Leafe Elite Swim School: Personalised Coaching Overview

For families looking for high-quality swimming lessons in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, Leafe Elite Swim School offers a focused and personalised approach to teaching children essential swimming skills. Based in Matraville and run from a private indoor heated pool, this small family swim school is led by experienced coach Gary Leafe, with support from his son Chris Leafe.

Unlike larger swim schools, Leafe Elite Swim School is built around decades of professional coaching experience and a commitment to teaching strong foundations that help children develop confidence and competence in the water.

A Family Swim School with Decades of Experience

Gary Leafe, Head Coach at Leafe Elite Swim School, has spent more than 35 years coaching swimming. He is a Silver Licensed Swim Coach, as well as a qualified triathlon and strength and conditioning coach.

Working alongside him is his son Chris Leafe, who has 27 years of experience as a Bronze swim coach and previously spent 10 years as a competitive swimmer.

Together, the father-and-son team bring a wealth of experience and a genuine passion for helping children learn to swim properly.

A Focus on Strong Swimming Foundations

Leafe Elite Swim School takes a different approach to many traditional swim schools. Rather than running large classes or game-based lessons, the focus is on teaching solid swimming technique and real skills that will benefit children for life.

The goal is to help students develop the ability to swim confidently in a range of environments — whether that’s the pool or the surf.

Swimming is a complex skill that requires both physical coordination and cognitive understanding. Children must learn to:

Kick their legs correctly
Coordinate breathing while swimming
Watch and control their arm movements
Exhale underwater
Coordinate arms, breathing and kicking simultaneously

Developing these skills takes practice, patience and proper coaching. At Leafe Elite Swim School, every lesson is designed to build these foundations step by step.

A Squad-Style Learning Environment

Lessons are taught in a squad-style format, where children stay active and engaged throughout the session. Coaches remain poolside and guide students through structured drills and techniques without entering the water.

This approach encourages children to stay focused and keeps them practising continuously rather than waiting poolside between turns. Many children respond positively to this environment, enjoying the motivation and friendly competition that comes with squad-style learning.

A Thoughtful Approach to Early Learning

Leafe Elite Swim School focuses on teaching children who are toilet trained, as this supports hygiene and ensures children have reached the neurological and cognitive development needed to properly learn swimming skills.

The school believes that before this stage, children are typically reacting to situations rather than learning the mechanics of swimming, which can sometimes lead to unnecessary stress or confusion.

The emphasis is always on ensuring children are comfortable, confident and learning at their own pace.

Supporting Parents and Water Safety

Gary also believes that parents play the most important role in their child’s water safety. If time allows, he is happy to offer advice to parents who want to help their children become comfortable in the water — even starting with simple activities at home, such as getting used to water around the face in the shower or a bowl.

Ultimately, the best water safety protection for any child is parental supervision.

A Small School with Limited Places

Because lessons take place at a private indoor heated pool at the family home, Leafe Elite Swim School operates with limited hours and availability. This allows Gary and Chris to maintain a strong focus on quality coaching and individual progress.

For families seeking dedicated coaching and measurable improvement in their child’s swimming ability, this personalised approach can make a significant difference.