SWIM SCHOOL
DACA Swim School Policies And Procedures
SWIM SCHOOL
DACA Swim School Policies And Procedures
SWIM SCHOOL
DACA Swim School Policies And Procedures
The DACA Swim School was founded in 1996. Our primary purpose is to teach infants, children and adults to swim properly.
To that end, DACA has developed a proven method of teaching that ensures skill development, a love of the water and a healthy respect for water safety.
DACA instructors are trained on site, in the classroom and in the pool, for not less than 30 hours of intensive training. Our deck supervisors assist our teachers, provide customer service and ensure safety on the pool deck. The Swim School deck staff is certified in both CPR and First Aid.
Our state of the art DACA Swim Center offers two pools heated to 90 degrees at all times with adjoining locker rooms.
There is a maximum of four students per class with private and semi- private lessons available. Parent child classes can consist of up to six students and six adults. Classes can begin at three months of age.
DACA offers an accelerated learn to swim-program during the summer, year round Splash Classes (drop in classes), and a Pre-Competitive program that includes nights and weekends. We also offer specialty programs for adults and for children with special needs.
The DACA Pre-Competitive Program is an introductory program designed to improve stroke and turn technique in preparation for the DACA Competitive Team. Small class sizes of no more than seven swimmers of similar ability allow for first-class instruction that is both focused and personalized. Instruction in the DACA Pre-Competitive Program provides a technical skill base, igniting a love of the water and inspiring our swimmers to continue on in all levels of the DACA Competitive Team.
The award winning DACA Swim School has been the premier swim school in the Bay Area for more than twenty years. For quality, time tested instruction at any age, there is no better choice than the DACA Swim School.
SWIM SCHOOL
The DACA Swim School was founded in 1996. Our primary purpose is to teach infants, children and adults to swim properly.
To that end, DACA has developed a proven method of teaching that ensures skill development, a love of the water and a healthy respect for water safety.
DACA instructors are trained on site, in the classroom and in the pool, for not less than 30 hours of intensive training. Our deck supervisors assist our teachers, provide customer service and ensure safety on the pool deck. The Swim School deck staff is certified in both CPR and First Aid.
Our state of the art DACA Swim Center offers two pools heated to 90 degrees at all times with adjoining locker rooms.
There is a maximum of four students per class with private and semi- private lessons available. Parent child classes can consist of up to six students and six adults. Classes can begin at three months of age.
DACA offers an accelerated learn to swim-program during the summer, year round Splash Classes (drop in classes), and a Pre-Competitive program that includes nights and weekends. We also offer specialty programs for adults and for children with special needs.
The DACA Pre-Competitive Program is an introductory program designed to improve stroke and turn technique in preparation for the DACA Competitive Team. Small class sizes of no more than seven swimmers of similar ability allow for first-class instruction that is both focused and personalized. Instruction in the DACA Pre-Competitive Program provides a technical skill base, igniting a love of the water and inspiring our swimmers to continue on in all levels of the DACA Competitive Team.
The award winning DACA Swim School has been the premier swim school in the Bay Area for more than twenty years. For quality, time tested instruction at any age, there is no better choice than the DACA Swim School.
SWIM SCHOOL
Find My Level
Unsure of the appropriate level for your child? Our online questionnaire can help determine the best fit!
Unsure of the appropriate level for your child? Our online questionnaire can help determine the best fit!
Find My Level
Find My Level
Find My Level
![DACA CIRCLE LOGO [Vectors].png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/17f92d_3d7f12f021c14eec9ec10150b2afa349~mv2_d_2329_1909_s_2.png/v1/fill/w_51,h_42,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/DACA%20CIRCLE%20LOGO%20%5BVectors%5D.png)
COMPETITIVE
Coaching Staff
2017-2018 celebrates the beginning of Coach Pete Raykovich' 24th year as Director/Coach at DACA. While widely known for developing and managing DACA into one of the most comprehensive aquatic programs in the United States, Coach Raykovich has been a renowned swimming coach for far longer, with credentials exceptional in both diversity of experience and consistency of accomplishment.
Coach Raykovich has been selected as a USA National coach on numerous occasions, most recently in 2009, as Head Women's Coach of the National Youth Team competing at World Cup meets in Stockholm, Sweden, and Berlin, Germany. He has twice been honored as Pacific Swimming's George Haines Senior Coach of the Year and holds ASCA Level 5 certification, the highest level attainable. Raykovich is a highly sought after speaker, featured at the 2008 American Swim Coaches Association World Clinic, and a USA National Team Coaches member.
