Registering for Group Swim Lessons
Participants interested in registering for group swim lessons can do so at the Recreational Services Membership Desk or by phone at (319) 335 - 9293. The registration deadline is one week prior to the first day of class. If you have questions concerning the program or level placement, please contact the Swim Lesson Coordinator at (319) 335-5834.
Policies
Participants must be wearing a proper swim suit for swim lessons. Cut off shorts or shirts are not acceptable.
Parents must remain available to attend to their child in the case of an emergency in the designated pool area for Swim Tots through Level 3.
All participants requiring the need of a swim diaper must wear a water diaper during lessons.
Individuals attending to children participating in the Learn To Swim Program must be members of Recreational Services in order to use the Recreation Center. Those found in violation are subject to expulsion from the Learn To Swim Program.
Cancellations/Refunds
Classes require at least 3-4 participants, cancellations made prior to the first day of class will be honored. After the first day of class no refunds will be given. If a cancellation is needed due to a medical reason, the participant will need to speak with the Aquatic Director directly.
Missed Class
There is no makeup policy if a participant must miss a class due to scheduling conflicts. All make up swim lessons are handled on a case by case basis. All requests should be addressed to the Swim Lesson Coordinator.
Payment
Payment can be made during registration. Registration can be done at Campus Recreation and Wellness Center during regular building hours.
Location
All swim programs will take place at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center located on the corner of Burlington Street and Madison Street in Iowa City.
Parent Tots
The Parent and Tot Program allows parents to participate with their child for an introduction to water exploration and safety. All children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian over 16 years old.
Parent Tots (6 months – 3 years)
Each child is exposed to supported movement and will learn basic water skills, such as floating, submerging parts of their face, coordinated arm and leg movements with use of water noodles and other instructional equipment. Lifejacket use for infants and toddlers will be introduced.
Water Babies (6 months – 20 months) Level 1
Skills Introduced
- Blowing bubbles on the surface
- Getting wet with kicking
- Submerging mouth, nose, and eyes
- Front float, with support
- Back float, with support
- Front glide, with support
- Back glide, with support
- Kick on front
- Kick on back
- Bobbing
- Arm action introduced
- Push off wall on front – supported
- Push off wall on back – supported
- Hold on wall – independently 5 seconds
- Safety Topic: Submersion Safety
Water Tots (21 months – 3years) Level 2
Skills Introduced
- Enter and exit water independently
- Submerge face
- Bob – 5 times
- Front float, with supportt
- Back float, with support
- Front glide, with support
- Back glide, with support
- Kick on front with stroke bar
- Kick on back with stroke bar
- Alternate arm action introduced
- Float with stroke bar – 10 seconds unsupported
- Push off wall on front – supported
- Push off wall on back – supported
- Jump to parent
- Safety Topic: Submersion Safety
Classes offered:
Parent and Tot classes are 30 minutes. 1 lesson per week for 6 weeks.
- Member:$22.50
- Non-member:$25.00
Swim Tots
Swim Tots teaches primary swimming and age-appropriate safety skills. Children will learn coordinated water movements and basic swimming skills in this program. An approximate ratio of 6:1 of student to instructor will be used.
Swim Tots (3 years - 5 years) – This level focuses on the fundamentals of swimming including water independence, coordinated arm and leg movements, and proper body position. Floating with minimal support as well as kicking with support bars is practiced. Basic coordinated arm and leg movements on front and back will also be a focus at this level. A child will be qualified for “Learn to swim” upon completion of this level provided they are 5 years old.
Swim Tot Level 1
Skills Introduced
- Enter and exit the pool independently
- Submerge head and face
- Front float with support
- Back float with support
- Front glide with support
- Back glide with support
- Kicking on front with support
- Kicking on back with support
- Introduction to arm action on front
- Introduction to arm action on back
- Float with stroke bar under arms – 10 seconds unsupported
- Wall walk – 5 yards
- Child must feel comfortable in the water
- Safety Topic: Too much sun is no fun
Swim Tot Level 2
Skills Introduced
- Submerge face -- 5 seconds
- 5 bobs fully submerged
- Front float, minimal support
- Back float, minimal support
- Deep water orientation
- Front glide, minimal support
- Back glide, minimal support
- Kicking on front, 3 body lengths
- Kicking on back, 3 body lengths
- Front Crawl, 3 body lengths, with assistance
- Back Crawl, 3 body lengths, with assistance
- Jump in pool to instructor
- Retrieve object in chest deep water
- Safety Topic: How to call for help
Swim Tot Level 3
Skills Introduced
- 10 bobs fully submerged
- 3 Deep water bobs
- Front float, no support
- Back float, no support
- Introduction to Elementary Breaststroke
- Front glide, no support
- Back glide, no support
- Kicking on front, 1 body length
- Kicking on back, 1 body length
- Front Crawl, 3 body lengths
- Back Crawl, 3 body lengths
- Jump in pool, no support
- Sitting dive
- Safety Topic: How to call for help
Classes offered:
Swim Tots- 3-5 years. 6 lessons, 30 minutes.
- Member:$22.50
- Non-member:$25.00
Learn To Swim
This program helps participants progress from beginner to advanced swimming skills. Fundamental body positions, breath control, stroke drills, and age-appropriate safety skills will be taught. Basic swimming strokes including competitive and resting strokes will be emphasized to develop participants’ proficiency, stamina, and skill in each area.
