Welcome from the Ridgewood Barracudas Swim Team!

Who We Are:

The Ridgewood Barracudas Swim Team (RWB) is a competitive summer swim program that participates as a member of the Prince William Swim League.  Our seasons begin the last week of May and typically extend until the end of July.  The team play host to members from the surrounding Lake Ridge area and also welcomes visitors from other parts of Prince William County.  The Barracudas provide two programs in which swimmers can learn basic swimming skills, apply & develop those skills in a transitional competitive program (Lil' Cudas), or swim with our main competitive team (RWB).

Membership Information:

Membership for the Ridgewood Barracudas Swim Team, and associated programs, is open to all interested families.  Our team has over 200 slots open for swimmers between the ages of 4 and 18.  (Swimmers must be 18 or younger prior to June 1st.)  In order to participate on our competitive swim team, swimmers must be able to show water confidence by swimming an unassisted 25 meters once on their stomach and immediately following on their back.  At the beginning of the season, all new swimmers will be evaluated by the coaching staff in order to be placed in the program appropriate to their level. 

For our learn to swim & transitional program, swimmers must complete an evaluation process prior to team registration.  Evaluation information, dates & times will be posted on our website and social media pages.  Our coaching staff strives to help each swimmer find the programs that will help your swimmer learn or reinforce a love for the sport of swimming.

Once a member, our community centered team gets the whole family involved!  Parents & Guardians help assist the team by filling a vast number of volunteer positions.  For swim competitions alone there are a several roles that  are all essential to running a meet.  Whether timing, running, scoring, recording, concessions, officiating, or simply cheering on your swimmer, each summer season provides multiple ways to  call yourself a Barracuda!  When the work is done, the Ridgewood faithful also know how to play!  Throughout the season we host several team building functions & events. Age group social gatherings, a kick-off picnic & kickball game, parent informational classes, and an end of season talent show are just some of the ways families help generate team spirit while away from the pool deck.   

Pricing & Registration:

Pricing for the 2024 Season will be as follows:

Membership fees collectively go towards helping the Barracudas provide the best experience possible for our swimmers.  The LRPRA fee for non-homeowner members is collected by the Barracudas and then paid to LRPRA by the team as part of our agreement with the homeowner's association. To gain more insight into our financial workings, consider becoming one of our volunteer board members!

Registration:

To register, click the “Team Registration” button on our home page and follow the corresponding prompts.  Please be mindful of the required information throughout the registration process.  Details such as emergency contacts and health considerations are extremely important to our coaching staff.  Once at the checkout, applicants will have the option of paying by credit card or choosing to pay by check.  If you choose to produce a check, please do so at one of our open houses or on the pool deck by the end of the first week of practice.  Remember, you have not registered until payment is received!  If you have any questions during the process, please contact [email protected].

During the registration period, the Barracudas will hold an open house session prior to the start of the season.  (Please check our calendar for dates, times, and locations for these events)  During open house, members can meet representatives from the coaching staff, fit and pick-up their team suit, and learn about volunteer opportunities. Members will also be able check out our spirit wear and address any concerns they may have before the season beings.  New & returning families alike should plan on attending one of these great informational opportunities!

Coaching Staff & Structure:

The Ridgewood Barracudas Swim Team plays host to one of the most talented and knowledgeable coaching staffs in the Prince William Swim League.  Using a combination of experience and creativity, our group works together to teach the techniques & skills needed to excel in the sport of swimming while fostering a positive and competitive atmosphere. Many of our coaches have risen from the ranks of the Barracuda swim team, whether starting as a parent or swimmer.

Overseeing all other coaches is our Senior Level staff.  This group is responsible for the day to day operations on the pool deck.  From supervising and coaching individual lanes, writing group and individual work out plans, planning clinics and other training opportunities, seeding swim meets, to various other team operations. Supplementing our Senior Level is the collegiate group.  These coaches pull from years of experience with our Ridgewood Barracudas, as well as other Club and Collegiate programs.  Directly responsible for instilling the skills and techniques needed to help each swimmer achieve their goals, our collegiate coaches are a great addition to our cast. Finally, our swimmer coaches are the worker bee's of the coaching group.  Swimmer coaches pull double duty, not only participating as swimmers, but helping their younger counterparts develop proper stroke & training techniques.  Working in combination, all of our coaches provide a detail oriented approach to developing swimmers of different ages and abilities.  From the youngest in our Lil' Cuda programs through the 15 - 18 age group, our organization works to  help each swimmer achieve their best each summer season!

Summer Season at a Glance:

Our season begins with registration in March & Open House on April 7.  Practices then kick-off at the end of May and run through the end of July.  While school is still is session, practices will be held in the evenings from 4:15 pm - 8:00 pm at Ridgewood Pool.  Once the school year concludes, practices shift to the morning schedule from 7:00 am - 10:30 am.  Each practice runs 45 to an hour in length and can include any combination of dry land training, warm-up exercises, informational meetings, instructional presentations, water instruction, and deep/shallow water reinforcement.  During the morning schedule, the Barracudas hold Monday Fun Days each Monday morning.  Fun days include games, relays, and other fun water related activities. 

Our competition season officially begins in early June.  The first meet of the season is always a home Time Trials.  This allows the coaching staff to determine base times for all swimmers and gives our volunteers an opportunity to work the kinks out before hosting another team.  Following Time Trials, the Barracudas participate in a series of dual home & away meets, culminating in a divisional contest with the two others teams in our division. Each swim meet swimmers will compete in individual events and relays, depending on their ability level.  These races include the Freestyle, Backstroke, Individual Medley, Breaststroke, and Butterfly events.  Each team's score will be tallied throughout the meet and the team with the highest score after the final race wins.  A season's win/loss record then goes to help determine what division they'll compete in next season. 

Over the course of a season, the Barracudas look for ways to build team spirit and allow families to socialize outside of practices and competitions.   Each summer, our social calendar is populated with restaurant gatherings, event fundraisers, pool parties, and other team get together's.  Of the most popular are our kick-off picnic & kickball game and end of season Talent Show.  Every season the Barracudas look to not only further the achievements of our swimmers, but build the swimming family that the Ridgewood team is famous for. 

More details on the team can be found in our Member Handbook.