Summer is officially right around the corner, but the temperatures in San Antonio say it is already here. One of the most popular ways to beat the heat is to head to the pool for a fun way to cool off. Since we live in a part of the country that allows us to swim for more than just a couple of months each year, swimming lessons are a popular and important part of San Antonio life.
There are various types of swimming lessons, and each kind may be appropriate for different ages, personalities, and/or skillsets. Let’s review a few of the different kinds of swimming lessons and what each one focuses on:
ISR: Also known as swim-float-swim. When I think of this type of swimming, I think of the babies and toddlers I have seen in videos fully clothed in a pool, floating on their backs to breathe, and turning to their stomachs to swim a few feet before returning to floating. The goal of this type of swimming lesson is to prevent death by drowning should a child fall into a pool without supervision. These lessons will teach your child water safety and how to feel comfortable floating on their back as a resting position while they slowly make their way to the edge or stairs of the pool to return to safety. These types of lessons typically last a few weeks and are done during a 10–20 minute window 5–7 days a week. It is typically a daily commitment for a brief lesson period, but the success of these programs is well known.
Here are some local options for ISR lessons:
- ISR Stone Oak with Josefina, isrstoneoak.com
- ISR with Jennifer Gonyer Bazajau, sanantonioswimlessons.com
- Otter Tots Infant Aquatics with Jennifer Conn
- Aqua Luv Swim School with Regina Rodriguez, infantaquatics.com
- Float First Texas, floatfirsttx.com
Private Lessons: Private lessons typically take place at your home pool or a community pool in a convenient location for the instructor. These lessons tend to be 1:1 or possibly two students to one teacher. Anyone can offer these types of lessons, so it is imperative to discuss qualifications and safety measures for private lessons. These lessons could focus on being comfortable in the water and going under, water play, water safety, or technical skills. Making sure the instructor understands your expectations and is able to provide lessons that meet them is crucial to finding the right teacher for your child. It is also important to clearly convey your child’s skill level when searching for a private instructor.
Here are some local options for private lessons:
- Good Swim School with Diana Perry, good-swim.com
- Swimming and Lifeguarding with Kasey, Find her on Facebook
- Mighty Swim School with Jackie, Find her on Facebook
- Martin Swim School with Marguerite, martinswimschool.com
Swim Schools/Community Lessons: There are many companies that have various locations offering small group or 1:1 lessons. They could be offered by community centers like the YMCA or City Parks Department, or by for-profit corporations such as Emler’s Swim School, MGR, or Aqua-Tots (to name a few). Again, the focus of lessons could range from water play to specific swimming techniques, so asking questions before signing up for lessons is important. In my personal experience, progress tends to be slower at these types of lessons (especially the for-profit swim schools). Since these classes tend to be larger, it is also incredibly important to ask specific questions in regards to safety and supervision when researching these lessons.
Here are some local options for swim schools/community lessons:
- Safe Splash Swim School in Stone Oak and on the West Side, safesplash.com
- Swim America in NISD Aquatics Department, teamunify.com
- The Heights Pool offers private and group lessons, heightspool.com
- MGR Swim Sports, mgrswimsports.com
- YMCA swim lessons, ymcasatx.org
Unfortunately, tragedy has happened in the past, and children have drowned while at swimming lessons, so making sure safety is the top priority is a definite must! Some things to consider include:
-What is the child-to-adult ratio?
-What certifications do(es) the instructor(s) hold? (CPR? AED? First Aid?)
-Who is supervising the children while waiting for their turn to swim?
-Is there a lifeguard present in an elevated position?
-When can I expect to see noticeable progress in my child’s skills?
I hope all your little fishes enjoy the water this summer and stay safe!
