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 & Try RAID FREE for One Week

If your swimmer is new to Red Raider Aquatics, the first step is to attend a New Swimmer Evaluation. This gives our coaches an opportunity to meet your swimmer, evaluate their current swimming skills, and recommend the practice group that will be the best starting point for them.

After the evaluation, we invite your swimmer to Try RAID FREE for One Week before making a commitment. Your swimmer can participate in practices, meet our coaches and teammates, and experience what being part of Red Raider Aquatics is all about.

No obligation. No pressure. Just come swim with us!

Schedule a New Swimmer Evaluation & Try RAID Free →

• 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

To get the most out of each practice, all swimmers should bring the training gear required for their group. The right equipment helps swimmers stay on track and train effectively.

The list of equipment required for each group can be found on our team website. Select your practice site to view details:

• Springfield
• Bloomington/Normal

✅ Be sure to check what’s needed before heading to the pool!

Swim Meet Apparel

To show team spirit and unity, all Red Raiders swimmers must wear the following during meets:

• Red Raiders team-branded suit (black with Red Raider logo)
• Red Raiders team-branded cap (if you wear a cap during meets)
• Red Raiders team shirts

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 caps) should be purchased through our official team vendor: A3 Performance.
• Team competition suits are ordered from A3 Performance.
• Team Shirts and Caps

Team Shirts - Red Raider swimmers are billed a $30 T-shirt fee during registration. Each swimmer receives two specially designed shirts for the 2026–27 season. Team shirt sizes are ordered online through Red Raider Aquatics using SignUpGenius. To order your swimmer’s shirts by size, click HERE and follow the directions on our SignUpGenius page. (No additional fees will be charged for your swimmer's two shirts.)

Team Caps - Team caps are also ordered through SignUpGenius. Click HERE to order your RAID caps. After ordering your cap, 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.

Parent Shirts / Additional Shirts – Parents are invited to order a Red Raider Aquatics team shirt to wear at swim meets and show their support for our swimmers throughout the season. The cost is $15 per shirt, and orders can be placed through the Parent Shirt SignUpGenius HERE. Once the shirts have been delivered, your online family account will be billed to the payment method you have on file with the team.

Please note: The SignUpGenius for parent shirts is different from the SignUpGenius used to order swimmer shirts, so be sure to use the correct link when placing your order.

Additional equipment and team spirit wear can be purchased on the A3 Performance website

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

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.