Dear Swim Professor:
I recently signed my 5 year old up for a Swim 101 class next week at the
your Chesterbrook location and I just have some follow-up questions:

The lessons are from 4:00 to 4:25 for 5 days.  What will Elaine have learned in this time frame?  Am I missing follow-up classes that link to this?  25 minutes a day seems short.

Can I buy the required floatation device at her first class?  Or can I purchase it on-line and get it at the class?

thank you
JULIA C.

Dear  Julia,

Irene or Kristin in my office will be happy to talk to you more and you can reach them at 803-865-2629.

But here are a few quick points:
1.  Elaine will learn what she is capable of in those five days.  We use a
child centered, but progressive approach with the perfect lesson plans, progressions, and curriculum.
2. Will she graduate from 101 to 201 in five days?   Very hard to say
without knowing her current ability level.  A child who doesn’t put her
face in the water may take 15-20 lessons.  A child who does may be swimming across the pool with the pop-up breath in 5-10 lessons.

3. We teach year-round, so yes there are follow up sessions.  We teach at
Chesterbrook fromApril thru Sept (I keep pool heated at 90+ degrees)

4.  Classes are on the 30 min., actually class time is 25.   There is very
little downtime in our small classes (she’s likely in a semi or trio since
she is a 101) so she will be very active.  Our format is unlike  most 40 minute
classes around.  For example, where these other programs often have 8 three to five year olds  in a class and take the children out one at a time where they get like 5 min of lessons, we do just the opposite!  Using our progressive
flotation devince coupled with the small class (2 or 3 children depending on which you choose), our 25 minutes classes on the half hour is the perfect class time.   Tested, Tried, and Proven 🙂

5.  You can buy the Swim Ways Power Swimr flotation device right on our website.

Hope that helps!

SwimmingSafercerely!
Jim Reiser, M.S.
“The Swim Professor”

Dear Mr. Reiser:

Great response!  Thank you so much.  Elaine is “swimming” – enough to make everyone nervous,  – i.e. face in the water, kicking over to me in the pool… but, I consider this phase very risky, because I don’t want her to get to confident and get into trouble.  So, we will start with this first week and then add on with additional classes!

Thanks!

JULIA C.

Hi Julia!

Well you are “one of the smarter parents,” lol:)   And that is exactly
right.   The transition between non-swimmer (Swim 101) and swimmer (Swim
Strokes 201) is very risky because they can still get in to trouble, and
many parents get a false sense of securuity.   I stress to my teachers all
the time that I want those entry level 201’s in the 3 feet where they CAN
STAND if they need to…  it only takes seconds to get into trouble.

My son Nolan, who just turned three, can swim across most pools now without a vest, but however, when I am playing in the pool with him in our
neighborhood pool and I’m not constantly an arms reach away from him I still put his Sea Squirts Life Jacket on him.    Today they went to the Fort Jackson Water Park and I made sure he wore his Lifejacket; and at the lake–he will wear his lifejacket until he can swim across it!

SwimmingSafercerely!

Jim Reiser, M.S.
“The Swim Professor”

2010 Life Saver of the Year by National Drowning Prevention Alliance
2008 Adolph Kiefer Water Safety Person of the Year by USA Swimming
Water Safety Chairperson – Safe Kids Midlands
Local Partner – “Make a Splash” Initiative

Founder, President -Swim Lessons University
www.swimlessonsuniversity.com

Founder, CE0 – The Swim Lessons Company, LLC
www.swimlessonscompany.com

Dear Swim Professor:

How would I get a beginning swimmer to kick properly with the kick board? I used the kinesthetic feedback and manipulated their legs for them. I even had swim lessons student show me the difference between good and bad kicks, but they reverted right back to kicking with their legs up under their body.   I appreciate any help you can give me.

Coach Arielle

Dear Coach Arielle,

Quite frankly, it sounds like you are doing a lot of great things.  You obviously studied the “Foundations of Teaching Video Course” In fact, you are incorporating some of the best techniques available.  In today’s blog, I will go over some fundamentals that may help you.  But before I do that, allow me to say this:

Making technique changes or breaking bad habits, whether it be learning to kick properly or correcting someone’s golf swing, is typically a process, not an event.

