About Coach Amy
Coach Amy has been teaching and coaching swimming since 2008. She is a lesson program coach and assistant coach of the Tarpons at the Raleigh Swimming Association. She is originally from Ohio and graduated cum laude from the University of Georgia.
She rediscovered her passion for swimming as an adult and began her journey in aquatics by teaching at the YMCA. She became a US Masters Coach in 2012 and is currently a Level 2 Masters Coach.
She finds working with children rewarding and has one daughter in middle school. She enjoys drawing, hiking and photography and has contributed to RSA with photography and graphic design.
She continues her journey in aquatics at RSA Masters practices and competes in open water events. She recently placed 2nd in her age group in the One Mile Hurricane Swim at Jordan Lake.
What make you different from other swim instructors?
I believe in teaching by example. I see a lot of swim instructors teach without immersing themselves completely and putting their whole head under water. There are reasons for this, chlorine is terrible for your hair and after an hour it’s tough to mitigate the damage. Nevertheless, children are born imitators and the best way to teach a child is to have them follow your example. If I look as though I feel comfortable in the water, the child will likely follow my lead and will begin to put their face in the water, float and swim much faster than if I give instructions without demonstrating the proper body position.
What is a typical lesson like?
Lessons are one hour and I teach up to 3 kids/people in a lesson. If they are different ages/levels, I will teach each separately for twenty minutes. The students do not have to be related; I can teach children from different families. The lesson payment cannot be split, so one person must handle payment and be the point of contact.
I teach group lessons of up to 8 people. To schedule, select “Group Lesson” when you book. This is ideal for families learning to swim together, or adults learning to swim.
Will my child have to put their head under water?
I try to encourage children to put their faces and heads in the water so they can practice controlling their breathing. I do not force them, but I strongly encourage them. If they aren’t making progress, I can discuss with parents how best to encourage them.
Do you teach according to the Red Cross method?
Pretty much all swim programs use some version of the Red Cross Method. I combine elements of that with other “tricks of the trade” I’ve picked up to get kids moving and encourage their progress. My best method is the most obvious: listen to your client, show enthusiasm, demonstrate accordingly.
Do you teach kids on the Autism spectrum?
I do, and kids on the spectrum learn differently. Private lessons are ideal for kids with special needs because the lesson can be tailored to their specific needs with personalized attention. My clients on the spectrum vary from non-verbal to verbal and usually learn through play and example. I consistently redirect them back to the task with patience and verbal affirmation.
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