Welcome, 2026 Water Rats!
May 9th
Parents,
Welcome to the 2026 Rutherford Water Rat NVSL Summer Season!
- Please complete our Back to Swim information form; our coaches would like to know vacations for season planning and if there are any learning accommodations or other helpful considerations for working with your athletes! https://forms.gle/PG3SVqenCfKP5qon6
- Practice starts Tuesday May 26th, see website for practice schedule for Swim and Dive Practice Schedule - Rutherford Water Rats
- Little Rats also start Tuesday May 26th. Please meet behind the guard office.
- Please remain patient with us. We have only 3 lanes until school ends. Practice lanes will be busier and more congested due to limited practice space.
- Team reps will be closely monitoring the first two weeks of practice. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.
- Please discuss issues with Team Reps; do not interrupt the coaches on deck during practice.
Safety & Health
RFD supports NVSL’s commitment to providing a safe environment through SafeSport and CDC concussion training for our coaches and Team Reps. Safety & Health - Rutherford Water Rats
- Free training for Parents is available for SafeSport
- Please review concussion information for parents, athletes 11-13 and athletes ages 14-18.
Updates and Reminders
- Donate TWO 12 count canned sodas (Coke, Diet Coke, Coke Zero, or Sprite) for the snack shack per swimmer/diver. Please drop this off by the snack shack.
- Updates to the social calendar
- May 17th - Preseason get together for all age groups and coaches
- Burke Lake Mini Golf and Icecream 4pm. Meetup details to come.
- Kings Dominion June 24
- More info to come. Be advised - parents will provide transportation and/or carpool. Coaches will not provide transportation for swimmers.
- Progressive Dinner - Date TBD- We need TWO hosts for swimmers and divers 13& up
- Pep Rally Themes on calendar Signup Calendar - Rutherford Water Rats
- Additional discounted NVSL activities ( *not a whole team event but optional and info for discounts if interested) NVSL Discount Tickets - Rutherford Water Rats
Officials
- Officials Clinics for recertification. Multiple days. NVSL University is Saturday May 30th. Officials_Clinic_Schedule_for_2026_pdf
- NVSL hinted at clarifying recent rule changes. Please consider attending a clinic to clarify the rule changes, even for those that do not need to recertify this year.
- Swimmer & Diver National Anthem tryouts--let us know if you want to sing or play the national anthem before a meet!
- Call to action - fundraising and event planning support? This summer we celebrate 60 years of traditions! Do you want to get involved and support us in planning fundraisers such as a car wash, swim - a - thon, or alumni event? Let us know!
Coaches Corner!
In season weekly emails will include a message from the coaches! The staff has been busy preparing for a successful and fun 2026 season!
Looking forward to seeing you all on deck!
Rebecca & Stu
