About
Richmond Swims – Richmond Sailfish Kids Swim Team & Lessons offers kids swim team practices, kids lessons, and private lessons that focus on swimming skills, competitive swimming, fitness, learning and practicing turns and dives, stroke technique work, cardiovascular training, and race strategy. The program is part of a broader swim offering that also includes an adult swim team, adult lessons, and coached pool workouts, along with monthly competitions.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Schedule: Practices and coached pool workouts are offered Monday–Friday, generally between 4:00 and 6:00 pm, with Guppy Group from 4:00–4:50 pm, Minnow Group from 4:45–6:00 pm, and Sailfish Group from 4:00–6:00 pm
• Price: Monthly dues are $95 per swimmer for the Guppy group, $100 per swimmer for the Minnow group, $110 per swimmer for the Sailfish group, and $65 per swimmer for scholarship families
The program’s mission is to encourage and empower young people to develop to their fullest potential as athletes, individuals, and role models in their community, and it especially aims to provide inner-city youth throughout Richmond with an opportunity to develop swimming skills, character, and self-discipline in a supportive environment that fosters personal improvement. Richmond Swims states that it strives to provide swimming skills, competitive swimming, fitness, and friendship to Richmond residents of all ages and skill levels, and it maintains small group sizes to give each swimmer personal attention from their coach.
Richmond Swims is the evolution of Richmond Friends of Recreation (RFR), a non-profit organization formed in 1979 that worked with the City of Richmond in a public/private partnership to raise funds to retrofit, upgrade, and reopen The Plunge after it was closed in 1997 and later reopened in 2010. The program continues to provide swim programs for the Richmond community, and Jose has volunteered to teach swim lessons to local Richmond youth.
The leadership team includes Head Coach John Schonder, Assistant Coach Kaitlin Harris, Assistant Coach Jose Luis Albarran, and Safe Sport club coordinator John Schonder. John holds a Level II Certification with the American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA) and is a Professional Trainer through the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America. Kaitlin is a Red Cross Certified Lifeguard, has worked as a lifeguard and swim instructor at the Richmond Plunge/Swim Center and the El Cerrito pool, and is a certified USA Swimming coach.
Everyone in the program is required to register with USA Swimming and pay annual dues, which provide liability insurance for the team and include a subscription to Swimming World Magazine, and swimmers are asked to carry their USA Swimming cards at meets or other USA Swimming events. John Schonder serves as the Safe Sport club coordinator, and families are directed to contact USA Swimming or the U.S. Center for Safe Sport to report a Safe Sport concern. Team gear such as team swimsuits and parkas is available, and families can use a membership portal to sign up and pay for swim fees and lessons.
Last updated February 18, 2026.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Schedule: Practices and coached pool workouts are offered Monday–Friday, generally between 4:00 and 6:00 pm, with Guppy Group from 4:00–4:50 pm, Minnow Group from 4:45–6:00 pm, and Sailfish Group from 4:00–6:00 pm
• Price: Monthly dues are $95 per swimmer for the Guppy group, $100 per swimmer for the Minnow group, $110 per swimmer for the Sailfish group, and $65 per swimmer for scholarship families
The program’s mission is to encourage and empower young people to develop to their fullest potential as athletes, individuals, and role models in their community, and it especially aims to provide inner-city youth throughout Richmond with an opportunity to develop swimming skills, character, and self-discipline in a supportive environment that fosters personal improvement. Richmond Swims states that it strives to provide swimming skills, competitive swimming, fitness, and friendship to Richmond residents of all ages and skill levels, and it maintains small group sizes to give each swimmer personal attention from their coach.
Richmond Swims is the evolution of Richmond Friends of Recreation (RFR), a non-profit organization formed in 1979 that worked with the City of Richmond in a public/private partnership to raise funds to retrofit, upgrade, and reopen The Plunge after it was closed in 1997 and later reopened in 2010. The program continues to provide swim programs for the Richmond community, and Jose has volunteered to teach swim lessons to local Richmond youth.
The leadership team includes Head Coach John Schonder, Assistant Coach Kaitlin Harris, Assistant Coach Jose Luis Albarran, and Safe Sport club coordinator John Schonder. John holds a Level II Certification with the American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA) and is a Professional Trainer through the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America. Kaitlin is a Red Cross Certified Lifeguard, has worked as a lifeguard and swim instructor at the Richmond Plunge/Swim Center and the El Cerrito pool, and is a certified USA Swimming coach.
Everyone in the program is required to register with USA Swimming and pay annual dues, which provide liability insurance for the team and include a subscription to Swimming World Magazine, and swimmers are asked to carry their USA Swimming cards at meets or other USA Swimming events. John Schonder serves as the Safe Sport club coordinator, and families are directed to contact USA Swimming or the U.S. Center for Safe Sport to report a Safe Sport concern. Team gear such as team swimsuits and parkas is available, and families can use a membership portal to sign up and pay for swim fees and lessons.
Last updated February 18, 2026.
Is this your business? There is no cost, but you will be asked to sign up or log in.