Swim Lessons | Shalom Austin

SWIM LESSONS

CONFIDENCE  •  SKILLS  •  ENDURANCE

The Dell JCC offers swim lessons to children and adults founded on the principles of water safety, character development, and building community. Swim lessons are a Dell JCC member program.

PRIVATE & SEMI-PRIVATE LESSONS

Private Swim Lessons

Our knowledgeable and experienced swim instructor’s provide year-round instruction for swimmers of all ages and abilities. Instructors will work with you or your children to create an individualized program that meets you or your child’s specific needs – from basic comfort to advanced swimming skills. Swim Lessons are 30 minutes in length.

Private Swim Lesson Packages:
  • 1 for $50

  • 4 for $180

  • 8 for $320
Semi-Private Swim Lessons

Instructors will work with you or your children to create an individualized program that meets your specific needs – from basic comfort to advanced swimming skills.

Semi-Private Swim Lesson Packages:
  • 1 for $35

  • 4 for $120

  • 8 for $200
Private Adaptive Swim Lessons
Our Swim Angelfish Certified instructors teach and support swimmers of all ages and abilities in overcoming obstacles in the water and learning to swim in a comfortable setting. Our instructors specialize in working with swimmers with visible and hidden learning and physical disabilities such as autism, sensory and motor coordination, anxiety, trauma, or simple discomfort in the water to become safe, confident, independent swimmers. Swim Lessons are 30 minutes in length.
Private Adaptive Swim Lesson Packages:
  • Member – 1 for $55 / Non-member – 1 for $75
  • Member – 4 for $220 / Non-member – 4 for $280
  • Member 8 for $440 / Non-member – 8 for $560
Cancellation Policy

Guardians or Adult participants must provide at minimum a 24-hour notice of cancellation of a lesson to their instructor. If more than 15 minutes late or the lesson is deemed a “no show”, that lesson will be considered completed. Swim Lessons must be completed within 6 months of purchase. Unused lessons after 6 months will be considered completed. 

GROUP SWIM LESSONS

Children will learn swimming and water safety skills through enjoyable, engaging, and challenging activities that motivate them to want to learn to swim. Classes are 30 minutes in length and offered Monday thru Thursday from 3-7 PM. Swimmers will be divided by swimmer age and skill level.

AGE GROUPS

Tennis Boy Striped Shirt

Tadpoles

6 months – 3 years

Tadpoles & Me

Tennis Boy Serve

Minnows

3 years – 5 years

101 | 201 | 301

Tennis High Five

Sea Turtles

5 years – 8 years

101 | 201 | 301 | 401 | 501

JCamps Social Distancing Swim

Dolphins

8 years – 13 years

201 | 301 | 401 | 501

SKILL LEVELS

Tennis Boy Serve

Tadpoles & Me

Accompanied by a guardian, swimmers learn to be comfortable in the water and develop swim readiness skills, while guardians learn about water safety, drowning prevention, and the importance of supervision.

Tennis Boy Serve

101

  • Float on front with assistance 
  • Float on back with assistance 
  • Paddles on front with assistance 
  • Paddles on back with assistance 
  • Kicks on front with assistance 
  • Kicks on back with assistance 
  • Roll over with assistance 
  • Enters (Jumps in) the water with assistance  
  • Exits water using side independently 
  • Blows bubbles with face in 
Tennis Boy Striped Shirt

201

  • Float on front independently 
  • Float on back independently 
  • Paddles on front independently 
  • Paddles on back independently 
  • Kicks on front independently 
  • Kicks on back independently 
  • Rolls over independently 
  • Front glide independently 
  • Jump in, submerge, turn and grab wall, exit independently
Tennis High Five

301

  • Freestyle with log rolls 
  • Backstroke 15ft 
  • Breaststroke arms 
  • Dolphin Kicks 
  • Treading w/ assistance 
  • Kneeling Dives 
Piranhas swim team members swimming in the pool during a competition

401

  • Freestyle with rotary breathing 15yd 
  • Backstroke 15yd 
  • Breaststroke kicks 
  • Butterfly arms 
  • Treading independently 15 seconds 
  • Open Turn 
  • Standing dives 

501

  • Freestyle with rhythmic breathing 25yd 
  • Backstroke 25yd 
  • Breaststroke 25yd 
  • Butterfly 25yd 
  • Flip Turns 
  • Block dives 

