Parents who worry about their kids splashing safely can relax; Frisco’s swim lesson offerings have grown with the city.
Family businesses, lesson guarantees, backyard instructors, indoor facilities — you name it, our Frisco’s got it. And to help you find the lesson that is just right for you and your kiddos, I researched them all! Here is our round-up of some of the best local options to get your family pool ready.
FriscoSwim
If you have kids in Frisco, chances are you’ve heard of “Ms. Pat.” Pat DeLange, the owner of FriscoSwim, is a fixture in the local swimming community. She’s a life-long swimmer, competing in the sport since she was just five years old. In 2006, Pat was coaching for the FASST swim team and working as a paraprofessional at Corbell Elementary when a friend suggested she teach swim lessons. And FriscoSwim was born!
The business, which started with just eight students each week in her HOA pool, has now expanded to an average of 100 students per week during the summer in their private, indoor, heated pool.
Three family members teach lessons at FriscoSwim’s pool, two instructors teach at Lakes Tennis Academy during the summer and there are several additional instructors depending upon the time of year, all who share Pat’s dedication to their students. Pat shared,
We serve the community by providing water safety instruction and life-changing swim lessons to students from age two to adult, as well as those with special needs.
Pat believes they stand out in the community because they’re a small family business with a big passion for water safety. Small classes and personalized instruction allow students to progress at their own pace, without limits based on age or learning diversities. And while the development of each student’s swim stroke technique is a focus, teachers continually emphasize and practice critical water safety skills. (Watch this Lifestyle PROFILES video interview with Pat Delange!)
Marla Finley’s son is a perfect example of how personalized instruction allows students to progress quickly. Marla shared,
Ms. Pat’s swim lessons are the perfect start to summer. My son was swimming independently after one week of lessons! The swim instructors are patient with the kids and teach skills that ensure safety and fun around a pool.
Emler Swim School
With classes year-round for ages 2 months to adult, Emler uses the Swim Script®Curriculum to help students in three areas. Overcome fear of water with effective, proven swim skills, give swimmers the skills they need to rescue themselves if they get into trouble in the water, and teach students to enjoy swimming and choose it as a lifetime activity. Frisco mom Kristen Stenger said,
Lessons at Emler have given my children a solid foundation and love for swimming. Most importantly, they’ve learned how to be safe and confident in the water which gives me more peace of mind. The teachers have been extremely patient and take their time to ensure my children really grasp the skill before moving on.
Operations Director Devan Tovar explains what sets Emler apart is their “Emler Sure” guarantee. This means if a student participates for a full semester, they will meet the swim goals of the class, or instructors will work with the student to meet those goals. Semesters closely follow the school calendar and last 20 weeks (summer semesters are 12 weeks).
The original Frisco Emler has been open since 2010 and is in Preston Stonebrook Center. And in 2018, Emler expanded to West Frisco off Eldorado Pkway. Devan shared,
As Frisco expands, it is becoming more important to be accessible to families. Our new location will make it easier for students all over Frisco to take classes with us.
Texas Ford Aquatics
TFA uses SwimAmerica Swim School, a goal-oriented program divided into 8 stations of skills. As soon as swimmers progress from one level to the next one, they are recognized and immediately moved up to the next station.
The program is designed to teach swimmers proper form and technique from the time they learn the strokes to better prepare them for their swimming career long term. Once a student has successfully moved through all the stages of SwimAmerica, they can join the swim team. Frisco mom Gretchen Owens said,
All three of our kids started in the Swim America lesson program with Texas Ford Aquatics. With kids at different ages and swimming abilities, there was a level appropriate for each of them. TFA also worked with us to get all kids swimming at the same time and place. They’ve now all moved through the SwimAmerica levels and are competing with TFA in the U.S.A. Swimming program.
Within SwimAmerica, there are two stages made up of 8 stations. Stations 1-5 are learning to swim, and Stations 6-8 are stroke and technique school. Before a student can register for lessons, they must be evaluated by an instructor and placed in a station.
Frisco Athletic Center
The Frisco Athletic Center is an award-winning, family-focused fitness and aquatic facility provided by Frisco Parks and Recreation. With more than 350,000 gallons of water, the FAC is home to the Frisco Water Park, pool parties, and swim lessons.
Taught by FAC staff, the classes offerings range from Parent and Infant classes all the way to Adult lessons. Find course descriptions, pricing, and dates on the recently improved online registration system, or in the new edition of the FriscoFun guide that is delivered to your mailbox each spring!
Aqua-Tots
There are two Aqua-Tots locations in Frisco. The indoor pool is heated to 90 degrees, and offers a clean, family-friendly teaching environment for year-round lessons. Classes are available for children ages 4 months up to 12 years.
Decades of instructional experience have molded their comprehensive swimming curriculum. As an active member of the United States Swim School Association (USSSA), Aqua-Tots regularly participates in educational opportunities to maintain a high teaching standard in the swim industry and every one of the Aqua-Tots instructors goes through over 30 hours of intensive classroom and in-water training.
At-Home Lessons
There are many well-respected swim teachers in Frisco who work out of their home or HOA pools during the summer. Their schedules often fill up quickly, and you usually find out about them by word-of-mouth. A few I’ve heard great things about include:
Ms. Erin’s Swim School: Erin Bladon was on a swim team for 10 years from ages 5 – 15, then began teaching backyard lessons as an assistant instructor. She has a degree in Special Education and has taught swim lessons in Frisco since relocating here with her family in 2011. Client Leah Mars said,
I cannot say enough about our affection for Ms. Erin. My daughter, Colbie, took swimming lessons from her over several summers. She’s patient with kids and parents both! Her knowledge of how to calm fears and teach technique and basic proficiency is amazing.
Visit Ms. Erin’s Swim School on Facebook for the most up-to-date information regarding summer 2020 lessons.
Sally’s Swim School: Sally Pena has been teaching swimming for more than 35 years. Typically, she teaches both private and small group (no more than 3 kids in a class) lessons and the session is 5 days, Monday through Friday. Please contact her directly to confirm her availability for summer 2020.
If you’ve taken lessons from someone you’d recommend who isn’t included in this article, please leave a comment about them below! Happy Swimming!