Junior Blues Swim Adapted

As swimmers progress through the program, each level builds on the skills learned in the previous one. To successfully complete a level and advance, swimmers must demonstrate all required skills and meet the performance criteria for each skill on three separate occasions.

Learning and mastering new skills takes time. On average, it takes approximately 10 hours of practice to develop proficiency in a skill, so it is important not to expect completion of an entire level in a single session.

If a swimmer has not yet completed all required skills, they are encouraged to register for the same level again. Repeating a level provides valuable opportunities to strengthen and refine skills until they are ready to progress confidently to the next stage. Our instructors will ensure the students are being challenged and work towards new goals every session. 

Every child develops physical skills at their own pace. We encourage families to celebrate the successes achieved during each set of lessons and recognize that repeating a level is a positive step in the learning process. The skills developed at each level serve as the foundation for future success and help swimmers build confidence, competence, and safety in the water.

This is a combined class offering for Preschool A nd B classes.

Prerequisite: Participants must be at least 3 years old by the first class. Swimming abilities: none.

Children develop early skills such as submerging, front and back floats, and glides. Those in Preschool B class learn and refine assisted floats and kicks and progress towards glides and roll-overs with an aid.

Children participate independently from their parents/caregivers at this level, unless it is determined that one-on-one support is required for safety reasons.

Location: 25 yrd Benson Pool

Participants to Instructor ratio: 3:1 

• Register for Adapted Swim: Preschool A/B (ages 3-5)

Prerequisites: Children must be 3 years old by the first class. Completion of Preschool B. Children should be comfortable fully submerging their heads underwater, blowing bubbles and performing assisted floats/glides and kicks before beginning Preschool C. 

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 PFD in the deep end.

Children participate independently from their parents/caregivers at this level, unless it is determined that one-on-one support is required for safety reasons.

Location: 25 yrd Benson Pool

Participants to Instructor ratio: 3:1 

Not offered in all terms

Prerequisites: Children must be 3 years old by the first class. Completion of Preschool C. Children should be comfortable fully submerging their heads underwater, blowing bubbles and performing unassisted floats, glides and kicks before beginning Preschool D. 

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.

Children participate independently from their parents/caregivers at this level, unless it is determined that one-on-one support is required for safety reasons.

Location: 25 yrd Benson Pool

Participants to Instructor ratio: 3:1 

Not offered in all terms

Prerequisites: Children must be at least 5 years old by the first class. Swimming abilities: None.

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. 

Children participate independently from their parents/caregivers at this level, unless it is determined that one-on-one support is required for safety reasons.

Location: 25 yrd Benson Pool

Participants to Instructor ratio: 3:1 

• Register for Adapted Swim: Swim for Life 1 (ages 5-12) 

Prerequisite: Children must be at least 5 years old by the first class. Completion of LSS Swim for Life 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. 

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. 

Children participate independently from their parents/caregivers at this level, unless it is determined that one-on-one support is required for safety reasons.

Location: 25 yrd Benson Pool

Participants to Instructor ratio: 3:1 

• Register for Adapted Swim: Swim for Life 2  (ages 5-12) 

This is a combined class offering for Swim for Life 1 and 2 classes.

Prerequisites: Children must be at least 5 years old by the first class. Swimming abilities: None.

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. Swim for Life 2 students work on 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. 

Children participate independently from their parents/caregivers at this level, unless it is determined that one-on-one support is required for safety reasons.

Location: 25 yrd Benson Pool

Participants to Instructor ratio: 3:1 

• Register for Adapted Swim: Swim for Life 1/2 (ages 5-12)

Prerequisite: Children must be at least 5 years old by the first class. Completion of LSS Swim for Life 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. 

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. 

Children participate independently from their parents/caregivers at this level, unless it is determined that one-on-one support is required for safety reasons.

Location: 25 yrd Benson Pool

Participants to Instructor ratio: 3:1 

• Register for Adapted Swim: Swim for Life 3  (ages 5-12) 

Prerequisite: Children must be at least 5 years old by the first class. Completion of LSS Swim for Life 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. 

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 group class is taught in the 25yd and has a small class size of a maximum 3:1 student-to-instructor ratio.

Children participate independently from their parents/caregivers at this level, unless it is determined that one-on-one support is required for safety reasons.

Location: 25 yrd Benson Pool

Participants to Instructor ratio: 3:1 

• Register for Adapted Swim: Swim for Life 4 (ages 5-12) 

This is a combined class offering for Swim for Life 3 and 4 classes.

Prerequisite: Children must be at least 5 years old by the first class. Completion of LSS Swim for Life 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. 

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. Swim for Life 4 students work on 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 group class is taught in the 25yd and has a small class size of a maximum 3:1 student-to-instructor ratio.

Children participate independently from their parents/caregivers at this level, unless it is determined that one-on-one support is required for safety reasons.

Location: 25 yrd Benson Pool

Participants to Instructor ratio: 3:1 

• Register for Adapted Swim for Life 3/4 (ages 5-12 )

Prerequisite: Children must be at least 5 years old by the first class. Completion of LSS Swim for Life 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 5: 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. 

Swim for Life 6: 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. 

Swim for Life 7: 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. 

Location: 25 yrd Benson Pool

Participants to Instructor ratio: 3:1 

• Register for Adapted Swim Intermediate (Swim for Life levels 5-7) (ages 5-14) 

Prerequisite: Children must be at least 12 years old by the first class. Swim ability: open to all levels

The program curriculum and level will depend on the individual participant's abilities and might change from term to term. 

Location: 25 yrd Benson Pool

Participants to Instructor ratio: 3:1 

• Register for Adapted Swim Youth (Any Level) (ages 12-17)

• Parents/guardians are responsible for their children at all times. 
• Children under 12 years of age must be supervised by an adult at all times. Including pool deck and changerooms.
• Unaccompanied minors (17 and under) are not permitted to enter or use the facilities unless formally registered in a program.
• Children over 12 years old need a written permission to leave on their own.
• 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.

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.

• 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 are permitted on deck.

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. 
 

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.

All Adapted programs have a lower 1:3 ratio and may have additional volunteer support in the water.

Children participate independently from their parents/caregivers at all beginner levels, unless it is determined that one-on-one support is required for safety reasons.

• The swimming pool location for your child's lesson (25 yds or Teach Pool) is indicated on your receipt.
• Children five and under may use either changing room with 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/universal change room is located across from the 50m Varsity Pool office. 
• We also have a gender-neutral change stall located outside the 25 yd/Benson pool
• Washrooms at the 25yd Pool could also be used as change spaces.
• Changing on the pool deck or the hallways is strictly prohibited.

There are no make ups or prorating for any classes not attended. If your child missed class for a medical reason a refund for missed classes will be available. A medical note is required. Notes must be received within two weeks of the date of illness.