MEET THE INSTRUCTORS

Heather Brands Headshot 2021

Matthew Cole

Aquatics Instructor

Matthew Cole is personal trainer, swim instructor and Master’s swim coach at the JCC. Although Matthew, a Washing State native, relocated to Austin for work in the tech industry, he remains passionate about all things swimming and fitness. Matthew swam at the University of Puget Sound where he broke the school record and placed in the top 8 at NCAAs in 50-Free. Matthew prides himself on being detail oriented when working with swimmers. He specializes in stroke technique and refinement. He believes a strong technique is the foundation for competitive swimmers and should be regimented by an intentional training program. Matthew works with swimmers in the pool and in the weight room. Matthew currently swims Masters at the University of Texas and has a personal goal of breaking 20 seconds in 50 free.

Marcus Litz Headshot

Marcus Litz

Aquatics Director

Marcus Litz joined Shalom Austin in 2021.  Born in Round Rock, Marcus grew up around water. He started lifeguarding at 15 and his enthusiasm for aquatics has grown ever since. He is passionate about general water safety, swim lessons, and creating a strong aquatic community with the opening of the brand new aquatics center. Marcus has a background in aquatics management and most recently worked at Kalahari, America’s largest indoor waterpark.

Amy Linkous

Adaptive Aquatics Instructor

Amy Linkous is a certified adaptive swim instructor and a certified Level 3 Swim Whisperer® through the Swim Angelfish® Methodology. Amy is passionate about teaching swimming to persons of all ages and all abilities and is dedicated to making swimming safer and more enjoyable for all those with learning or physical differences. Coach Amy swam as a youth through high school and competed as member of University of Notre Dame’s varsity women’s swim team. Amy started her coaching career as a summer league swim coach and then later joined the coaching staff at the Phoenix Swim Club as co-director of the Club’s summer swim lessons program. Amy founded Swim For All in 2015 to provide swim instruction to persons of all abilities in the greater Austin area. Out of the pool, Amy graduated with her B.A. in Psychology and M.S. in Education and has 18 years of professional teaching experience, primarily as a mathematics instructor for grades 4 through 8. She is the proud mother of two strong-willed teens, including a competitive age-group swimmer and a talented special needs teen. Away from the pool, Amy has loves listening to live music, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.

Heather Brands Headshot 2021

John Mannix

Aquatics Instructor

John Mannix has been a passionate swimmer since his youth. As a lifelong swimmer, John recognizes the importance of water safety, and is passionate about helping students develop their skills and learn essential water safety practices when around pools, lakes, and beaches. He has over seven years of experience teaching children and adult swimmers of all levels from beginner water safety skills to advanced stroke technique work and is now a Certified Water Safety Instructor. In 2012, John placed third in the Austin Rookie Triathlon, and three years later won first place in the CapTex Triathlon in the relay division. In his free time, John worked as a volunteer for Colin’s Hope and has spent the last 20 years volunteering for Meals on Wheels, among other organizations. John and his wife have three daughters and he swims most mornings here at the JCC.

Heather Brands Headshot 2021

Marco Vasquez ll

Aquatics Instructor

Marco, born in El Paso and raised in Austin, is passionate about all things Aquatics. Marco’s swimming journey began as a Junior Swim Coach and swimmer for the Avery Ranch Redfish. Marco went on to swim Varsity at Meridian World School, earning team captain honors.  He continued his swim career at the collegiate level for the University of North Texas swimming breaststroke. Marco is a seasoned swim instructor with experience ranging from teaching pre-school aged children to swim, to coaching adult Masters Swim programs. Marco taught swim lessons previously at Bushy Creek, has been a certified lifeguard since 2015 and currently coaches the Piranhas and Masters Swim Teams at the JCC. Out of the water, Marco enjoys spending time at summer camp. He grew up attending Camp Young Judaea in Wimberley, Texas and spent this past summer as the Aquatics Director at Camp Ramah in Ojai California. Marco is currently a student at EMTS Academy pursuing a Paramedic license. His hobbies include Mountain Biking, Bouldering, Drones, and exploring the outdoors! GoOoOoOoOoOoOo Piranhas! 

Marcus Litz

Marcus Litz

Aquatics Director

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