Who We Are
Welcome to the Lake Ridge Lancers Swim Team!
WHO WE ARE:
The Lake Ridge Lancers Swim Team (LRL) is a seasonal competitive swimming program that participates as a member of the greater Prince William Swim League (PWSL). Each summer, the Lancers provide opportunities for swimmers 18 years & under, residing in the Woodbridge, Lake Ridge, and adjacent areas to participate in a competitive swim program. Participants are assigned to one of two programs: the competition team or Lil’ Lancers. The competition team is for members who possess the minimum PWSL requirements for competitive swimmers, while the Lil’ Lancers is geared towards developing the skills & techniques need to reach those requirements. Competition seasons begin at the end of May and run through the end of July.
MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION:
Membership for the Lake Ridge Lancers Swim Team is open to residents of Woodbridge, Lake Ridge, and the surrounding areas. Each registration period opens with an unlimited number of openings for participants ages 18 & under. In order to be considered for the competition team, swimmers must be able to legally swim a 25-meter freestyle with good side breathing, as well as a 25-meter backstroke.
The Lil’ Lancers is a developmental program geared towards swimmers 10 & under, who still need to learn the proper skills in order to be successful in the competitive program. The program begins when morning practices begin and runs for several weeks, finishing a week before the competitive team finishes. Each registration period beings with 30 openings and swimmers must be evaluated by the coaching staff prior to registering. To be considered for the Lil’ Lancers, swimmers must have the confidence and ability to independently swim across the pool in any manner. If a swimmer demonstrates they are ready for the competition team during the Lil’ Lancers program, they may be given the opportunity to move up and begin participating in regular practices & swim meets. For more information on evaluation dates, please see the Lil' Lancer brochure located under "Programs and Clinics" on the top of the home page.
The sport of swimming is unique in its need for volunteers through the summer season. Once a registered member, the Lancers look to parents & family in order to volunteer their time in various capacities. The most prevalent of these is the swim meet. Swim meets rely on parent & family participation to serve in various functions which help the meet progress. Positions include Timers, Recorders, Card Runners, Clerk of Course, Computers, Heat Ribbons, Meet Marshals, Scorers, and other essential jobs. Volunteer opportunities are not limited to administrative positions during swim meets, however. Other needed positions during a summer season include grill cooks, Café workers, Apparel Sales, and Water Runners. More information regarding fulfilling volunteer commitments and the various available positions will be given to parents at the start of each season.
* The Lake Ridge Lancers Swim Team is hosted by the Lake Ridge Swim Club. Memberships are available to families who would like to call our pool their home club!
All registrations are completed through the Lake Ridge Lancers website. To register, click the “Team Registration” button on our home page and follow the corresponding prompts.
COACHING STAFF:
At the helm of the Lake Ridge Lancers is Lauren Downer. Coach Lauren has been swimming in Lake Ridge her whole life. She gew up in the PWSL as a Ridgewood Barracuda starting at the age of 6. She spent many years coaching for the Barracudas including leading a " "learn to swim" program there. Her love for swimming continued to grow as she was team member on OCCS, QDD, and Woodbridge High School Swim Team. She was elated to join the Lancer Swim Family as an Assistant Head Coach and in 2020 joined us as our Head Coach. She has also been a PWCS teacher for over 10 years here in the Lake Ridge community.
Coach Lauren: “I believe my job is to not only nurture and develop swimmers, but to also contribute to growing their life skills and promoting positive character traits. It is also my desire to create a fun, supportive, uplifting team atmosphere that causes these swimmers to fall in love with summer swim just as I did. I cherish the opportunity to share my passion for this sport with these swimmers so they too can have wonderful memories.”
Working with Coach Lauren, the Lake Ridge Lancers employ a “grass roots” support staff. Assistant Coaches grow up swimming on the Lancers team and have worked their way up the coaching ladder. The Lancer Coaching staff is comprised of highly qualified individuals, many of whom possess certifications in CPR, First Aid, and work as lifeguards. Most importantly, they love to work with kids and are passionate about the sport of swimming.
