Riptide News Week 1

June 1st

Riptide News Week 1

We had a great first week of practices even though it wasn’t as warm as we wished it would be!

This is the first installment of the Riptide News for 2025. The Riptide News will be sent out weekly (on Sunday) and we’ll try to include all the important information you’ll need for a great Riptide week. You can also expect to get separate emails specific to the A Meet and B Meet for that week. This week’s Riptide News contains lots of important information to help us get the season started. Please take the time to read through it thoroughly.

As always don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions [email protected]

Riptide Swimmer Conduct Reminders: Please take a few moments to review the Riptide Code of Conduct with your swimmer prior to practices this week. As a team we value respect, teamwork, integrity and sportsmanship. Any violations of the Riptide Swimmer Code of Conduct will be handled as stated in the Code of Conduct.

Virginia Run Riptide Code of Conduct (must be signed into your Riptide account to view).

Time Trials: Saturday, June 7!! Please arrive promptly at 7:30 for immediate warm up. Check out the Time Trials info sheet attached to this email.

Declare Your Swimmer for A Meets Now: As we begin the new season, now is the time to declare your swimmer for our Saturday A-Meets by completing the follow steps:

Go to the Meets & Events tab and then click on Sign Up Calendar

Next to each A-Meet, click on Meet Entry. Then click on the Edit button below your swimmer’s name to mark if they are available to attend.

Declaring swimmers is not based on ability, but rather on availability!

For each swimmer, please declare for each A-Meet, Relay Carnival and Divisionals. All swimmers, who are available to attend each event, should be declared “Attending” so that coach Katie can enter them into the meet if and when they are needed. Please do this now for all meets, rather than week-to-week. Swimmers and parents will find out on Thursdays if they will be swimming for sure at that Saturday's A-Meet.

Your swimmers should only be declared “Not Attending” if you are going to be out of town and completely unavailable for the meet. If your swimmer declared as “Not Attending” for a particular meet, please use the comment section to let Coach Katie know your reason. This keeps our coaches and administrators from having to make lots of phone calls mid week as we try to make sure everything is ready for Saturday's meet.

Declaring Your Swimmer for B Meets: B Meets are our Developmental swim meets on Monday nights. Unlike A Meets, where swimmers are chosen based on the team ladder and their availability, everyone is welcome and encouraged to swim on Monday nights. Swimmers can choose which events they would like to swim on Monday nights. You must sign your swimmer up for B Meets by completing the following steps:

Go to the Meets & Events tab and then click on Sign Up Calendar

Next to each B-Meet, click on Meet Entry. Then click on the Edit button below your swimmer’s name to mark if they are available to attend.

Once you click Available to Attend a list of events will appear.

Each swimmer can choose two individual strokes (freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly) and IM as a third event.

If you're unsure what your swimmer should swim, please reach out to Coach Katie or Coach Sam. They will be happy to help your swimmer decide.

While we request that each swimmer declare their availability now for all A-Meets, Relay Carnival and Divisionals, swimmers should declare for B Meets weekly no later than the Saturday before the B Meet at midnight. Swimmers who are not signed up by Saturday at midnight will not be able to swim at the B Meet on Monday night.

Meet Themes: To help families prepare to be super spirited this summer, here are our meet themes.

June 14/16- Luau

June 21/23- Neon

June 28/30- Western

July 5/7- Red, White, and Blue

July 12/14- Riptide

Relay Carnival and Divisionals: Riptide colors

Volunteers Needed: Thank you to all who have already signed up for volunteer slots this year and to those who have taken on a bigger role with the team. We couldn’t do it without you! If you have not signed up yet please head to our website to sign up.

We are still in need of a volunteer to lead B Meet concessions. If you are interested or want to learn more, please reach out to Toni Garcia ([email protected])

Riptide Buddy Program: Don’t forget about our Buddy Program! The Big Buddy/Little Buddy program is a fun Riptide tradition meant to build relationships and team spirit between the age groups. Being a good buddy is part of being a good teammate.

You can sign up your swimmer(s) for the buddy program here.

Contact Anne Crowell ([email protected]) with any questions about being a buddy!

Senior Swimmers and Parents: This is a friendly reminder to submit your banner photo and complete the attached form for the Horn announcement. If you have any questions, please contact Wendy Wall ([email protected]).

Riptide Social Updates: Our social events are designed to provide swimmers and their families with an opportunity to build friendships, team camaraderie and have some fun! This year’s social events are crafted after beloved holidays (Thanksgiving, Halloween etc.) – we are excited to carve watermelons or build gingerbread houses this summer!

Save the Date – Riptide End of Year Banquet will be Saturday, July 19th with a rain date of Sunday, July 20th.

You can view all events for the 2025 swim year here!

Upcoming Events

Friday, June 6th at 7:15pm at JMRC Park in VA Run

(Egg) hunting for the best teammates

Come join the team at our first pep rally for a fun spin on an egg hunt. Come wearing your running shoes - and bring a bag to carry your treats home! The event will be held at JMRC.

Friday, June 13th at 6:30pm at VA RUN Club House

Thankful to be a Riptide – a.k.a. Pasta Potluck

Riptide Tradition, swimmers and their family are invited to enjoy a potluck style dinner together as a team. This is a great opportunity to welcome new families and catch up with friends. Each family will need to sign up for a dish here!

If you have any questions, please reach out to Michelle Bange @[email protected].

Thank you to our Riptide Sponsors! Our team is grateful for your generous support.

Pin Oak Tree Services

Virginia Run Community

Ciro New York Pizza

Mindy Conway, Long and Foster Real Estate

The Wrinkle Family Scholarship Fund

Cub Scout Pack 2011

Luck Stone

Living Colour

Wholesome NOVA

The Dog Stop

Collegiate Sealers & Paving

Capital Construction of America, Inc.

Cheron Orthodontics