Bulldog Swim School by ABSC
Swim Lessons & Technique Practices Partners

 

 

 

 

Bulldog Swim School is ABSC's one-stop shop for learn to swim lessons, introduction to competitive strokes, and technique and fitness. From babies to teenagers and adults refining the basics of free, back, breast and fly, our swim school makes swimmers for life!

ABSC welcomed swim school Director Gabby Matthews back to our staff in Spring of 2021 to found our swim school! The first class was offered on March 9th, 2021 at the  former Georgia Aquatics Center now Oconee Aquatics Recreation.

Originally from Brazil, “Coach Gabby Soraggi” was the Lead Developmental Coach at ABSC from 2003-2006, a Volunteer Assistant Coach for UGA, former Head Coach at Brenau University and has more recently overseen swim schools and coached age-group at Gulliver Prep (FL), Mission Viejo (CA) and CalElite Kids (CA).

 

Gabby is the former Head Swim Coach at Brenau University. She reinstated the program that had been deactivated for over 20 years, and recruited quality student/athletes from all over the world (i.e. - Brazil, Croatia, Scotland, Australia, USA, and others). The Brenau University swimmers achieved 2007 - 2010 NAIA Academic All Americans & NAIA Daktronics Academic Awards Winners. Coach Gabby was named the 2010 NAIA Nationals Buffalo Fund Five Star Champions of Character Award Winner. She became the first woman in the history of Brazil to ever coach at the collegiate level. Gabby was also the Golden Tigers Swim Club CEO/ Head Swim Coach and owner.

 

Coach Gabby graduated with a Bachelors in Physical Education from the University of Mogi das Cruzes, SP - Brazil and has a Masters in Science with an emphasis in Organizational Leadership from Brenau University. 

She is a USA Swimming, Red Cross, Aquatic Facility Operator, SwimAmerica Director & ASCA Level V certified coach. She and her husband Jarrod and daughter Athena moved back to Athens in January 2021, and ABSC was excited to welcome them back home where they belong!

 

 

Come join us for lessons today! 

• Offering learn to swim for ages 4 months & up and pre-competitive for ages 5 & up
• DawgFit pre-competitive groups will take place at the heated 25 yard pool at the YWCO: 562 Research Dr, Athens GA, 30605
• All classes will take place in the heated instructional pool at the Oconee Aquatics Recreation: 1545 S Bishop Farms Pkwy, Watkinsville, GA 30677
• Contact Coach Gabby Matthews at [email protected] or (706) 438-2840 (text is prefered) for any questions
• To find everything you need to start swimming visit our online swim store here: https://www.swimoutlet.com/collections/absc? 

 

*** Important Information: 

Perpetual Sessions are offered each month. You may choose your start and drop date to best fit your family schedule. Billing is on first of each month - autopay

Bulldog Swim School Registration Link: 
https://www.gomotionapp.com/team/athensbulldogsc/page/bulldog-swim-school-

 Private/Semi-Private Sessions scheduled upon request via email year-round ages 4 months to adults
 DawgFit Pre-Competitive YWCO Sessions year-round with summer break (monthly perpetual membership)
 Seasonal Group Classes will be offered at the OAR year-round (monthly perpetual membership)
 Breaks: Spring Break, Summer Break, Thanksgiving Break & Holidays.
Dates will be displayed during registration as "No Class Dates" and our office will also send reminders via email


Class Skill-Level Descriptions

• Baby Gups (4 months to 2 y/o, 1 to 6 ratio). Basic water comfort and water safety skills; independent floating on both their front and back, blowing bubbles and maintaining an unassisted back float; entering and exiting the pool safely while having a lot of fun.
• Flyppies (2 to 4, 1 to 3 ratio). Swimmers must be potty-trained and comfortable putting their face in the water. Swimmers will learn basic water safety, water submersion, and floating from back to front and front to back. Safety Skills: getting to the side of the pool, safety jumps and exiting without assistance.
• Guppies (3 & Up, 1 to 6 ratio). Kicking and rolling over from front to back; intro to crawl arms and backstroke arms once the swimmer is ready for this skill; swimming independently with little to no assistance.
• Puppies (5 & Up, 1 to 6 ratio). Independent crawl arms while rolling and lifting their head up to breathe (initial side breathing); freestyle, backstroke and butterfly kick with or without board; introduction to breast kick, side breathing, butterfly with or without kickboard. Swimmers will be introduced to breast arms and butterfly arms.
• DawgFit (5 & Up, 1 to 12 ratio). This is our pre-competitive group where our swimmers will transition from 30 to 60 minutes of practice. Swimmers that know freestyle and backstroke can join this group! This group is perfect for those swimmers that would like to continue practice swimming, work on fitness and can't yet commit to the year round competitive team. Just keep swimming! Think about what our clinic series used to be - very similar concept here!
• Dawgies (7 & Up, 1 to 6 ratio). Learning proficient backstroke, freestyle, and intermediate breaststroke and butterfly; there will be introduction to starts, turns and finishes; upon legal knowledge of all 4 strokes (IM) and completion of session(s) swimmer(s) will be invited to join the Athens Bulldogs Swim Club!
• Big Dawgs (14 & Up, 1 to 6 ratio). Basic water comfort, water safety skills, survival skills and intro to all 4 strokes for adults that want to learn-to-swim in a loving and fun environment. It is never late to teach dawgs of all ages how to learn new tricks in the water!