Courtesy GoFrogs
Swim instructors at local pools don’t usually have the qualifications of Richard Sybesma, the former swim coach at TCU who led the Horned Frogs’ swimming and diving program for 38 years. But it looks like the retired coach will have to take it easy on swim laps and butterfly forms when he takes up teaching underserved children how to stay afloat.
Fort Worth’s Mobile Rec program, which helps serve children with limited access to recreation centers, has partnered with Fort Worth ISD and the Rainwater Charitable Foundation. The program includes numerous sites across Greater Fort Worth, including William James Middle School, Carrol Peak Elementary, Paschal High School, and Daggett Middle School.
“This program is such a great opportunity for children who normally would not have the opportunity to learn to swim through the generosity of the Rainwater Charitable Foundation,” Sybesma says. “We are very excited to do this program and proud of its success.”
The Symbesma-run program features two three-week programs (the final program ending July 28), where 16 instructors, five lifeguards, and a certified trainer teach children the basics of swimming — and get a little relief from the summer heat. This marks the program’s seventh year. Past programs have averaged 500 – 550 children. Sybesma, who led the Horned Frogs to seven team conference championships and 16 individual league titles, retired from coaching in 2017.
For more information, visit the Rainwater Charitable Foundation’s website or Fort Worth Mobile Rec’s Facebook page.
