Program Information
Ages 3-14 y.o.
Every child should have an opportunity to learn to swim! Children with exceptionalities are encouraged to register in the Junior Blues Swim Adapted program. This program is for neurodiverse children, children with physical disabilities, as well as for children with developmental and/or emotional delays. Children will learn and follow the Lifesaving Society's Preschool and Swim for Life levels with small group classes (maximum 3:1) and with additional volunteer support in the water.
To support parents and caregivers with learn-to-swim programs for their child with a disability, Junior Blues offers certified Swim Instructors and aquatic facilities with the tools needed to help ensure swimming lessons meet your child's needs. This is not a separate program, but a modification of Lifesaving Society’s Swim for Life programs. Ask our Junior Blues Aquatics Team for more information about options for swimmers with disabilities.
Swimmers with disabilities continue the progressions used in the Swim for Life programs. The progressions are broken down into small, manageable steps to create a positive learning environment and make the success of each swimmer more achievable. This will help the swimmer progress at their own pace. For some swimmers, skills may be acquired very slowly. Repeating learned skills and integrating new skills in very small steps can help a swimmer move along the skill progression more effectively.
Please register in the program and complete the Intake + Support form found here.
ONLINE REGISTRATION AND SCHEDULE INFORMATION
Junior Blues Swim Adapted Levels:
LEVEL TRANSFER GUIDE
Swim Adapted Preschool A (3-5 y.o.)
This entry-level class develops early skills such as submerging, front and back floats, and glides. This class is taught in the 25yd with small group classes (maximum 3:1). Preschoolers participate independently of their parents at this level.
Prerequisite: Participants must be at least 3 years old by the first class. Swimming abilities: none.
Swim Adapted Preschool B (3-5 y.o.)
Children learn and refine assisted floats and kicks and progress towards glides and roll-overs with an aid. This class is taught in the 25yd with a small group class size of a maximum 3:1 student-to-instructor ratio.
Prerequisites: Children must be a minimum of 37 inches tall and 3 years old by the first class. Completion of Preschool A or Sea Turtle. Children should be comfortable fully submerging their heads underwater and blowing bubbles before beginning Preschool B.
Swim Adapted Preschool C (3-5 y.o.)
Preschoolers use games and songs to learn new skills, including unassisted floats and glides. Children are introduced to deep water activities and learn how to jump and tread water while wearing a PDF in the deep end. This class is taught in the 25yd with a small group class size of a maximum 3:1 student-to-instructor ratio.
Prerequisites: Children must be a minimum of 37 inches tall and 3 years old by the first class. Completion of Preschool B or Sea Otter. Children should be comfortable fully submerging their heads underwater, blowing bubbles and performing assisted floats/glides and kicks before beginning Preschool C.
Swim Adapted Preschool D (3-5 y.o.)
Children learn and refine unassisted floats/glides and progress towards unassisted roll-overs and a 5 m swim. This class is taught in the 25yd with a small group class size of a maximum 3:1 student-to-instructor ratio.
Prerequisites: Children must be a minimum of 37 inches tall and 3 years old by the first class. Completion of Preschool C or Salamander. Children should be comfortable fully submerging their heads underwater, blowing bubbles and performing unassisted floats, glides and kicks before beginning Preschool D.
Swim Adapted Swim for Life 1 (5-12 y.o.)
This is an entry-level program for children who are not yet floating independently. This class includes water and pool orientation and introduces floats and glides with kicks. This group class is taught in the 25yd and has a small class size of a maximum 3:1 student-to-instructor ratio.
Prerequisites: Children must be at least 5 years old by the first class. Swimming abilities: None.
Swim Adapted Swim for Life 2 (5-12 y.o.)
This second orientation level helps develop front and back swim skills. Children are introduced to deep water activities and the proper use of a Personal Flotation Device (PFD). Flutter-kick with assisted glides builds endurance. This group class is taught in the 25yd/Varsity or Teach pool and has a small class size of a maximum 4:1 student-to-instructor ratio.
Prerequisite: Children must be at least 5 years old by the first class. Completion of LSS Swim for Life 1/CRC Swim Kids 1. Children should be comfortable fully submerging their heads underwater, blowing bubbles and performing unassisted floats/glides and kicks before beginning Swim for Life 2.
Swim Adapted Swim for Life 3 (5-12 y.o.)
Children continue to work on kicks and glides and unassisted front crawl for 5 m. Children are introduced to Swim to Survive skills: Jump into deep water, tread water for 15 sec and swim/kick 10 m. This class is held in either the 25yd. This is a small group class with a maximum of 3:1 student-to-instructor ratio.
Prerequisite: Children must be at least 5 years old by the first class. Completion of LSS Swim for Life 2/CRC Swim Kids 2. Children should be comfortable performing unassisted glides and kicks on the front, back and side (5-7m) and swimming front crawl (wearing PFD) before beginning Swim for Life 3.
Swim Adapted Swim for Life 4 (5-12 y.o.)
The front crawl (10m) and back crawl (10m) are further developed and a whip kick on the back (5m) is introduced. Swimmers work on forward roll entry, surface support, and handstands for their underwater skills. An interval training of 4x 10m kicks builds fitness and endurance. This class is held in either the 25yd. This is a small group class with a maximum of 3:1 student-to-instructor ratio.
