Mission Statement: Commitment to excellence through developing and challenging swimmers in a positive community for success in sport and life.
The Virginia Gators are a collection of
teams located in Charlottesville and
Roanoke, Virginia. Athletes
on the teams participate in USA
Swimming sanctioned competition, while the Roanoke athletes also
participate in YMCA sanctioned competition. Information on this site
primarily relates to the Charlottesville Virginia Gators, with links to
information on the other teams.
The Gators practice year-round at the
Fairview Swim and Tennis Club,
but membership with Fairview is NOT a requirement for swimming with the
Gators, NOR is participation on Fairview's
Jefferson Swim League (JSL) swim team. In fact, many of the Gator
swimmers also compete on a large number JSL teams throughout the greater
Charlottesville area.
No word better describes the overall
experience of the Gators program than “family.” Those who choose to swim
with us find a program that is eager to welcome new faces and a group
that is intent on helping each other to reach their personal goals in
and out of the pool. It’s a group that’s easy to break into whether a
kid is interested in swimming once a week, three times a week, or eight
times a week. Overall, it’s a strong support of support for kids who
learn to rely on their teammates, coaches, and parents.
We supplement our program with all kinds of social events during the
year – from cookouts and bonfires to an annual trip to Busch Gardens to
on-deck conversations and good times shared together at meets and other
events. Kids and parents might not arrive to the Gators looking for new
friends, but you’re going to find them anyway.
Programs for every level and level of
commitment set up to fit any schedule.
Swim Lessons – for kids 8 and under who are looking for an
introduction to the water and to swimming in general.
Swim Gym – for kids 5 to 8 who are now comfortable in the water
and want to explore the sport of swimming.
Bronze – for kids 6 to 9…you know the strokes and you want to
practice 2 to 5 times a week, maybe try some meets.
Silver – for kids 8 to 12…you’re starting to get a little bit
serious about swimming, maybe very serious. Most kids swim meets, but
many don’t.
Silver-Plus – for kids 10 to 12…you’re young, but you want to
make a serious commitment to the sport.
Gold – for kids 12 to 18…you want to swim in high school, maybe
you already do…you want to really see what you can do.
Senior— for kids 14 to 18…this is your sport; you practice every
day, often twice a day.
WHY GATORS?
Every kid is different and our intention is to create the best possible environment for your kid to enjoy the benefits of swimming while making friends and having some fun.
What makes us different?
1. Our Coaching Staff. Regardless of level, your kids will get instruction from the finest coaches our area has to offer.
2. Flexible Practice Schedule. We provide busy families with the most practice options, by far, of any program in Charlottesville.
3. Our People. Kids, parents…be prepared to make new friends and have a great time as part of the Gator Family.
4. Commitment. Whether swimmers are determined to swim in the 2012 Olympics or simply want to learn the strokes, we’ll give swimmers the overall experience they need to reach their goals.
Take Route 29 (N or S) to Rio Road (Fashion Square Mall).
Proceed East 1.0-1.1 miles on Rio Road to Huntington Road.
Turn left (North) on Huntington Road and proceed 0.3 miles to Free State
Road(VA-651).
Turn right (East) on Free State Road (VA-651) and proceed 0.2 miles to
the first unmarked intersection. Prior to reaching the intersection you
will pass over a single-lane wooden bridge, after which the Fairview
Swim and Tennis Club can be seen to your left.
Turn left at the first intersection (Belvedere Dr.) and then turn left
into the parking lot.
The Gator office and locker rooms are located in the clubhouse. Access
to the pool is also through the clubhouse.
Courtyard by Marriott - North
638 Hillsdale Drive
(Near Fairfield Inn, turn at Branchlands Blvd.)
434-973-7100
~2.3 miles from pool
Holiday Inn
1901 Emmett Street
(29 South and Hydraulic Rd.)
434-977-7700
~3.3 miles from pool
Hampton Inn
2035 India Rd.
(Seminole Square Shopping Center)
434-978-7888
~3.1 miles from pool
Super 8 Motel
390 Greenbrier Dr.
(One block off of 29 South)
434-973-0888
~2.6 miles from pool
Red Carpet Inn
405 Premier Circle
(Just off 29 South)
434-973-8133
~2.4 miles from pool
Fairfield Inn
577 Branchlands Blvd.
(Adjacent to Applebee's Restaurant just off of 29 North)
434-964-9411
~2.3 miles from pool
Double Tree Hotel
990 Hilton Heights Rd.
(Hilton Heights Rd. leads to Wal-Mart and Sam's Club)
434-973-2121
~2.8 miles from pool
Note: All Hotels/Motels are located on, or just off of, Route 29.
Please support the following companies who support our swim team.
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Interested in being a sponsor? |
JJ
Bean, Head Coach
At the helm of the Gators is JJ Bean, an institution in
Charlottesville, having coached for nearly 30 years. Many people
have suggested that JJ is part-kid himself, which, tied with his
knowledge of swimming and his master’s degree in sports psychology,
provides him with an absolutely unique ability to connect with
swimmers and motivate them to make the most of their abilities in
and out of the pool. While he is a master stroke technician with an
exhaustive list of accomplished swimmers with whom he has worked, he
gets as much enjoyment helping a kid learn to cross the pool for the
first time as he does preparing an advanced swimmer for the highest
level of competition.
