The Manta Swim Academy is an introductory program for swimmers wishing to learn basic competitive swimming skills in preparation for entering the competitive side of Manta Swim Club.

Program Objectives: 

The Manta Swim Academy is a technique-based program where we start to introduce 

swimmers to the basics of the four competitive strokes, and competitive skills required to participate in a club level meet.

Sessions will be 10 weeks long where athletes will learn:

• Proper stroke mechanics
• Proper kick mechanics
• Streamline push-offs
• Turns
• Dive Starts
• Deep water confidence

Practice Structure

• 5-10 minutes of fundamental movement mechanics, relevant to the pool session
• 40-45 minutes of swimming (skills/kicking)
• 5-10 minutes of challenges and Games!

Practice Guidelines

80% instruction, 10% Training, 10% Challenges and Games… 100% engagement!

Teach and Continue to improve the basic swimming fundamentals:

• Body Position 
• Stack and lock Streamline
• Properly kick all 4 strokes
• Properly swim all 4 strokes
• Starts and Turns
• Breathing Patterns for Freestyle and Butterfly
• Introduce the concept of Streamlined movement
• Team Cheers
• Water confidence

How to Enter Manta Swim Academy:

Every new swimmer to the club will need to be assessed by the Academy Co-Directors. The assessment is used to determine if the swimmer is ready for the program, and which program is the best fit. Coaches are looking for these skills at a minimum:

• Ability to swim 25m comfortably on front and back (freestyle and backstroke)
• Ability to kick 25 meters without large breaks
• Streamline and tread water
•  Make changes to technique upon instruction

It is recommended that Swimmers are 6 years old and around level 5 Red-Cross, or equivalent prior to assessment. Feel free to reach out to [email protected] if you have any questions!

Programs Locations:

Pan Am Pool - 25 Poseidon Bay, Winnipeg, MB R3M 3E4 – Click for location 
Boni Vital Pool - 1215 Archibald St, Winnipeg, MB R2J 0Y9 – Click for location  
Elmwood Kildonan Pool - 909 Concordia Ave, Winnipeg, MB R2K 2M6 – Click for location 
 

• Listens and tries to do what the coach is instructing (Manta Pool Protocols)
• Courteous and respectful with coaches
• Courteous and respectful with other swimmers in the pool
• Comes to practice with a good attitude
• Fosters teamwork and sportsmanship

Coaches:

Please refer to our coaches Tab of the website to see our Academy Staff, and their Bios! All of our coaches are trained, seasoned competitive swimmers with lots of knowledge of the sport to share with all of the academy members. If you have any questions or concerns about the staff please contact [email protected]

Competition

At the end of each of our sessions we will be Hosting a Skills and Thrills meet. This meet is offered to all Academy swimmers and is a great chance for everyone involved to get an understanding of what a meet will look like once they graduate out of Academy. The competitive swimmers of our top three groups will all come out to cheer and assist all the participants of the meet and it is a super fun time for everyone involved!

At the end of Week 7 of each session we will send out an email asking for your commitment for this meet. We will have a deadline set for the RSVP, please follow it.

Criteria for Exit to Competitive- “Graduation” (on Coaches Approval)

• Streamline off every wall with a stack and lock. Be able to push off, back, side, stomach.
• Has knowledge and can execute all drills taught throughout the session.
• Is comfortable doing short and long axis turns.
• Has four legal strokes maintaining proper body position.
• Has a legal 100 IM.
• Has a basic practice habits (per Swimmers Expectations)
• Legal starts and finishes.
• Understands and can display good sportsmanship.
• Understands and can execute the fundamentals of kicking in all four strokes.