Prior to his career at DACA, he was the Head Coach of the Women's Swimming program at the University of Tennessee from 1990 - 1993.
Under Coach Raykovich, DACA has been a fixture at the United States National Championships, consistently placing top - 10 in team scoring. In 2009, DACA placed top - 10 in all three team scoring races (men's, women's, and combined team) at the highest level of competition in the United States.
Mr. Raykovich has coached athletes that have represented the United States and other countries at every major swimming championship including the Olympic Games, World Championships, World University Games, and Pan Pacific Championships. Under his leadership, DACA has built a reputation for consistently developing elite young athletes that make an impact representing the United States on National Youth Teams. DACA student - athletes have been accepted to and have earned college swimming scholarships at every prominent school in the United States. Collegiate and High School Academic All - Americans from DACA make the honor roll every year.
Coach Raykovich' philosophy, in and out of the water, is one that allows the ambitious student - athlete to excel both in the pool and in the classroom. In this philosophy, goals and preparation must match and athletes are taught and expected to budget their time effectively. The ability to tailor a program for individual achievements in combination with team goals makes DACA's National Team a special place to train.
In addition to his coaching duties, Raykovich participates actively in swimming legislation and political bodies. A member of the Olympic International Operations Committee, Coach Raykovich has served as Chairman and member of a wide variety of National and local USA Swimming committees for over 25 years.
Pete Raykovich
Since joining the competitive staff 15 years ago, Coach Tammy Hopkins has led and developed DACA into one of the largest and most successful swim teams in the country. Under her leadership, DACA has been a force at the country's most elite age group competitions, capturing five Far Western and seven Junior Olympic team titles. With Hopkins' direction, the age group program has laid the foundation for DACA's top - ten finishes at the United States Swimming National Championships.
Coach Hopkins' swimmers have been amongst the country's elite, achieving national rankings, age group national championships, and junior national qualifying standards. She has guided athletes to Far Western titles, Western Zone Championships, national age group records, and high school All - American honors. Most importantly, Hopkins' swimmers have the technical and training background to compete successfully senior athletes at national and international level meets including the Olympic Games and the United States Olympic Trials.
Coach Hopkins' track record of excellence has been honored several times, most notably with the 2005 Pacific Swimming Age Group Coach of the Year award, and invitations to present at several
coaching clinics, including the American Swim Coaches Association World Clinic. In addition, she has served as coach for multiple all - star and Western Zone teams.Coach Hopkins came to DACA in 2000 with a rich background in both coaching and education. Prior coaching positions included years with Conejo Simi Aquatics and Canyon Crest Swim Team in southern California, Klamath Falls Swim Team (Klamath Falls, Oregon), and Bakersfield's Garces High School. Hopkins also served as Age Group Director of Bakersfield Aquatics while teaching the 3rd and 4th grade at St. Joseph's in Waso, California.
Coach Hopkins believes that the key to DACA's success is the careful development of student - athletes at the age group level, with a focus on long term development and enjoyment. A solid foundation provides the platform on which Olympians stand.
Tammy currently resides in San Jose with her husband Sage, son Gunner, daughter Summer, and dog Belle.
Tammy Hopkins
Coach Mike Allegretti joined the DACA staff in 2000 with a strong athletic background and passion for coaching. After working with all levels of the DACA program, Mike began with the competitive team in 2003, working with athletes of all ages and abilities. His swimmers have seen incredible success, capturing Junior Olympic Championship titles and National top-16 honors, as well as appearances in Junior Olympic and Far Western Championship finals.
A multi-sport athlete at Pioneer High School, Mike excelled in both swimming and soccer. In the pool, he was a CCS qualifier as a senior in 200 Freestyle and 100 Butterfly, and a Far Western qualifier for DACA coach Bill Thompson at San Jose Aquatics. He then moved on to De Anza College, where he captured Coast Conference Championship titles in the 200 and 1650 Freestyles. Mike was equally successful on the soccer pitch, helping Pioneer to a CCS title as a junior. Named most inspirational and most dedicated athlete several years, he served as Captain his senior year, leading his team to a runner up finish in the CCS Playoffs.
