Evo Swim School

There is nothing cuter than infants and toddlers. They are curious which is partly why they are so cute. This makes them dangerous around water. You can never be too careful. It doesn’t matter if it’s a pool, bathtub, toilet, or even a bucket of water in the yard. You have to watch your kids around water regardless if they have had swimming lessons or not.

I get questions all the time about when to start a child in swimming lessons. How do you teach my baby or toddler to swim? What is the best philosophy? What about the Infant Swimming Resource (ISR)? How much should I invest trying to get a baby or toddler to swim on their own? These are all good questions that deserve a certain level of parent education to make the beset choice for your child and your pocketbook.

When should I start my child in swimming lessons?
Any safe and supervised interaction a child has with water is important. Start by making sure they get their eyes wet in the bathtub. Never encourage a negative reaction to getting water in their face. This includes infants as young as three months old. It should just be a part of every bathtime. No child will learn to swim without putting their face in the water. They can’t remain horizontal in the water unless their face is submerged. This is why floaties of any kind are the absolute worst thing you can do for your child. This teaches a child to avoid putting their face in the water and keeps them vertical (sinking position).

As a general rule, parents should have their child in swimming lessons by the age of three. Parent-tot classes are great as young as six months. It is a great activity to bond with your child and introduce them to the water as well. However, having your child in a parent-tot class isn’t nearly as important as making sure they are in a good swimming lesson program no later than the age of three years old.

What about the Infant Swimming Resource (ISR)?
This program has some very impressive videos online of fully dressed toddlers falling into a pool and rolling over and floating on their back until help arrives. This could be effective for this one particular skill. However, you should be aware of some of the drawbacks.

First off, no matter how many swimming lessons your child has had, you never know how they will react in water when panic sets in. I remember my daughter’s reaction at the age of 4 after having two years of continuous, weekly swimming lessons. She displayed the ability to swim back and forth across the pool in her lessons but during a swim party got overly excited and while in the middle of the pool panicked, went vertical in the water, and began to sink. We had to pull her out. Luckily, this was done before any serious injury occurred. Were her swimming lessons a waste of time and money up to that point? NO WAY. Knowing how to swim under normal circumstances and enjoying the water at the age of four was well worth the time and money. Now at the age of six she is a very strong and confident swimmer as opposed to a serious hazard to herself and others around any body of water.

While any swimming lesson is better than nothing, the main reservations I have about the ISR program is twofold. First, it is overpriced. Second, and more importantly, it teaches your child to do one thing and one thing only…roll on their back. It can work well for survival but as far as enjoyment in the water and swimming from A to B (part of the enjoyment of swimming) it is not recommended. Our program teaches a child to roll over, breathe, and then swim to the side of the pool and get out on their own, rather than floating in a passive position waiting to be rescued.

We have lots of parents that come to us to learn how to swim from A to B after dumping tons of money into ISR. We have to retrain their kids to actually swim. The other problem we see is children that hate swimming after ISR because they have been brow beaten into floating. I obviously have a strong opinion as a swim school owner but for the money and long term results, putting your child in lessons once or twice per week by the time they are three years old will yield the most success long term.

Most three year olds that attend our lessons once per week can swim independently within six months. That doesn’t mean they are “water safe”. No toddler or child is safe in the water without adult supervision. But our students can swim from A to B and roll to their back for a breath. They then graduate to our next level where they learn to be strong backyard swimmers.

Any way you slice it, the most valuable piece of advice I could give you is not to wait to have your child learn how to swim. A five year old that has never had lessons is much harder to teach than a three year old who hasn’t yet developed a fear of the water.

Budgets are tight, but this is an investment not only in your child’s safety, but also their future enjoyment in and around water that will last them a lifetime.

You child has rang our bell several times now and graduated from each lesson level through Dolphin. They can now swim the basics of all four competitive strokes. What is next and what is “Advanced Stroke” all about?

