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About the Team

The Rochester Rapids Swim Team (RRST) is a non-profit corporation dedicated to promoting competitive swimming in the City of Rochester. The team is run by a Board of Directors consisting of parent volunteers. RRST is a member of the Niagara District of USA Swimming, the governing body for amateur competitive swimming in the United States. The Niagara District encompasses most of western New York. RRST is also a member of the McDonald's of Rochester Swim League.

We believe that swimming is a route to personal development, both physical and mental. We believe that swimming builds strong character as well as strong bodies. Our philosophy: "The awards of youth are soon forgotten, but the personal qualities developed through the disciplined pursuit of excellence will endure a lifetime."

Benefits of RRST
Fun - Our swimmers enjoy the water and love being together as a team.
Health - Swimming is a total body workout. Swimmers are in GREAT shape.
Goals - Competitive swimming teaches you how to set and achieve personal goals.
Commitment - Many of our athletes have been with our program for four or five years.
Structure - Our program provides a highly structured and positive environment.
High Expectations - Our coaches demand a lot of effort from our athletes, and our athlete demand a lot from themselves.

Frequently Asked Questions
How big is the team?
Where do we practice?
When is practice?
What are the practice groups?
Where do you compete?
How competitive is it?
How much does it cost?
How do I sign up?
Other Questions.

How big is the team?
About 30 swimmers, aged 6 to 18, and broken down into four practice groups according to age and ability.

Where do we practice?
The Rapids practice at Corn Hill's Adams Street Recreation Center during the academic year and at Genesee Valley Park during the summer.

When is practice?
Practice times vary depending on what group you are in. In general, practices take place from 5:00 to 7:00 at Adams Street during the Fall, Winter, and Spring. Show up during this time and you can talk to the coach and find out what is going on.

What are the practice groups?
Complete descriptions of the practice groups are available here in the team handbook.

Where do you compete?
We are a member of the McDonald's of Rochester Swim League, which consists of thirteen Monroe County teams. Local meets are at one of these teams' pools. Our more advanced swimmers compete in Niagara District meets, which draw competitors from all of Western New York, and these meets often take place in Syracuse or Buffalo. If you are fast enough, we will send you to Regional or National Meets. You can go as far as you want to in our program.

How competitive is it?
As competitive as you want it to be. We have practice groups for all ability levels from beginner to advanced. Our meets range from small local meets with modest competition to large district and regional meets with tough competition. Swimmers are expected to come to our team dual-meets (in which we swim against another local teams), but the larger meets are optional.

How much does it cost?
Normal dues are at about $325 a year. We are the most inexpensive team in the Greater Rochester Area because of funding from the City of Rochester. In addition, there are discounts for multiple children and some need-based scholarships available. We have a two-week free trial for you to check out the team and decide if RRST is right for you.

How do I sign up?
You can either show up at the pool during practice and the coaches will help you out, or you can visit the Contact Us page for information on how to get in touch with the team. You will need to fill out this season's registration/health forms. If you are seeking reduced fees, you can apply for the USA Swimming Athlete Outreach program. Registration Form - Health Form - USA Swimming Athlete Outreach Form

Other Questions.
If you have questions that have not been answered here, please look at the team handbook, which goes through everything you need to know to become part of a swim team. In addition, please contact us with any questions you may have. We would love to help you out.