“Go For the Gold” with Merritt Athletic Clubs and the Michael Phelps Swim School Program

Merritt Athletic Clubs have teamed up with Michael Phelps himself to offer the Michael Phelps Swim School program, a swim school whose focus is on developing "the whole person physically and mentally."

This unique swim program was created in the 1980s under the name North Baltimore Swim School and was developed by Cathy Bennett who held degrees in child both psychology and early childhood education. Her swim program emphasized water confidence and comfort and Michael Phelps was a student in her class. 

Years later after winning a record breaking eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, Michael Phelps, along with Coach Bob Bowman and the North Baltimore Swim School, developed the Michael Phelps Swim School in the fall of 2009. 

In January of 2010, Merritt Athletic Clubs became partners with the Michael Phelps Swim School.

According to Andrew Barranco, Regional Aquatic Director of Merritt Athletic Clubs, "We added the Swim School program to three of our Merritt Athletic Club locations, Eldersburg, Towson and Canton. The program in Eldersburg is our largest location as far as enrollment."

"We emphasize the growth of learning, that it never stops," says Barranco. "The skill sets that students learn in a pre-beginner class they’re going to take with them throughout their whole program here at the swim school. It’s not just a skill set, it’s a progression."

Unlike traditional swim programs, "It’s really child development based as far as the difference between us and a different swim program. The first step is getting comfortable in the water," says Barranco.

According to Aquatics Manager, Rachel Gracia, of the Eldersburg Merritt Athletic Club, "Our instructors are trained by the Michael Phelps Swim School and we use their curriculum to teach our classes."

"The program is broken down into our Get Wet class which is our parent child class that is for those typically three years of age and under. And then from there we go into our pre-beginner class, beginner, advanced beginner and intermediate," says Barranco. "The program is a total of five levels. Most students will repeat each level multiple times to master their skill."

Taught in a warm water environment, the Get Wet class teaches fun in the water with a focus on water comfort with the accompaniment of a parent.

The Pre-Beginner level focuses on basic water skills, water comfort, as well as water safety. It is at this point in the program where parents no longer accompany their child in the water.  At the Beginner level students are able to submerge entirely in the water and are able to float on their front and back.

Freestyle and rotary breathing are two techniques that need to be mastered in order to advance to the next level in the program.

The Advanced Beginner level teaches competitive swim strokes. At this point in the program students are proficient in the air exchange process.

The Intermediate level is the most advanced level of the program where students are able to swim unaided for a distance and have demonstrated the freestyle and backstroke.

"The program is comprehensive at all three Merritt locations," says Barranco. "We offer all levels at each of our three locations. Someone has the opportunity to come in as a two year old and progress all the way through the intermediate class, so they could be in the program for five, six, seven years and keep fine tuning their skills."

"The number of students enrolling varies depending on the time of year," says Rachel Gracia. "Our goal is to get to about 400 students in April, and hopefully in our next session we will have about 250 students."

Concerned that you are not a member of Merritt Athletic Clubs? Not to worry, "The Michael Phelps Swim School is not just for members of the club," says Barranco. "There is a discounted rate for members of Merritt Athletic Clubs but it is open to anyone in the community. And we offer group lessons and well as private lessons."

Each session includes six lessons that are held once a week for thirty minutes per session, for a six-week duration. Members of Merritt Athletic Clubs receive a discounted rate of $65 for six group lessons, and non-members pay $99 for six group lessons. Rates for private and semi-private lessons vary depending upon the number of people and lessons desired.

"We believe that everyone should learn how to swim and that it’s a life skill, regardless of whether they want to take a more competitive approach or they want to use it for fitness purposes or whether just survival," says Barranco.

"The Michael Phelps Swim School has been a good name to affiliate ourselves with. It’s something unique we have and no-one else does," says Barranco.

For more information about the Michael Phelps Swim School and registration information here.