This question is probably asked by many parents as their child shows a love for swimming and is now ready to double the distance (swimming the length of the pool now) and the amount of time (55 minutes of swimming instead of 30) they swim each week.

This is a great time in your child’s life as they embark on the “next level” and consider swimming as a sport. While the Advanced Stroke class is still considered part of the EVO lesson program, it is considered part of our swim team and as such, these children are invited to join our swim club (RIO Swim Club) at swim meets.

EVO Swim School also conducts business as the RIO Salado Swim Club. This club is responsible for our “Pre-Compeitive Team” and “Competitive Team” components to our programming. We offer swimming competitions, or “swim meets”, over the course of three seasons per year. Spring League, Summer League, and Fall League. Each season offers a series of swim meets usually held on Friday evenings or Saturday mornings.

WHAT ARE SWIM MEETS LIKE?
Our swim meets are designed for entry level swimmers. There are no judges and no one get disqualified unless they cheat by starting early or pulling on the lane line, etc. Coach will instruct our kids on swimming rules that they have broken during the race but no penalty is attached while they are still learning what to do and what not to do.

Your child’s times will be tracked electronically and place ribbons are awarded to the top 8 finishers in each age group and participation ribbons are awarded to 9th place and beyond. These meets are a great opportunity for your child to race and have fun without the pressure or intimidation of other larger meets with more experienced swimmers offered through our Competitive Team program.

HOW DOES MY CHILD ENTER A SWIM MEET?
You will get an email from your coach about one week prior to a swim meet. This is an RSVP request to find out who will be attending the meet. Simply respond to the email and your coach will get your child entered into the meet. Unless you specify the events your child wants to swim, your coach will just add your child to the four “core events”.

Core events are either a 25 yard race of each stroke or a 50 yard race of each stroke, depending on your child’s age. Swimmers that are 8 years old have the choice to swim in either 25 yard races or 50 yard races or a combination of both. Swimmers under the age of 8 will only swim 25 yard races and children over the age of 8 will swim 50 yard races.

Depending on the rotation, each meet will also offer relays or 100 yard time trials (but not both). These races are optional and your coach will help you get entered into these extra races at the meet if appropriate.

WHAT DO SWIM MEETS COST AND ARE THEY MANDATORY OR OPTIONAL?
There is a flat $10 entry fee for each meet that you RSVP for. Meets are encouraged but totally optional. You will only be charged the entry fee if you RSVP for a meet. The $10 fee will just be added to your next month’s tuition.

WHAT IF I FORGET TO RSVP?
While this is strongly discouraged, you can get entered on the pool deck during the warm up of the swim meet. Just find your coach when you arrive at the pool and they will help you get “deck entered”.

WHERE CAN I FIND A MEET CALENDAR OR SCHEDULE OF EVENTS?
Meet calendars are posted HERE.
Specific details about a particular swim meet, including a schedule of events can be found HERE.

Swim meets are FUN and we hope you will support your child in this new experience. Ask any questions you might have along the way and we will see you at the pool!

The Arizona Department of Health Services has released their annual report for 2009 water-related incidents in Maricopa County.

While progress is being made on the number of drowning each year, one is too many. In 2009 Children 0-4 years of age accounted for 59 of the 103 serious water related incidents, 47 of which occurred in swimming pools. Of the 59 young children, 14 are known to have died (10 due to incidents occurring in pools). We would encourage all parents to read pages 3, 8, 9 & 10 of this report.

We don’t believe in using scare tactics to drive business, but these statics speaks for themselves. Our customers will tell you, we have the very best instruction for children ages 1 – 4 years old.

We also don’t believe in calling any child “water safe”. This would give parents a false sense of security when all children should be supervised around water no matter the conditions. However, our little ones actually swim! We don’t waste time with games or less aggressive teaching techniques. We get down to business and our young students actually learn to swim!

I’ve been getting my hair cut at the same place since I was a boy. Ray’s ASU Barber Shop has been around for decades and I have become friends with the Owner (Ray’s son, Charles). Last time I was in for a haircut he told me about his visit to a Scottsdale resort with his family for a weekend getaway.

