BEAUMONT — A Beaumont man has successfully partnered with the city of Beaumont to create a youth swim team called 409 Swim.
The team can be found at the Alice Keith or Magnolia swimming pools four days a week, practicing after hours at the direction of its coach, Raymond Ford Jr.
Ford is known for holding his ‘Like A Fish’ Swim Lessons at his home in Beaumont. After six years of offering private lessons to both children and adults, Ford created 409 Swim.
“I thought doing actual swimming lessons was rewarding, but this here, seeing these kids progress from week to week, me stepping up the workout intensity and them responding well and pushing through,” said Ford. “It’s been very rewarding.”
In the two and a half months the 409 Swim team has been together, the 34 children who make up the team have competed in three golden triangle swim meets, walking away with nearly 250 ribbons .
“How those kids played and interact with each other. Most of them didn’t know each other at the beginning of the year but now we’ve become a family,” said Ford. “We call ourselves the 409 family is what we are.”
Ford says he’s seen a change in each of the children, from improved times to better social skills and more. It’s something parents like Shana Trent have noticed as well.
“They love the competing part more than anything, so I just see greatness in this,” said Trent. “They’re destined for greatness in this.”
Trent’s twin daughters have won first and second place ribbons since competing with 409 Swim. Trent and other parents say they’re here in the team’s novice year to help Ford in any way they can.
“I think it’s great what he’s doing, he’s a great coach. He has a dream and a passion for this, I see the passion in him, and the passion that he has, it moves over to the kids as well and the parents,” aid Trent.
The city provided the pool ropes and ordered the team custom diving blocks. Ford also has a two year contract with the city that allows him to use the Alice Keith and Magnolia Pools after hours.
Ford says he’s grateful for the opportunity to give back to the youth and hopes he’s taught them a valuable lesson.
“A lot of them had a lot of self doubt, but through hard work, you can accomplish anything in life,” said Ford,
In the future, Ford hopes to make the program year round and even allow the team to compete in Houston.
Source link : https://www.kfdm.com/news/local/beaumont-man-partners-with-city-to-launch-409-swim-a-new-youth-swim-team
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Publish date : 2024-07-22 01:26:22
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