New Swimmer Information

All interested swimmers may attend two free trial practices before committing to the team. Trial swims require US Masters Swimming full membership or a 30-day trial membership:

We have swimmers between ages 18 and 93 and of all levels from new-and-only-swimming-freestyle to seasoned veterans and multi time national champions. We welcome anyone who can swim to the other end and back, but we are not a learn-to-swim program.

Other than appropriate swimwear and goggles, we do not require equipment, but we use several items regularly: pull buoys, hand paddles, lap-swimming fins (as opposed to scuba gear), and kick boards. Certain pools (such as RCC) have loaner kick boards and pull buoys. Many swimmers choose to own their own gear and bring it to practice in a wet bag (net style drawstring bag that allows water to drip out). Most swimmers also bring a water bottle. 

We are a membership-based team, with commitment required on a quarterly basis (due dates for payment are March 1, June 1, Sept 1, and Dec 1). Membership to the team gives swimmers access to the practice pool only during practice hours. (To swim at RCC during other times a day requires separate payment to RCC, and to swim at the RA pools during the summer months during separate times of day also requires RA membership). Competition registration fees and associated costs are not part of this membership, and participation in meets is not required. 

Our indoor swim schedule at Reston Community Center is Tuesdays (IM focused) and Thursdays 8-9:30pm; Saturdays 6:30-7:30am (distance freestyle) and 7:30-8:30am; Sundays 7-8pm (sprint/speed focus).

Typically, our outdoor swimming schedule (at various RA pools in Reston) is very similar, though start and finish times may vary slightly.

Our coach on deck, Frank Koval, designs and conducts the workouts for all swimmers, who are divided into lanes by ability. Swimmers in the same lane aim to swim the same workout intervals, distances, and strokes, with some variation based on ability. We have a wide range of ability and experience levels and most swimmers will cover between 3,000 and 5,000 yards in a 90 minute session.