History

 

The Houston Swim Club, formerly known as Phill Hansel Swimming Academy, was started in 1953. University of Houston head coach and U.S. Olympic coach Phill Hansel developed the successful teaching method that is still used by us today. This method combines a safe and positive environment with over fifty years of professionalism to offer students a proven method to achieve personal swimming goals.

 

After managing HSC for eight years, Bonnie Howe purchased the facility from Phill Hansel in 1994 and has carefully maintained the quality teaching standards. In June of 2001, we opened our second location in Sugar Land. Our third location opened in July of 2006 in Katy. And, our fourth location in Pearland opened in May of 2009!

 

During the past fifty five years, we have taught over a quarter of a million students. We are professionally confident in our teaching methods and abilities and our policy is to teach with love and joy in a happy, positive, and structured atmosphere.

 

Instructors

 

We take pride in the quality instructors we keep on staff! Instructors must meet the following criteria before teaching a class:

  • CPR/First Aid
  • Water Safety Instruction (Red Cross)
  • 40+ hours of in the water training

Instructors are trained to know when a child is genuinely afraid or strong-minded. Please allow them to decide and to focus their teaching so that your child will get the most from each lesson. We ask that you wait outside the pool area in order to avoid being a distraction to your child. Observation rooms are provided for parents and visitors. Please do not remove your child from their lesson before it is over, as this will only reinforce any anxieties they have about swimming.

 

All instructor requests will be considered, but may not always be honored due to scheduling constraints and class availability. When an instructor is absent, a substitute will be provided. Please be open-minded about new instructors and substitutes so that your child will be as well. We strive to maintain consistency among all instructors. All are trained in the same methods and teach the same curriculum for each class level.

 

We have been members of the United States Swim School Association (USSSA) since 1994 and participate in annual conferences and workshops.