Hey SRA!

We already miss you at the Snack Bar and we are looking forward to Summer 2025!

We are so grateful for your support this last summer – it was a busy one as always – we thought you might be interested in some of the SB stats:

• Number 1 Seller: Smoothies! (1821)
• Number 2 Seller: Quesadillas (1777)
• Number 3 Seller: Burgers (Regular Plus Beyond!) (1280)

We set a record for Superman and Caesar salads this year – 533!

We had 21 great kids working in the Snack bar managing other athletic and school schedules and I hope you can see their camaraderie – they really are a happy bunch. We LOVED all the artwork that came our way this summer, hopefully you saw some of it displayed on the fridges.

Hoping your fall is going well and see you soon!

— Your friends at the Snack Bar

Swim Team – 2024 Season Preview!

Welcome to another fun-filled Southampton Swordfish Swim Team summer swim season! Our team practice schedule, calendar and general information can be found here: https://www.teamunify.com/team/vassst/page/home. Here is some important information for you to know!

Registration

Swim team registration will be online through our SRA Team Unify site and open April 1st. A space will be held for your swimmer once the registration form is submitted along with payment (online during registrations or via check) and one JRAC league waiver per swimmer (link to this form will also be provided during the registration process and on our website). When registering in TeamUnify, please note that everyone will be a new member.

If you have questions about registration, please email swim team directors, Jenn Walker and Ashley Barrett, at sraswimteam@gmail.com. All swimmers must be registered by May 24 in order to participate in the first meet on Sunday June 2nd or Monday June 3 (final date TBD).

Fees

• 5-16-year-olds: $115 ($120 after 5/29)
• 17–18-year-olds: $30 ($35 after 5/29)
• Families with 3 or more swimmers: 3rd or more swimmers $55 ($60 after 5/29)

Do you have a new swimmer?

To join the team, a child must be at least five years old and able to swim one length of the pool without assistance. Children new to the team (and who haven’t been on another swim team) must have an assessment with a swim coach to be certain that they are ready for the practice environment. Our 2024 assessments will be held on Sunday May 12 from 5:15 pm – 6:00 pm at SwimRVA. Our coaches will work with children one-on-one to determine readiness. To schedule an assessment for a new swimmer, please email us at sraswimteam@gmail.com. If you have a four year old that you think may be team ready, they are invited to attend the assessment; however our coaches may suggest waiting until the next year.  If you are unable to attend the assessment, coaches can assess during the first week of practice but we ask that new swimmers not participate in practice until the coaches have had an opportunity to meet and work with them.

Age Group Designations

The age of your swimmer(s) as of June 1, 2024, will determine which age group they will participate in:

• 8-and-Unders (ages 5–8)
• 9–10
• 11–12
• 13–14
• 15–18 (Swimmers who turn 19 after June 1 may swim the entire season)

A Note about New Swimmers:

Some swimmers in their first year on the team will not be ready to practice with the older or more experienced swimmers in their age group. For our 8-and-unders, we will divide these swimmers into lanes to practice with a coach who can work with them on the skills they need to advance to swimming with the rest of the group.  We will also be offering summer stroke and meet-ready small group clinics so stay tuned for more information!

About Practice

Many parents worry about how summer camps and vacations will affect swim practice. Please let the coaches know if your child will be away from practice for an extended time. Though we always recommend regular age group practice attendance — it helps your child make friends with teammates and become a better swimmer — we understand that situations arise where flexibility helps. Please let us know if you have short-term conflicts. Our coaches will be as flexible as possible and can arrange for your child to attend another practice for a short time.

Team Suits

The SRA team suit is a polyester suit in navy, blue and gold, and it is imprinted with our Swordfish team logo! While swimmers are encouraged to wear our team suit, any previous year’s suits are welcome as well. Suits are available for fittings and to purchase at the Disco Sports store on Starling Drive. We encourage all families to attend SRA Day at Disco Sports on Wednesday, May 15, 10:00am – 7:00 pm, to be fitted for a suit (Dolfin suits run smaller than some other brands) and purchase any other items needed for the season. Disco will have special deals on practice suits and goggles, and they will be donating a portion of the sales that day to our team!

Swim Team Communications

If you would like to receive the latest and greatest news about the swim team and are not already receiving swim team emails, contact the directors at sraswimteam@gmail.com or the SRA office at sra2office@gmail.com. Email is the primary and best way for our coaches and volunteers to communicate with you. We also post updates, events, pictures and more on our Facebook group page. Search for Southampton Swordfish Swim Team and follow the prompts to join.

JRAC:

James River Aquatic Club (JRAC) is the summer swim  league in which SRA participates.  To learn about JRAC and keep up with all of the JRAC happenings, you can visit their website: http://jracsummerswim.org/ or follow them on social media at:  Facebook – JRAC in RVA, Instagram – @jracrva and Twitter – JRACinRVA.

