Join Our Team

 
Frequently Asked Membership Questions
What is RAYS?
Rapids Area YMCA Swimmers (RAYS) is the premier YMCA/USA Swimming club in West Michigan.  Since 1990 RAYS has provided swimmers with professional coaching and personal development.  As a member of both YMCA and USA Swimming, RAYS members have access to the best the competitive swimming world has to offer.  Key to our success as a club and our athletes’ success in and out of the pool is our focus on personal development through the sport of swimming.  Our "Live Well. Swim Fast." motto guides our coaching staff and parent board of directors as we strive to: improve each swimmer’s quality of life, instill the core values of the YMCA and inspire excellence in the sport of swimming. 
Who can I talk to about RAYS?
You can contact our office via phone at 616 - 885 - 5906 or via email at rayscoach@hotmail.com.
What is the mission of RAYS?
  To improve each swimmer’s quality of life
We achieve this by introducing kids to the only true lifetime sport: swimming, by providing positive experiences with exercise, nutrition and hydration. We also help to improve young people’s lives by providing a positive group to belong to and opportunities to increase personal responsibility and self-confidence.
  To instill the core values of the YMCA
Responsibility…for your own performance
Respect…for coaches, officials and competitors
Caring…for teammates
Honesty…in effort
  To inspire excellence in the sport of swimming
We do this through providing swimmers with a staff of caring, well-educated and experienced coaches and by providing swimmers with a variety of competitive experiences through our affiliation with YMCA Swimming and USA Swimming.
When can I register for RAYS?
We take swimmers whenever we have space available.  Contact our office for availability.
Who works with the kids at RAYS?
All of our coaches are swimming professionals certified by USA Swimming, YMCA Swimming, the American Red Cross and the American Swimming Coaches Association.  For more information about our coaches click here.
When do the RAYS swim?
The RAYS run a year round program.  Our primary seasons are September through March and May through July.  In April and August we run camps and clinics for competitive and non-competitive swimmers.
What does it cost to swim for RAYS?
We are now filling our late start spots for all competitive groups.  Cost below reflect a pro-ration of the fees for starting October 12th or later.  Each family pays a $75 processing fee in addition to the fees below.
Conditioning Options for high school swimmers and polo players:
High school boys may purchase a 20 practice pass to use between Oct 12 and the start of the high school season.  There are no memberships required to use the practice pass.
Girl polo players may purchase a 20 practice pass as well to use between the high school girls swim season and the beginning of the polo season.
Pre-Competitive for 8&Unders
$177 for 12 week session (no other fees)
Pre-Competitive for 9&Overs
$277 for 24 week session (no other fees)
Practice Group I (8&U)
$353 late start $308
Practice Group II (9-10s)
$453     $405 late start $350
Practice Group III (11-12s)
$553     $435 late start $374
Practice Group IV (13&Overs)
$653     $500  late start $426
Practice Group IV High School Girls
$453     $355
Practice Group IV High School Boys
$353     $235
HS Boys Training Only 20 Practice Pass

                     $200 (no other fees)

HS Girls Water Polo 20 Practice Pass                      $200 (no other fees)
How do I register for RAYS?
Before initiating the online registration process, we recommend getting all of your questions answered.  Please feel free to contact our office at 885-5906 or via email at rayscoach@hotmail.com.  At the conclusion of the registration process, you will pay for your team fees, either a portion or the whole depending on your group and the time of year.  These registration fees are not refundable.
Start by clicking on the "start registration link" on the left hand side of our website.
Returning swimmers may use the online registration system to register for the fall/winter season. Your account is currently inactive, but if you click on the
I am NOT currently signed in but I already have a Billing Account on this team:
You will be able to log in to your account using your username (your email address) and your password. There is a password retrieval tool if you need it. Most if not all of your information will be populated already. Be sure to fill in your t-shirt size so your team shirt can be ordered.
Most new swimmers need to be evaluated before going through the registration process. Please contact our office to set up a time for an evaluation and for a chance to get to know our coaching staff better. Our office number is 885-5906 or you may email us at rayscoach@hotmail.com.
To register, new swimmers will need to click on the
I am not sure if I have a Billing Account on this team. This is the email address I want to use:
The system will confirm you do not have an account and take you through the registration process so that you can fill in all the vital information. Don’t forget to fill in your t-shirt size.
When do RAYS practice?
 Practice times vary somewhat.  The best way to get a feel for the practice schedule is to view one through our practice schedules page.  Click here to be directed to the schedules page. 
  • Our pre-competitive groups always practice Mondays and Thursdays from 5:20 - 6:00PM at the Southeast YMCA.
  • PGI/8&unders typically practice for an hour between 4:00  and 6:00PM at the Southeast YMCA, but at least one a week, the 8&unders practice at the Forest Hills Aquatic Center sometime between 4:00 - 7:00PM.
  • PGII/9-10s typically practice for 90 minutes between 4:00  and 6:00PM at the Southeast YMCA, but at least one a week, the 9-10s practice at the Forest Hills Aquatic Center sometime between 4:00 - 7:00PM.
  • PGIII/11-12s typically practice at the Forest Hills Aquatic Center Monday through Thursday and at the Southeast Y on Fridays.  Friday practices run from 5:15 - 6:30.  Monday through Thursday practices are usually between 7:00 - 9:00PM, but can be after school one high school meet days.
  • PGIV/13&Overs typically practice at the Forest Hills Aquatic Center Monday through Thursday between 7:00 - 9:00PM, but can be after school one high school meet days.  The 13 and Overs also practice on Saturday mornings at the Southeast YMCA when we do not have swim meets.

