Welcome to Red Raider Aquatics! We're thrilled to have you on the team and look forward to an exciting season ahead. To help you get started, we've put together a simple step-by-step guide on how to join and register for our program. If you have any questions at any point, please don’t hesitate to reach out - we are here to support you every step of the way!

Registering with Red Raider Aquatics is simple. Follow the steps below in order to complete your swimmer's registration. Most families can complete the process in approximately 10–15 minutes once they have reviewed the Registration Packet.

👉 New to the Team? – Begin at Step 1

👉 Returning Team Member – Skip to Step 2

STEP 1 – Attend a Red Raider Aquatics Evaluation

All prospective swimmers who wish to join Red Raider Aquatics must participate in a new swimmer evaluation prior to registration. This evaluation process allows our coaching staff to place swimmers in the appropriate practice group based on their age, current skill level, and long-term development.

How to Schedule a Red Raider Evaluation

• Springfield – Contact Head Coach Jeff Skeels at redraideraquatics@yahoo.com
• Evaluation FAQ’s – Springfield site – Click HERE

• Bloomington/Normal – Contact Head Site Coach Ryan Burroughs at rjb875@hotmail.com
• Evaluation FAQ’s – Bloomington/Normal site – Click HERE

Once your swimmer finishes their evaluation, one of our coaches will discuss the evaluation with you about whether they’re ready to join the team. If they are, we’ll let you know which practice group will be the best fit. If they’re not quite ready just yet, no worries—we will be happy to recommend some swim lesson options to help them build their skills and confidence in the water.

STEP 2 – Review All Registration Documents & Practice Schedules

👉Click HERE for the 2026–2027 Registration Packet

👉 Click HERE to view our Policies and Documents page.

You are responsible for reading all policies and documents. By registering your swimmer(s) you agree that you have read and accept them as part of the online registration process and requirements of being a part of Red Raider Aquatics.

• Review our practice schedule listed by practice group. Be sure to select the proper practice site:

• Springfield
• Bloomington/Normal

STEP 3 – Register for the Team

Red Raider Aquatics uses an online registration system to make registration quick and easy. To make the process easier, it is important that you have the following information available before you begin.

• The name of the group and practice site which you will be registering your swimmer.
• The credit card or debit card that you will be using for all charges throughout the season. This will include team fees, meet fees and other incidental charges that occur throughout the season. Credit card processing charges will apply.
• T-Shirt sizing for your swimmer
• Emergency contact information
• Returning swimmers- please make sure you update any information that may have changed.

👉 Click HERE to Register Your Swimmer with Red Raider Aquatics

STEP 4 - Register with USA Swimming for the 2026–2027 Season

All Red Raider swimmers must be registered with USA Swimming for the 2026-2027 season. This is required and your swimmer will not be allowed in the water until this is completed. This annual fee allows your swimmer to participate in USA Swimming sanctioned meets and provides your swimmer and our team with insurance protection.

If you are new to our team or to USA Swimming you must register after September 1. Returning RAID swimmers must re-register with USA Swimming by December 1.

All swimmers must pay USA Swimming fees on their own. (approx. $85 total). Families who fail to do so will not be registered with USA Swimming and their swimmers will not be eligible for practice or competition.

How to Register with USA Swimming – New Swimmers

• New to USA Swimming? If your swimmer has never been registered with any USA Swimming team:
• You’ll need to create a USA Swimming account.
• After creating your account, you can add your swimmer and complete their registration.
• Use the same email address you used to register with RAID to avoid duplicate accounts.

👉 Click HERE for step-by step directions on how to register your swimmer with USA Swimming. This guide includes all the links necessary to register your swimmer with USA Swimming

How to Register with USA Swimming – Returning Swimmer

• Returning Members – After September 1st, 2026 To renew your registration please see the step-by-step registration renewal guide HERE

• Swimmers Aged 17 and Older - Members age 17 and older are additionally required to complete Athlete Protection Training and MAAPP acknowledgement prior to their 18th birthday to remain members in good standing per USA Swimming Rules & Regulations. Swimmers needing to complete it will receive an email with further directions.

Transferring from Another USA Team? If your swimmer was previously registered with another USA Swimming team:

• Log in to your USA Swimming account after September 1st, 2026.
• Submit a transfer request to move your swimmer to Red Raider Aquatics.

STEP 5 – Order Your Team Suit, Equipment and RAID Spirit Wear

How to Purchase Equipment & Apparel

• Red Raider Aquatics is proud to be sponsored by A3 Performance. All required practice equipment (except water bottles) and team suits should be purchased through our official team vendor: A3 Performance.

• Team caps and shirts are ordered directly through Red Raider Aquatics.
• Additional equipment and team spirit wear can be purchased on the A3 Performance website.

Team Suits - All swimmers must have a team suit to compete in meets. We recommend swimmers do not wear their team suits during practice, as daily use will cause them to wear out much more quickly. Swimmers are encouraged to order an A3 practice suit specifically for use during practice.

Required Practice Equipment and Apparel – By Practice Group

• Springfield Site – Click HERE

• Bloomington/Normal Site – Click HERE

👉 Click HERE to access our exclusive A3 Performance team store and place your order.

Team Shirts - Red Raider swimmers are billed a $30 T-shirt fee during registration. Each swimmer receives two specially designed shirts for the 2026–2027 season. Team shirt sizes are ordered online through Red Raider Aquatics using SignUp Genius. To order your swimmer’s shirts by size, click HERE and follow the directions on our Signup Genius page. (No additional fees will be charged for your swimmer's two shirts.) Red Raider Aquatics orders our team shirts directly from a local vendor and then delivers the shirts to our swimmers.

Team Caps - Team caps are also ordered through Signup Genius. Click HERE to order your RAID caps. After placing your order, your family account will be billed, you will be billed through your team account online. The cost of the caps is $12.00 per cap. Once ordered, your site coaches will deliver the cap(s) to your swimmer at the pool.

STEP 6 – Read our Raider Report Weekly Newsletter and Practice Schedule

The Raider Report is our weekly newsletter that reports the latest news, reminders and practice schedule updates for the week. The Raider Report is posted each Monday on our team website HERE. Be sure to read it thoroughly each week to stay up to date on our latest news and events.

STEP 7 – You’re in!

Welcome to Red Raider Aquatics! We're excited to have your family as part of the RAID team and look forward to a fun, successful season in the pool.

👉 Need Help?

• We understand that registration can sometimes be confusing. If you have questions at any point during the process, please contact us at redraideraquatics@yahoo.com. We'd be happy to help make joining Red Raider Aquatics as easy as possible.