing message.

Please always use your best judgment in deciding whether to travel to practice/meets during inclement weather.
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Spring Biathlon to Benefit The Childhood Brain Tumor Foundation

Once again the Capitol Sea Devils and The Madeira School will proudly sponsor the race which features a 525 yard swim and a 5K run. It is tentatively scheduled for Sunday morning May 6, 2007 is open to individuals or teams age 10 and older. It is a great cause and a lot of fun. Registration forms will be available on our website later.
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From the Deep End…….

Winter practice adjustment schedules continue at most pools........
Our practice adjustments will conclude at the end of February. We will return to our normal fall/spring schedules. Please check the pool calendars on our website www.seadevils.org for information regarding these adjusted schedules. Your pool coach and program coach will do their best to keep you up to date. Being able to train at our wonderful facilities requires some flexibility.

2007 USA Swimming /Potomac Valley membership cards
2006 USA/Potomac Valley membership cards have been mailed. Any corrections to your membership card should be sent to Lyn Hellmann. You may email admin@seadevils.org or you can leave a message on our voicemail 703/917-9208 #1.

Team Equipment is available from Sport Fair 5121 Lee Highway Arlington VA 703/534-9500.

General Information
Web site Address: www.seadevils.org

Office Mailing Address:

The Capitol Sea Devils
PO Box 650070
Potomac Falls VA 20165-0070


Office Phone: 703/917-9208 Sea Devils Voice Mail System

General Email Address: admin@seadevils.org
See our web site for a list of the coaches email address

Office Fax: 703/450-7822

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