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ENDLESS POOL FAQ
What is an Endless Pool?
How deep is the pool?
Is it hard to swim in the Endless Pool?
How does the swim current operate?
How fast is the current?
Can I get trapped in the current?
How is an Endless Pool a good teaching pool?
CHILDREN'S LESSONS FAQ
How do I know if my child needs swim lessons?
How long will it take to learn to swim?
Will my child learn to swim only going to one lesson a week?
What is SwimAmerica™?
What can my child expect the first day of SwimAmerica™ Swim Lessons?
What will your child learn in the SwimAmerica™ program?
What are the FLOW Aquatics SwimAmerica™ Levels?
What can I expect my child to learn in DiaperDolphins?
What should the student bring to class?
Should my child take group or private lessons?
What if my child cries? Does that mean he isn't ready for swim lessons?
What should I do if my child is afraid of swim lessons?
WORKSHOP FAQ
What can I expect from these Workshops?
Can I participate if I'm a poor or novice swimmer?
Do I have to participate in every workshop or can I pick and choose?
Is this the "Magic Pill"?
ENDLESS POOL FAQ
What is an Endless Pool?
The Endless Pool is a counter-current swimming and water exercise machine that is small enough to fit inside a home or business. It's essentially a "treadmill for swimmers." The Pool features an adjustable current that allows you to swim or exercise in place. The current is broad and deep, and is suitable to every swimming ability and fitness need.
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How deep is the pool?
The depth of the water in our standard pool is 39", which is the standard depth of a lap pool. This depth is sufficient for most swimming activities.
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Is it hard to swim in the Endless Pool?
It usually takes only a few seconds to learn how to swim "against the current." Most first-time swimmers are so thrilled by seeing how easy it is that they pop up and say with a big smile, "this thing really works!"
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How does the swim current operate?
The swim current is generated by a 16" propeller inside a protective steel case that is driven by a hydraulic motor. There is no electric connection at the pool site. The current is totally adjustable in speed from zero to a racer's pace by turning a knob. The current goes down the center of the pool, enters a grill in the underwater back bench, and circulates to the front of the pool inside the two side benches. In this way the Endless Pool establishes a continuous loop of water that the swimmer controls. The Endless Pool current is much superior to currents generated by jets or paddle wheels. The Endless Pool propulsion unit can move a huge amount of water - up to 5,000 gallons a minute - under low pressure from a large opening (21"x18") producing a river-like current.
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How fast is the current?
The current can go as slow or as fast as you want. At top speed, the equivalent swim would be a mile without turns in less than 20 minutes. We should emphasize that the Endless Pool is primarily a constant swimming machine, not a sprint machine. Because you never reach the end of an Endless Pool and you are swimming against a current, the swim tends to be "more concentrated" than in still water because you swim at a constant pace.
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Can I get trapped in the current?
The current of the Endless Pool is confined to the center of the pool. If you want to get out of the current, all you have to do is take one step sideways out of the current into calm water. The water on the sides of the pool is calm enough for others to sit comfortably on underwater perimeter benches without getting "washed away" even when the current in the middle of the pool is at full speed.
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How is an Endless Pool a good teaching pool?
Excerpts taken from Total Immersion in an Endless Pool, by Terry Laughlin
During my first experiences teaching Total Immersion balance basics in an Endless Pool, I was in the pool, at my student's side, occasionally reaching to tweak the flow control. I immediately noticed two tremendous advantages for teacher and student:
1. Because of my constant proximity - i.e. the student remains in the current just inches away from me at all times - I was able to give my student a far greater sense of comfort and security than would be the case if they were moving away from me. They, in turn, would allow me to move them far more easily into the best position.
2. Also because of that proximity, I could manually position the head, shoulder, legs or extended hand exactly where I wanted it. I could also manually sense tension or inhibition and touch that spot with encouragement to let go. The best way I can describe the experience is that I felt like a chiropractor in the pool.
