Swim Lessons

Information About Swim Lessons 

• Swim lesson fee is $20.00. A late fee of $5.00 is charged for late registration.
  
• Lessons are taught before pools open or in the evening.
  
• Each class needs a minimum of six students to register. If there are less than six, the pool will contact you with another location or the class may be canceled.
  
• Each swimmer is given a punch card good for three visits to the pool to practice what is being taught in class. Please use it during your three-week class session.
  
• Swim lessons last 35 to 45 minutes and are held four days a week for three weeks. If the weather is cool, class will still be held. If the weather is too cold, swimmers will not get into the water. The instructor will talk about water safety.
  
• Refunds will not be given for canceled lessons due to bad weather. The instructor will teach 10 to 12 lessons per session, weather permitting.
  

• Night swim lessons for children will be offered depending on demand. Students participating in night lessons will be admitted free of charge 10 minutes before their class while the pool is open. Parents and siblings are welcome to pay the admission and swim during the lesson as long as the pool is open.  

Lesson Categories

Babes In Arms:
Children six months through age 5 can participate in the Babes In Arms Program. This program takes place on Saturday mornings starting June 16, 10:15 am to 11:00 am and is free. To register call the pool of your choice.

Babes In Arms is a learning program for parent and child. Children learn how to enter the pool, hold their breath, put their face in the water, blow bubbles, climb out of the pool. Children are grouped by age groups: 6 to 23 months, 2-3 years and 4-5 years.

Age 6 Years and Over:
Children 6 years and over can take swim lessons.  If a child turns 6 years old before Labor Day, we will accept them for swim lessons. City residents have priority for swim lessons, followed by non-city residents.

The Aquatic Program and the American Red Cross offers seven levels of swim lessons:

STAR FISH (LEVEL 1)  For beginners:  Swimmers will be taught to submerge, kick on front and back, float and alternate arms for the crawl stroke.  STAR FISH will not use the deep end of the pool for any instruction.

STINGRAY (LEVEL 2)  Primary Skills:  Submerge head under water, learn rhythmic breathing, flutter kick, work on front and back crawl. Deep water is introduced.

SWORDFISH (LEVEL 3)   Stroke Readiness:  Back crawl, front crawl and elementary back stroke introduced. Treading in deep water introduced.

WHALE (LEVEL 4)  Stroke Development:  Deep water swimming, long distance, breast stroke, side stroke introduced.

DOLPHIN (LEVEL 5)  Stroke Refinement:  Alternate breathing, increase in distances of back and front crawl, and elementary backstroke.

SHARK (LEVELS 6 & 7)  Advanced Swimming:  Deep water swimming, lap swimming of strokes already learned. Learn butterfly stroke, proper diving from diving boards with tuck and pike position.

ADULT LESSONS
Adult lessons will be offered on Saturdays starting June 16, 10:15 am to 11:00 am  Call Parkland Pool to register.

DIVING INSTRUCTION AND COMPETITION
Each pool provides diving instruction. The fundamentals are taught to each swimmer, such as, approach, take off, how to get height, etc. Each pool selects one female and one male diver from each age group to participate in a City dive meet against the other City operated pools. The age groups are 8 and under, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, and 15-17.

SWIM TEAMS
Each pool has a swim team for children age 17 years and under, which is a continuation of swim lessons. The swimmers try to perfect the back crawl, butter fly, breast stroke and the American crawl. Swim teams compete against the other swimming pools in the age groups of 8 and under, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, and 15-17.

SPECIAL CLASSES
Special classes for the physically and mentally impaired are available.  Please call 727-2505 or talk with one of the pool managers. A lift apparatus for wheelchair participants is available at Bolton and Parkland Pools. A wheelchair ramp is available at the Reynolds Park Pool.