RIPTIDE SWIM TEAM

The Raritan Valley YMCA Riptide has a long standing tradition of success and excellence and is a respected team throughout New Jersey YMCA and USA Swimming. For more detailed information, go directly to Riptide's main website.

HOW TO JOIN

Our main season runs from September to February, but you must try out in summer to join! Tryout dates in 2023 are:

Friday, June 16th, 6:30pm, Brookside Swim Club, Milltown
Friday, July 14th, 6:30pm, Raritan Bay Area YMCA, Perth Amboy
Tuesday, July 18th, 6:30pm, YMCA at the Piscataway Community Center, Piscataway
Saturday, August 12th, 9:00am, Brookside Swim Club, Milltown
Saturday, August 26th, 9:00am, Brookside Swim Club, Milltown

You only need to attend one tryout date. When you try out, you will try out for your age group for the upcoming season (age as of December 1st of the current year, not necessarily your age as of the tryouts). Registration paperwork is available on-site; there is no need to pre-register. Just arrive ready to swim. Make sure to arrive 15 minutes early in order to fill out the required paperwork.

FALL/WINTER RIPTIDE SWIM TEAM (SEPTEMBER-FEBRUARY)

Our regular season runs from September to February (possibly March or April, depending on the championship meets you qualify for.).

To join as a new team member, you must try out and make the team during the summer. Tryouts dates are posted here each spring.

SPRING FLING: THE BEST WAY TO PREPARE FOR TRYOUTS!

Spring Fling starts in mid-April and runs until early June. Though the majority of participants tend to be returning team members from the winter season, non-team members are strongly encouraged to sign up. You must know how to swim--this is not swim lessons--but previous competitive experience is not necessary. All groups will focus on building and correcting stroke technique, as well as sets for endurance and conditioning. You do not have to be a current member of the Riptide Swim Team to participate in this program, but you will be required to register as a YMCA member. For prospective team members, Spring Fling is a great way to get a feel for the team and prepare for a summer tryout.

MARCH MADNESS

March Madness is a five-week program that allows swimmers to "bridge the gap" between the traditional winter and spring seasons and continue swimming without a break. (As this is an off-season program, it is practice-only and there are no competitions associated with March Madness.) All groups will focus on building and correcting stroke technique, as well as sets for endurance and conditioning. Current Riptide winter swimmers will have priority for registration. You DO NOT have to be a current member of the Riptide Swim Team to participate in this program, but you will be required to register as a YMCA member. Previous swimming experience is strongly recommended, as practices will be geared toward competitive swimmers.

SUMMER SPLASH (ALSO OPEN TO NON-TEAM MEMBERS!)

Summer Splash is a summer training program featuring high-intensity workouts in an effort to increase swimming endurance and speed, while still competing for your summer club. Practices take place in the early morning. You do not have to be a member of the Riptide Swim team in order to participate in this program, but will have to register as a member of the YMCA. Program begins in late June as soon as the public schools in the area are out for the summer, and continues through July. Practices are at Brookside Swim Club in Milltown, with occasional long course practices at Princeton University.

BECOME A PART OF SOMETHING GREAT.

Our team is a year-round competitive swim team offering high quality professional coaching and technique instruction for all ages and abilities. The goal of our team is to provide every member an opportunity to improve swimming skills and achieve success at his or her level of ability, from novice to international competitor.

All of our coaches have access to the most comprehensive training and certification programs for youth coaches of any sport in the United States. They provide assurances that the time children spend in swimming will be quality time.

PRACTICE LOCATIONS:

Raritan Bay YMCA (Perth Amboy), Piscataway Community Center