What is Riptide?
The Northpark Riptide Swim Team is a resident-only neighborhood team founded in 2003 and is a member team of the Irvine Swim League (ISL).
The non-profit ISL is organized and operated exclusively for providing the various Irvine neighborhood swim teams with the opportunity to join and participate in a summer swim league, with an emphasis on water safety, stroke instruction, and individual improvement. Currently more than 2,800 Irvine children participate in 22 ISL member swim teams throughout the city of Irvine.
“The goal of the Riptide Swim team is for its members to join together as a community to promote sportsmanship and friendship in a competitive, healthy, and supportive environment. Competitive swimming develops strength of character as well as strength of body through discipline, perseverance and commitment to achievement both individually and as a team. It is these qualities that distinguish us and make us successful both in the water and on land.”
Who can join Riptide?
- Northpark Residents (proof of residency required at registration). If you attempt to register for the team and are found to NOT be a resident of Northpark, your registration fee will be refunded less a $40 charge.
- Age 5 to 18 (as of June 1, 2026)
- Water Safe - Level 5 swimmer (more details below) - Swim Proficiency test is required for all new swimmers.
When is the swim season?
The season runs from early June to early August (10 weeks total). See the home page for the 2026 season schedule.
How much does it cost?
The registration fee for the 2026 season is $425 per swimmer.
The yearly swimmer fee is comprised of two separate parts: the ISL fee ($60) and the NPST fee ($365), for a total of $425.
The ISL fee is used by the ISL to provide liability insurance for the member swim teams, coaches, and swimmers, as well as to host Champs and Pentathlon.
The NPST fee is the major source of income to the team, and is used for all team operating costs; coaches’ salaries, supplies, equipment and maintenance, etc. Virtually all of the team’s expenses are fixed, meaning that once the team commits to conducting another season - the expenses are the same regardless of the number of swimmers on the team. At registration each swimmer pays the total of both fees.
Registration includes:
- A swim cap for all NEW swimmers to the team
- A Riptide Team t-shirt for all swimmers
- Practices and meet entry fees (there are no additional meet entry fees for ISL meets - EXCEPT for Pentathlon)
- Team activities
Additional expenses include:
- The cost of the REQUIRED team swim suit
- Required gear (goggles, kickboard, etc).
- Meet entrance fee for the Pentathlon meet (an optional meet)
What is the refund policy if my swimmer drops off the team?
- If a swimmer withdraws before May 13, 2026: Full Refund from NPST and ISL - minus $20.00 procesing fee: $405 refunded
- If a swimmer withdraws between May 14 and May 21: $250 refunded
- If a swimmer withdraws between May 22 and June 1 at 11:59 PM: $200 refund will be issued ONLY if the board is able to register a replacement swimmer with ISL. If there is not an eligible Northpark swimmer to take your swimmer's place - then the entire amount of the registration fee is non-refundable.
- No refunds for any withdrawls June 2nd and beyond.
What are the requirements to be on the team?
- Requirements for SWIMMERS:
- Swimmers must be water safe and able to swim the length of the pool (25 yards) completely unassisted (without touching the walls or using the lane lines for support). Swimmers must be able to put their face in the water. Swimmers do NOT need to be proficient in all 4 strokes (freestyle, backstroke, butterfly and breaststoke) in order to join.
- ALL new swimmers will be required to take a swim proficiency test prior to the season starting (swim test date March 25, 3-5 PM). If they do not pass the test (able to swim 25 yards unassisted - not touching the walls, and able to put their face in the water), they will not be able to join the team. There will NOT be an opportunity to retest. Your registration fee less a $20 charge will be refunded at that time.
- Once on the team, swimmers compete in at least 3 of the 6 ISL swim meets (not including Champs) during the summer to remain in good standing on the team (able to return the next year). See the home page for swim meet dates.
- Swimmers must be water safe and able to swim the length of the pool (25 yards) completely unassisted (without touching the walls or using the lane lines for support). Swimmers must be able to put their face in the water. Swimmers do NOT need to be proficient in all 4 strokes (freestyle, backstroke, butterfly and breaststoke) in order to join.
- Requirements for FAMILIES:
- Each family is required to complete 10 "points" worth of job duties during the season. Points are earned by signing up for (and completing) various jobs (working a shift as a timer at a swim meet, helping serve food at a team social event, claiming an "org job" etc). Learn lots more about the different types of jobs and point values here.
- There are ample opportunities to earn points during the season, including mid-week options and a few "at home" jobs. "There were no jobs left to sign up for at the meet" is not an acceptable excuse at the end of the season. It is up to you to to sign up for jobs during the season and work with our jobs coordinator if you are worried to ensure you can meet the requirement.
- If you sign up for a job and then realize you can not complete it - it is up to you to alert the jobs coordinator NO LESS THAN 24 HOURS prior to the job to cancel - or YOU must find a replacement on your own. If you "no show" for a job that you signed up for, you will be penalized by having an extra required point added to your balance (you will not earn the point for the missed job, and you now have to do an EXTRA point to meet the requirement).
- On the Wednesday prior to Champs, families who have not completed their 10 points will be offered opportunities to "make up" points with jobs at Champs IF jobs are available.
- On the Monday following Champs, families are charged $100/point that has not been completed.
- In order to remain in good standing with the team (able to return next season), families MUST complete their 10 "points" worth of jobs OR complete payment for missing points ($100/point) by the Monday after Champs.
- The 10 point requirement is per FAMILY - not per swimmer. If you have 3 kids on the team... it's still 10 points... not 30.
- All families who attend Champs are required to work a volunteer job. This is NOT part of the 10 points as described above. ALL families who have a swimmer competing at Champs must sign up for a Champs volunteer role.