So when you practice all these excellent teaching techniques, i.e., the “right vs. wrong way,” kinesthetic feedback, demonstrations, etc., all it does is improves their ability to get it right sooner, but those corrections are rarely instantaneous.   This is why two of the most important characteristics teacher’s have are “patience and persistence.” Don’t give up on your students and keep coming back to it, while being positive, reassuring, and encouraging all the while.   You also have to sell to them that “they will get it.”  You have to help your students BELIEVE.   You know the saying: “if you can believe it, you can achieve it.”   That’s the first step.

From a technical aspect, here are a few other questions that I would have  that will make learning the flutter kick easier:

1.  Are the arms extended straight? (you want the arms straight)

2.  Is the chin near the water?  (it’s important that it is near the water)

3.  Are the arms on top of the board? (they should be)

4.  Are the thumbs on top, fingers on the bottom? (they should be)

5.  Is the student pressing down on the board and sinking it?  (you don’t want that)

6.  Is the student on top of the board? (you don’t want that)

Once your beginning swimming student is holding the board correctly, then you want to make sure you are doing the following ( I know you were doing many of these):

1.  Demonstrate it correctly and have your students watch something specific, i.e., watch how my legs are extended almost straight behind me, not under me).

2.  Use good cues:   I want to see “Small, fast kicks!”  “Fast feet!”

3.  Demonstrate the “right vs. the wrong way:”  Watch how my kicks are small and fast, and watch how my legs are extended behind me.”  Now watch me kick incorrectly.  See how I don’t go anywhere when me knees draw underneath me?”

4.  Kinesthetic Feedback:  Like you were saying, let them feel it done right, wrong, then right again.  Also, try placing your forearm underneath the legs just above the knees to prevent the knees from drawing forward.

5.  Practice, Practice, Practice.   Even though we don’t like to see skills practiced incorrectly, in many instances, that is the only way the learner will learn to get it right.   When your student starts to feel the difference between doing the skill correctly vs. incorrectly, this will encourage them make that change for good.

Hope that helps, coach!

The International Swimming Hall of Fame has named Jim Reiser the recipient of the 2015 Virginia Hunt Newman Award for his curriculum and approach in teaching infants, toddlers, and children to swim.  Jim was the first American to win the award in 10 years.

If you would like to learn more about the Swim Lessons University certification program and curriculum, make sure to visit us at www.SwimLessonsUniversity.com 

We have training and certification programs designed for both private instructors as well as organizations like YMCAs, Recreation Departments, Athletic Clubs, and more.

Swim Lessons University is currently being utilized by recreation departments, YMCAs, America Camp Association swim lessons programs, as well as by private swimming instructors in 45 states and over 30 countries!

You can also call us toll free at 1-866-498-SWIM (7946).

Fewer things see to cool us more than a good swim in a hot summer day when not even the coolest lemonade seems to be doing anything in this regard. Beside the cooling effects, swimming is one of the most complex and highest recommended types of physical activity. Nevertheless, like any other sport on the face of the earth, or like any other aquatic activity, swimming also has the potential of being dangerous. If you have a personal swimming pool at your house, you are one of the lucky ones; but it also means that you will need to make sure that the area in and inside your pool is protected 24/7. Children, pets, and even adults can all be endangered, so you will need to run an extra mile and make sure your own swimming pool is secured.

The Statistics Are Alarming

They speak of 200 children drowning in their backyard swimming pools on a yearly basis. And the American Red Cross suggests using a few effective security measures as follows:

• barriers need to be used around the pools in the form of fences with locked gates, sensor alarms and even surveillance cameras. All of these will allow parents to keep an eye on children and be immediately alerted by a loud alarm sound or other options such as emails and text messages.

What Else Can You Do?

• you can also make use of a 4-feet high fence or barrier that features a self-closing as well as self-latching gate. Get in touch with a locksmith like the ones here https://www.247losangeleslocksmiths.com/car-locksmith offering car, as well as commercial and residential services. If you have zero experience with picking locks or installing them yourself, you can contact them and let them know what your requirements are. They can also offer maintenance service as well as fast or emergency repairs. Just like in case of a car lockout the owners need to act quickly and without hesitation, any sort of an emergency related to the locks on the pool fence should be handled similarly. An emergency locksmith needs to be called every time there is a problem with one of the locks around the pool gate or even on the front door of your house.

