About
The Downs Devilrays Swim Team is a small, community swim team situated in the Downs on the Severn, Annapolis, MD.
Purpose
The Downs on the Severn Community Bylaws have the following stated purposes which are all supported by the presence of the swim team:
- Section 4: To promote safety and health in the community and neighborhood.
- Section 5: To encourage social and athletic activities within the community and to promote social and athletic relationships with neighboring communities and other organizations.
- Section 6: To cooperate with neighboring organizations of the same nature and other organizations in furthering the aims of the Association.
In support of these bylaws, the Downs Devilrays Swim Team has the following stated vision and mission:
Vision: The Downs Devilrays Swim Team aspires to instill a lifelong love of swimming, water safety, and the life skills needed for effective citizenship.
Mission: The Downs Devilrays Swim Team aspires to provide children and youth an opportunity to realize their social, emotional and athletic potential both in and out of the pool. Through teaching and promoting good sportsmanship, competition, health and wellness, and community engagement, the Downs Devilrays Swim Team participants learn respect and appreciation for teammates, coaches, families, neighbors and our neighboring communities.
The Downs pool is open between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekend. Once the public schools get out the pool is open daily from 11:00am-8:00pm. Pool is open until 9pm on Friday and Saturday nights during swim team season The pool is a 5-lane, 20 yard pool with a diving well and shallow end for little swimmers. There is a picnic pavilion, clubhouse and playground near the pool area.
Membership
The swim team is open to Downs residents and their family members, e.g., grandchildren, cousins. The team also has some limited space for friends who are guests of Downs Residents (known as “Resident-Guests”). For swim team members who do not reside in the Downs, please note that registration on the team does not include a pool membership in the Downs. Resident-Guest team members and their families are welcome to come to the pool for all team activities including practices, clinics, team sponsored lessons, pep rallies, meets, team social events, etc. Resident-Guest team members are also welcome to join a Downs resident at the pool as a guest at any time. However, non-residents (or Resident-Guests) may not use the pool facilities outside of swim team sponsored events unless accompanied by a Downs resident. Pool and community rules must be followed at all times by all residents, relatives, and guests. Parents are responsible for supervising their own children at all times.
Division
The Downs Devilrays participates in the D Division of the Greater Annapolis Swim League (GASL) www.gasl.swimtopia.com. Twenty local teams in 4 divisions (A-D) comprise the GASL. Division placement is determined by the previous year’s performance. The league operates within the guidelines, rules and regulations of USA Swimming and AAU. During the summer season, each GASL team swims 5 dual meets consisting of 4 intra-divisional meets and 1 inter-league meet. Our team will also swim one intra-squad meet so that parents and swimmers can practice their roles at swim meets.