After earning his Associates degree at De Anza College, Mike moved on to San Jose State University where he earning his Bachelors of Science in Aviation Operations. Since earning his degree, he has gone on to Delta Flight School, where he was certified as a flight instructor and earned his commercial license for single and multi-engine aircraft.
Michael Allegretti
Coach Christian Bonner has been involved with the DACA program since 1999. Since, Christian has worked with swimmers of all levels, including Far Western Finalists and Champions, and NRT athletes.
As the head men's swimming and water polo coach at Saratoga High School, Christian has had extraordinary success, culminating in 2009, when the Saratoga Men's Swimming Team finished 2nd at CCS, and was named the United States Mythical High School National Champion by Swimming World Magazine. Under Christian's leadership in 2009, Saratoga swimmers captured 6 individual CCS titles, and 2 relay titles, including the national public high school record setting 400 Free Relay.
Off the pool deck, Christian earned a bachelor's degree in anthropology from San Jose State University. He then moved on to the prestigious New York University, where he completed his master's degree in Museum Studies. After graduating from NYU, Christian spent time in Japan, as an Artist in Residence, where his work was displayed in museums. Currently, he is on staff as a ceramic tech at De Anza College.
Christian resides in San Jose, with wife Jamie, whom he met swimming for Pete Raykovich at De Anza College, and daughter Crimson.
Christian Bonner
Coach Annie Stein begins her tenth year with the DACA Competitive Program, bringing with her extensive national and international swimming experience.
Since joining the DACA program in the Fall of 2007, Annie has coached swimmers to elite levels, both locally and on the national stage. She has guided athletes to Far Western Championship titles and high point distinctions, Western Zone Championship titles, Pacific Swimming Records, and National Age Group individual and relay top-10 rankings. She was a Finalist for Pacific Swimming's Age Group Coach of the Year in 2013 and 2016. More importantly, her swimmers have consistently moved on with the technique and training background to successfully compete at the senior level. Annie has been extremely involved within the Zone and LSC, and is currently serving as the Pacific Swimming Meet Management Coordinator. As an American Swim Coaches Association (ASCA) Fellow, Annie has had work published in the ASCA Newsletter and gave a featured talk at the 2015 ASCA World Clinic.
Prior to joining the DACA Staff, Annie enjoyed an illustrious swimming career spanning 17 years. A senior national qualifier at age 13, Annie was a two-time Olympic Trials competitior, placing 8th in the 400 IM and 11th in the 800
Annie Stein
Free in 2000. The 1999 Junior National West High Point winner and Colorado Female Swimmer of the Year, she was a multi-time finalist at the United States Senior Nationals. A 2nd place finish in the 5K at the 2000 Open Water Nationals earned her a spot on the 2000 Open Water World Championship Team where she finished 8th in the 5K. As a member of the 2001 United States National Junior Team, Annie earned bronze medals in both the 400 IM and 1500 Freestyle at the 2001 Australian Youth Olympic Festival in Sydney.
After graduating from Germantown Academy as a multi-time High School All-American, Annie attended the University of Michigan on a swimming scholarship, where she scored each year at the Big Ten Championship and had the honor of working with legendary coaches Bob Bowman, Jon Urbanchek, and Jim Richardson. After co-captaining the Wolverines, and serving as Vice-President for Michigan Student Athlete Advisory Council as a senior, Annie, along with her fellow senior women was awarded the Frank E. Barnhard Award for Leadership in 2007. A passionate sports fan, Annie received a bachelor's degree in Sports Management from the University of Michigan.
A Bay Area native, Coach Ray Laughlin brings 24 years of coaching experience to the DACA Competitive Coaching Staff. Coach Ray begin his coaching career with the Pinole Seals in 1986 before moving on to coach at Valley Vista from 1989-1991. 2001-2008 marked Coach Ray’s first stint with DACA, before spending 7 years as an age group coach at Burlingame Aquatic Club, and returning to DACA in 2015.
As a swimmer himself, Coach Ray competed for the Pinole Seals from 1974-1987, excelling as a breaststroker. He went on to earn his Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from San Francisco State University in 1992.
Ray coaches his athletes with the philosophy that “If they have fun they will come again tomorrow. If they come again tomorrow, they will get better.” Coach Ray resides in San Bruno with his wife (Michelle), two children (Gabrielle, 19, and Jack, 10), two dogs (Copper and Soxx), and cat (Zoomer).