Michael Farmer

Serves La Canada Flintridge, CA

35244

Hired 10 times

Not yet available

20 years in business

Not yet available

5.0

This pro accepts payments via Cash, Check, PayPal, Venmo, and Zelle.

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Credentials

Background Check

Michael Farmer
Completed on 6/27/2017

Introduction

I help you and your child achieve from being water safe to swimming like a pro. There is no excuse for drowning --- being the #1 cause of death for 4 and under, nor #2 for 13 and under in the US! I am working daily with many adults and children just like you and yours. If you are: * Beginning and just getting started in the water or improving your technique * Getting in condition and preparing to compete * Chasing mastery to place and to be ranked locally to nationally no matter what your category From 16 months to 92 years old, tots, age-groupers, Masters, girls, boys, men and women, learn-to-swim, improving through competition at national and Olympic levels. I have taught thousands of children and adults to swim over my career. From simple daily technical skills to race-day performance. I focus on technique because whoever holds technique the longest wins --- and will never forget. I include dryland exercises to complement and enhance swimming work. I incorporate life skills and values in my teaching and coaching. My swimmer athletes frequently perform better in the classroom and at work as they improve their athletic and swimming performance. For my age group swimmers, they receive tutorials with photos, and video references on each stroke, starts, and turns. We may also include customized dryland exercise programs and weight training. My experience: I competed as an age-grouper, high school, club, college and USMS swimmer. I set IM and butterfly records, swam LA City finals, 4-year varsity letterman in water polo in college. Current USMS competitor. I developed an age group team (4-18 yrs.) starting with 10 swimmers to 350+ swimmers, several achieving national status and, one Olympian. I am certified ASCA American Swim Coaches Assoc.) levels 1-4, USMS (US Masters Swimming) levels 1-3, and Red Cross swim coach and instructor and recommended on Thumbtack, LA Mommies. and CoachUp. Faithful clients come primarily from referrals and CoachUp. My students, whether 1 or 92, learn to swim while having fun. I have a 95% success rate. Questions? Let's talk, iron out the details, put together your or your child's program. I am sure that we can find a way! Let's get started. Results: Watching the children and adults grow and achieve, stand and walk a little taller, with greater self-assurance. Seeing them realize that they can do it. From a 50 yr.-old man who couldn't swim or float, swim 50 yds. freestyle after 10 lessons. A 10 yr.-old boy who never won anything become "man of the meet" because of his lifetime best performance, strutting around with his award. A 70-year-old woman, condemned to a slow death, start swimming - and one year later, she swam a mile a day, all symptoms disappeared. A completely water-safe, 28-month-old, goes everywhere. A 76-year-old man started with 10 yards, after 6 lessons, he could swim freestyle for 100 yards. A 3 1/2-year-old swimming with basics of freestyle, backstroke, and breaststroke, plus diving! A 5-year-old girl swimming a 100 yd. individual medley. And a 6-year-old boy swimming a 200 individual medley (with a dive, turns and no DQ)! You and your children can be just like this!

Q&A

What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?

Standard includes travel and travel time to you (in LA!). Single lesson 60 minutes, trial: $135.00; 45 minutes, trial $115.00; 30 minutes, trial $85.00 - includes travel time and mileage to you, applicable to your overall package. No worries for you. 10 pack: 10 x 60-minute sessions: $1200.00; 10 x 45 min. $900.00; and for under 2 years old, 10 x 30 min. $750.00 (paid up-front). You receive scheduling priorities, and no headaches for prep time and driving to and from. Includes tutorials with instruction, commentary, photos, and video references. Plus guidance for parents when I am not there and between lessons. For competitive swimmers, this may include coach attendance at swim meets. Long-term and seasonal plans and programs customized fees. Questions, special needs - contact and call to discuss. Where there is a will, there is a way. Specials: Request quotes for families, group sessions, and special requirements. Sessions: time, frequency, goals, and objectives - are individually established with each client. I am flexible and reasonable. Call me, and talk to me about your needs!

What is your typical process for working with a new customer?

Together, we assess the student's objectives and current level of abilities. Then, we establish a lesson plan of action for the short, medium, and long term to focus on the child's or adult's goals. Lessons and training are broken down into conditioning and technical development to improve and strengthen. Progress is measured during the program through improved performance in technique, style, and speed -- floating, breathing, and stroke development, from becoming water safe to competing! The focus is on becoming a swimmer! All water safety elements are covered that process.

What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?

Competitor: I competed as an age-grouper, high school, club, college, and USMS swimmer. Set IM and butterfly records, swam LA City finals, 4-year varsity letterman in water polo in college. I am currently a USMS competitor - at local, regional, and national competitions. In top 10. Coach: I developed, as head coach for 9 years, an age group team (4-18) starting with 10 swimmers to 350+ swimmers. My 9-10 and 11-12 boys and 11-12 and 13-14 girls achieved national rankings. Some later became NCAA champions, with one boy in the Olympics. Certifications: I am certified ASCA (American Swim Coaches Association) levels 1-4, USMS (US Masters Swimmers) levels 1-3 coach and instructor, plus Red Cross WSI, and CPR. I teach train-the-trainer classes for coaches and instructors, too. Additional outside of swimming: I have extensive experience with strength and conditioning training (dryland, weights, etc.), and nutrition, have taught dance, fitness, gymnastics, and weight training (also competed). My academic background includes a biology minor with kinesiology, physiology, chemistry, physics, etc. all useful for physical development and coaching. I majored in Political Science, minored in Biology, grad school in Political Science, and Law school.

How did you get started doing this type of work?

Originally, coaching and teaching swimming was a college summer job which I turned into an all-year program, starting with 10 children out of the summer swim team. We grew over nine years to 350+ swimmers. I combined the City Parks and Rec, YMCA, and Board of Education into one integrated program.

What types of customers have you worked with?

Young to senior (12 months to 92 years old), boys, girls, young adults, Masters, and recreational swimmers (m/f). Moms, Dads, and nannies of little ones to make their children water aware and enjoy the water. --- People just like you and/or your child!! All of whom have a desire and a willingness to change and improve. My customers are happy, inspired, and inspirational. They make my day!

Describe a recent project you are fond of. How long did it take?

Working with a Master's swimmer for a couple of hours, dropped his time by over 20 seconds on a 200 breaststroke. Another Masters swimmer now has race and workout confidence. She continues to shatter her own personal best times in competition and has begun to place in competition, setting team records. A few hours work, but more importantly, continued encouragement and reminders to apply what she has learned. Recruited an 87 year old to compete in swimming for the first time in his life. He did and placed. He is now an avowed competitor at national level after a few months, and continues a year later. Started with a 16-month-old boy, at 30 months, he is water-safe, floats on his stomach and back, breathes, dives in, can enter his home pool anywhere, and swim to the side and get out in comfort. Loves swimming, and advances with every lesson! In 8 lessons (2/week), took a non-swimming 8-year-old to swimming freestyle and backstroke, and becoming completely water safe.

What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?

How good a teacher and coach are they? Being a great swimmer does not mean that one can be a great teacher or coach. Look for attitude: is the person a motivator who instills trust and confidence, who creates a positive environment with encouragement at any and all levels, yet who is disciplined enough to drive the student forward. Is swimming fun? How passionate are they about swimming and their students' progress?

What questions should customers think through before talking to professionals about their project?

What do you want to achieve with your swimming? How willing and desirous are you to work hard, make changes, and overcome challenges to accomplish your goal? How honest will you be with yourself? An investment in swimming is a lifetime benefit and insurance policy that will remain forever. You can learn at any age, you can improve at any age, and you can compete at any age.