Bob and Lori Ziemer Owners of Pied Piper Swim School

By Susie Sutter

Drowning is the fourth leading cause of accidental death in the United States among adults and the second leading cause of accidental death among children 14 years old and younger.  For every one child that dies, three others receive emergency room care for non-fatal submersion injuries.  With such a high rate of death and injury, why aren’t more people signing their children or themselves up for swimming lessons?  Although every summer you hear more and more reports of children, teenagers or adults drowning in the ocean because they did not obey the warning signs or children were not being watched carefully around a pool.   Too many times we’ve heard a preschooler or toddler climbing a ladder to get a toy or walking by the edge of an in ground pool and accidentally falling in.  A small elementary school child falling in during a party and no one noticed them in the water until it was too late.  A number of drowning deaths occur when children fall into a pool and are unable to swim or lift themselves out from the side of a pool.  A large number of adults do not know how to swim.  They assume since they can stand in a pool or close to the shore, there is no need to learn basic swimming technique.  What if your child needs help in a pool?  What if you are faced in an emergency situation where you need to jump into the water where you can’t stand up?   Avoidable heartbreaking tragedies can be changed by a phone call.   Pied Piper Swim School in Toms River has been offering life saving swimming lessons since March 1994.  Bob and Lori Ziemer own and operate the swim school, which stresses water safety and swimming skills.  Betsy Noon has three children, twin two-year-old boys and a daughter who is three, registered at Pied Piper and says swimming lessons are important because it is something they can use forever.

The sessions offered at Pied Piper normally run 6 weeks.  Classes are small with only 6 students and are 30 minutes long twice a week.  They offer year round lessons and encourage all their students to their own individual ability.  Evaluations are scheduled three weeks before starting a class to determine a student’s comfort level in the water, age appropriateness and physical strength.   If children have had lessons before, Bob and Lori want to ensure they are placed in the correct class to improve their swimming skills.  Ages of the students vary from 6 months old to adults.  Tiffani Troboughís son, Hunter, began taking lessons at 10 months old.  She feels it is imperative to learn to swim early; the earlier the better.  What they’re learning is saving their life.   Parents can stay and observe their children during lessons.  They are encouraged to reinforce what their child is taught in class.

Some may think 6 months old is too soon to start teaching swimming.  However, acclimating children early to feel comfortable in the water is key to a successful swimmer.   Instructions begin by having them put their face in the water and blow bubbles.   Getting the child to kick on command and see the reaction of water splashing relates to the movement of kicking.  Betsy Noon adds classes are small and they get one on one attention. Kids follow instructions even at such a young age. I a large number of young children through adult age have a fear of water.  Introducing children to a pool of water early in their life helps them relax in the water.  It also creates a wonderful bonding time for child and parent.

As soon as children start to walk and pull themselves up is a sign they are physically capable to begin to swim.  They are developing the muscles they will need to use while learning.  Kicking and splashing in water comes naturally to children.  You put them in a bathtub and they immediately kick and love that the water is moving and hitting them in the face.  Instructors provide fun activities for their young students using duck barbells, kick boards, bubbles and Easter eggs for them to grab.  Tiffani Trobough says the kids think they’re playing when they’re actually learning. Water safety is emphasized throughout all the classes no matter the age.  Feeling at ease in water is an important aspect to a young child or adult who has a fear of water.  Classes not only teach swimming, but also feeling comfortable in any water environment whether it be a pool, ocean, lake or pond.

Not only is swimming a life saving activity, but Pied Piper instructors emphasize and teach their students how to climb out of a pool.  If a child falls into a pool, they more than likely will not fall in by the steps or a ladder.  They need to build strength and practice lifting themselves out of the pool on their own.  It also allows them to gain the confidence that they know what to do and how to get out without panicking.  They are comfortable enough to swim to the side calmly and pull themselves out.

Pied Piper Swim School has an enormous amount of patience with their students.  Instructors face a number of different anxieties from a variety of ages.  Toddlers and young children may become upset because they don’t want to get in the water.  They work with parents and children to help them feel at ease in and around the pool.  They work slowly and carefully with their students until they feel they are ready.  Small steps make huge accomplishments.

