Learn to Swim at Chelsea Piers Field House Brooklyn
July 17, 2023
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At Chelsea Piers Field House Brooklyn, our swim classes are designed to give your child the skills they need for a lifetime of enjoyment and safety in the water.
Meet our Aquatics Director, Christian and learn more about his expertise and the benefits of learning to swim.
Q: How long have you been a swimming coach?
A: I started coaching when I was just 14 years old; 20 years later it is still my passion.
Q: Have you worked with youth swimmers of all ages and levels?
Yes, I have worked with swimmers ranging from 3-months to 94-years-old. My students have ranged not from beginners to former collegiate swimmers, triathletes and Ironman athletes.
Q: What do you think is the most important thing to remember when teaching someone how to swim for the first time?
A: The most important thing to remember when teaching is to be patient and trust the process. Teaching someone how to swim is an art and a very difficult skill that requires understanding, patience, and caring. Coaches should always want their students to leave the pool feeling confident and with a smile.
Q: Describe your strategy for helping a beginner learn how to swim.
A: Me and my team use a variety of strategies and techniques when teaching a beginner. We start off with developing a bond of trust between the coach and student which allows our coaches to get the most out of each swimmer. We also disguise every swim skill as a fun activity which in turn allows swimmers to be open to trying new skills. In addition, our coaches incorporate visual, kinesthetic, and auditory approaches in each swimming lesson to ensure that each student is taught in the learning style which benefits them the most.
Q: What are the benefits of swimming?
A: Swimming is undeniably one of the best physical and cardiovascular activities that exists due to its low impact on your joints and bones. It also increases your respiratory functionality and oxygenation that occurs in your blood. It is also a relaxing and meditative form of exercise. Lastly, it is a life-saving skill that everyone must learn to be able to enjoy any body of water either on vacation or at a lake or by the pool with your family.
Q: What is your background as a competitive swimmer?
A: I swam competitively in High School for 4 years and swam for the Madison Boys and Girls Club team in the South Bronx. It’s the sport that I fell in love with and captured my heart.
Q: Do you have a favorite swim stroke and why?
A: Butterfly stroke is my favorite because it’s the stroke that separates great swimmers from good swimmers. It’s a competitive stroke but also the most powerful stroke which uses every single part of muscle and fiber.
Q: Can you tell us about the swim class offerings at Chelsea Piers Field House Brooklyn for kids ages 6 and up?
A: For ages 6 and up we have our Sea Pups class which is for beginner swimmers who are not yet independent and are still afraid of the water. This is a foundation class at a 3 to 1 ratio, and it sets the tone for your child’s future classes.
Our Sea Lions class, which is our amazing intermediate swimming class, is designed for swimmers who have had some swimming experience and are not fearful of the water. Sea Lions are at a ratio of 4 to 1 ratio and can perform some swim skills such as face under bubbles, reach and pulls, kicking on their bellies and more.
Our Stroke Development class is at a ratio of 5 to 1. This class is designed as a stroke refinement class as swimmers are working and developing on all four strokes (freestyle, backstroke, butterfly and breaststroke) while building their stamina. Swimmers in Stroke Development can perform a legal freestyle and a backstroke to be placed in this class.
Q: What are the top 3 tips when it comes to swimming safely?
A: The top 3 safety tips are to never leave your child unattended in any body of water, always swim with a lifeguard present and last, but not least, take swimming lessons to better your swimming skills and confidence in the water
