Potomac Valley Swimming
Level 2

 

PRIORITY REGISTRATION FOR RETURNING MEMBERS

We understand that there are many competitive swimming options in the DC Maryland and Virginia area, and we are grateful that you have chosen our program for your child. Because of the high demand and interest in DC Wave, at the end of each season we assign returning swimmers to priority registration groups.

This policy helps us indentify the swimmers and families that utilize our program services the most, and ensures that they have the first opportunity to return to the team the following season while still providing opportunities for new families to join our team. The priority registration policy has both a practice attendance requirement and a competitive requirement that swimmers must satisfy during the season in order to be placed into either the Priority 1 or Priority 2 registration group. 

We have made some updates to our priority registration policy for this season and have outlined them below.

Priority Registration Criteria

  • PRIORITY 1 = +70% Practice attendance and Unique Event Distance Achieved (see below)

  • PRIORITY 2 = +50% Practice attendance and Unique Event Distance Achieved

  • PRIORITY 3 = Waitlisted swimmers from 2023-2024 season

  • PRIORITY 4 = Less than 50% Practice attendance and/or Unique Event Distance Not Achieved

    • Unique Event Distance Criteria (UED) - Total distance swum in unique events is calculated at the end of the short course season. Swimmers having achieved or surpassed the required distance for their age group are eligble for Priority 1 or 2 registration status depending on their practice attendance. Swimmers aging up during the season (8 turning 9, 10 turning 11, 12 turning 13) will have their UED calculated based on their age at the beginning of the season.

      • 8 & Under Distance = 200 Yards/Meters

      • 9 & 10 Distance = 500 Yards/Meters

        • Excludes Distance Events 500 yards and longer

      • 11 & 12 Distance = 700 Yards/Meters

      • 13 & Over Distance = 900 Yards/Meters

        • Excludes Distance Events 1000 yards and longer

  • EXAMPLE 1: A 8-year old swimmer who legally completed the 25 Back, 25 Breast, 25 Free, 50 Back, 50 Breast, 50 Free, and 100 Free in competition during the season would have a combined UED of 325 yards and would satisfy the competitive criteria for Priority Registration Groups 1 and 2. 

  • EXAMPLE 2: A 10-year old swimmer who legally completed 50 Back, 50 Breast, 50 Free, 100 Free multiple times during the season, would have a combined UED of 250 yards and would not satisfy the competitive criteria for Priority Registration Groups 1 and 2. 

If your swimmer must miss practice for a medical, health, or family emergency we ask that you notify their coach within 24 hours of the missed workout (before or after) so that they can receive an excused absence. 

 

PROGRAM FEES

 

REDUCED REGISTRATION FEE GUIDELINES

If the registration fee for DC Wave Swim Team is cost prohibitive to participation, DPR offers fee reduction for those families that qualify. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION. Fee reduction applications must be submitted before registration in order to qualify.  Non-DC residents are not eligible for DPR fee assistance.  

If your family has an existing account with DPR, and has already qualified for a reduction of fees for other DPR programs and services, an invoice from that program verifying that your family has received a reduction in fees will suffice.  All accounts with DPR must be current and have a zero balance at the time of registration.  Qualifying individuals can receive up to 75% off of program registration fees.  

Proof of DC Residency and eligibility for the following government assistance programs are required to receive discounted rate:  

Accepted Forms of Proof of Residency:

  • Valid DC Government issued driver's license or photo ID

  • Pay Stub (no older than 45 days)

  • Utility bill (gas, electric, or water within the last 60 days)

  • Unexpired DC Motor Vehicle Registration

  • Unexpired lease or rental agreement

  • A notarized letter signed by the persons with whom you reside. Letter should include your name, your child(ren), and address, AND two pieces of mail with your current name, address, and date, must accompany a notarized letter.

 

ANNUAL REGISTRATION FEES

The DC Wave Swim Team is owned and operated by the DC Department of Parks and Recreation Aquatics Division (DPR Aquatics), and has partnered with the DC Wave Booster Club to provide our swimmers with an exceptional competitive swimming experience, rivaling that of a private team or club.  DPR covers the cost of coaches salaries, pool time, and meet equipment for the team.

The DC Wave Booster Club is the team's administrative and financial arm. The Booster Club ensures that swimmers are outfitted with swim caps, competition suits, team apparel, covers up front club costs for entering swim meets, arranges travel and hotel accommodations for travel meets, hosts team events, swim meets and fundraisers for our swimmers, and organizes and supports our volunteers at swim meets.  

 

Both organizations - DPR and the DC Wave Booster Club, require a registration fee from families to secure your swimmers spot on the team and to cover the cost of providing these services to team members. 

 

USA Swimming rules prohibit non-USA Swimming members from practicing with USA Swimming Clubs and Teams. For this reason, swimmers must be registered with USA Swimming prior to participating in any team activities, including practices. USA Swimming registration is required in addition to DPR and Booster Club registration. 

 

Below is the updated price sheet for each training group on the team for the 2024-2025 season. 

 

 

Annual Fees

Annual Fees - Outreach

Training Group

DPR Program Registration Fee

Booster Club Fee

USA Swimming Premium Membership

Total Registation Fees

DPR Program Registration Fee

Booster Club Fee

USA Swimming Outreach Membership

Total Registration Fees

National Training Group

$425

$486

$98

$1,009

$106.25

$225

$5

$336.25

National Prep Group

$425

$486

$98

$1,009

$106.25

$225

$5

$336.25

National Development Group

$425

$486

$98

$1,009

$106.25

$225

$5

$336.25

Age Group III

$350

$396

$98

$844

$87.50

$180

$5

$272.50

Age Group II

$350

$396

$98

$844

$87.50

$180

$5

$272.50

Age Group I

$350

$396

$98

$844

$87.50

$180

$5

$272.50

Developmental III

$250

$396

$98

$744

$67.50

$180

$5

$252.50

Developmental II

$250

$396

$98

$744

$67.50

$180

$5

$252.50

Developmental I

$250

$396

$98

$744

$67.50

$180

$5

$252.50

[updated 05.31.24]

*** The Booster Club Fee of $396 ($486 for National Level) covers one swimmer per family. For each additional sibling in a family the Booster Club fee is discounted 18.75% for the 2nd swimmer's registration, 25% for the 3rd swimmer's registration, 28% for the 4th swimmer, and 30% for the 5th swimmer.

Registration Fees DO NOT cover USA Swimming Membership or meet entry fees. USA Swimming Membership can be completed online at www.usaswimming.org. Once registered with the team, we will provide you with the club specific registration link to complete registration with USA Swimming. Meet entry fees will be billed to your Booster Club account at the end of each month for any events your swimmer(s) has signed up to compete in.

If needed, the Booster Club also offers a payment plan for membership registration. 

Payment Plan Schedule:

  • $79.20 at time of registration for the 1st swimmer ($97.20 for National level) | Outreach $36 (1st swimmer)

  • October charge: $79.20 1st swimmer ($97.20 for National level) | Outreach $36 (1st swimmer)

  • November charge:  $79.20 1st swimmer ($97.20 for National level) | Outreach $36 (1st swimmer)

  • December charge:   $79.20 1st swimmer ($97.20 for National level) | Outreach $36 (1st swimmer)

  • January:  $79.20 1st swimmer ($97.20 for National level) | Outreach $36 (1st swimmer)