He saw a family with two young children at the pool. These two kids were jumping off the side of the pool and swimming around like a couple of fish. Charles stopped the family and asked, “Where on earth did your kids learn to swim like that?” Their reply was, “EVO SWIM SCHOOL!” Charles made the connection and told me how impressed he was.

We’ve been teaching kids to swim for more than five years now. We help families accomplish various personal objectives in teaching their children to swim. From just learning to swim all the way to competitive swimming, all of our customers have their own reasons for taking swimming lessons. Those reasons often change and evolve as parents discover that swimming can become part of a healthy, active lifestyle, and can progress far beyond the stages of learning how to be safe in the water.

No matter what your reasons are for swimming, allow me to make two suggestions for those just getting started.
#1. Dismiss the idea that young children can take a few weeks of lessons and pick up where they left off “next year”. We don’t sell the idea that everyone should be enrolled year-round in swimming lessons (although many of our customers are). However, for children ages 4 and younger, one or two months of swimming lessons per year is more of a waste of money as they will forget what has been learned and return to square one the next year.

#2. Dismiss the idea that when your child graduates from our Otter class level they now know how to swim. While they have learned the basics of being an independent swimmer, they are not ready to be considered strong or safe swimmers. Even if your only goal is to have your child learn to swim, make sure they complete our second group level, the Seal class. After completing this level we can give our stamp of approval on being a strong backyard swimmer.

Any time of year is a good time to get started or resume the lessons you started earlier this year. Set your goals, give us a call and we will do the rest!

When people think of Arizona, they think of hot and dry weather. While this weather may be uncomfortable on land, these conditions are perfect for aquatic recreation of all kinds, from backyard pools to fishing and boating on one of Arizona’s beautiful lakes. As a result, it is even more important to invest in quality swimming lessons for your children. This will not only help them be safe but will also give them a lifetime of real enjoyment around the water.

Many people ask why we have an indoor facility in Arizona. The simple answer is that we have taken into account how miserable it can be for parents to sit on the deck and watch their child swim in the blazing heat. Additionally, outside of the summer months, it does get cold enough for backyard pools to be out of commission for 6 months out of every year. Because of the central location of our facility, we are able to offer premiere swimming lessons to the residents of Mesa, Gilbert, Queen Creek and Chandler.

There is no doubt our instruction is effective in any pool but the facility design gives us an even better edge on other programs in the east valley. Here are just a few examples…

The air and water temperature are set to a constant 90 degrees. This keeps our students from getting cold, which can be a great distraction if a child starts to shiver during a lesson. We also have specialized rim flow gutters that allow the water to spill right over the edge of the pool deck to reduce water turbulence. This is most important for our youngest students who are still gaining their confidence in the water. Getting a mouth full of water while floating on their back isn’t conducive to building trust with a new student.

EVO Swim School also offers the latest technology when it come to water chemistry. We are the first swim school in Arizona to offer the clean, clear water provided by a special balance of chemicals from the WesTronic Water Corporation based in Canada. This special blend of water chemistry won’t leave burning eyes or itchy skin.

At the end of the day, our indoor facility will provide a comfortable place for your child to learn a lifesaving skill. Oh yes, and they will have some fun, too. Check out our new slide!

Q: At what age do you recommend babies start swim lessons, and why?

A: This question is something all parents should be asking themselves. At the EVO Swim School we recommend that children start with a parent/tot lesson as early as 9 months old. We do have some children as young as 6 months however we want to make sure they are alert and can support their own head before they take an organized lesson.

Starting lessons at such an early age will accomplish two basic goals. The first goal is to accomplish a level of comfort in the water. Each child will have a unique opportunity to work with Mom or Dad in a controlled environment as they “take” to the water. They will learn basic (and instinctive) skills such as muscle relaxation and the ability to hold their breath. They also have a much easier time transitioning from Mom or Dad to an actual inst ructor. The parent/tot classes at EVO Swim School are part parent instruction and part instructor instruction. The child will have the opportunity to be handled in a class setting by someone other than Mom or Dad without the normal separation anxiety babies often experience when introduced to new people or places.

