The Nation's Leading Learn to Swim School

Session three for lessons begins January 6, 2013

Program Supervisor: Susan Bleecker    

Email: learn2swim@ccamarlins.com

Phone: 540-989-7284 ext 313

 Want to have your child learn to swim this summer? Please check-out our swim lessons at the Carter Athletic Center.  Water temperature is always the same, rain won't cancel your lesson and you can get it in before heading off to your summer pool for the day or after work. 

Click Here ► Summer Session #1 -Form

Summer Session #1 (June 9th- June 27th) *Please note the fist classes star on Sun. June 9th.  During this session you will have the option to sign-up 1x per week, 2x per week, 3x per week or 4x per week.   Please denote this on your registration form.

The forms can be returned either through email, postal service or dropped off at the front desk at the Carter Athletic Center (the CAC)

Learn 2 Swim at the CAC - 4254 Colonial Ave Roanoke, VA. 24018 c/o Susan Bleecker  Email Learn2swim@ccamarlins.com

Summer Session #2 - July 7th through July 25th (Form will be posted soon!)

Swim America Program Overview:

This Learn-To-Swim program is designed for new swimmers, progressing swimmers through ten stages of instruction and achievement, from absolute beginner to knowledge of strokes. Sessions will be taught Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturdays. Families will have the opportunity to choose from different times and either once or twice a week options>

How is SwimAmerica different?

   Swim America is a national learn to swim program operated by the American Swimming Coaches Association through over 500 Program Directors at over 900 sites across the USA. It's the state of the art learn to swim program in the world today. Brought to you by the same people who have brought you the most successful sport team on the planet... the USA Olympic Swimming Team. What we learn teaching people to set world records, we use to teach new swimmers to enjoy swimming with the best techniques in the world.  We learn from and teach the elite athlete AND the new child!

Why and when should my child learn to swim?

      As soon as your child is capable of independent motion, they are capable of getting into water and drowning. Therefore, swim lessons should begin as soon after 6 months of age as possible. Initially, they will not learn to swim per se. They will be learning: "ROLL OVER, FLOAT, YELL FOR HELP." Young children, because of the weight of their head and body proportions, can't readily "learn to swim." What you want, is to keep them SAFE. We do that by teaching them to surface when underwater, roll onto their backs, maintain themselves and breathe and YELL FOR HELP! History shows that this response SAVES LIVES because it "buys time" for the caregiver to realize that the child can float and yell. Tragedies occur when the child can't perform that skill. Once they have mastered ROLL OVER, FLOAT, YELL FOR HELP! Then we begin teaching "real swimming."

How do I know when my child knows how to swim?

       In Swim America, we use a high standard. We are in business to save lives. That means a person can maintain themselves indefinitely in the water. To do so, requires the ability to exhale used air and inhale new air. That's called Aerobic Swimming. (just like being able to talk while you jog!) Our standard is that a person should be able to swim 300 yards non-stop, and swim 6 different styles of swimming, to be considered a "swimmer." 300 yards is important. Scientists have found that humans can swim 200 yards without being able to breathe effectively. But without the ability to breathe effectively, eventually that person will get in trouble, and possibly endanger their life. We went 1/3 beyond that point to set our standard of 300 yards of non-stop swimming. That goal won't be quickly achieved. It takes time. But it can save your child's life. That's worth the investment of time. After all, learning to swim is a LIFETIME GIFT.

Why Swim America for my child?

      Lots of organizations and individuals teach swimming lessons. And you can pay less than you will pay at Swim America. We don't teach lessons. We teach PEOPLE HOW TO SWIM. So what do you want to purchase? Swim lessons or having your child learn to swim? Swim America Programs are all taught by members of the American Swimming Coaches Association who are certified in the teaching of swimming and experts in the proper development of stroke technique. We're the best in the world. Does your child deserve less than the best? You'll find two critically important features in Swim America Learn to Swim... First, we're technique oriented. We teach your child to swim like a pro with expert technique from the very first day in the water. They'll start with learning how to exhale underwater... and progress through every skill that an Olympic Swimmer will learn when they learned to swim. Second, we're goal-directed. Our coaches (in-water instructors) focus on the critical skills to achieve to move your child through the teaching progression as rapidly as they can do so. All learning is individually based... your child will learn as fast as they are able to do so, no waiting for those "slower in development." That's crucial when your child's safety is at stake. Swim America is run by the pros. And your child's progress will prove it.