An area where most people may not think a swim school can be beneficial is training swim team members.   Speed and timing are essential at a swim meet.  Losing a fraction of a second on a flip turn can decide between first or second place.  Training swimmers to improve their swimming technique, enhance their strength and build their endurance is a class that is offered year round at Pied Piper Swim School.  Gail Brown’s nephew, Derek Hopkinson, started taking classes with Bob and Lori when he was 2 Ω years old.  He’s now a freshman on the Toms River East Swim Team.  This year Derek won the Most Outstanding Newcomer Swimming Award and received a Varsity Letter as a 9th grader.

The instructors emphasize water safety and teach swimming in a fun and loving atmosphere.  They offer classes year round for a variety of different ages.  Neighbors, friends and family members may have an in ground or above ground pool that you and your children should feel comfortable around.  Living in a shore community and frequenting the beach, you and your children need to possess certain strengths to keep you safe from drowning.  Don’t let another child, teenager or adult be a statistic.  Be aware of the dangers of the water, whether it’s the ocean, lake, pond, stream or pool.  Keep them safe by providing them with swimming lessons.

Frequently Asked Questions About

Pied Piper Swim School

After teaching swim for over 20 years and owning Pied Piper Swim School for over 17 years, we have learned to incorporate many of our own ideas with the traditional American Red Cross,WSI (water safety instructor)way of teaching.  Along the way many of our parents have asked us why we do certain skills and what is the child learning from doing it. Here are some of our most popular questions from parents & their answers.

Nikki S., Toms River- “We have heard that your swim school program is strict?”  “Why?”

Pied Piper- Our program is a very structured and sometimes strict program.  It is our job to be able to teach the child how to respect the water and those in it as well as have fun. With that in mind we do need to run the program with a certain amount of authority for the child to be able to know the difference between lesson time and play time.  Many children view swim time as play time only & while that seems fun and exciting they also need to know first and foremost how to respect the water.  With respect of the water and the rules surrounding it, comes safety & with that comes a safe and fun swimmer.

Elizabeth D., Lavallette -”Why does my child need to learn how to jump/dive in if they don’t like to do it?”

Pied Piper- Children need to learn how to safely enter the water whether jumping or diving.  If a child accidentally gets bumped or pushed into a pool, lake, river etc…and does not know how to land safely they can cause major harm to themselves and others.

Larry D., Toms River- “Why do you have the children climb out at the wall instead of using the stairs?”

Pied Piper- It is very important for children to learn how to climb out of a  pool.  There might not always be a set of stairs near enough for a child to climb out on.  Chances are that if a child is going to accidentally fall into a pool, it’s not going to be near the steps or ladder.  Climbing out is an essential safety skill all children need to know and believe it or not, it is much harder then it looks.

Kathleen M,Toms River-”Why don’t you allow children to wear goggles?”

Pied Piper- We believe that children need to learn how to swim without goggles because it allows them to become comfortable with the water getting in their face and eyes.  when children use goggles all the time they become accustom to the water not being in their eyes & find themselves unable to open their eyes to see if the goggle fall off or fill up with water.  This can sometimes cause panic even in a child who is a confident swimmer.

Mandy P., Toms River- “Why do you have children swim through hoops that are submerged underwater?”

Pied Piper- Having a young child grab a slightly submerged hoop with their hand, put their face in & lift the hoop over their head teaches them how to get objects (rafts, tubes, etc…)off themselves if they were to get stuck underneath.

Gina D., Brick- “Why do you have children get objects off the bottom of the pool?”

Pied Piper- Having a child attempt to get items off the bottom of the pool teaches them to be aware of their breath.  How to control the amount of air they are letting out & how to know when they need to come up.  A child needs to be able to feel that on their own & having a goal in the form of picking up an object for them is a great way for them to accomplish it.

For over 17 years we have been blessed & privileged to provide swim lessons to many families and hope that we have allowed each child to accomplish the goals that their families hoped they would achieve.