Prerequisite: Children must be at least 5 years old by the first class. Completion of LSS Swim for Life 3/CRC Swim Kids 3. Children should be comfortable swimming front crawl and back crawl for 5 m without an aid or instructor’s assistance before beginning Swim for Life 4.
Swim Adapted Intermediate: Swim for Life 5-7 (5-14 y.o.)
Swim for Life 5 (5-14 y.o.)
Children practice kneeling dives into deep water and perform summersaults for their underwater skills. They'll work on 15 m of front crawl, back crawl and 10 m of whip kick. Their endurance will be challenged with a continuous 25m swim as part of the Swim to Survive skills. This class is held in either the 25yd. This is a group class with a maximum of 3:1 student-to-instructor ratio.
Prerequisite: Children must be at least 5 years old by the first class. Completion of LSS Swim for Life 4/CRC Swim Kids 4. Children must be able to perform whip kick on the back for 5 m and swim front crawl and back crawl for 10 m before beginning Swim for Life 5.
Swim for Life 6 (5-14 y.o.)
Front and back crawl skills continue to develop with a 25m swim of each. Eggbeater kick, whip kick on the front, as well as breaststroke arms are introduced. Swimmers at this level complete their full Swim to Survive Standard: Roll entry into deep water, tread water for 1 min, and swim continuously 50m. Interval training consisting of 2x25m front or back crawl, and 25 m front crawl sprints build endurance. This class is held in either the 25yd . This is a group class with a maximum of 3:1 student-to-instructor ratio.
Prerequisite: Children must be at least 5 years old by the first class. Completion of LSS Swim for Life 5/CRC Swim Kids 5. Children must be able to perform whip kick on the back for 10 m and swim front crawl and back crawl for 15 m before beginning Swim for Life 6.
Swim for Life 7 (5-14 y.o.)
Front crawl, back crawl and endurance continue to develop (50m each). Breaststroke and head up front crawl are introduced. Timed treading water and a 75m swim build endurance. If registration is low, this class may be combined with other classes. This class is held in either the 25yd. This is a group class with a maximum of 3:1 student-to-instructor ratio.
Prerequisite: Completion of LSS Swim for Life 6/CRC Swim Kids 6 or 7. Children must be able to perform whip kick on the back and front (15m) and swim front crawl and back crawl for 25 m before beginning Swim for Life 7.
Frequently Asked Questions - Junior Blues Swim Adapted.
What general information do I need to know?
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Parents/Guardians must escort their children to and from the pool and to the washrooms during class time.
- Children must shower and should use the washrooms and blow their nose before the start of class.
- Participants should meet their instructor on deck in the Benson (25 yard) pool.
- Health regulations prohibit street shoes, food, drink, and glass containers on the pool deck. Junior Blues Aquatics Progress cards and stickers are included. For continuous evaluation please bring progress cards prepared by the previous instructor on the parent conference week.
- During the designated parent conference week, classes will end 5 minutes early to give parents the opportunity to speak with the instructors about their child’s progress. Please give your instructor your past Progress Booklet during this time.
How do I enter the facility?
Adapted swimming classes are held in the Benson (25yd) pool. At the Athletic Centre, in order to enter through the main doors you must have a GREEN facility access pass. Please ensure that you leave enough time prior to the start of class to pick up your pass on the first day.
All Aquatics programs and participants at Athletic Centre: Remember that if you leave the premises for any reason and wish to re-enter through the main turnstiles you will need to show your green access pass every time. Again, please ensure that you leave sufficient time to anticipate lineups at the Main Office if you require a replacement card.
What should my child wear and bring
- Bathing suit and towel.
- Long hair should be tied back.
- Goggles are permitted but not required.
- Children who are not toilet trained need to be wearing a swim diaper to prevent any solid matter from entering the pool.
- Children who are cold in the water may wear a thermal bathing suit or tightly-fitted undershirt to help stay warm.
- No outdoor shoes or strollers are permitted on deck.
Can classes be observed?
Parents & guardians can view their child’s lesson from a designated on-deck seating area in the pool area. All parents/guardians in the on-deck viewing area must adhere to the Ministry of Health Regulations for Swimming Pools. Thank you for your understanding.
Children in preschool classes must be able to participate without a parent.
If your child needs to use the washroom during the lesson, the instructor will ask you to meet your child by the pool to access the washroom.
What is the ratio of swimmers to instructors?
1:3
Locations and Change Rooms
What change rooms can I use before coming to the pool?
Swim Adapted programs are offered at the 25 yd/Benson pool - A gender-neutral family change stall is located outside the main entrance to the 25 yd Benson pool.
The main change rooms are located on the lower level.
Children five and under may use either change room under adult supervision. Children six and over must use gender-specific changerooms matching a person's gender identity or privacy change rooms .
All children under 12 must be supervised by adults in change rooms.
The family change room is located adjacent to the 50m Varsity Pool office.
Questions? Contact the Coordinator of Aquatics and Program Administration at 416-978-5845 or via email at junior.blues@utoronto.ca