While I have long been in the habit of "mindful" swimming practice, I found I achieved a higher level of concentrated attention to what really matters than I ever had in a conventional lap pool. Both in repeating drill cycles and whole-stroke practice, all of the following were helpful to my focus:
1. The mirror. The Endless Pool has two mirrors, one propped at an angle against the front wall, the other flat on the bottom under my head and torso. I ignored the front mirror and watched the bottom mirror without distraction. Constant observation and feedback on my movements kept me riveted and allowed me to make my own tweaks "in real time." It was better than having a coach watching me because the feedback was constant and direct.
2. The current. This allowed me not only to continue repeating good movement over and over; it also gave me a heightened sense of the real problem swimmers must solve to improve their endurance or speed - how to avoid drag. Total Immersion puts great emphasis on achieving "slippery" positions by fitting the body through the smallest possible hole in the water. In a still-water pool, the swimmers concentrate to be more aware of drag on body surfaces. But when the current is coming directly at you, as in the Endless Pool, it's far easier to sense. In essence, you focus on "parting the water" and on exposing less surface area to the current. As soon as you do, you feel your effort decrease.
3. The combination. The combination of bottom mirror with oncoming current provides a really powerful learning tool. Watching your own face in the mirror is the easiest way to tell how effectively you're swimming. If the current begins to overpower your stroking efforts, you drift backward until you no longer see yourself. As soon as you make a stroke correction - i.e. getting your head in line with your spine, slicing your hand in more cleanly, rotating your body more, swimming more quietly -- you instantly know if it's a good one because you see yourself move effortlessly forward in the mirror.
Terry Laughlin is the founder and Head Coach of Total Immersion Swimming, located in New Paltz, NY. Call. 800-609-SWIM or visit www.totalimmersion.net for free information on finding your own swimming Nirvana.
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CHILDREN'S LESSONS FAQ
How do I know if my child needs swim lessons?
* Preschool children need swim lessons to learn safety skills. The most important skill is the "roll over", a skill where your child will learn to float on his/her back and get air. Other skills like swimming to the wall in case they accidentally fall into the water need to be learned as well.
* School age children need swim lessons to learn to swim on top of the water. Underwater swimming cannot save your life! Children tire quickly underwater, and trying to sustain underwater swimming may even cause drowning! Learning a good freestyle stroke with proper air exchange will help your child build confidence in the water and may save their life.
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How long will it take to learn to swim?
This depends on your child's age, comfort in the water, and skill level. It may take 24 or more lessons for preschoolers to learn the basic skills of floating, returning to the wall and rolling over on their backs to breathe, yell for help and float. Older children tend to learn more quickly. Most can become fairly proficient with the freestyle stroke within approximately 24 lessons.
Swimming is an art and there are multiple levels and proficiencies to achieve mastery. For example, you would not expect your child to master the piano with only two weeks of lessons in the summer and presume that he/she would remember the two weeks of lessons the following summer.
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Will my child learn to swim only going to one lesson a week?
It has been our experience that the children not only retain the information better with more consistent, long-term practice (1 day a week over a 6 month time frame vs. just lessons in the summer with no further lessons until the next summer), but it’s a more enjoyable process for child and parent.
See what some of our parents have said: working on getting testimonials.
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What is SwimAmerica™?
SwimAmerica™ is the learn-to-swim program of the American Swimming Coaches Association. The program consists of 10 levels. Every student progresses at his/her own rate, independent from other students' development. Safety is the main reason for learning to swim. The SwimAmerica learn-to-swim program will give your child a safe start in life! The coaches are gentle, responsible, and they understand children. They are certified by the American Swimming Coaches Association.
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What can my child expect the first day of SwimAmerica™ Swim Lessons?
At FLOW Aquatics' SwimAmerica™ Program you will find our swim coaches take a caring approach to teaching children to swim. Coaches are trained to help reluctant children to adapt to the learn-to-swim environment and most of all have fun!
