Children of all ages find courage, skill in pool

Seven bobbing heads nodded attentively at their swim instructors for about two minutes in the Pulliam Pool.

Making friends and challenging each other to see who could hold their breath the longest underwater seemed to take priority over learning how to swim.

Ryan Pearcy, a swim instructor, brought the young swimmers’ attention back to the lesson by demonstrating different exercises on a kickboard. With Pearcy’s encouragement, each student gave his or her best while trying to mimic his movements.

Pearcy, a junior in civil engineering, said he has always enjoyed working with children because of how much fun they can be.

“I usually become pretty good friends with the kids,” Pearcy said.

The Youth Swim Program teaches children ages 6 months to 18-years-old and is sponsored by the Student Recreation Center. The swim instructors are all SIUC undergraduate students who are certified lifeguards and have had previous experience in aquatics. The program offers swimming lessons for two five-week sessions at the beginning and middle of the semester. Based on their ability, children are placed in different classes from infant to level six.

Pearcy along with Jordon Pontious, a junior in civil engineering, led the Level two and three classes this weekend. Level two helps students gain fundamental water skills, while level three builds on those skills.

In the smaller therapy pool, infants and toddlers were being introduced to the water, some for the first time. All of the young children in the pool were showing signs of a positive experience. Giggling and smiles came from children and parents alike.

Erin McGuire, Aquatics Administrative Supervisor, said all children react differently the first time they encounter the pool.

“The beginners are usually a little timid,” McGuire said. “But by the end of the five weeks, we usually have to drag them out of the water.”

McGuire said feeling comfortable with the instructor is the most important part for the children.

“You have to trust the person who’s teaching you in the water,” she said.

McGuire said some of the children have been coming to the program for years and have developed bonds with the swim instructors.

Pearcy, who has an obvious way with his young pupils, summed up his teaching experiences simply.

“It keeps you young,” he said.