Swim Sessions

Winter Swim Clinic (January 17-April 26th)

Winter swim is a stroke clinic for all levels of swimmers from novice to advanced skill levels once a week on Sundays at Marmion High School.  The winter swim currently includes thirteen sessions that cover all four strokes along with the turns that accompany them.  Three sessions are dedicated to each stroke starting with freestyle followed by backstroke, butterfly, and finally breastroke.  Sessions will contain a mixture of drills used to develop better stroke technique for each of the four strokes.  The last session of winter swim will include work on starts and other skills related to swimming competitions.

Requirements

  1.  Swimmer must be able to swim one length of the pool of freestyle and backstroke
  2. Previous experience in swim lessons is strongly recommended.


Spring Swim Clinic (May 2nd-May 27th)

Spring swim is a build up to our summer season and is an advanced version of our winter swim that provides practices three times a week.  Sessions will run from Sunday through Thursday evenings at Marmion High School.  Sessions will include developing sound stroke technique for all four strokes, while also familiarizing swimmers with competitive swimming skills.  Our summer coaching staff will make up a majority of the coaches for the spring swim session.

Requirements

  1.  Swimmer must be able to swim one length of the pool freestyle and backstroke.
  2. Previous participation in swim lessons is strongly recommended.

 

Summer Swim Team (June 1st- July 17th)

Summer swimming is where the River Rats got their start.  Established in 1972 by eleven swimmers, who had their first meet against each other, the River Rat program has grown to an average of 150 swimmers per season.  The River Rat program is a member of NCISC (North Central Illinois Swim Conference) that includes fourteen other teams throughout the Chicago Suburbs.  As stated in our mission statement, the River Rat program promotes the sport of swimming through teaching the mastery of all four strokes and an introduction into competitive swimming through teaching qualities of good sportsmanship.

The summer season includes practices outside starting the first day of summer break for the Geneva School District.  Practices are offered from five to six days a week with at least one swim meet per week.  The seven week program offers swimmers convenient practice times that allow them to be part of other activities during the summer (take a look at last years schedule at the bottom of the page).  The last meet of the summer season is our Conference Championship meet held at the end of July.  The meet offers our swimmers a great arena for participating in a Championship meet very similar to competitions held throughout United States Swimming.  

Requirements

  •  New River Rat Swimmers must attend tryout dates or set up an appointment with Coach Joe. The tryout is held at Marmion High School May 2nd at 7:30pm.  
  • Previous (winter, spring, summer) River Rat swimmers do not need to attend try outs.
  • Previous participation in advanced swim lessons and/or River Rat programs is strongly recommended, but not required.