Level 1
This level focuses on the fundamentals of swimming including water independence, coordinated arm and leg movements, and proper body position. Floating with minimal support as well as kicking with support bars is practiced. Basic coordinated arm and leg movements on front and back will also be a part of this class.
Required Skills
- Enter and Exit pool independently
- Blowing bubbles through mouth and nose
- Opening eyes under water and retrieve submerged object (in chest deep water)
- Bobbing -- 3 times
- Front glide -- 2 body lengths and recovery (minimal support)
- Back glide -- 2 body lengths and recovery (minimal support)
- Front float – with support
- Back float – with support
- Alternating leg action on front -- 2 body lengths
- Alternating arm action on front -- 2 body lengths
- Combined arm and leg actions on front -- 2 body lengths
- Alternating leg action on back -- 2 body length
- Alternating arm action on back -- 2 body lengths
- Wall walk – 5 yards
- Safety Topic: Be cool, follow the rules
Level 2
Arm and leg movements will become more defined in this level as coordinated breathing is introduced. Swimming on the back, basic water survival skills, and an introduction to deep water will also be highlighted.
Required Skills
- Front Float (unsupported)
- Back float (unsupported)
- Blow bubbles submerging head in a rhythmic pattern
- Bobbing, 5 times
- Front glide, 2 body lengths and recovery
- Back glide, 2 body lengths and recovery
- Introduction to treading water
- Kicking on front, 5 yards – no support
- Kicking on back, 5 yards – no support
- Combined arm and leg actions on front, 5 yards – no support
- Combined arm and leg actions on back, 5 yards – no support
- Alternating arm action on back, 5 yards
- Jump to instructor from side of the pool
- Deep water orientation
- Safety Topic: Recognizing an emergency
Level 3
Increasing strength and endurance is the primary focus at this level as the participants will begin to practice swimming lengths of the pool. Elementary backstroke and sidestroke are also introduced.
Required Skills
- Jump from side of pool, no support
- Sitting dive
- Introduction to kneeling dive
- 5 deep water bobs
- Bobbing – 15 times
- Rotary breathing
- Survival float, 30 seconds
- Change from vertical to horizontal position on front and back
- Tread water, 30 seconds
- Front Crawl continuously, length of pool
- Back Crawl continuously, length of pool
- Elementary Backstroke, 15 yards
- Intro to Sidestroke
- Safety Topic: Reach or throw, Don’t go
Level 4
Swimming distance will be increased significantly in this level as proper turns are introduced and swimming and diving skills are further refined. Breaststroke and Butterfly are introduced.
Required Skills
- Kneeling dive
- Standing dive
- Feet-first surface dive
- 15 deep water bobs
- Open turn on front and back
- Treading water, 1 minute
- Breaststroke, 15 yards
- Breaststroke kick, length of pool
- Backstroke, 50 yards (proper technique)
- Front crawl, 50 yards (proper technique)
- Sidestroke, length of pool
- Elementary Backstroke, length of pool
- Swimming underwater (streamline position) 3-5 body lengths
- Safety Topic: Think so you don’t sink/look before you leap
Level 5
Swimming longer distances is a requirement in this level as endurance and technique are further developed and challenged. Flip turns are introduced.
Required Skills
- Shallow dive
- Retrieve object from bottom of pool – feet first surface dive
- Front flip turn
- Front crawl, 100 yards
- Treading water, 3 minutes
- Breaststroke, 25 yards (proper technique)
- Butterfly, 15 yards
- Backstroke, 100 yards
- Sculling, 30 seconds
- Sidestroke, 50 yards (proper technique)
- Elementary Backstroke, 50 yards (proper technique)
- Swimming underwater, 15 yards
- Safety Topic: First Aid and CPR
Level 6
Lifetime fitness philosophy is used to motivate fine tuning of stroke techniques. Basic competitive swimming concepts, advanced survival skills and advanced First-Aid skills are also taught.
Required Skills
- 500 yard swim
- Back flip turn
- Front crawl, 200 yards
- Treading water, 5 minutes
- Breaststroke, 75 yards
- Butterfly, 25 yards (proper technique)
- Backstroke, 200 yards
- Dive off diving board
- Sidestroke, 75 yards
- Elementary Backstroke, 100 yards
- Swimming underwater, length of pool
- Safety Topic: Swim with a buddy in a supervised area
Classes offered:
6 lessons, 45 minutes. 1 instructor to 6 participants.
- Member:$31.50
- Non-member:$35.00
Private Swim Lesson Request Form (PDF)
Private lessons offer one-on-one instruction. Semi-Private lessons offer instruction from 1 instructor to 2 participants.
Costs
Private lessons are $30.00 for a 30 minute session and Semi-Privates (for 2 participants) are $50.00 for a 30 minute session. These lessons are given during normal lap swim hours.
Registering for a Private Lesson
Interested participants should fill out a registration form. The initial lesson includes an assessment of the swimmer’s ability plus one full lesson. This first class will usually go for about 45 minutes.
When a lesson is set up, both the instructor and the participant need to meet at the front desk to pay for the lesson and sign off on the participant’s lesson card. This must be done for all lessons.