The second goal of swimming lessons at an early age is to get a head start on adapting to the skills necessary to not only enjoy the water but also save one’s own life if necessary. It is not uncommon to see babies learn to float on their back by themselves or spontaneously kick their feet when submerged in the water.

The bottom line is when early aged swimming lessons are applied; children get a head start on developing independent swimming skills by the age of 2 or 3 years old. At EVO Swim School we can always tell which 2 and 3 year old children went through our parent/tot course and which did not. We see children as young at 2 with the ability to jump in the water, float on their back for a breath and then swim back to the wall for safety (and it’s fun too).

Every day at the EVO Swim School we get the privilege of seeing kids both young and old break through the challenge of learning to swim and/or over come their fear of the water. When this happens swimming takes on a whole new meaning. For parents it is the peace of mind that comes with knowing their children are safer around water. For the kids it is a whole new world of excitement and fun every time they get in the water! We love seeing it happen on a daily basis at our swim school.

EVO was the first of its kind to offer year round swimming lessons in the town of Gilbert, opening its doors in April of 2007.  We have enjoyed getting to know the people of Gilbert, Mesa, Chandler and Queen Creek.  The east valley is filled with great families who stay active and want the best for their children.

If your family is anything like ours, you understand what it means to be busy! While swimming year round works great for some, swimming 365 days per year is not always best for everyone’s schedule.  There are spring and fall sports, music and dance lessons among other activities children participate in. That’s why the staff at EVO makes it easy, and is here to accommodate your schedule. Many of the fall sports will soon be coming to a close which makes the wintertime ideal for swimming lessons – especially at an indoor facility like EVO.  So give us a call! The water is warm and the instruction is the best in town. 

Amazing things happen every day at EVO Swim School. We believe our lesson program is the best in all of Gilbert, Mesa, Chandler, Tempe and Queen Creek. We want to prove it too! Our goal at EVO Swim School is to have any child age 2 or 3 become independent in the water as soon as possible.

This requires a consistent approach to lessons over a six to ten month period of time. Parents need to remain committed to their child’s progress. With this commitment you will have the peace of mind knowing your child can swim and be safe (not to mention it’s fun and a great form of exercise!).

Our lessons are generally once per week and those parents that are consistent over time can easily see the benefit in this approach to swimming lessons. Your child’s lessons shouldn’t just be a seasonal one or two month affair. Young children forget physical skills learned in a matter of weeks if not maintained. Practicing new skills on a weekly basis is an excellent way to maintain their skills and also continue learning new ones. This allows you time in your schedule for swimming lessons on a long term basis. THE SECRET TO LASTING RESULTS IS CONSISTENCY OVER SIX TO TEN MONTHS. We realize kids need a break from time to time but don’t underestimate the power of long term consistency.

We invite you to view the videos below. These are great examples of what our students are capable of. Our teaching style matched with your consistency is a winning combination!

Olivia started her lessons when she was 2 and a half years old. The videos below were taken just before her 3rd birthday and display her independence in the water after taking a solid six months of lessons. She cried through her first 2 or 3 lessons but caught on quickly (as you can see!).
Andrew is a 3 year old who has displays exceptional swimming ability for his age. He has outstanding use of his arms and he is seen here swimming in our third lesson level (Sea Lion class) with other children 2+ years older than he is. Check out his freestyle “big arms”.

