Private Swim Lessons
Private lessons are established for students ages 3 and up
who feel they need a more private setting or more one-on-one instruction.
Private instruction can be one of the most important facets of overall
swimming success. Our private swim lessons are geared towards the age
and skill of the swimmer. Research shows that one-on-one lessons speed
up one's natural aptitude towards developing life saving swimming skills.
Lessons are run on a by appointment basis and begin May 19th.
Times: Appointments must be made through the director and are based
on availability of the pool, and the instructors.
Cost: $30 per half hour lesson
Instructors: You may choose your instructor of choice for private lessons. All SDAC instructors have successfully completed the SDAC training program and are certified in CPR and First Aid.
**For scheduling and additional information please call (858) 485-4800 ext. 4567
Location:
Rancho Bernardo High School
13010 Paseo Lucido
(858) 485-4800 ext 4567
Competitive Private Lessons
Private competetive lessons are established for SDAC swimmers in the competitive program
who feel they need a more private setting or more one-on-one instruction.
Private instruction can be one of the most important facets of overall
swimming success. Private lessons may be of some benefit to swimmers who, for whatever reason,
are having difficulty acquiring the skills which are taught in the regular program.
General Principals
-
All SDAC coaches are expected to develop and implement fully comprehensive
training programs for their assigned training groups which are designed to provide
for all of the age specific developmental needs of each swimmer in the group within
the regularly scheduled practice sessions. A swimmer who attends all of these sessions
and is reasonably cooperative, focused and responsive to the guidance of the coach
should not feel disadvantaged if for any reason he/she chooses not to participate in
the private lesson program.
Policies and Procedures
- Only SDAC coaches may offer private lessons to SDAC altheles.
- Scheduling must go through the Head Coach only to ensure that pool space is available.
- Private lessons may be given to registered SDAC swimmers only.
- Swimmers or parents who wish to initiate a request for private lessons should approach the personal coach of the swimmer.
(The personal coach can best assess the needs of the swimmer.)
- The personal coach will determine whether to provide the lesson
himself/herself, refer the swimmer to another coach on the SDAC staff,
or advise the swimmer that a private lesson is not recommended.
- The lesson fee will be $30.00 per half hour.
- Payment for the lessons must be made to the "San Diego Aquatic Club"
Technique
SDAC hires and trains qualified staff at great expense. Teaching proper technique to young children is the most important value we offer.
Learning to practice proper skills in a group setting is vital to the future success of our athletes. They must learn to do this. It will
prepare them for team swimming at the highest levels.
Can some swimmers benefit from one on one instruction? Yes, with a qualified coach that has been properly trained, fully understands the
progressions necessary to prepare for the next level of swimming and is required to do so. Knowing how technique relates to training cycles
is critical.
USA swim clubs are characterized by some "private" instructors as training centers devoted to yardage with little regard for technique.
This is a self serving characterization that is used to sell themselves to customers. At SDAC, such a statement could not be farther from
the truth.
What makes a qualified coach? Training, quality experience, education, mentoring and monitoring by qualified staff. Nothing else.
Common Misconceptions about qualifications of private coaches
Success as a former/current swimmer equals expertise. While some outstanding swimmers have become outstanding coaches, that is the
exception not the rule. Swimmers concentrate on their own technique while competing. Their knowledge is tailored towards their own body type,
physiological strengths/weakness and what worked for them. It does not follow that all great swimmers know how to teach let alone
understand what makes them or anyone else a technically superior athlete.
Observation and videos can identify and fix technique problems. This is a situation where little education can be very injurious
to a child's swimming career. Evaluating home made videos and videos of great swimmers can be very misleading to untrained parents
and "stroke coaches". Evaluating strengths/weakness', good or poor races, and comparing stroke technique is not as simple as some
would believe. Any stroke technique correction is not a single issue problem. Proper recognition and evaluation takes experience
and understanding of progressions of body movement principles. For example, correcting one problem improperly can cause several
others to occur. All young swimmers have faults. Knowing which faults to correct first and in what sequence they should be addressed
in the future, is absolutely vital to building proper technique. Without sound technical skills, swimmers limit their futures in
this sport.
Parents of good swimmers have superior swimming knowledge. Why? Having a good swimmer as your child does not convey an
unusually gifted insight into the technical skills of swimmers.
Private instructors are experts.
Our experience with private instructors has demonstrated that the majority are
unqualified. They generally demonstrate several of the following characteristics:
- A lack of competitive coaching experience
- A one size fits all approach to stroke mechanics
- A lack of understanding that stroke development at an early age requires a longer process to be done correctly.
Fast times are not a measurement for proper technique at an early age. In fact, pursuit of fast times at a young age
can interfere with long term technical development.
- A quick fix approach to mechanics that can result in physical injury and interrupt or even end careers.
Stroke mechanics that are taught out of sequence for short term gain, compromise the long term development of swimmers.
- False advertising of accomplishment and credentials. There is no oversight, as yet, to claims of expertise. Plagiarism of
swimming science publications, imitation of video stroke skills and taking credit for athletes achievements are all forms of advertising
without credentials. Remember that all private stroke instructors run a FOR PROFIT business.
- They lack accountability for swimmers performances.
PROBLEMS SDAC COACHES FACE
A disruption to planning for athletes in their groups. There is NO communication between coaches and private instructors. Often, there
are fundamental disagreements in training and technique.
Confusion and contradictions concerning technique are inevitable and make it impossible to work effectively with an athlete. Such
contradictions undermines trust between coach and athlete that should be developed and nurtured. The Coach, athlete and Team
should form a triad that leads to success.
SDAC coaches should not have to deal with private stroke technique lessons immediately prior to a championship competition.
This is the WORST time for athletes to make stroke changes. The focus should be on using skills that have been worked on in
practice. Trying to learn a new version of a skill days before a meet is something that no experienced, quality coach would
ever consider.
Please leave the coaching to our staff and allow them to do their jobs effectively.