For Seton Hall’s Division I swim program, time spent in the pool is usually reserved for training. Through ASAPP Aquatics, however, SHU swimmers are stepping into a different role: teacher.
Instead of racing down the lanes, members of the team are helping young swimmers become comfortable in the water, learn new skills and gain confidence.
The team competes in the BIG EAST Conference under Head Coach Derek Sapp, who has been with the program for 14 years. When Sapp introduced the idea of establishing a swim program for children, he saw it as an opportunity to connect the team with local communities.
“My wife and I just thought it was a good opportunity…we felt like we were in a really good place, that we had a good group of people that we could work with and build on,” Sapp said.
The program welcomes young swimmers of all experience levels. Sapp said that, depending on their age and ability, participants may have different goals they want to achieve.
“You have all spectrums of people that are just getting exposed to water and being in it, and you have other people that know how to swim and are looking to improve on what they already know,” he said.
For Carys Graville, a senior psychology major and member of the SHU swim team, the opportunity to teach felt almost automatic.
“When Derek [Sapp] was like, ‘Oh, we’re running this clinic for kids to learn how to swim,’ I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, get me in there, I need to do this,’” she said.
Graville has been swimming competitively since she was 8 years old. She has always been passionate about teaching kids and previously taught children how to swim back home in the United Kingdom.
“I love working with kids; I just think they’re so much fun and they're just so full of life,” Graville said.
Jake Karulf, a junior psychology major and swim team member, shares Graville’s enthusiasm for teaching and providing guidance to children.
“I’ve been in volunteer groups since I was a young teen for my local church back in Ohio, where I would volunteer for summer vacation bible school programs, or even just volunteering for weekend camps,” he said.
That background has shaped the way Karulf approaches teaching. He wants the children to learn, but he also wants them to enjoy the process.
“I'm not usually all business. I try to have fun too because I think that’s always an aspect of learning,” Karulf said.
Sapp said one of the program's main goals is to make the water feel less intimidating for young, inexperienced swimmers.
“It doesn’t have to be something where everybody has to be a competitive swimmer…if we can help people feel comfortable and confident in the water, it might not be as scary as some people realize,” Sapp said.
The program and its instructors cater to what the swimmer wants to take away from the experience, whether that means learning basic skills or improving technique. In that sense, the pool becomes not only a place to learn how to swim, but a place to build confidence.
For Sapp, the program is also about showing student instructors how much they have to offer. He hopes teaching will strengthen their confidence while giving them a new perspective on the skills they have spent years developing in the pool.
For Graville, the experience has deepened her appreciation for swimming and given her an opportunity to share something she loves with others.
“Swimming is very important to me, and I love to spread that love for the sport with other people,” Graville said.
The community aspect of the program is key, Sapp said. Swim team members shared similar sentiments.
“I love giving back to the community,” Graville said. “I love being able to give back to the swim program that has given me so much…I’m really excited about it.”
Karulf said the program also provides children with access to resources that can make a meaningful difference, like the pool, knowledgeable instructors and a productive environment.
“When we’re fostering the learning of a lifesaving skill, hopefully, I and the other instructors can create a fun environment for kids,” Karulf said. “I think that’s beneficial to any community.”
Sapp hopes the program can continue beyond its initial sessions and into the spring.
“This isn’t a one-time thing,” he said. “Hopefully, it’s something we can build on and keep it going.”
Hailey Castro is the assistant editor of The Setonian’s Features section. She can be reached at hailey.castro@student.shu.edu.
