Delaware Riptide Aquatics
Swim		Team

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Delaware Riptide Aquatics Swim Team’s mission is to provide a safe, fun competitive swim program for children of all abilities.  Delaware Riptide is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1996 to provide a competitive swim program for children from ages 5 to 18 and supports a small Masters group.  The team trains year round as a United States Swimming registered team.  

Riptide swims at the aquatics facility at St. Andrew’s School on Noxontown Road in Middletown, Delaware.  The facility has a beautiful indoor six-lane 25-yard pool ranging in depth from twelve to four feet.  The pool building is in mid-campus across from the new arts building and next to the gym and indoor squash courts.

For the past five summers (2000 through 2004) Delaware Riptide Aquatics Swim Team has had the pleasure to train at a second facility, the beautiful Club Brennan.  The six-lane, 25-meter outdoor pool is located in Brennan Estates off of Rt. 896 just north of the Summit Bridge.  All of the summer home dual meets are held here. 

  
Riptide Philosophy

Our goal is to create a unique, high quality swim team that offers all of its members the opportunity to set goals and the means to achieve them.

Our coaching philosophy is to recognize the potential while acknowledging the differences in all individuals.

Through the use of expert instruction, proper repetition, and realistic goal-setting, each swimmer will achieve success.  Motivation, using enthusiastic support and encouragement, will ensure the athlete's continued commitment.  A strong team atmosphere will create a sense of belonging and a feeling of enjoyment.  Positive experiences during competition will develop an individual's ability to adapt to life's experience during competition will develop an individual's ability to adapt to life's circumstances while still reaching fulfillment.

Our vision is to produce highly skilled, motivated, and dedicated athletes of all abilities who aspire to reach their most successful level in swimming.

Practice Groups

The team is broken up into groups determined by age and skill  level.  Placement is determined by the coaches.  As swimmers need to progress to the next group the coaches will talk with both the swimmer and the parents.

Tides
Tides are ages 4 to age 8. An introductory group that practices one to two times a week.  Emphasis is on learning the four competitive strokes, motor skill development, good health, and having fun in a positive, low-pressure environment.

Currents
Current swimmers are from ages 9 to 12. This group practices two to three times a week. Emphasis is on refining strokes, turns and starts, motor skill development, goal setting, good health, increased conditioning and interval training while having fun in a positive low-pressure environment.

Whitecaps
Whitecaps are swimmers from age 13 to 15.  This group is a transition between Currents and Tsunamis. Emphasis is on stroke technique, endurance training, general fitness and health, goal setting, and an increased emphasis on race strategy, strength training and mental training while having fun.

Tsunamis
Tsunamis are swimmers who are currently enrolled in High School.  This group practices up to four times a week. Emphasis is on stroke technique, goal setting, general fitness and health, race strategy, strength training and mental training, and an increased emphasis on endurance training and dedication while having fun.

Surge
Surge swimmers are anyone over age 18.  This is the masters team. This group practices four times a week. Emphasis depends on the swimmers individual goals. Some masters are very competitive and train similarly to the Tsunamis. Others are not as competitive and train similarly to the Currents.  Please visit our master's page to find out more about this group.

Mentor Program
During the busiest times of the year we  have instituted a mentor program. Twice a week, some current and past Riptide swimmers help on Tuesdays and Thursdays with the Currents and Tides. You probably have noticed them on deck already. The swimmers involved in this program are called "Floaters." They will be receiving a packet that includes the Riptide drills and common language. The coaches will run a "floater" training session whenever we have new floaters to ensure we are all on the same page.