General Description and Objective...

The Retriever Aquatic Club, founded in 1986, is known throughout the country as a first-class year-round swim program. We offer a guided age-group youth program for children ages 5 and up, from the beginning swimmer to the most competitive and skilled swimmer.

When a young person becomes a member of the Retriever Aquatic Club, he/she learns the values of sportsmanship and team work. Swimming with the Retrieve Aquatic Club provides physical, emotional, and intellectual skills that will last a lifetime.

The mission of the Retriever Aquatic Club is: To develop Champions in Swimming and in Life...

Team Philosophy...

The team philosophy is encompassed in the words COURAGE and PERSEVERANCE.

COURAGE is the willingness to accept risk(s) and endure failures. Courage does not exist unless there is a situation that presents the opportunity for success. We encourage our athletes to embrace these opportunities and not fear the outcome.

PERSEVERANCE is the backbone of success in any endeavor in life. One cannot succeed at the highest levels without enduring some set-backs. These difficult times can create a lack of faith, low self-esteem, and an obvious drop in enthusiasm. Perseverance is the quality that transcends these difficult times. It allows the individual to find the true strength of their characters.

The Retriever Aquatic Club believes that COURAGE and PERSEVERANCE develop by swimming will prepare the individual for the challenges they undoubtedly will face in life.

Team History...

The Retriever Aquatic Club (RAC) was founded in 1986 by, Coach Sid Burkot, UMBC's new men's and women's collegiate swimming coach. The RAC's goals include establishing a comprehensive and competitive program for our community. RAC has not only become recognized as one of Maryland's finest swimming programs, but has also entered national levels by virtue of it's National Age-Group Champions, Junior National Champions, and Senior National Finalists.

Team Levels...

The The Retriever Aquatic Club uses a 'progressive' age group program designed to develop the child physically, mentally and emotionally in a systematic fashion. A well defined, long tem approach of gradually increasing degrees of commitment, intensity and expectations is essential to reach peak performance levels during a swimmer's physiological prime. The emphasis in the early stages of participation must be placed on developing technical skills and a love for the sport. In the later years, a more demanding physical and psychological challenge must be introduced to the training program. In this respect 'too much, too soon' is more often the cause of failure to achieve maximum potential in Senior Swimming than in the reverse situation.

In addition to emphasizing long term rather than short term results, it is also important that we establish training groups of swimmers who are compatible in respect to abilities, commitment levels, goals and maturity. Unfortunately, this is not always the most convenient approach to take, but it is always the most productive and in the best interest of the swimmer.

At each Level, the goals and objectives are specific and directed toward meeting the needs of the swimmer. The long term goal of total excellence is always in our minds. As each child is different, he/she will progress at his/her own rate. The coaching staff recognizes this fact by making team assignments based on a swimmer's physical, mental and emotional level of development.

Stroke Clinic

The Stroke Clinic is designed for summer league swimmers and swimmers with limited competitive swimming experiences who are interested in refining their competitive strokes. Practices are offered once per week. Swimmers in this group do not attend swim meets. The Stroke Clinic runs from November thru Mid-May.

Development Group

The Development Group is designed for summer league swimmers and swimmers with limited competitive swimming experiences who are looking for a low key practice group to see what year round United States Competitve Swimming is like. Practices are designed to emphasize stoke technique while also including basic workouts. Practices are offered twice per week. Participation at meets is optional. The Development Group is considered the first step in the RAC Age Group Program. The Development Group runs from September to Late May.

Age Group White

This group generally consists of swimmers ranging in age from 5 years old to 8 years old. Swimmers generally have had summer league experience up to a couple of years of year round experience. All swimmers in the group must be able to swim 25 yards of freestyle and backstroke with relative ease and 25 yards of either breaststroke or bitterfly. The focus is to continue working on technique of the four competitive strokes plus starts and turns. Four one hour workouts are offered per week. Swimmers are encouraged to swim in meets, as selected by the coaches, approximately once every four to six weeks. The group begins in September and runs through the end of July.

Age Group Red

The Age Group Red group generally consists of swimmers ranging in age from 7 years old to 10 years old. These swimmers generally have excelled in their summer leagues or have a few years of year round experience. Once again, the focus in this group is on stroke technique. In addition these swimmers will be introduced to some very basic training sets and skills. Four one hour and fifteen minute practices are offered per week. Swimmers are encouraged to participate in meets, as selected by the coaches, approximately once every four to six weeks. The group begins in September and runs through the end of July.

Age Group Yellow

Swimmers in Age Group Yellow group generally are 9 years old to 12 years old. Generally, all swimmers in this group have had a few years of year round swimming experience. Swimmers continue to work on technique but also expand their training methods and sets. Swimmers in this group are offered and encouraged to attend all of their four 1 ½ hour practices each week. Swimmers are expected to participate in meets, as selected by the coaches, every four to six weeks. The group begins in September and runs through early the end of July / early August.

Age Group Gold

The Age Group Gold group generally consists of swimmers 10 years old to 13 years old. These swimmers have had a number of years of year round competitive swimming experience. In this group the swimmers will be introduced to some more demanding training methods and sets. Dryland training (beyond general stretching) is introduced. Swimmers are offered five or six two hour practices per week. Swimmers are encouraged to attend all practices. Swimmers in this group will participate in meets, as selected by the coaches, approximately every four weeks. The group begins in September and runs though the beginning of August.

Senior Group Red

The swimmers in this group range from 13 years old through 18 years old. The group is for swimmers who have had a number of years of swimming experience or for swimmers (13 years & older) that have excelled at summer league and want to try year round swimming. The group will focus on both technique and training. The training will be specific for the 13 & older swimmer which will enable them to continue to improve and potentially move on to the more committed and demanding Senior Yellow Group. Swimmers in this group are encouraged to attend the offered five to six two hour practices per week. Swimmers in this group participate in meets, as selected by the coach, approximately every four to six weeks. The group begins in September and runs through mid August.

Senior Group Yellow

This group consists of swimmers ranging in age from 12 years old to 18 years old. A high level of commitment, effort and participation is expected from each Senior Group Yellow swimmer. Swimmers generally should have USA Swimming 'AA' times or faster. The intensity of the workouts increases while still continuing to perfect the strokes. Dryland training also becomes more demanding. Practices are structured in an effort to prepare the swimmers for the sectional level of competition. Senior Yellow athletes must have a good work ethic, self discipline and strong communication skills. Six two and one half hour practices are offered per week and swimmers are expected to be at all practices. Swimmers in this group will participate in meets, as selected by the coach, approximately once every four to six weeks. The group begins in late August and runs through mid August.

Senior Group Gold

This is the highest group in the Retriever Aquatic Club and requires the highest level of commitment, effort, motivation and participation. Swimmers should be focused on achieve their highest goals in the sport of swimming. Swimmers will participate in high intensity training sets both in and out of the water. While there always remains an emphasis on technique, swimmers will be asked to train at their highest level possible while maintaining good stroke technique. Swimmers are expected to be at 100 % of the practices as directed by the coach. Three one hour and fifteen minute practices and seven two and one half hour practices are offered each week. Swimmers will compete in meets, as selected by the coach, approximately every four to six weeks. The Senior Group Gold swims year round with a two to three week break in August.