RebSwim

Rebecca's Swimming

Rebecca began the age 5-and-under swimming program at the YMCA in mid-2001. At first it was a bit slow-going; she didn't like getting her face wet or going under water... she could do all the skills as long as she didn't have to go under water. After a second session in beginning, something clicked and this was no longer a problem. She passed the class and then went on to the next and passed it even with missing the majority of classes. She enrolled in the San Marcos Rec Prgm swimming too and did very well there too. It was a more challenging class because everyone was older than her and had more experience swimming, but she kept up.

Rebecca hadn't taken any swimming classes of late since Gene's STAR program moved further south for a great while (and continues to move back and forth) -- Rebecca had gone to swimming while Gene was at STAR - yes, with me racing back and forth all over creation. Rebecca's soccer practices and games began infringing on the time as well. Now that Rebecca goes to STAR with Gene, that makes it pretty much impossible. Now that the weather is nippy and the pool is outside, we might just as well hold off. She certainly is safe in the water and that has been the primary reason for the lessons at this point.

Rebecca has really missed taking swimming lessons. Besides soccer, she said, swimming is her favorite thing to do. She took some more YMCA swimming lessons, as well as through the City of San Marcos, again in 2004 and did very well.

Now in Spring 2005, she has progressed from an intermediate swimmer to advanced and begun some diving. As the soccer season is starting up and summer being right around the corner, the YMCA lessons will be wrapping up. I am very happy with her progress and clean technique -- she even began work on butterfly which was looking very good, even on her first attempts. Rebecca had her last lesson & last test. She passed the advanced I criteria and is now at the top level of advanced II. A very nice way to wrap up the Spring Season. I was able to find a couple of classes at her level during the Summer through the City of San Marcos, so she'll be able to keep up with her swimming.

Rebecca began the advanced lessons with the City of San Marcos in 7/05; it is a fairly small class - started with 6 kids, but 2-3 dropped out. She seems to be the most advanced, but there is one boy that is about at her level so that's good. The City had a BBQ/Swim Party on 7/9/05 for anyone. It was fun; they had Swim contests for the kids that had been lessons (which was a LOT of kids). Rebecca won both speed races (25m - 1 length of the pool) by a considerable margin. Then Rebecca and Christopher teamed up for the diving-for-hoops contest and won that as well, coming up with 14 hoops between them.
7/15: the advanced class has ended. Rebecca's instructor commended her for an excellent job. She suggested that she try the diving class at the other pool (since she has passed the most advanced swimming at this pool). Although the class is for 11 or older (she is 9), she would give her approval. Following the end of the class, Rebecca was pleased to have mastered her flip turn - the only thing that she didn't feel comfortable with during the class.

It took a bit of doing as the diving class was filled, but finally Rebecca got in on the 3rd day. It was very tough joining the all-boys class after having missed two days of lessons. But on the 2nd day, she demonstrated some excellent approaches & entries - definitely the best entries - very good form, so her teacher let her know that once she caught up on the technique she missed, she would be the best in the class. That afternoon Rebecca practiced for 3 hrs(!) so that on the following Monday, she could prove him right. Sure enough, she did do some beautiful dives; not only was the instructor highly impressed, but one of the students' parents approached her and complimented her!

On the Diver's Certificate of Completion, Rebecca's instructor wrote:
"You did an AWESOME JOB!!! You improved so much with your diving and I am so impressed how well you did. You have a great approach! I think you are going to be a great diver!! Keep up the good work!!!"

Rebecca took the diving class again this year, and although she missed both Monday lessons (for tournaments), she did well. This was a more advanced class than last year, & the instructor went faster & covered more. In fact, he had them diving off the high dive in the middle of the 1st week!! He also began them working on tuck & pike dives the first week!

Like last year, Rebecca decided to put in some extra practice before the end of the session. So on the afternoon before the last day she practiced for 2 hrs & got both her tuck & pick dive! She demonstrated them on the last day & she was very proud!