An Instagram video describes the life of a youth sports parent: competition in Honduras (“it’s about a 49-hour drive, so plan accordingly”), then Cuba, and — if they win — qualification for a tournament in Croatia on Wednesday.
“Pretty low-key schedule,” the coach says.
Most youth sports parents, in any sport — in Westport, and around the country — can relate.
Not those whose kids are in the Westport Swim Club, though.
The 3-year-old organization takes a deliberately — and truly — low-key approach.
They provide instruction and “candy meet” opportunities for young swimmers. They make sure to keep things fun.
If a boy or girl needs to take a month off to act in the school play, their coaches say: Great!
WSC’s core values are simple: “Fun, Friends and Fundamentals.”
Fun at the Westport Swim Club.
The goals are to instill a love for swimming in their young members.
And, during their 7 months together, to prepare their 2nd through 8th graders for the next levels of competition.
Where, if they (and/or their parents) want, they can spend 12 months a year training and racing, up and down the East Coast. (And perhaps Honduras, Cuba and Croatia.)
Or simply make their high school team.
Though low-key, Westport Swimming Club is hardly a minnow. Its 7 coaches have impressive resumes. They’ve swum at the top levels themselves, including the Asian Games and Olympic qualifiers. They’ve coached at the NCAA Division I level. One — Mike Anderson — is currently head coach of the Staples High swim and dive team.
They know the importance of including games and contests — diving for pennies, for instance — to break up the repetitive nature of drills.
And unlike with many teams, the coaches actually get in the water with their athletes.
Some Westport Swim Team coaches and assistants (from left): Kuku Fleming, Pam Moss, Mike Anderson, Matt Fleming, Elaine Rankowitz, Leilani Fleming.
The WSC is the brainchild of Staples girls swimming coaches Mike Anderson, Elaine Rankowitz and Kuku Fleming. Pam Moss joined later.
Fleming (the Asian Games swimmer who went on to compete for Harvard University, then worked at Deutsche Bank’s hedge fund for 12 years) and Moss (a nationally ranked age group swimmer before managing a digital software firm, and co-founding BlackLight), met through the Masters swimming program.
Three years ago, coming out of COVID, they realized there were no programs for young swimmers who did not start very early.
“With us, even 13 years old is not too late,” Fleming says. “We’re a swim ramp.”
“We help them prepare them for other programs,” Moss adds. “We give them the confidence to try out.”
Coach Neil Markman and his daughter, Noelle Stine-Markman.
WSC runs from January through July, at the Staples pool. There are 4 practices a week — but daily practices are not mandatory. Coaches realize their swimmers have lives outside the pool too.
“Having fun does not mean being weak,” Fleming says. “We are highly allergic to bad technique.”
Every swimmer learns the butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle, flip and open turns, dives and backstroke starts, and relay transitions.
There are 2 intra-squad meets, and a couple of “candy meets” (dual competitions against country club teams). They’re opportunities for young swimmers to practice their technique, along with soft skills like paying attention to when their event will be called.
It’s a recipe for — well, not necessarily winning competitions, but developing skills and self-confidence.
Fleming describes a youngster who went from no eye contact to laughing, and doing demonstrations in front of peers.
Another, who graduated from WSC to a club team, won 3 medals at a regional meet.
A third began as a flailing freestyle. Five sessions later, she had a “beautiful” butterfly stroke. She went on to make the Staples squad, and recently competed in Florida with her club team.
Having fun, in and out of the water.
The founders credit to WSC’s philosophy, coaches and swimmers for its success.
But, they note, supportive parents also play a key role.
“They are very friendly, enthusiastic, and generous with their time,” Fleming says.
“They appreciate a program without a lot of pressure. But they know we make kids accountable for their own gear, being on time, and paying attention.”
WSC does not “compete with” programs like the Westport YMCA Water Rats, Weston Swimming, Fairfield Aquatics or Norwalk Zeus for swimmers. Fleming and Moss see their organization as a feeder for those clubs.
They are happy when their swimmers “graduate” to high school programs, and/or clubs.
The coaches cheer them on — at local pools, and (metaphorically) at their meets far and wide.
But they don’t go all over the state, or to Florida (or Honduras, Cuba and Croatia).
They’re busy preparing the next generation of swimmers to join them.
If, of course, they want to.
(For more information on Westport Swim Club, click here.)
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kuku is amazing.
Inspiring
We are so thankful we found WSC at the right time for our son who was at that time almost 10. His confidence in swimming went from a 2 all the way up to 10 (on a 1-10 scale), along with having fun. After graduating from WSC in to a club, he still wants to swim with WSC when he is not practicing with his club.
Thank you WSC coaches for doing what you do because you really take the time to teach kids the proper techniques and provide extra support if anyone needs it.
You will be seeing us again with our younger 2 hopefully soon!!!
I really appreciate the coaches’ emphasis on technique while still ensuring that the kids have fun. In my experience, many clubs around town only focus on making the kids go ‘faster’, without realizing that good technique is essential for efficient swimming – it enables one to go faster with less effort. Coach Mike has been working with my daughter for the past three years and his dedication to these kids is truly admirable. I have seen a significant improvement in my daughter’s freestyle stroke – it has gone from being sloppy to beautiful and efficient. Thank you to the coaches for running such a wonderful club!
Kuku, Mike and the whole WSC are awesome!!! Amazing technique advice from the coaches and so much personalized attention!
Kuku, Mike, etc are all such great coaches with their individual teaching styles and abilities love to see wsc getting its well deserved coverage 🙂
Coach Kuku is everything we could have hoped for. Coach Mike extends and helps perfect every skill and technique possible for all swimmers. Our daughter swims for a local swim team but always comes back on a weekly basis to make sure her technique is up to par from this incredible staff!