Other Important Things to Know:

Our mottos: “Don’t Mess with the S” and “Strength & Honor”!

Questions?

Contact Swim Team Directors Jenn Walker and Ashley Barrett at sraswimteam@gmail.com.

Swordfish Cafe – Looking Ahead to Summer 2024!

Hello again from the Swordfish Café! We are excited to see you around the pool this summer! We have a great new crew of employees starting and many familiar faces from last year who are looking forward to happy days in the SB (as we call the Snack Bar).

We will begin our service when swim team begins practice so don’t be shy and come on over and visit! We will have meals, smoothies, and ice cream from the start since we know how those May days can be busy with nothing in the fridge – we’ve got you covered! Feel free to come put money in your account during those first few weeks of the year as well.

Populating Accounts and Two Windows on Memorial Day Weekend

We will be running TWO windows Memorial Day Weekend as that is a very busy time of year and members are populating their accounts and getting acclimated to the menu. We do try our best to design a system where you don’t have to wait in long lines. Please look for signage those days to divide and conquer the wait time!

Summer Hours and Offerings

Once the pool is open, we will have lunch and dinner options and tasty snacks. We will offer 20+ different kinds of beverages, our ice cream selections from Hershey’s, Island Way Sorbet, chips and guacamole or salsa, apples and Nutella or peanut butter, candy and candy bars (try a frozen York Peppermint Patty on a hot day – for $0.25 it is very refreshing!). We will have some new soft pretzel varieties along with quesadillas, BLTs, grilled cheese, pasta, chicken strips, corn dogs, and hotdogs.

We will post our summer hours and specials at the Snack Bar windows and on the SRA Facebook page. Please note, we do close if there is inclement weather.

If you haven’t tried a Superman Salad, then 2024 is the year! They are very healthy and filling. They are custom with a selection of greens, veggies, cheeses, nuts, and salad dressings.

Friday Family Night Grill and Entertainment

We plan to return to our tradition of cookouts on many Friday nights, weather permitting. Stop by after swimming or one of the tennis clinics and have a delicious dinner while you relax to music or other planned activities.

We will be featuring again our specialty burgers (including Impossible burger option) hot off the grill, which include cheese (several varieties), lettuce, pickles, tomatoes, onions (grilled or raw) ketchup/mustard/BBQ/Mayo, jalapenos, pineapple (grilled or not), sautéed mushrooms. Depending on the week we may also have bratwurst or chicken sausage, grilled Chicken sandwiches or Grilled Chicken Caesar Salads.

Deposits and Accounts

We will have Snack Bar Accounts as usual. For returning members: your accounts that will be populated with any residual balance you may have had at the end of last summer.

When you add a deposit to your account, you will receive a receipt/copy from our new deposit book. Please help us remember if we are busy and it is overlooked. Each deposit should be recorded in our receipt book and signed by a snack bar employee and the customer before it is entered into the computer system. This helps us and you keep accurate records!

We do take checks (made out to SRA) to populate the accounts as well. You can also bring them to the office before the pool opens to stock up your account for Day 1.

Our employees greatly appreciate tips! Please consider tipping in the cash jar or when making a credit card payment. Our pay structure is planned in such a way, that your recognition of their service is a significant part of their incentive for providing excellent customer service.

PLEASE, please talk to the kiddos about using their OWN accounts only. Our kids at the window do get to know our customers but we do depend on the honesty and integrity of our clients to tell us their own name. Please be prepared to spell it as well and check your balance regularly. We do not allow negative balances.

See you around the pool VERY SOON!

— Your friends at the Snack Bar

Swordfish Cafe Season Wrap-Up

• Number 1 Seller: Smoothies! (1604)
• Number 2 (again): Mighty Mini Ice cream Sandwiches (1409)
• Number 3: Pretzels (1341)
• Number 4: Moose tracks (1014)

Support the Ice Rink while celebrating the holiday season! 

Please support SRA Ice Skating with a festive holiday wreath! This is a great way to get or give your holiday wreaths, while supporting our unique ice program. Gift a wreath to family, friends, church groups, other sports teammates, teachers, neighbors, etc., or just keep them for yourself! These are beautiful, fresh 22” wreaths that make perfect gifts for all!

A new item has been added this season:  a 10 foot fresh cut western cedar garland.

Garlands and wreaths are each $35. You can download an order form below. Forms will be available at all skating events; or you can just bring a check made out to SRA with ‘wreath’ and any additional order info in the memo. Wreaths and garlands will arrive to the clubhouse for pickup during the first week of December.

All orders must be placed by NOVEMBER 15. 

Download the order form here

Thanks for supporting the SRA Ice Program!