Fun Approach Fuels Five Seasons Burr Ridge Swim Club's Success
Five days a week for nearly two months, the three Milne girls-Madison, 10, Piper, 9, and Lexi, 5-have had no trouble rising and shining for an 8:30 a.m. appointment. That is when the younger members of the Gators swim team practices at Five Seasons Family Sports Club in Burr Ridge.
"They can't get up for school sometimes," says their mom, Kelly Milne of Hinsdale. "But they have no problem getting up for swimming. It's the only activity they don't fight me on."
An indispensable element in their daily diligence: how much they enjoy those practice sessions, thanks to the light-hearted leadership of head coaches Jack Brennan and Will Skowron.
"Jack and Will are just absolutely fantastic coaches," said Milne. "Kids love going to practice, yet they're working hard and they're improving their swimming."
Brennan and Skowron are both college students. As former Gator competitors themselves, they are in their second year at the helm of the program after three years as assistant coaches at the club, 6901 S. Madison. They bring a method to their merriment: it draws more team members, and does so more often, which translates into more opportunities to teach skills and develop speed.
Clearly, the Milne girls' experience is not an isolated case. As a result, the Five Seasons squad is enjoying its greatest level of competitive success in years. With a triumph in a home meet on July 10th, the Gators have two wins to their credit and are serving notice that they are a bona fide rival to other area swim clubs.
"To get the kids involved, we make sure to bring a fun approach," said Brennan. "That leads to them being excited to come to practice, and when they come every day, then we can work on their techniques. We sort of camouflage the whole practice with fun."
Their tactics include allowing swimmers to pick certain drills or strokes to focus on, enabling the kids to choose songs during some drills, and holding "Fun Fridays" that feature games of sharks and minnows as well as contests off the diving board and involving donut pool floats.
Serving as assistant coaches are Max Paarlberg, Mary Claire Lewis, Elise Gerken and Jen Ayres.
Michelle Fischer of Hinsdale, whose 12-year-old daughter Sarah is one of the team's standouts, also traced a direct line between the fun atmosphere created by the coaching staff and the team's success. "It's important not to tense up when you swim," said Sarah. "The mood is always relaxed and supportive, which usually makes for better results."
The club's emergence is a numbers game: whereas in years past the club would not field enough depth in various categories, bypassing even the potential to tally points, this year they are racking up points by having a strong turnout at each meet.
For example, of the Gators' 75 swimmers, 69 were on hand for the July 10th meet and there have been at least 55 competitors at all the meets. Over the past five years, there had never been more than 45 at any meet, said Brennan.
"The key to our success is in the numbers, and the skill within those numbers," said Brennan.
During swim meets, points are accumulated as participants from 7 to 18 years old compete against one another in events that include the freestyle, butterfly, backstroke and breast stroke. (Swim teams include 5- and 6-year-olds, though their performances do not count toward meet scores.)
The season wraps up on Saturday, July 22nd, with a conference meet in which the Gators are aiming to outscore the two clubs they have already defeated, as well as another that they came close to edging.
About Five Seasons Burr Ridge:
Five Seasons is the premier year-round high-energy, high-touch sports club focused on family leisure and entertainment, improving sports performance and maintaining overall health. The club features one of the region's top outdoor pool facilities as well as an indoor pool, and has built a strong aquatics program since its 2001 opening.
Five Seasons is at 6901 S. Madison in Burr Ridge and online at http://www.fiveseasonssportsclub.com/burrridge/. Phone: 630-570-5200. Facebook: www.facebook.com/FiveSeasonsBurrRidge. Twitter: www.twitter.com/FiveSeasonsBurr.