Read JJ's thoughts on why competative
swimming builds character in your kids!
Click Here
J.J. can be contacted by
email or phone (973-7946).
Assistant Coaches:
Jake Shrum, Assistant Coach
Jake works with our older swimmers and grew up in the
Charlottesville/Albemarle community before swimming at UVA for four
years, specializing in the 200 and 500 freestyle. Jake served as
head coach for the Albemarle High School Swim Team in 2008-09 and
has been an age-group coach in the JSL for the past six years.
Megan Evo, Assistant Coach
Megan Evo returns to the Gators for a larger role in 2009-10 after
completing her stellar career as an All American swimmer at UVA. In
addition to setting ACC records in 200-yard I.M. and 200-yard
butterfly, earning All American honors after qualifying in 2008 for
the Olympic Trials in the same strokes.
Katya Bachrouche, Assistant Coach
Katya will return to the Gators as she returns for her third year on
the UVA women’s swim team. She has been an All-ACC swimmer in the
400-yard I.M. and previously was a six-time All American in high
school, a four-time state champion in Michigan, and is the state’s
record-holder in the 500-yard freestyle.
Katie MacFarlane, Assistant Coach
Katie will return to the Gators for a second year, working with
younger swimmers as she does in the summer with Farmington Country
Club in the JSL. Katie also was a coach in 2009-10 at Western
Albemarle and grew up swimming in the JSL.
Laurel Smith, Parent Coach
Laurel Smith will return for her second year as a Gator coach,
previously serving as an age-group coach for swim teams in Northern
Virginia and swimming competitively for the national powerhouse Curl
Burke and Yorktown High School before swimming at George Washington
University. Laurel is a Masters swimmer and has a knack for working
with younger kids
The Team has a number of policies that apply to our
participating swimmers and families. There are also several
others being drafted by our Board of Directors. Policies will be
posted here when available. Approved policies are available here
in PDF for your convenience. If you have questions, please
e-mail us.
Gators
Code of Conduct
The Egyptians have the pyramids,
the Chinese have the Great Wall, and the Gators have "The
Bubble." The bubble is an inflatable, approximately 11,000
pound structure that is erected over the Fairview pool from
September through April of each year. When coupled with both air
and water heaters, the bubbled pool provides a temperature
controlled environment for the Gator swimmers. While nearly
everyone's preconceived perception of a bubbled pool is one of a
dimly lit and confining environment, the bubble provides a
surprisingly bright and spacious environment. We welcome you to
stop in and see for yourself.
Plenty of deck space allows for dry-land exercises, as well as
an area for parents to relax or work while their children
practice. Our location also provides for easy and quick access
to a variety of shopping centers and grocery stores for those
parents that would like to get some shopping in while their
child is in the pool
The "bubble-up" and "bubble-down" is an experience not to be
missed, and is akin to a barn raising in which the Gator
community comes together, each with his or her own skills, to
put up or take down the bubble. A small number of individuals
are involved in the planning phase, making sure that the needed
materials (anything from food for volunteers, to appropriately
sized wrenches, to the availability of a fork-lift) are on hand.
The "bubble-up" usually begins on a Friday with preparation of
the site. This involves preparing a dry surface over the pool
(floating inner tubes topped with huge plastic sheets) on which
the bubble will rest until it is inflated. The revolving door
entry/exit way is also put in place. On Saturday morning, the
two halves of the bubble are put in place with a fork-lift,
rolled-out, and then pulled into place. Angle irons are put in
place around the perimeter of the bubble to hold the bubble in
place, while at the same time the two halves of the bubble are
brought together with retaining plates. A heavy steel netting is
then put in place over the bubble and attached to the perimeter
angle irons. The air controller is then turned on and the bubble
inflated. The revolving door and emergency exits are then
attached. All that remains is installation of the lights, moving
supplies and equipment back into the bubble, and clean-up, most
of which is accomplished by a few volunteers over the remainder
of the weekend.
Like the "bubble-up," the "bubble-down" usually begins on a
Friday. A dry pool surface is again created with a combination
of inner tubes and plastic. The bubble-dome is emptied and the
lighting removed. On Saturday morning, the air handlers are
turned off, the bubble deflates, and comes to rest above the
pool. Volunteers then reverse the "bubble-up" procedure by
removing and rolling up the steel netting, and then removing the
retaining plates and angle irons. The two halves of the bubble
are then folded and put away for the summer. Clean-up of the
deck by a small number of people is then easily accomplished by
the end of the weekend.
Below are links to other swimming sites that might be of interest to current and prospective swimmers.
Email: cvagators@embarqmail.com
Snail Mail: 707 Belvedere Blvd. Charlottesville, VA 22901
Team Manager Phone: (434) 760-GATR (760-4287)
Pool Phone: (434) 973-SWIM (973-7946)
Click HERE for directions to the pool!
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