• you should also place safety covers over the pool and get rid of all ladders and steps used to provide easier access to the pool. An excellent idea is a pool alarm that will go off when someone wants to enter the pool. But there are lots of other products and devices that can keep a pool safer. For example, you can find fences featuring self-closing and self-locking gates as well as rigid covers sliding over the pool similarly to horizontal garage doors. You can also search for an electronic alarm that your kids can wear on their wrist and which will immediately be triggered when there will be movement in the pool.

• ask a locksmith who is familiar with the entire range of locks and padlocks which are the most suitable solutions for your needs. See if they fit into your budget and try to find someone who can constantly and actively supervise your kids or pets when around the swimming pool area. You should also keep the pool water clean and clear at all times and also worry about adjusting the chemical amounts to reduce the risk of earaches and rashes.

Dear Swim Professor,

I’ve been a swim instructor for 30 years and love my job.  I generally teach infants and young children to swim, and have prided myself in turning reluctant swimmers around.  That is the most rewarding part of my job.

This summer, I’ve taken on a 13 yr old girl, much older than my normal clientele who will not put her face in the water.  I’ve searched and searched for ideas of how to get her to go “under” for just the smallest increments of time to no avail.  HELP!!  Can you direct me or give me some ideas on how to help her overcome her fears of  the water?  I’m not even sure they are fears; maybe control with her parents would be a better description of her reluctance.  But her parents want her to swim this summer.  Do you have any info on this subject that you can direct me too?  Your information is generally so helpful!!

Thanks,

Coach Cheri C.

Dear Coach Cheri,

Well it’s the last part of what you wrote that concerns me: “Her parents” want her to swim by the end of this summer, not their daughter–your teen student.  And if I may put it in my own words– your 13 year old student may be “rebelling against her parents” like 13 year olds are known to do and do well!

It’s unfortunate that the parents just decided now that they wanted her to learn to swim, but as the saying goes– it’s better late than never.   At any rate, I know you are up for the challenge.  While your case may be rather complex, my solution is going to be really quite simple.

Here are some suggestions:

1. Talk to your teen student’s parents on the phone (or in person) but not in front of their daughter.  Dig and listen.  The parents likely “hold the key” to the answer to the problem.
2. Once you listen and learn as much as you can to the parents, give them some sound advice on how they can help the process.

• It’s important that they understand that their daughter needs to decide it’s important to her.
• It’s important they understand that encouraging their daughter and teaming up with her vs. threatening her or ridiculing her is key.
• It’s important that the daughter feels that her parents genuinely want this for her, not for them.

Those are just a few examples, but you will have a better feel for what kind of advice the parents need more than I do once you listen to what they have to say.

3.  You need to EARN the daughter’s desire to please you.  Once you develop a strong rapport and bond with her, she will want to impress you, and the magic will begin.

But really and truly though, we all know there is no so such thing as magic, although it often appears there is….  And you will appear to be magical yourself when you break through.  Nevertheless, my instincts tell me this is about good psychology, much more than it is about swim teaching x’s and o’s.  Put on you psych hat and you’ll teach this young lady to swim!

To your success!

The International Swimming Hall of Fame has named Jim Reiser the recipient of the 2015 Virginia Hunt Newman Award for his curriculum and approach in teaching infants, toddlers, and children to swim.  Jim was the first American to win the award in 10 years.

If you would like to learn more about the Swim Lessons University certification program and curriculum, make sure to visit us at www.SwimLessonsUniversity.com 

We have training and certification programs designed for both private instructors as well as organizations like YMCAs, Recreation Departments, Athletic Clubs, and more.

Swim Lessons University is currently being utilized by recreation departments, YMCAs, America Camp Association swim lessons programs, as well as by private swimming instructors in 45 states and over 30 countries!

You can also call us toll free at 1-866-498-SWIM (7946).

Swim Lessons University will offer its’ second annual Learn to Swim Instructor conference in Las Vegas, New Orleans, Orlando, and New York for the 2011-2012 year.