“Just want to let you know that your instructors are terrific and the program is great. My kids, Madison and Jacob, have really progressed and enjoy going to their weekly swimming lessons; eventhough, we have to drive all the way from Queen Creek. Thank your team and keep up the great work.”
-Genny Hogan (February 2010)

“I am so amazed and grateful for the progress Ava has shown.  She started lessons at just barely two years old, and quite fearful of the water.  The instructors at EVO are first class and the reason that we didn’t give up.  Although at times it seemed as though she would never get through a lesson in Starfish (parent-tot) without crying, the EVO instructors were always calm and reassuring, while still helping her gain skill.  After months of perseverance, and letting Ava set her own pace, she turned a corner and seems to have left any fears behind.  After only a few months in the Otter class with Jennifer, she is now in Seal and loving her swim lessons each week.  Instead of “no swim” with tears, I now hear “yeah, swim class!”  I can’t tell you how proud I was the first time I saw her go from one end of the pool to the other all on her own.  She is doing amazing things at only 2 years old because of the EVO staff.  Thank you so very much.”
-Jeanine Borger (February 2009)

“Amazing! That is how we would describe Taylor’s progress at EVO. She got a slow start in the pool, age wise, due to the tubes we had put into her ears when she was younger. After the tubes came out and she could go under water, we started trying to teach her how to function in the pool so that at summer camp she would be able to hang out with her friends in the deeper areas of the pool. Well, we could not get her to keep from holding her nose with one hand. So, we started her at EVO.We would like to thank you and Lorraine for being the early influences that have helped her, we think excel, at swimming in such a very short eight (8) months. We believe she has had every instructor at least once and all of them have been nothing short of excellent in their support and praise. The support and praise, we feel, are the things that encourage her to continue to strive to really learn swimming.Things we will always remember about these first eight months: (1) The smile on her face when you gave her a high five the first lesson. (2) The smile on her face when she passed two levels in her first advancement test after her 3rd week. (3) The smile on her face, and the proud look she had shown, when at one lesson, Lorraine moved her from third in line to first in line for a backstroke drill, and said “Taylor, go ahead. Now, everybody, watch how she does it”. Lorraine may not remember that, but we do, and Taylor talked about that all the way home that night. (4) The amazement of the instructor when she did the dolphin kick perfectly the first time, with the comment to me, “she’s a natural”. And then in the same lesson, the “oh my” thought we had when she did her first butterfly stroke excellently. (5) The “oh my gosh” look she gave me, and how much she talked and text messaged about it to friends and family, when you asked to do the video and blog about her. (6) The huge smile and the “Yes! attitude” she had in her eyes after passing Dolphin to move to Advanced, and how she was talking and laughing with her classmates afterward.”
-Kurt Gries (January 2009)

“We originally enrolled Dillon at Evo with a concern for his safety since we had numerous family and friends with swimming pools and we own a boat. Working with Jennifer, Dillon met our original expectations of being able to float, tread water and safely reach the edge of the pool sooner than we expected. I can also say I honestly didn’t expect to see Dillon cross the entire length of the pool with full arm strokes and no coaching at three years old but with Lorraine’s training, that is what he did Tuesday.

I have been impressed with the instructors understanding of the different personalities and the different approaches required for the individual children. I have watched children begin their program and cry the entire class but eventually become relaxed with their surroundings because of the extra attention given by the instructor. Other children, one in particular that I know, can get too comfortable with their surrounding and require a different form of “extra attention” which is also handled very professionally by the instructors. We have been very pleased with Evo Swim School and the progress that Dillon has made.”
-Jason Strange (January 2009)

“Clara started just after her 2nd birthday and was already really into swimming, but no where near an independent swimmer. Sometimes progress seems slow, but I have to remind myself that she’s barely 3 ½ and can independently swim across the pool and has been able to for a year (with the instructor needing to be less close over the year). On vacation last summer just before her 3rd birthday, we got lots of stares, questions asking how old she was, etc. as she happily swam between mom and dad in the Disneyland pool loaded with much older kids and their floaties.

The consistency and routine has been good for Clara. With other swim lessons we have taken, you sign up for a “session” and then often start over at the start of a new lesson. At EVO, the routine is consistent and consistent between levels as well, so that when you move to a new level, you just add a skill, but continue with the same routine.

