Georgians have traded in their swimsuits and sunscreen for sweaters and pumpkin spice as fall 2020 has begun; however, Gwinnett Swim students have their swimsuits on standby for their weekly maintenance and growth classes. Maintenance classes give students who might have struggled with a particular skill time to master the skill and gain confidence before the following summer. Post ASI© classes- Scallywag, Matey, and Seadog are available once per week to maintain good habits and work out all of the kinks.
Naturally, parents who have finished up the last of the 12-week ASI© summer sessions might decide to take a break from swim lessons until warmer weather returns, but take a moment to consider the importance of enrolling in a 15-minute class after graduation. ASI© students build many habits in the 12-week time frame; students who are old enough to walk are capable of saving themselves and using basic swimming techniques while babies who are not walking yet are taught to turn to their back and rely primarily on their back floats in the water. The difference between an 8-month-old baby and a 1-year-old baby is measured by their ability to walk, thus their ability to maintain a swim. Scallywag lessons for younger students are essential to continue straight out of ASI to build on learned skills as babies turn into tiny minions running full speed around your house. Aside from keeping skills fresh as babies adapt to learning new motor skills, scallywag classes continue to provide one-on-one instruction to the students who are upset during/after graduation; students who could use extra assistance to maintain a calm float; and students who could use more time to lengthen their swim. Time off from swimming during the winter months poses a bit of a challenge for scallywag students returning the following summer, while scallywags who come to lessons once per week benefit the most if they continue shortly thereafter ASI.
Typically students between the ages of 3- and 5-years-old graduate ASI and transfer into a semi-private maintenance and growth class with one other student for 30-minutes. Here in Mateys they begin learning several new skills like elementary backstroke and how to break the surface of the water with big scoops as they lengthen their swim to the full length (25 yards) of the pool. Mateys who take a break straight out of ASI© oftentimes need a few months of refresher lessons as scallywags if they have been out of practice during the winter.
There are always a handful of students who are capable of swimming a full 25 yards during their ASI© class and are transferred directly into a seadogs class. These students have an exceptional level of independence and begin learning both freestyle and backstroke in a small group setting. This is a huge milestone and students who advance to a seadog class need time to adapt to their newfound independence and how to swim around other students.
Gwinnett Swim is open year round for all of your swimming needs-- rain, shine, sleet, and snow, and we love seeing our students develop into strong swimmers. Come see us once a week to keep your little one’s skills summer ready!