New to NOVA or new to traveling out of town for a swim meet?  Find some frequently asked questions and answers here. If you need more information please contact Julie Farney at [email protected]

NOVA goes to many out of town swim meets.  To help families keep costs down, we offer several different options.  The type of swim meet is posted on the website on the meet schedule. At all types of swim meets the NOVA code of conduct is in effect.

Parent Travel - For some out of town meets, parents travel with their swimmers.  NOVA coordinates group room blocks at discounted rates. Hotel information can be found on the NOVA website under the Meet Event Detail on the Team events. Parents make their own reservations before the cut off date listed to reserve rooms in the block. Parents provide all transportation and meals for their own swimmer. 

Team Travel - These meets are noted on the meet schedule in red under the special comments.  There are usually about 6 team travel meets offered each season. Select (invited) 10 & under swimmers, and select (invited) 11-12 swimmers attend a meet in January and June where they experience all aspects of team travel, listed below. All 13 & Over swimmers are offered a varitey of team travel opportunies based on practice group. Swimmers who do not wish to team travel may decline, and ask to be redirected to a parent travel meet, but may not attend a team travel meet on their own with a parent. 

Team travel for 12 and under swimmers -  trips have a dedicated trip manager, 3:1 ratio for 10 and under swimmers and a 16:1 ratio for 11-12 year old swimmers.  All adults traveling with NOVA undergo a strict chaperone certification process, laid out by USA Swimming. Parents interested in chaperoning a trip should send an email to their swimmer’s coach and the travel coordinator, as soon as you know that you are available. Chaperones are chosen on a first come first served basis, taking into consideration previous experience and the size of the group to be chaperoned. These trips provide a way for swimmers to bond with teammates, experience different pools/meets with preliminary and finals formats, gain independence, and prepare for travel at the 13 & over age.  For this reason, parents attending team travel meets not as a chaperone, are asked to sit in separate areas of the pool, and allow the chaperones to watch over the swimmers. At no time may a swimmer go off with his/her parent at the meet, at any lunch or dinner places, or at the hotel. This is for the safety and control of the entire group during team travel meets. Each meet has its own nuances and the designated trip manager is a good point of contact for parents who choose to come to watch their swimmers.  Trip information sheets are sent to all families to give an estimate of the schedule, costs, and activities on the trip, as well as the names of the chaperones and the trip manager. Hotel, most meals, and transportation is planned by the travel coordinator. All swimmers stay together at the hotel, meals and on deck at the meets, moving as a group the entire trip. If a meet has finals, all swimmers go to finals, and if are not swimming are there to cheer for their teammates. Any changes in arrival or departure, requested by swimmers and parents from a team travel trip, will be considered by the coach and the travel coordinator before the trip departs, ONLY IF it is communicated in writing to the coach and travel coordinator no later than 3 days in advance of the trip leaving. 

Team Travel for 13 & Over trips have a dedicated trip manager, and a maximum 20:1 swimmer to chaperone ratio.  All adults traveling with NOVA undergo a strict chaperone certification process, laid out by USA Swimming. Parents who are interested in chaperoning, please email your swimmer’s coach and the travel coordinator as soon as you know you are available.  The travel coordinator plans hotel, transportation including flights if necessary, food and activities. Trip information sheets are sent to all families to give an estimate of the schedule, costs, and activities on the trip, as well as the names of the chaperones and the trip manager.  All swimmers move together as a group for the entire trip. If a meet has finals, all swimmers go to finals. Some longer more expensive trips require a Commitment Form to be turned into the travel coordinator. 13 & Over swimmers are more independent, and for longer trips, may have hotel rooms with kitchens, and may make grocery store runs for food, snacks and drinks. Again, swimmers may not travel to a Team Travel meet with a parent. Any changes in arrival or departure, requested by swimmers and parents from a team travel trip, will be considered by the coach and the travel coordinator before the trip departs, ONLY IF it is communicated in writing to the coach and travel coordinator no later than 3 days in advance of the trip leaving.  Swimmers who have committed to a team travel meet may be removed from the trip if they are not maintaining group practice standards, are injured or otherwise unable to compete at a level required at the meet, are on probation or their account balance is not in accordance with NOVA’s delinquent account policy. 

Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions [email protected].