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What will your child learn in the SwimAmerica™ program?
FLOW Aquatics' SwimAmerica™ Program teaches much more than just how to swim. We emphasize proper techniques of swimming and give special care to correct breathing, body position, and good swimming strokes. The Program teaches all four strokes, and is an excellent preparation for swimmers that would like to join a Year Round swim team. Proficiency leads to ACHIEVEMENT and SELF-ESTEEM. FLOW Aquatics' SwimAmerica Program teaches the best skills for a lifetime of SAFETY, FUN and FITNESS!
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What are the FLOW Aquatics SwimAmerica™ Levels?
School Age - Progressive Porpoises - (6 years old and up)
Levels 1, 2, & 3. In these levels, the children learn proper breathing, floating on front and back, kicking on front and back, and rolling over from front to back, without support.
Level 4. In this level, children learn to swim on their side and basic freestyle with rolling on their back to breathe. They already float and kick on the front and the back without support.
Level 5. In this level, students learn freestyle breathing to the side and the basic backstroke. To start in this level, the children must be capable of swimming on their side and proper freestyle with rolling onto their back to breathe.
Level 6. In this level, students build their endurance until they are able to swim 50 yards freestyle and 25 yards backstroke. They will also learn to tread water and dive. To enter this level the children must have a clean freestyle, with bilateral breathing to the side, and proper backstroke.
Stroke School (Levels 7, 8, 9, 10)
Level 7. This level teaches breaststroke and further builds endurance. To enter this level, children must have mastered freestyle with bilateral breathing and the backstroke.
Level 8. This level works on endurance and technique. Children will work on swimming at least 200 yards of freestyle, and 100 yards of backstroke. To start in this level, the children must have mastered freestyle with bilateral breathing, the backstroke, and the breaststroke.
Level 9. This level teaches butterfly and further builds endurance. To enter this level, children must be able to swim 200+ yards of freestyle, 100 yards of backstroke and 50 yards of breaststroke.
Level 10. To start in this level, the children must have mastered freestyle with bilateral breathing, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly. These levels prepare the children to participate on summer or year round swim teams as well as prepare them for a lifetime of aquatic fitness. The children further improve their endurance until they can swim 300 yards freestyle in proper stroke technique. They also learn turns and perfect their stroke technique in all 4 strokes.
Preschoolers - Turtle Toddlers (3 - 5 years old)
Beginners: Levels 1 - 3 Beginners will learn water safety skills, blowing bubbles, floating on front and back, gliding on front and back, and rolling over from front to back and yelling for help.
Advanced: Levels 4-6 Advanced preschoolers will begin to learn to propel themselves through the water with proper kicking technique, swim on their side and the fundamentals of freestyle with rolling on their back to breath.
Once children have passed Level 6, they can enter the School Age Program at Level 5 to learn the proper breathing technique for freestyle as well as learn to swim backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly and work on endurance.
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What can I expect my child to learn in DiaperDolphins (ages 6 - 36 months)?
Lessons or water skills or survival skills will encourage new abilities in the areas of motor development, language, emotional and social skills. Because the parent is with the child in the water, there will be an enrichment of the parent-child relationship. Lessons will help develop confidence in the child's ability to learn and enhance self-image in the upper part of the age span (closer to two years).
They will also become acclimated to the water and learn to enjoy the sensations associated with movement in the water. In addition, they will be introduced to gliding through the water with their face in (for up to 5 seconds), floating on their back, and kicking back to the wall should they fall accidentally into the water.
Once children graduate from our Diaper Dolphin Program (some times as early as 2 1/2) they can enter the Turtle Toddlers program at Level 3).
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What should the student bring to class?
All children will need a swim suit. It is not required, but we recommend a simple one piece suit for girls and jammers (for boys) - similar to spandex shorts, but in swim suit material. These suits are designed to shed water and will make the learning process much easier. Many "fashion suits" for girls, or "trunks" for boys, can retain up to 5 pounds of water when wet, making it more difficult for your child to learn-to-swim.
