Four principles decide how we run every session. Here's each one, with the reasoning, for anyone who wants it.
Correct technique means efficient swimming. Efficient swimming means less effort, and naturally, more speed.
We are not looking to train Olympians! However, if we teach your kids the correct technique they will swim efficiently. If they swim efficiently, they will swim with less effort, and that naturally means greater speed.
Our focus is helping your kids become efficient and confident swimmers, to be safe as quickly as possible.
We don't just say we have small classes. We guarantee it.
A 30-minute class is not a long time, so we need to make sure we get the most out of it. Four in the class is the maximum we think is manageable to ensure a productive class every time. Any more than four in a class is essentially crowd control!
Improvement comes from working on skills, not from shouting at kids.
All of our programs have been developed by JJ Williams (Head Coach) and Dr. Nigel Williams, whose background is in child and adolescent behaviour. Our programs are technically correct, but the environment, from Learn to Swim classes through to Squads, is built on a process of improvement, not a myopic focus on results.
If we thought shouting at or pressuring kids was effective, we could see a point. But we disagree: working on skills and focusing on process is more effective, and leads to more enjoyment, less burnout, and ironically, in our experience, better results!
Because they're dreadful! Strict levels stifle progress. Our program keeps kids progressing on every skill, all the time.
Kids often get stuck in a level because of one small skill deficiency. That means they can't progress their other skills until they fix the failed one, and that breeds frustration, boredom and a lack of engagement.
All of our instructors are current or former squad swimmers, so they are highly skilled. Your kids stay with the one instructor, who works with similar-ability kids. Our program allows flexibility: we can extend kids on their strengths and help them in the areas they struggle with. That means constant progression, enjoyment and engagement.
"I get to stay with the swimmer much longer, often from a beginner to when they become a squad swimmer. In the level system where I worked before, kids would go to a different instructor who often didn't teach correct technique, which I'd then have to fix again at the next level."
Mitchell, SWS instructor