About johnnie means aquatics
JMA is a competitive swim team based in Third Ward, Houston, Texas. Founded in 2022 to support the diverse community of central Houston.
JM is a USA Swimming affiliated club and is a member of Gulf Swimming, one of five Texas Local Swimming Committees (LSCs).
about us
Our Team
Our swimmers come from all across the Greater Houston area to train. Our swimmers (ages 5-18) attend schools in Houston ISD, Pearland ISD, Fort Bend ISD, and Humble ISD. Our middle and high school swimmers also participate on the school swim teams.
OUR COACHES
Our Coaching team advances the legacy of Johnnie Means, Texas Hall of Fame Coach with over 60 years of experience. Our coaches have access to the most comprehensive training and certification program for youth coaches of any sport. Our culture of learning ensures that your swimmer is trained using the most current age appropriate programming.
NON-PROFIT STATUS
Johnnie Means Aquatics, a 501©3 non-profit club, is run by its elected Board of Directors which meets quarterly. All members are welcome at each meeting and encouraged to be involved in team activities and fundraisers.
Community Involvement
JMA has pledged to engage with the community we serve, partnering with local schools, neighborhood associations, government, and other nonprofit organizations.
Continuing the legacy
While JMA’s story begins in 2022, our history in the sport of swimming begins much, much earlier.
- Our story begins in 1961 when Johnnie Means launched an AAU swim team at the historic South Central YMCA appealing to AAU to desegregate the sport of swimming in Texas.
- In 1963 Coach Means began a collegiate swim team at Texas Southern University; the TigerSharks. The TigerSharks were nationally ranked in the NAIA Conference - the first collegiate athletics association to invite historically black colleges & universities (HBCUs) into membership.
- In 1992 Coach Means, along with Thurman Robins, and Harris County Commissioner El Franco Lee, created a free competitive swim team They worked tirelessly to maintain access to swimming for thousands of children over a 30-year span, producing regional, state, nationally, and globally ranked swimmers. Harris County Aquatics Program participated in its last swim meet in March 2020.
- In 2022 Means Aquatics was incorporated under the laws of the state of Texas and is now officially known as “Means Aquatics, Inc.” or “Johnnie Means Aquatics.” The start of JMA is a passing of the baton. Coach Means has coached, trained and mentored Candess Tucker and Dominique Hamilton to continue the strong swimming legacy that has built for the Houston community.
Our coaches
Our highly skilled and supportive coaching staff are here to guide your swimmer to achieve their best in and out of the pool. If you have questions related to workouts, meets, events, goal setting, and other swimming related needs, please contact us.
Training
Our goal is to provide a developmentally appropriate training progression from the youngest athlete up to the national competitor. We teach and perfect all four competitive strokes and emphasize the importance of streamlining, kicking, body position and body awareness.
COACHES
Johnnie Means Aquatics coaches are not just swim coaches. Our coaches hold certifications/licenses as Personal Trainer, USA Triathlon Coach, Youth Sports Specialist, Water Fitness Instructor, and Lifeguard Trainer. This means that our swimmers have access to a wide range of age appropriate modalities for their total development.
DRYLANDS
Each level of the dryland program (out of water training) is focused on physical literacy and technique first followed by progressive overload strength training where athletes are continually challenged and engaged.
THE WHOLE CHILD
JMA focuses on developing four critical athlete-centered outcomes: Competence, Character, Confidence, and Connection.
Coaching Groups: Baby Sharks, Black TigerSharks and Red TigerSharks
- Coach Candess Tucker has spent the majority of her life trying to better the Aquatic environment in the inner city. She began swimming in her neighborhood summer league in Alief. She then swam for the Harris County Aquatics Program in 1990.
- Candess started the first USA Swimming registered Swim Team for the City of Newark, the “Newark Piranhas Swim Team '' in 2008 as Head Coach and 2010 she became the founder of a nonprofit Water Wings, Inc. At the City of Newark she continued coaching inner-city youth traveling the country and the state of New Jersey for competitions until she left in March 2017.
- She returned to work for Harris County Aquatics Program with the Learn to Swim (LTS) classes, competition development training and competitive swim coaching.
- Coach Candess has an interest in continually improving the state of aquatics programming in various communities due to her passion growing up as a swimmer. She has turned this passion into action by working with a diverse group of organizations to help engage in community-based efforts by constructing programming that has been inclusive and financially sustainable.
- Candess has been a Water Safety Instructor for 22 years and a USA Swimming Coach and ASCA Level 4 coach for 15 yrs and counting. She continuously seeks education to better serve the inner-city community.
Coaching Groups: White Sharks, Grey TigerSharks, Senior TigerSharks
- Coach Dom is a Houston native and started her swimming career at South Central YMCA. She trained with the Harris County Aquatics Program under Johnnie Means and Dr. Thurman Robins from 1995 through 2002. She received honors from the State for her accomplishments in USA Swimming and for her high school, Houston Lamar. She went on to compete at Florida A&M University for 4 years setting school records in the 100 and 200 Fly, 200 and 400 IM and the Medley Relays.
- Coach Dom began her Instructor career by teaching Learn to Swim to the children of Third Ward in 1999 through the NYSP program, various sports camps, and private one on one sessions. She has continued to teach water safety for the last 23 years.
- For the last 10 years Coach Dom has impacted lives as a Certified Personal Trainer, USA Triathlon Coach, Youth Sports Specialist and Swim Coach. She has worked to prepare swimmers, marathoners, ultramarathoners, triathletes, and professional athletes for competition. She is passionate about movement as medicine and is obsessed with learning about biomechanics and mental preparation in the pursuit of athletic performance.
Swim Beyond Boundaries, Inspire Beyond Yourself.
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EVALUATIONS ARE ONGOING
Held at the TSU Recreation center where your swimmer can be evaluated by our coaching staff. Submit a request to schedule your child’s evaluation.