The American Academy of Pediatrics says that kids are not developmentally ready to swim until at least age 4, given what I’ve seen at Evo, I don’t think this is the case.”
-Beth Pekala (January 2009)

“We love EVO and the top -notch instruction that our kids receive there. Andrew has so much fun, loves the teachers, and has learned so much. We couldn’t believe it the first time we saw him do freestyle and backstroke – he was only 3 years old! It is exciting to see what he has accomplished at such a young age under the instruction of highly qualified teachers. It’s amazing to watch him grow. We owe it all to EVO Swim School.”
-Beth Richardson (January 2009)

“EVO Swim School has worked with Christopher for 1 year now and they have shown the firm guidance with compassion that Christopher requires. They have listened to his parents and learned how best to work with Christopher so that he can give his very best. He loves the praise that EVO is good about giving the kids.”
-Anne Field (January 2009)

“I wanted to express my enthusiasm in having Olivia enrolled at EVO Swim School. As a first time Mom, I researched every swim school in the east valley -literally- looking for the right mix of fun and structure. We tried a few of the well known schools, the results were disastrous. With the constant chaos of kids screaming and instructors yelling, forget learning to swim, she would no longer even get in the pool. About to give up, I learned EVO had opened and, after only 2 or 3 lessons (she had learned to trust again) I saw a marked improvement not only in her level of swimming, but most importantly in her confidence and overall desire to learn. Understated, she simply can’t wait until her next lesson! EVO Swim School is a first-rate operation. From its hands-on owner who clearly cares about making a difference, to the hand-picked teachers who treat each child like they were family, the beautifully designed pool/viewing room and the progress blogs – all carefully designed to help each child develop a life-long love of swimming. I can’t wait for my newborn twins to begin classes! Now isn’t that what it’s all about?”
-Karin Parente (January 2009)

“I just wanted to tell you I recently have taken swim lessons with Jennifer. She had taken the task of teaching me the freestyle stroke. I have taken lessons in the past and have never progressed as much as I have under the watchful eye of Jennifer. She is patient, skillful and explains each level of training in such a way that makes it easy to grasp. The whole staff at EVO has been more than helpful and they all seemed concerned that I achieve my goals in the water. You have what I deem a great swim school that is staffed by perhaps the best and most likeable instructors, I have experienced. I hope to have the opportunity to recommend your swim school in the future as I most certainly will do. Thanks you!”
-Rocky Landato, adult student (October 2008)

“I wanted to take a moment to reply and tell you how thrilled I am that I discovered EVO! I am continually impressed with everyone’s professionalism, level of care for the kids, and ability to deal with even the most difficult new swimmer. EVO is a treasure in the world of activities for kids and I’m honored to have my children attend.”
-Kathi Baker (August 2008)

“We want to thank the staff at EVO and specifically Lorraine, Jennifer, and Jordi for giving our girls such a fantastic and positive learning experience. These ladies displayed patience, knowledge, and positive feedback on a continual basis with our daughters. EVO Swim School is a class act with a clean and welcoming environment. Additionally, we enjoyed the “share link” as a fun way to help celebrate each child’s success. Our family is moving out of state but we will miss this place dearly. Keep up the great work and EVO will continue years of success:) THANKS AGAIN!”
-The Birgen’s (July 2008)

“I just wanted to let you know how happy I was with your lessons at EVO. Ben started out very uncomfortable in the water and now he’s able to swim several laps on his own. Now I’ll be able to relax a little more around the pool this summer. : ) Thanks for a great program!”
-Nancy Schutz (May 2008)

“We love EVO swim school. Our four year old daughter Ria enjoys the swim classes and looks forward to them every Friday. She loves her instructor David who is gentle yet firm enough to challenge and get the best results out of her. We had our daughter in other swim school in Chandler and we found that EVO swim school is the best around town. Based on our wonderful experience we are referring EVO to many of our friends and family.”
-Sunitha Cheruvu (May 2008)