The Flyers Swim Club is a non-profit and independent youth organization, self-funded through membership fees and fundraising activities.  The club is a registered member of United States Swimming, Inc., which is the only national governing body of amateur swimming in the U.S.

The Flyers maintain an emphasis at "entry level" which means we keep the fun in swimming for your children.  The Flyers staff encourages participation without pressure.  They will teach and explain with detail, motivate with reassurance, and challenge for improvements.  The Flyers program is based on the philosophy of attracting kids to the pool, offering opportunity to learn, and then developing excellence through practice, experience and guidance.

We encourage parents to approach our staff with questions or concerns, or for updates on your swimmer's progress.  Feel free to ask questions of any of our staff members.  There are no embarrassing questions whether you are a new family or veteran family to the sport and the program.  Remember, we're here to teach your swimmer and you!

• WE TEACH COMPETITIVE SWIMMING TO INTERESTED CHILDREN FROM THE GREATER GLENS FALLS AREA, AGES 6-18.  WE ARE THE NEXT PROGRESSION AFTER LESSONS!

• New swimmers can always stop in anytime to see what we're about and talk to the coaches!  Go to Season Schedule for practice times.

• To receive club Newsletters and announcements you must create a new user account and submit with email address.

Practice Groups

The Flyers program has six levels of practice groups that reflect ability, experience and age. Within each level there may be more than one lane in which the coach has broken the group down further for the purpose of better compatibility.

White Group

Entry level group, introduced to all of the competitive strokes with an emphasis on kicking and body position. Generally, ages 6 - 9.  Practices 45 minutes, two days a week. 

Blue Group

Older beginner swimmers who would feel uncomfortable in the younger group, and younger swimmers advanced from the White group.  More complex drills and technique emphasis in all four strokes, while continuing to improve kicking and timing of all phases of each stroke.  Ages 8-12.  Practices 45 minutes two days a week.

Red Group

Intermediate swimmers who demonstrate skills in all four competitive strokes and who have the ability to complete multiple lengths comfortably.  They are introduced to a more challenging regimen of instruction and training.  Ages 9-13.  Practice 45 mins-1 hr., 2-3 times a week.  

Head Coach Paul Crandell  (Seniors/Gold)

Paul is the founder and President of the Flyers organization.  He was the head varsity coach of the Queensbury High School Girls Swim Team from 1984 to 2004.  Paul also served twenty years as a State Trooper, retiring in 1998.  He returned to college at SUNY Albany and earned his graduate degree and teaching certification in history.  He taught part time for five years at South Glens Falls High School.  Paul started his competitive swimming career at age 10 and continued to swim through college where he qualified for the NJCAA Championships in the butterfly.  Intermittently, he continues to swim competitively at the masters level.  Right after moving to the Glens Falls area in 1980, Paul had his first head coaching position at the Glens Falls YMCA, and also started a new team at the Glens Falls Country Club.  He was the pool director at the Glens Falls Tennis & Swim Club, and a tour guide at Fort William Henry in Lake George.  He and his wife Barbara have three daughters and they've lived in Queensbury since 1981.

Coach Chris Utter (Blue)

Chris has been involved in the instruction and organization of our local Special Olympics for the past 20 years.  She currently works as a service coordinator for Warren Washington County ARC, while doing some lifeguarding at the YMCA.  She swam competitively as a young girl and through college, where she also became involved in synchronized swimming.  Chris found her inspiration for competitive swimming from her father who was the head swimming coach at Norwich H.S., NY for many years.  Chris has been a member of the Flyers staff for several years, coaching all groups.  She lives in Queensbury and has two daughters who were also Flyers swimmers.