Chesterbrook Swimming

Location & Where can I park?

Chesterbrook is located in McLean, Virginia at 1812 Kirby Road.  If you are coming for a swim meet, please do not park on the streets in the surrounding neighborhood.  Overflow parking is generally available at Chesterbrook Elementary. 

What is Little Jaws?

Little Jaws (LJ) is our Developmental Team and provides group training for swimmers who are still working on their strokes. Focus is on proper breathing, stroke technique, and building endurance. Little Jaws participate in the B meets and we look to develop their skills so that they can eventually “come down” to the Lower Pool, the Tiger Sharks competitive Team.

What are the Pasta Parties?

Pasta Parties are the chance for everyone on the team to get together and have fun. Each Friday during the season we hold a pot-luck event at the pool with an activity for the swimmers. The coaches organize activities with the swimmers, parents socialize and everyone eats. Every week we rotate which families bring what to share - one week a main dish and one week a side dish. Everyone brings their own beverages.

I need a team suit! Where can I get one?

Go to our Marketplace Tab for instructions on getting a team suit. Team suits are not required for practice or for competition but we love to see our swimmers in Red and Black!

What are A meets and who swims in them?

A meets are dual meets between CB and the other Division 1 teams. They are swum on Saturday mornings, beginning promptly at 9:00am and usually conclude by 11:30am. These meets are scored. The top 3 swimmers in each event in each age group are selected to swim in the individual events. Selection is based on swimmers’ times obtained in time trials, B meets or other A meets. Swimmers can swim up to 2 individual events and relays which are swum at A meets addition to individual events. Each age group has one medley relay for girls and one for boys. Four swimmers participate in each medley relay, each swimmer swims a different stroke - backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and freestyle. The fastest swimmers in their age group for each stroke are selected to swim in medley relays. Swimmers will be notified if they are swimming by the end of practice the Friday prior to the meet.

What if I am selected to swim an event in an A meet but have to back out?

If you have confirmed that you can swim an event for an A meet but become ill or are not able to swim for any other reason at the last minute, please contact a coach or team rep immediately to let them know you are no longer available.

How are A meets scored?

For individual events: 1st place receives 5 points, 2nd place receives 3 points, and 3rd place receives 1 point. For relays: 1st place receives 5 points.

Should I attend A meets even if I’m not selected to swim?

ABSOLUTELY!!!! YES! Saturday meets are super intense and TONS of fun for all members of the team regardless if you are selected to compete. The Tiger Sharks are known as one of the MOST spirited teams in the NVSL because we have such a supportive community. We encourage all members of the team to come out to watch and cheer!

What is a B meet and who swims in them?

B meets are dual developmental meets between Chesterbrook and NVSL teams throughout any of the divisions. Anyone may swim in B meets. They are held on Monday evenings, beginning promptly at 6:00pm (warm ups beginning at 5:00 or 5:30pm) and are usually done by 8:30pm. Any swimmer may swim 2 individual events including IM. No relays are swum at B Meets.

What should I do if I think my swimmer needs more hands on or specialized technical instruction?

Swim practices are primarily for working out and building endurance. Coaches provide some technical instruction during these practices when they can but it is not the primary purpose. Private lessons are the best way to get hands on or specialized technical instruction for your swimmer. All Chesterbrook coaches offer private lessons, and Chesterbrook Swim & Tennis offers group lessons.

Special Needs?

If your child has special needs, please talk to the Team Reps so we can work with the coaches to understand if your child needs special accommodations.

What are the expectations of my swimmer?

We have a code of conduct for all our swimmers and coaches and we take them very seriously. Please review the code of conduct which you can find on our team website and NVSL handbook.

We also expect swimmers to show up and participate. The fun starts with our Chesterbrook Family and our team is made stronger when everyone is present. We expect clear communication with the Team Reps and Coaches of your plans if you are not able to participate in specific meets during the season.

I’ve heard about other meets like Relay Carnival. What are those other meets and what are they about?

In addition to B meets on Monday evenings and A meets on Saturday mornings, there are a few other special meets. They include one relay only meet at the division level, one relay only meet at the Northern Virginia Swimming League (NVSL) level, one individual event meet at the division level and one individual event meet at the NVSL level. Below is more about each of these meets.

DIVISION RELAY CARNIVAL

Each season all 18 divisions comprising the NVSL hold a Relay Carnival at one of the division's pools. This takes place on a Wednesday evening mid-way through the season and ONLY relays are swum at this meet. Every team may send ONE relay team for each event swum at the relay carnival. Chesterbrook coaches will select the teams who will compete in this meet based on best times and will notify the swimmers individually.

Following are the relays swum by both girls and boys:

200 M Freestyle Mixed Age

100 M Medley Relay - 8 & Under

100 M Medley Relay - 9-10

100 M Medley Relay - 11-12

200 M Medley Relay - 13-14

200 M Medley Relay - 15-18

100 M Freestyle Relay - 8 & Under

100 M Freestyle Relay - 9-10

100 M Freestyle Relay - 11-12

200 M Freestyle Relay - 13-14

200 M Freestyle Relay - 15-18

This is a scored meet. The winning team is recognized with a trophy. The top 18 relays for each event from across all 18 divisions will advance to All Star Relay Carnival which takes place the following Wednesday during the day.

ALL STAR RELAY CARNIVAL

This meet takes place the Wednesday after Division Relay Carnival and begins in the late afternoon. The top 18 finishers from across all 18 divisions in the NVSL will be seeded in this meet. The relay teams remain the same (most of the time) as the team that qualified at Division Relay Carnival. Teams are only allowed to substitute/replace 1 swimmer in each relay team.

This is a scored meet with the winning team receiving a trophy. NVSL also uses the points each team scores at the Division Relay Carnival and All Star Relay Carnival to seed the teams in the divisions.

DIVISION INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIP MEET “DIVISIONALS”

NVSL holds Divisionals at one of the division’s pools every year for each Division. The events swum are the same as those at a Saturday A Meet, along with the individual medley. Each of the six teams within their division sends 2 swimmers for every event, for a total of 12 swimmers/2 heats per event. There are NO relays swum at this meet. Each swimmer can swim a maximum of 2 events at this meet. If a swimmer has the fastest time, based on A Meet results, in more than 2 events they can choose which events they want to swim, opening up the opportunity for another teammate to swim in the meet.

It is truly for the individual swimmers. The top 18 swimmers in each event across all divisions in the NVSL will advance to All Stars which takes place the following Saturday.

INDIVIDUAL ALL STARS

This is the last meet of the NVSL season. The top 18 swimmers and 2 alternates are seeded in each individual event (3 heats per event). Seeding is based on the results from Divisionals the prior week.