Kuku, Mike, and the WSC coaches are amazing! They are so dedicated, patient, and kind and have instilled a love for swimming for both of my daughters. When they first began WSC, they could barely swim a lap, and within one year, they joined competitive teams and still practice with WSC to refine their technique. The coaches provide so much individualized attention and truly care about the progress of all of the swimmers. We are so grateful for this opportunity, and my daughters will hopefully continue the program through high school.
Coach Mike and the entire team are great with the kids and truly make it a fun experience for all. I’ve loved seeing my daughter’s skills progress week after week.
This program truly promotes a love for the sport of swimming. The coaches enthusiasm is contagious. The energy of the club is positive and encouraging and the individualized attention so helpful! Fantastic program!!
Yes! This program is EVERYTHING! These coaches have powerfully impacted my daughter’s skill and technique and have given her a place to be part of a team. They have built
her confidence in an unforeseen way.
The low pressure approach to attending practices has resulted in a love for the sport that is starting to become a passion. My kiddo is completely immersed in the program and now independently organizes her time and schoolwork around her practices. I cannot say enough about the club or the awesome coaches- they have changed our entire family in an amazing way.
Really appreciate that this program came into my family’s life. Seeing my children grow to love swimming and improve their technique has been a gift. All the coaches clearly care about developing the swimmers both physically and emotionally.
I’m so impressed with how involved the coaches are. They love swimming and their passion is contagious. The coaches provide individualized attention to each kid. I’ve seen them actually in the water instructing, watching and studying the kids’ strokes above and below the water. It is an energizing, positive program.
This is the first year with WSC for our son and daughter— we have been truly amazed with how much they have learned in just over 4 months.
We love that the program is focused on teaching proper form and technique in a positive environment. It is just the right level of intensity with a good mix of fun and discipline. Fostering a life-long enjoyment of swimming is important to us and we appreciate that is a core value of the program.
Coach Kuku, Pam and Neil are exceptional—so nurturing, knowledgeable and dedicated. It is a wonderful program and we are very grateful it is a part of our community.
The WSC coaches are great! They always have smiles on their faces and make swimming laps as fun as they can, while teaching great technique. Our daughter was always a strong swimmer, but this program was the first that really pushed her to improve, without really pushing. Thanks team!
Coach Kuku is amazing and the program is great. Our daughter went from doggy paddle where she was unable to swim a quarter of a lap to now swimming multiple laps in one go with all the different strokes! The program is novel as well – the swim meets are Candy meets to attract the young-ones (like mine). They reiterate this is for fun, just learn and improve – don’t worry (yet) about your time. Overall, Kuku, Neal, Pam are exceptional not just because of their swimming knowledge – they really understand children and are extremely patient. I’m learning a few things about parenting, ha!
This program has been so amazing for my kids (12 and 7). They have so much fun while learning some intense lessons. They have covered all the strokes, diving and flip turns. The coaches are so kind and patient and the kids have their complete attention during every lesson. In particular my preteen’s confidence has soared over the last year and a half while part of the program. Thank you Kuku, Coach Neal and Coach Pam!
Amazing program! Coach Mike developed a unique swim education program that focuses on technique and form rather than pure speed. His program is a great foundation for swimmers of all levels. Thank you!
What a blessing it is to have this program in our town! These coaches are angels among us- great teachers full of love for the sport AND for the kids!
My daughter does not consider herself sporty, but decided to try it out. Although she’s on the older end, all the coaches have made her feel so welcome and I am amazed at the progress she has made just in the last 3 weeks. Swimming is a lifelong skills, and you can tell just how much these incredible coaches love the sport and love teaching it. They are all super dedicated and incredibly positive. I wish we had started earlier, but am so happy for my daughter to have access to such talent.
The Westport Swim Club is an excellent program with caring and committed coaching. My 7-year-old daughter has made great progress in only a few months of lessons and practices and has gained a lot of confidence and a newfound love for swimming. I have nothing but gratitude for Coach KuKu and her team for making my daughter feel safe and motivated in the water. I highly recommend WSC.
This is an amazing program! My daughter has learned proper technique and is so much more confident in the water, overcoming a fear of diving and flip turns. The coaches are so supportive and encouraging. I’m so happy I stumbled across this program!
I can’t say enough positive things about the Westport Swim Club. Our son loves the positive environment, the encouraging coaches, and that he is a pretty good swimmer now!
We found many Westport teams to be super competitive at a very young age. The WSC took a lot of pressure off and let the kids have fun in a very organized group with stellar coaches. Kuku, Mike, Pam, and all the coaches are getting it right at WSC!
My boys LOVED the sessions and coaches at WSC…learning skills without the pressure of a competitive swim team. They progressed here quickly and noticeably after YEARS of stagnating in group classes.
I love everything about this program and this article couldn’t articulate it better. I’ve seen drastic improvement in my 7 year old’s swimming in a short amount of time. I love the low pressure style for everyone because I am firm believer that at this age, fun and learning should be the priority. The coaches are fantastic – my husband swam in college (and I was his lifeguard) and we both appreciate all the guidance and instruction we see them providing at each and every practice. They are invested in these kiddos and its fun to watch.
We just had a swim meet and the kids were so energized to put their skills in action! It was all for fun- especially the candy they win after their races. Wesport Swim Stars creates an environment where the kids enjoy coming to practice and meets, it’s social and it is primarily for fun. As a parent I love how organized the communication is with the parents and how consistent the schedule is.