The team is a non-profit organization, and is operated by parent volunteers. All participating families will be expected to contribute their time as a condition of belonging to the team.
Is my child ready?
Kids must have achieved a certain level of water-safety readiness in order to participate on the swim team.
The five levels of readiness are:
- Level 1 | Full Submerge – swimmer is able to go all the way under water and not be afraid to do so (including their face).
- Level 2 | Front Float – swimmer is able to float face down for 5 seconds.
- Level 3 | Back Float – swimmer is able to float on their back for 5 seconds.
- Level 4 | Level-Off – when vertical, a swimmer does not move. The swimmer is able to get from vertical to a horizontal position. This is a key element of being water safe.
- Level 5 | Entry Level Swimmer – child is able to demonstrate 25 yards of unsupported movement AND demonstrate proficiency in all 4 prior levels.
These 5 levels are the minimum levels of competence needed to have a safe, fun, and successful swim team experience. If your child cannot meet these levels, then private swim instruction is recommended prior to joining the team. ALL NEW SWIMMERS will be required to complete a swim proficiency test prior to being confirmed for the team.
How many swimmers are on the team?
130 is the maximum number of swimmers for each ISL team.
When and where does the team practice?
Practices occur daily during the season: Monday through Thursday
- Practices are held at the Northpark Forest Glen Pool managed by a Head Coach and Assistant Coaches (all Red Cross certified).
- Practice times are scheduled by age group. See our swim practice schedule page for specific times for this seasson.
- Only a portion of the Forest Glen pool is used for practice, not the entire pool. Thus, non-swim team residents can use the pool facilities during practices.
- The coaches will teach general techniques, and also given some limited one-on-one instruction as needed. Other teams do not practice at Northpark - they practice at their own neighborhood pools.
The Forest Glen Pool will be used for both practices and HOME meets, due to its length, depth, parking, green belt access, existing pool safety features, relative distance from surrounding homes, and ability of non-swim team residents to use a significant portion of the pool during team practices. This pool was designed and constructed to accommodate swim competition.
Is it mandatory to attend all of the practices and meets?
No, it is not mandatory to attend all of the practices and meets, although it is encouraged to attend as many as possible! It is not uncommon for families to miss a week or even two due to vacations or other special events.
It is NOT acceptable for a swimmer to attend practices but not participate in the meets.
Swimmers must be able to commit to participating in at least at least three (3) of the six (6) ISL swim meets (including the 5 regular meets and Pentathlon - see below for details).
The practice meet does NOT count as an ISL meet. Please note that if you swim less than 3 ISL meets - you can NOT qualify for Champs (see below), and you will NOT be eligible to return the following year.
What are "swim meets"?
ISL swim teams compete against each other in competitions called swim meets.
The "practice meet" is JUST with our own team - it's not an official meet. This is our chance to do a "dress rehearsal" of a what a meet is like. Our swimmers get to learn the flow of the event, and our volunteers get to test out and learn the jobs required. Times are NOT official for the practice meet (you can't qualify for Champs with a time at the practice meet), but times are used to help "seed" swimmers for the first real meet.
There are 5 "regular" meets for Riptide each season. Regular meets take place on Saturday mornings. These meets typically involve just 2 teams (Northpark vs. Colony for example) - although sometimes there are "tri-meets" with 3 teams competing at once. The meets are held at the home team’s pool. Riptide Home meets are hosted at the Forest Glen Pool (the same pool where we practice). This pool was designed and constructed to accommodate swim competition. For away meets - we travel to different neighborhoods around Irvine.
The "Pentathlon" is an opportunity for swimmers to set a qualifying times for Champs (if they haven't already qualified in a regular meet), or just to gain additional race experience, or to meet the "swim in 3 meets" requirement. The Pentathlon is optional - and there is an additional meet fee (typically $25) paid to ISL. We will keep all swimmers posted with details about Pentathlon dates, registration deadlines, etc.
"Champs" is ISL's big finale event! See below for the full details of this special event!
The Home Page of our website shows the schedule for the currrent year.
Learn LOTS more about what happens at Swim Meets on our "all about meets" page.
What is "Champs"?
The Championship Meet is where all the ISL teams compete together and is held at the end of the season in August. The meet is typically held at the William Woolett Aquatic Center (adjacent to Irvine High School).
Q: Is my swimmer eligible?
A: ISL RULES STATE: Eligibility: To be able to swim in a championship meet, a swimmer must have participated in at least three meets AND four events cumulatively during the current season. The ISL Pentathlon meet does count towards the 3 meet minimum. The practice meet does not. If you don't swim in 3 ISL meets during the season - you can't swim in Champs - no matter how fast your times are.
Q: How many events can my swimmer swim at Champs?
A: If your swimmer has attained qualifying times for events, they can swim those individual events (up to three). If your swimmer has not attained a qualifying time, they can swim one event. Qualified or not, swimmers may also be selected to swim in one or more relay events.
Q: Where can I find the ISL Championship Meet qualifying times?
A: LINK HERE
Q: If my swimmer did not clock any qualifying times, can he/she still participate at Champs?
A: YES. Every swimmer in the Irvine Swim League can swim at least one event at Champs as long as eligible per ISL Rules above. Commit to the meet on our team site, add a note with stroke of choice, and let your coach know.
Q: Do I have to work a volunteer job at Champs?
A: If you have a swimmer attending Champs - yes. Due to the unique nature of this event- this is an "all hands on deck" event. This is NOT part of the 10 points as described above. ALL families who have a swimmer competing at Champs must sign up for a Champs volunteer role.
