The Northern Virginia Swim League: Why it is Such a Great League

The NVSL is one of the most exciting summer swim leagues in the entire United States. Children of all ages, from 4-18, participate in the biggest swimming league in the country. Here are some reasons why children enjoy the league so much:

1. The teams are competitive and stress great levels of competition.

You think you've seen a competitive kids sports league? Not until you've seen the NVSL. Each year, the teams are ranked from first to worst and placed in divisions, to ensure fair and equal competition throughout the entire summer. If your swimmer happens to live in a very affluent, swimming-rich area, he/she will get the appropriate level of competition. Likewise, if your swimmer lives in a neighborhood that doesn't have as much swimming talent, he/she will also be able to get a competitive experience with like teams. Each year, the NVSL holds the All Star Relay Carnival and the Individual All Stars meet, helping to spotlight local star swimmers in the Northern Virginia region.

2. The teams bring out a sense of community and team spirit.

Rampant at every NVSL meet are loud cheers, great parent support, and a real sense of community. Each team is followed closely by their neighborhood, and progress over the summer is tracked in many local community papers and even the Washington Post. These teams feel the need to not only compete for themselves and their parents, but their neighborhoods and even their regions. It is a great thing to see a summer league bring so many people together, in a world that is seemingly always running out of time.

3. The teams stress sportsmanship and good teamwork.

In the NVSL mission statement, the league makes it clear that sportsmanship and teamwork are two main principles that the league is based on. Not only should the swimmers strive to be the best they can be in the water, they should also learn how to function as a team and how to treat other teams properly. The NVSL has instituted a "Sportsmanship" award, which is given to the team that demonstrates the best sportsmanship over the course of the entire season. Many times, this award is presented to the last place finisher in the league, but there have been rare occasions where this award has been given to first and second place teams.

All in all, the NVSL is a fantastic league for children to get involved with. I hope that you explore the league and all of its' excitement and possibilities over the course of this summer.