Jump into Swim Lessons

By Joe Miller, The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C.

Jun. 8–ONE OF MY EARLIEST MEMORIES — perhaps my earliest — is of standing at the edge of the pool at the old YMCA in downtown Denver a half century ago, my mom five feet away up to her waist in water.

It was an indoor pool, the dungeonlike natatorium poorly lit. I could see the bottom where my mom stood, but light didn’t penetrate the inky 12-foot waters of the ominous deep end. I was wet long before entering the water.

“Jump, Joey!”

And I did, despite the fear, because Mom’s arms beckoned and her smiling face said it was OK. A big leap of faith by a trusting toddler and in seconds whatever fear I had of water was banished for life.

That’s the way it is when you’re young and try something new. All it takes is for Mom, Dad — someone we trust — to assure us it will be OK.

That changes as we get older. Even if Mom is willing to show up poolside when you’re 45, we tend to grow increasingly fearful of water.

Not long ago, swimming was a childhood rite of summer as common as whining about being bored and the afternoon ice cream truck. You swam at a neighborhood pool, a pond down the lane, a nearby river. It wasn’t long ago that being able to swim — or at least stay afloat for the length of a 25-yard pool — was required to graduate from college.

Today, more and more of us look at water the way I did as a pre-immersion 2-year-old. According to a study by the University of Memphis’ Department of Health and Sports Sciences released last month, 31 percent of white kids — ages 6 to 16 — can’t swim, 56 percent of Hispanics can’t and 60 percent of African-Americans can’t, either.

A number of reasons are driving these numbers, and you can read about them at www.swimfoundation.org, click on “Foundation Diversity Study.” What we’re here to tell you about today is that it’s never too late to learn to swim. The city of Raleigh, for instance, has a range of learn-to-swim programs, patterned after the American Red Cross standard, for all ages.

“They’re the same lessons,” says Terry Stroupe, Raleigh’s aquatics program supervisor, whether you’re a tadpole or a tad gray. “We’re teaching a life skill. it doesn’t matter what age you are.”

OK, there may be a difference or two: “We play different games,” says Stroupe. “But the physical skills are the same.”

For instance, newbies still start with the Level 1 intro class, the goal of which is to make you feel comfortable in the water.

Already comfy? Then skip to Level 2 (fundamental skills), 3 (stroke development), 4 (stroke improvement), 5 (stroke refinement) or 6 (skill proficiency, which further refines the stroke “so students swim them with ease, efficiency, power and smoothness over greater distances”).

Raleigh offers a variety of learn-to-swim classes, starting with children at 6 months of age. Kids programs go up to age 13. Once you hit 14, you’re in the adult class. Stroupe says about 3,000 people enroll in the swim programs every summer.

Yes, it’s probably easier to earn your water wings by jumping into Mom’s arms. But it’s good to know you have options. (See box at right for some of those options.)

joe.miller@newsobserver.com or (919) 812-8450

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