Meet Steve Grella
A lifelong aquatics educator, public-safety professional, local business owner, and dad.
I started working in aquatics in 2002 and founded Lifeguard LI in 2012. Swim Lessons LI is the next chapter: a focused local school built around small classes, thoughtful instruction, and the belief that every swimmer deserves to feel safe and capable in the water.
I did not begin as the fastest swimmer.
In eighth grade, I was cut from the basketball team and needed another after-school activity. My mother pushed me toward swimming. During my first timed 50-yard freestyle, my goggles flew off, I struggled down the lane, and I finished exhausted in about 45 seconds.
Two weeks later, I climbed back onto the block and finished in about 30 seconds. I was hooked. That experience still shapes how I teach: a difficult first attempt does not tell us what a swimmer is capable of becoming.
I know what it feels like to be uncomfortable, embarrassed, and unsure in the water. It is one reason Swim Lessons LI focuses on patient coaching, achievable progress, and building genuine confidence instead of rushing a child through a checklist.
A difficult first attempt does not define the swimmer. The right coaching can change the entire story. Steve Grella, Founder
More than two decades shaped this school.
Each chapter added something important to the way our instructors teach, communicate, and care for swimmers.
The swim team
A reluctant tryout became the beginning of a lifelong connection to swimming.
First lifeguard job
A chance conversation led to a summer position at Friends Academy and a career in aquatics.
Swim instructor
Water Safety Instructor training turned swimming knowledge into a passion for teaching.
Public safety service
Law-enforcement and EMT experience deepened the standards for preparation, judgment, and care.
Lifeguard LI begins
One lifeguard instructor class became the starting point for a respected local aquatics organization.
Swim Lessons LI
A focused swim school brings that experience directly to local swimmers and their families.
Every role changed how I lead.
The value is not a list of titles. It is what those experiences contribute to your child’s lesson.
Teaching children and adults showed me that progress comes from adapting to the person, not forcing every swimmer into one teaching style.
Aquatics leadership
Years on pool decks taught me that safe programs depend on preparation, clear expectations, and instructors who take responsibility personally.
Public safety
Law-enforcement and EMT experience reinforced calm decision-making, attention to risk, and the importance of earning a family’s trust.
The founder’s philosophy is built into the program.
Swim Lessons LI is designed around the kind of experience I would want for my own family.
Safety is taught
Safe habits, good judgment, and comfort in the water are intentionally reinforced during skill development.
Small groups matter
Children need enough instructor attention to receive useful correction, encouragement, and meaningful practice.
Progress should be clear
Families should understand what their swimmer is learning, where progress is happening, and what comes next.
Confidence comes first
Children learn best when the instructor is patient, consistent, and genuinely invested in helping them succeed.
Our maximum group ratio is not a marketing extra. It creates time for individual feedback, safer practice, and a real relationship between instructor and swimmer.
My promise to local families
Becoming a husband and father made this mission even more personal. I know how much trust it takes to place your child in someone else’s care, especially in the water. I want families to feel that Swim Lessons LI knows their swimmer, communicates honestly, and takes every lesson seriously.
We will not promise that every swimmer progresses at exactly the same speed. We will promise thoughtful instruction, clear standards, genuine encouragement, and our best effort to help each swimmer become safer, stronger, and more confident.
Let’s find the right place to begin.
Use the level finder for guidance or go directly to current class times and availability.