We have an ALL TEAM practice on Sundays at the Forest Hills Aquatic Center when there is not a swim meet.  8&unders swim from 4:00 - 5:00.  9-10s swim from 4:00 - 5:30.  11-12s swim from 4:00 - 6:00.  13 and overs swim from 4:00 - 6:30.

Will my swimmer need any equipment?
Swimmers need equipment based on the chart below.
 
 rubber fins
  Finis snorkel
Finis Streamline board
 TYR Catch Paddles 
 pull bouy 
 PC
  NA
 
 
 
 
  PGI
  yes
  yes
(recommend velcro version)
 
 
 
  PGII
  yes
  yes
(recommend jr. snorkel or velcro version)
  yes
 
 
  PGIII
  yes
 yes
(recommend jr. or adult version)
  yes
  yes
 
  PGIV/HS
  yes
  yes
(recommend adult version)
  yes
  yes
  yes
  
Will my swimmer need any memberships to join RAYS?
 
YMCA
 
Each member of the RAYS team, with the exception of pre-competitive and masters swimmers, must maintain a YMCA membership for the duration of the season. Membership options vary so please visit the front desk of the Southeast YMCA to initiate or extend your membership. It is not necessary for the whole family to be members at the Y. Only the athlete is required to have a Y membership.
Memberships at the YMCA are required for two primary reasons: 1) the membership gives our swimmers access to the pool 11 hours per week.. Y membership also gives our athletes access to YMCA swim meets such as our own MC Sports Classic in November, home dual or quad meets, conference, 8 & Under State, 9 & Over State, Zone and national level competitions. 
 
Each swim team member will have a photo ID card to show upon entry to the YMCA. Swimmers, like the other YMCA members, are expected to follow this procedure as well as treat the locker rooms and pool with respect. Please speak with your swimmer about proper behavior at the YMCA.  Please consult the YMCA when determining whether to close your Y account or freeze it between seasons.
 
Forest Hills Aquatic Center
 
Each RAYS family will have a membership at the Forest Hills Aquatic Center. The fee for the Forest Hills Aquatic Center is included in the registration fees paid when establishing membership with the team. Like the Y, the FHAC membership provides swimmers with practice time. The AC is an important part of our training as the AC pool offers a competitive pool with starting blocks, cool water, ample deck space and pace clocks. The FHAC membership also gives swimmers and their families access to the pool outside of practice time. You may use the AC for open family swim, lap swimming or as a place to make up a missed practice. An ID card is not required for the FHAC.
 
USA Swimming
 

Each RAYS member is also a member of USA Swimming.  This fee is also included in your registration fees.  A USA Swimming membership provides swimmers with access to USA Swimming meets, a Splash Magazine subscription, entry into the SWIMS database for competitive time collection and access to numerous resources on the usaswimming,org website.  Because of our club and swimmer membership with USA Swimming, RAYS is also provided with insurance coverage and a myriad of support and recognition programs.

 

 

What kind of meets do RAYS swim?



 

Do RAYS offer payment plans or financial assistance?
Will I have to volunteer if my swimmer swims with RAYS?
Will I have to fundraise if my swimmer swims with RAYS?