For the first time in 20 years, The International Swimming Hall of Fame’s has honored an American as the ISHOF Virginia Hunt Newman Award recipient. The 2015 honoree is Jim Reiser, Founder & Executive Director of Swim Lessons University.
Reiser earned this honor by following Virginia Hunt Newman’s footsteps, bringing worldwide attention to a kind, non-forceful, non-traumatic approach to learn to swim. As the executive director of Swim Lessons University, Jim Reiser has led the way in creating online swim instructor training courses for teaching infants, toddlers, and young children to swim using a kind, gentle method– just as Virginia did.
Swim Lessons University uses the world-wide web and DVD video courses to train and certify swimming instructors to teach with this progressive, effective, yet gentle approach. The Virginia Hunt Newman Award is sponsored by legendary Olympian Adolph Kiefer and the World Aquatic Babies and Children Congress.
For more information on Swim Lessons University Online Swim Instructor Certification, visit www.SwimLessonsUniversity.com or call 1-866-498-SWIM (7946).
Yesterday’s Athletic Business Magazine featured an awesome article about the L.A.P.S. swim lesson program in Charleston, S.C., which is administered by Swim Lessons University Instructor-Trainer and Learn-to-Swim Professional Shannon O’Brien. Lowcountry Aquatic Project Swimming, or LAPS, is a project of the locally based Logan Rutledge Foundation, which turned its focus toward teaching children swimming and water safety after the community experienced a series of drownings, notably of African-American children, in the past decade.
In the interview for the article, Shannon O’Brien talks about how she scoured over a variety of learn to swim programs before deciding on Swim Lesson University. O Brien says the she loves the that the program provides teachers with swim lesson plans, has distinct wordings and a means of tracking the progress of each student. When a student masters a component of swimming, such as a front kick, a star is punched on a waterproof bracelet and the skill is documented.
To see the entire article written by the David Quick of the Post & Courier (Charleston, SC) and published by Athletic Business, go to this link to see it in Athletic Business Magazine.
As fate would have it, I met executive director Tankeeya Butts of the “The Josh Foundation” in an elevator on the way to my hotel room at the National Drowning Prevention Alliance symposium earlier this year in Fort Lauderdale. We quickly recognized each other and had a wonderful conversation. After our talk, Tankeeya decided she was very interested in Swim Lessons University and they attended our post conference swim instructor workshop at the event. Within days after the conference, The Josh Project became SLU’s latest learn-to-swim program to take advantage of our swim teacher training system.
On behalf of Swim Lessons University, I am humbled, honored, and proud to welcome our newest program which takes place at the University of Toledo in Toledo, Ohio–The Josh Project. Led by Wanda and Tankeeya Butts, The Josh Project is now implementing the Swim Lessons University curriculum and swim instructor training and certification. The Josh Project was founded in memory of John-Joshua Butts (Josh) who never had a swimming lesson, could not swim and drowned at the age of 16 on August 6, 2006.
Swim Lessons University Instructors and programs are now in 27 states and nine countries. The state of Ohio and Florida have most recently adapted the Swim Instructor Certification and Training.
The state of Florida Department of Health has approved Swim Lessons University as an equivalent national training agency in accordance with Chapter 64E-9.008 (1) (a) of the Florida Administrative code. Swim Lessons University is currently serving recreation departments, YMCAs, JCC’s, swim schools, pool management companies and other swim lessons programs in 25 states and nine countries. Florida learn-to-swim programs can now take advantage of the state-of-the art swim lessons curriculum, affordable swim instructor certifications, and convenient training in which you can implement in-house and test online!
For more information, visit the Swim Lessons University website today or email executive director Jim Reiser at jreiser@swimprofessor.com You can also call Mr. Reiser at 803-665-8709.
Swim Lessons University, in cooperation with the World Aquatic Babies and Children (WABC) Network, is now accepting applications for Instructor-Trainers. SLU has also just released its brand new Learn-to-Swim IT Manual, which contents includes: How to administer the SLU Course at your Facility, Course Administration and Application Process and Fees, Swim Lessons Level Descriptions, How to Conduct Skill Sessions, the Practicum and Mentoring program, Acknowledging Course Participation, Swim Instructor Certification Requirements, Evaluating Teaching Skills, Safety Recommendations, Class Sizes, and Supervision. The appendixes also include an Instructor Assessment/15 Point Analysis as well the Learn-to-Swim Professional License.
Swim Lessons University would like to offer a SPECIAL THANKS to the facilities and program coordinators who have been serving as the “living laboratories” while additional components were being developed.
In addition, the following aquatic programs are now proudly utilizing the Swim Lessons University curriculum and instructor training materials: City of Mt. Sterling, University of Mississippi, City of Sparks, Nevada, Helper City, Utah, City of Columbus, Nebraska, City of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, City of San Carlos, California, City of Manhattan Beach, California, City of Natchitoches, Louisiana, City of Manitou Springs, Fox Valley YMCA, Springfield YMCA, Sarasota YMCA, Southern Alabama University, Surburban Seahawks, Newton Square, PA, I Swim U., Safety Before Skill Swim School, AZ, Montana Swim School, Orlando Metro Gymnastics & Swim School, Orlando, FL, Swim Kids, FL, Sparkling Pool Services, NJ, NY & PA, and many more private swimming instructors, swim schools, pool management companies, and Y’s. Swim Lessons University sincerely thanks you for your support and loyalty.