We also encourage, swim caps (for children with hair longer than shoulder length), goggles (optional, but very helpful) and a towel. Please do not go out and buy goggles for your children prior to beginning their lessons. We only allow the use of goggles after they can put their face in the water and open their eyes. When it is time for them to start using goggles, we have a variety of goggles for them to try on so we can ensure the proper fit.
Goggles, caps, and re-usable swim diapers (for children who are not yet potty trained) can all be purchased at FLOW Aquatics Swim Studio.
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Should my child take group or private lessons?
At FLOW Aquatics, we favor group swim lessons for children who are ready to learn in a small group setting. Small groups of four children or less enable consistency, good instruction, practice and the opportunity to watch other children perform the skill. Not to mention that it’s more fun for the child!
However, not all children learn best in groups lessons. Parents must take into account their child's temperament and learning style. Private or semi private lessons are also available on a limited basis. We encourage participation in group lessons first and if the child is not progressing at a satisfactory pace, we can talk about private lessons.
Please call Shannon at FLOW Aquatics at (208) 855-2212 or e-mail Shannon@FLOWAquatics.com for more information.
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What if my child cries? Does that mean he isn't ready for swim lessons?
If your child cries, it doesn't mean he isn't ready for swim lessons. He may be adjusting to the separation from Mom or Dad, getting accustomed to the new surroundings, or just having a bad day. If you give your child some time and let him see that you're confident, he/she will follow your lead, relax, and enjoy this wonderful experience.
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What should I do if my child is afraid of swim lessons?
Reassuring Young Children: With children under 5 years old, it's very difficult for you to reason away fear. It's better to acknowledge their feelings and reassure them that you would not put them in any danger. When you come to the FLOW Aquatics SwimAmerica™ Program, we ask you to bring them into the pool area already dressed to swim. Let them look around a little, then calmly hand them to their instructor, who will take it from there. The instructor will work to establish rapport with your child. Once she gets your daughter talking about her dog or your son about his favorite toy, the children will begin to relax. Then they'll be trusting enough to start learning to swim.
Standing Fast with Older Children: With children five years and older, you need to be committed to helping them overcome their fears. Be ready to stand fast no matter how much they protest. You don't want them to "cry their way" out of swimming. It's unfair to children to have them work partially through a fear and not experience the pride that comes from conquering it. And once they conquer it, they'll be ready to have fun swimming.
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WORKSHOP FAQ
What can I expect from these Workshops?
Unlike traditional swimming instruction, which focuses on an individual's pulling and kicking strength to move through the water (creating struggle and energy drainage), you will leave the FLOW Workshops with a new found sense of relaxation and comfort in the pool. You will have a good understanding of the fundamental techniques which, with continued practice, will turn your swimming activities into a more relaxed, effortless, and efficient experience. Who knows, you may begin to enjoy it and even become "One With the Water!"
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Can I participate if I'm a poor or novice swimmer?
Absolutely, but you must start with the FLOW Freestyle Fundamentals Workshop and be able to swim at least a length or two of the pool. Don't worry if it isn't pretty...we'll help you with that.
If you are a non-swimmer or fearful of the water, you can inquire about private lessons. See Adult Instruction for more information.
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Do I have to participate in every workshop or can I pick and choose?
The option is yours. Obviously, you would gain the most benefit from attending the first workshop and progressing through the rest, given that each workshop builds on the information from the last workshop. However, you can attend any workshop you choose with the exception of the FLOW Freestyle Transformation Series. You must have attended the FLOW Freestyle Fundamentals workshop in order to participate in the Series.
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Is this the "Magic Pill"?
Unfortunately, we haven't found that one yet, but let us know if you do! While you will leave with a greater sense of ease and fluency in the water, it will require constant, consistent and patient practice on your part after the Workshops to really create magic and make these techniques a permanent skill set. So don't expect to get your best times two weeks after you leave!
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