Crotty offers small-group swimming lessons locally

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There’s no need to be nervous when learning to swim with instructor Penny Crotty of Somerset.

Crotty has around 10 swim instruction certifications and working with nervous beginners is her specialty.

Crotty, who owned and operated her own swim instruction business in England, was taught by the head coach of the British Paralympic swimming team.

Crotty has training in adult and child swimming, child protection, safety, synchronized swimming, disability, breathing and level one and level two teaching certifications.

“I love the water and I love watching people that have been afraid of it starting to enjoy it and to see how much fun they can have,” Crotty said.

Crotty enjoys teaching individuals of different age and experience levels.

“The rewards are so immediate with children who were afraid to put their faces in and suddenly being able to do something they didn’t think they could do is like wow,” she said. “The adults are the ones that get left out because they don’t want to admit that they can’t do it. They think they’re too old to learn because it’s something they see children picking up very easily. But the reality is that anybody can learn.”

One of her favorite swim instruction memories is about a 69-year-old man who was afraid to take a bath because of his fear of water. Crotty said she was able to get the man swimming within weeks.

“I love nervous beginners, because watching them achieve things that they really didn’t think they’d ever be able to achieve is just marvelous,” she said.

Crotty said she’s witnessed a lot of success stories during her years of swim instruction. She says it is her aim to see her students make progress in each 30-minute lesson with her.

Her structured lessons start with a warm up, main competitive stroke techniques — breast stroke, back stroke, butterfly and front crawl or freestyle — and an alternative activity in the end — such as different ways to jump in, floating or picking items off of the bottom of the pool.

“I try to teach them all the skills they could possibly need,” she said.

Crotty said she uses fun activities to teach her students the proper body positions in the water.

By the end of the 10-week course, with one class a week, Crotty says her students will have improved strength, coordination, breathing capacity and self-esteem.

Crotty says one thing that sets her apart from other swimming instructors in the area is her small class size — one to five students at a time.

“They are all small groups. I often have the kids that can’t cope with the big places where there is too much going on. They can’t concentrate in the big settings, they don’t progress. They can’t help but progress with me because I’m watching them all the time and I’m interacting with them,” she said.

Crotty is offering lessons at the AmericInn in New Richmond and the Dallas House in St. Croix Falls.

Crotty offers lessons year-round with fall, winter and spring sessions. The spring session is 10-weeks long — April to June — and costs $200 for 10 lessons.

Classes are offered during the day and after schools hours.

She also plans to offer an intensive five-day crash course this summer and will possibly add summer sessions depending on demand.

Crotty says swimming is a life skill that is especially important in the Midwest because of all the lakes and rivers.

Crotty encourages residents to take the plunge and book lessons with her.

“I’m good at what I do. I’ve been trained by the best of the best and I want my pupils to progress. I want them to enjoy it and I want them to feel confident and safe in the water,” she said.

For more information or to schedule lessons with Crotty, call 715-969-9340 or email swimwithpenny@yahoo.com.

Tags: business, somerset