PROGRAM LEVELS

STROKE ACADEMY

Stroke Academy is a group ideal for children wanting to swim for fitness or join our FAST Falcons competitive team. This program focuses on technique and works to prepare swimmers for the competitive team.

FALCONS BRONZE

Water skills and safety tips that stay with them throughout all swim lessons. (*1 instructors per 4 swimmers)

  • Face in the water
  • Blowing bubbles
  • Float on your back
  • Comfort in the water
  • Fun in the water
  • Pass backs from one instructor to the other supported, face in the water

FALCONS SILVER

Beginning stroke technique skills to build a foundation for freestyle. (*1 instructor per 4 swimmers)

  • Streamline push from the wall, face in the water to instructor
  • Splashing kicks
  • Rotate from streamline kicks to backfloat
  • Rotate from backfloat to face in and streamline kick to the wall
  • All Bronze level skills

FALCONS GOLD

Continue stroke technique skills for freestyle, begin backstroke technique foundation.

  • Freestyle arm development
  • Streamline push from wall into freestyle stroke
  • Rotate from freestyle swim to backfloat
  • Learn timing for freestyle breath
  • Backstroke push from the wall
  • All Silver level skills

FALCONS PLATINUM

Freestyle and backstroke technique refined.

  • Backstroke arm development
  • Push from wall, freestyle to backfloat, to wall
  • Freestyle technique refined full 25 yards
  • 25 yards proficient backstroke
  • All Gold level skills

PARENT-TOT

For ages 2 & under with a parent in the water with them.

  • Parent in the water with their child
  • Water exploration
  • Getting face wet
  • Blowing bubbles
  • Splashing
  • Floating on back
  • Swimming from instructor to parent with support

ADULTS (18+)

Beginner

  • Safety Skills – Learning the basics to be safe in the water

Intermediate

  • Refining strokes to become active in the water

HOMESCHOOL GROUP

This is a swimming program specifically for Homeschoolers ages 8-17 who would like to learn to swim or improve their swimming skills/techniques/strokes. This program satisfies the PE credit for homeschool curriculum.

CANNONBALL KIDZ

Cannonball Kidz provides 1 session of 8 free 30-minute lessons to all Marion County students enrolled in 3rd grade for the current school year. Students who complete all 8 lessons of the Cannonball Kidz program will receive 10% off further swim lessons at FAST for the remainder of the current school year. Cannonball Kidz participants are integrated with regular lesson groups.

PRIVATE SWIM LESSONS

No matter your swim level, our private lessons provide 1:1 instruction. Our instructors will work with you to develop your swim skills, hone your strokes, or even learn to swim. How it Works:
Step 1: No cost to be added to the Private Lessons Interest List
Step 2: Our Private Lessons Coordinator will contact you when we have an opening for an instructor. This will ensure we match you with the best instructor for your goals and needs.
Step 3: Pay for your classes once you receive the date and time confirmation from our Private Lessons Coordinator.

      • 4 30-minute lessons:
      • 8×30 minutes lessons:

To be added to the Private Lessons Interest List, please call 352-820-4233.

Aquatic Programs Director: Gemma_Fleming@floridafast.com
Aquatic Program Manager: Jeannette_Murphy@floridafast.com
Private Lessons Coordinator: Jasmin_Frontanes@floridafast.com

OUR CORE VALUES

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SAFETY

Children must feel safe and trust their instructor before we can expect them to learn new skills in the water. Instructors are certified through Jeff Ellis Swimming (JES) with ongoing training and a lifeguard will always be on deck to keep athletes safe.

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COMPASSION

Children who feel supported, loved and respected will learn the skills in a compassionate environment and will learn to love the water. All instructors will provide space and love for children to grow in the sport of swimming.

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DISCIPLINE

Children developing into young adults must learn discipline. Discipline includes refining technique, practicing to improve, stamina to enhance skills and an understanding of how to follow basic directions to be safe in the water.

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CONFIDENCE

The more a child practices their skills the more confident they are in the water. We encourage year-round participation in lessons and aim to foster confidence in each child.

Gemma Fleming, Aquatic Program Director

Gemma Fleming, (Spofforth) is an English former competition swimmer who represented Great Britain in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, FINA world championships and European championships, and England in the Commonwealth Games. Gemma is the former world record-holder and 2009 world champion in the 100m backstroke and won a total of eight medals in major international championships. She is a Hall of Fame 2020 inductee for the University of Florida, she was also a five-time NCAA champion, NCAA Record Holder, 18-time All-American Selection, 2009 SEC Female Swimmer of the Year, eight-time All-SEC Selection, four-time SEC Champion, and four-time SEC Record Holder.

She has taught lessons under SwimAmerica of Gainesville for 12+ years. Gemma is ESE certified and worked in the public education system as a school counselor for 7 years. Her philosophy for life is “empathy and kindness, together with hard work and dedication will take you far.”

  gemma_fleming@floridafast.com

  352-820-4222