Love to Swim and Tumble School Launches New Site
Love to Swim's mission is to develop students of all ages into happy, confident, masterful, lifelong swimmers. At Love to Swim School, swimmers have fun, parents see results, and coaches get to do what they love. Everybody wins!
Owner and Founder Mary Reilly-Magee has spent the last 29 years of her life teaching swimming to the young and old of San Antonio. A competitive swimmer herself, Mary's passion for swimming began as a gift from her mother, who insisted all her children swim well because she never learned. "My mom is a huge influence in my life. Her commitment to swimming, though she never learned, has given my life direction and meaning in innumerable ways."
Mary taught swimming while earning her bachelor’s degree in English from UTSA. She taught English and coached the swimming and water polo teams at Holmes High School for 5 years while directing the summer night lesson program at Northside Aquatics. In 1998 she resigned from high school teaching to focus on her young daughter, finish a Master’s degree in English Literature and grow an adult lesson program.
In 2001, Mary finally accepted that teaching people the lifelong and lifesaving skill of swimming is what she was meant to do. Armed with her passion and experience, she set out to establish Love to Swim School, renting "water" from fitness clubs, neighborhood pools and aquatic centers to grow her business. In January of 2006, the first Love to Swim School facility opened its doors, offering toasty warm air and water for swimmers, 2 pools specifically designed for teaching and comfortable, easy areas for parents and observers. "This is a dream," says Mary. "With the help of a lot of dedicated, loving people, we are able to offer this exceptional facility and program. It is a happy, safe place to be."
Mary has been a presenter at the American Swimming Coaches Association SwimAmerica™ National Conference and at the U.S. Swim School Association Annual Spring Conference. In 2008, Mary was elected to serve on the Board of Directors of the U.S. Swim School Association and in 2009 was elected to serve a two-year term as Vice President. Following her role as VP, she will serve a two-year term as President of the association.
All Love to Swim School coaches undergo extensive training that includes 20 hours of in-water training and 12 hours of classroom training. Training elements include: curriculum, classroom management, child development, lesson planning, organization and customer service. Additional on-going training is provided through monthly staff meetings, in-service trainings, U.S. Swim School Association and American Swimming Coaches Association conference attendance and professional skill development programs.