Where is your Pool located: 

2650 Waldemere Street, Sarasota FL 34239

SUMMER STORMS and the question always comes up about what we do about it?

We swim rain or shine for all students and swimmers in Learn to Swim, Stroke Team and Tsunami swim team.

Only lightening will close the pools and end a practice. The policy followed at our pools is 20 minutes to reopen after being closed from the last siting of lightening.

Remember though, it might be lightening at your home but not at the pools. Whether or not your swimmer comes on days with inclement weather is totally up to each family. Just know that the coaches will be there doing there best to run the practice.

When should my child learn to swim?
How do I know when my child knows how to swim?
What is SwimAmerica
What ages do you teach? What system do you use?
Should my child take group or private lessons?
What is a 'multidimensional' swim program?

Documents and Policy:

Team Building and Team Spirit

Swimmers Conduct at Competition

Drug, Alcohol and Tobacco Policy

Swim Team Fees

Swim Team Group Description

Role Models

Swim Team Registration Form

Swim Team Travel Policy

Team Uniform

When should my child learn to swim?
As soon as your child is capable of independent motion, they are capable of getting into water and drowning. Therefore, swim lessons should begin as soon after 6 months of age as possible.

Initially, they will not learn to swim per se. They will be learning: "ROLL OVER, FLOAT, YELL FOR HELP."

Young children, because of the weight of their head and body proportions, can't readily "learn to swim." What you want, is to keep them SAFE.

We do that by teaching them to surface when underwater, roll onto their backs, maintain themselves and breathe and YELL FOR HELP!

History shows that this response SAVES LIVES because it "buys time" for the caregiver to realize that the child can float and yell. Tragedies occur when the child can't perform that skill.

Once they have mastered ROLL OVER, FLOAT, YELL FOR HELP! Then we begin teaching "real swimming."

How do I know when my child knows how to swim?
At Sarasota Swim Academy, we use a high standard. We are in business to save lives. That means a person can maintain themselves indefinitely in the water.

To do so, requires the ability to exhale used air and inhale new air. That's called Aerobic Swimming. (just like being able to talk while you jog!)

Our standard is that a person should be able to swim 300 yards non-stop, and swim 6 different styles of swimming, to be considered a "swimmer." 300 yards is important.

Scientists have found that humans can swim 200 yards without being able to breathe effectively. But without the ability to breathe effectively, eventually that person will get in trouble, and possibly endanger their life.

We went 1/3 beyond that point to set our standard of 300 yards of non-stop swimming. That goal won't be quickly achieved. It takes time.

But it can save your child's life. That's worth the investment of time. After all, learning to swim is a LIFETIME GIFT.

What is SwimAmerica?
Sarasota Swim Academy is partnered with SwimAmerica, a national learn to swim program operated by the American Swimming Coaches Association through over 500 Program Directors at over 900  sites across the USA.

It's the state of the art learn to swim program in the world today. Brought to you by the same people who have brought you the most successful sport team on the planet... the USA Olympic Swimming Team.

What we learn teaching  people to set world records, we use to teach new swimmers to enjoy swimming with the best  techniques in the world... just like the development of great cars and trucks from the NASCAR and INDY car races.

We learn from and teach the elite athlete AND the new child! 

What ages do you teach? What system do you use?

Sarasota Swim Academy, in partnership with SWIMAMERICA offers 6 months through adult, small group, private and semi-private lessons for all ability levels.

We teach with the most effective method known, using a progression developed by this nation's top swim coaches, SwimAmerica, a national program of the American Swimming Coaches Association..  Our goal is to teach your child to swim quickly and proficiently.

Students advance at their own pace from water adaptation at Station 1 to very advanced swimming skills at Station 10.

All coaches  are certified by SwimAmerica, and are also CPR and First Aid certified.

 SwimAmerica is the USA's leading Learn to Swim School.

 Should my child take group or private lessons?
In partnership with SwimAmerica, we favor group learn to swim lessons for children who are ready to learn in a small group setting. Small groups of five children or less provide instruction, practice and the opportunity to watch other children perform the skill.

However not all children learn best in group lessons. Parents must take into account their child's temperament and learning style. Private or semi-private lessons are also available. Please call for times and rates.

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What is a 'multidimensional' team?

 Most swim teams in the US are one dimensional.  They either focus solely on the slower end or the faster end of the swimming athletes.  These same clubs will also tend to train for a specific stroke or event.  Generally being either a distance program or a sprint program.  It is much easier when running a team to expect everyone to fit the same mold.  Coach Ira has always developed his teams as multidimensional.  Focus on the strengths of the athlete and not forcing the individual into the team mold.  So he will develop the sprinters or distance swimmers to be the best they can be at their best events.  He also prides his programsin being able to compete in all four competitive strokes.  For further information on the training plan and how it is designed for different levels and ages, contact Head Coach Ira Klein a