Jim Reiser, “the Swim Professor,” will give four presentations at the one-day event.  The 2011-2012 topic agenda is as follows:

• 10:00 AM  – 11:15 AM My Favorite “Learn-to-Swim” Progressions: From Infant Swimming to Breaststroke.

• 11:30 AM – 12:45 PM Marketing YOU! How to Most Effectively Promote You and/or Your Swim School

• 12:45 PM – 2:15 PM    LUNCH BREAK

• 2:15PM – 3:30 PM   Picture Perfect Teaching Techniques …or NOT! Do’s and Don’ts for Swimming Instructors.

• 3:45 PM – 5:00 PM  HOT TOPICS:  From programming to curriculum, this talk covers it all!

Michelle Smith, an instructor from Orlando, Florida, comments on last year’s event:  “Today I have been blessed. I am here at Jim’s Orlando Conference. I have already learned so much. Anyone who follows Jim on his website and through facebook gets to see great clips and I have always appreciated that, but to meet with him in a class you get to see that the love for kids and swim lessons he speaks about is very sincere. Thanks Jim for the inspiration and confidence to be the “BEST” instructors. You have made me a better instructor and for that I will forever be grateful. What an awesome day! Thank you so much Jim for offering a “wealth” of information.”

Enroll now and get the early bird rate of just $85.00!   Special room rates are also available for SLU Conference attendees.

Last but not least, there is also an optional post conference “Certified Pool Operator Course” for the Las Vegas  and Orlando  Conference which will be held on the Sunday following the conference.

Last night one of my instructors got this question/comment from a parent:

“I don’t see why she has to learn to breathe to the side… I think it’s just fine to breathe to front.”

Wow!   That just shows why the majority of our swim lessons participants are “beginners” and not near enough parents know enough, understand enough, or value enough the importance of learning formal strokes like freestyle with SIDE BREATHING!

To me,  when I see a person swimming freestyle with side breathing, I think to myself: “this individual knows how to swim.”   On the other hand, when I see someone swimming like Tarzan (though he was the best of yesteryear), I think: “this person is not a good swimmer.”

Not to get off subject, but an interesting fact.  Johnny Weismuller (Tarzan) was the first human being to swim the 100 yard freestyle in under 1 minute.   A great accomplishment considering the lack of technique and training available back then.  But today, we have countless 12 year olds swimming the 100 freestyle under 1:00!  So we now have skinny little kids who could out race a super human with hands the size of a pizza.   Johnny Weismuller is from Windber, PA, 5 minutes from my hometown.  My grandfather actually shook his hand and told me that story of how large his hands were!

Back to the importance of swimming freestyle with side breathing.   When one breathes to the side instead of the front, a significant amount of energy is conserved and the stroke is much more efficient and minimizes frontal drag.   If you train freestyle, you could swim across most lakes.   Of course learning other strokes such as sidestroke and elementary backstroke are great strokes to conserve energy for long swims as well.

According to Safe Kids World Wide, over 50% of all drownings for children ages 6 -14 occur in open water situations.   Why?  One reason is parents don’t understand the importance of learning formal strokes, such as the parent who questioned my instructor.   So when it appears to many parents that their child “swim like fish” because of how they swim  in a pool, the parents have no idea how the child would respond in an open water situation where your skills need to be much stronger.   If children are given the opportunity to learn “formal swimming skills and strokes,” drowning rates would drastically decline.

And one last note, life jackets save lives too.   Depending on the child’s skills, parents should not just depend on swimming skills in open water situations.   My rule of thumb, if the child (or adult) can’t swim across the lake, he/she should wear a life jacket!

The International Swimming Hall of Fame has named Jim Reiser the recipient of the 2015 Virginia Hunt Newman Award for his curriculum and approach in teaching infants, toddlers, and children to swim.  Jim was the first American to win the award in 10 years.

If you would like to learn more about the Swim Lessons University certification program and curriculum, make sure to visit us at www.SwimLessonsUniversity.com 

We have training and certification programs designed for both private instructors as well as organizations like YMCAs, Recreation Departments, Athletic Clubs, and more.

Swim Lessons University is currently being utilized by recreation departments, YMCAs, America Camp Association swim lessons programs, as well as by private swimming instructors in 45 states and over 30 countries!

You can also call us toll free at 1-866-498-SWIM (7946).