Program Information
Lifesaving Society's Swim for Life levels are for children ages 5 and up. These aquatic classes are programmed for 7-10 weeks. Participants may require multiple sessions to complete a level.
Children who are registered in the incorrect level (i.e. have not completed the previous level) will be withdrawn from the class for safety reasons. We will attempt to transfer them to the correct level if space permits.
ONLINE REGISTRATION AND SCHEDULE INFORMATION
Lifesaving Society’s Swim for Life Levels:
RED CROSS TO LSS LEVEL CONVERSION CHART
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 or Teach pool and has a small class size of a maximum 4:1 student-to-instructor ratio.
Prerequisites: Children must be at least 5 years old by the first class. Swimming abilities: None.
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 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 or 50m pool. Classes in the 50 m pool are taught entirely in deep water; please consider this when choosing a class. This is a small group class with a maximum of 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 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 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 or 50m pool. Classes in the 50 m pool are taught entirely in deep water; please consider this when choosing a class. This is a small group class with a maximum of 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 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 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 or 50m pool. Classes in the 50 m pool are taught entirely in deep water; please consider this when choosing a class. This is a group class with a maximum of 6:1 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 or 50m pool. Classes in the 50 m pool are taught entirely in deep water; please consider this when choosing a class. This is a group class with a maximum of 6:1 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 (7-14 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 or 50m pool. This is a group class with a maximum of 8:1 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.
Swim for Life 8 (7-14 y.o.)
These advanced swimmers will rise to the challenge of sophisticated aquatic skills including stride entries, compact jumps and lifesaving kicks like eggbeater and scissor kick. They'll develop strength and power in head-up breaststroke sprints over 25 m. They'll easily swim lengths of front crawl, back crawl, and breaststroke, and they'll complain about the 300 m workout.
This class is held in either the 25yd or 50m pool. This is a group class with a maximum of 8:1 student-to-instructor ratio.
Prerequisite: Completion of LSS Swim for Life 7/CRC Swim Kids 7 or 8. Children must be able to swim breaststroke (25m), front crawl and back crawl (50m each) and head up front crawl (15m) before beginning Swim for Life 8.
Participants who successfully complete this level meet the requirements for the Intro to Competitive Swim program at Junior Blues Aquatics Specialty.
Swim for Life 9 /Rookie (8-14 y.o.)
Swimmers continue stroke development with 50 m swims of front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke. Lifesaving Sport skills include a 25 m obstacle swim and 15 m object carry. First aid focuses on assessment of conscious victims, contacting EMS and treatment for bleeding. Fitness improves in 350 m workouts and 100 m timed swims.
This class is held in either the 25yd or 50m pool. This is a group class with a maximum of 10:1 student-to-instructor ratio.
Prerequisite: Completion of LSS Swim for Life 8/CRC Swim Kids 8 or 9. Participants must be able to swim breaststroke (50m), front crawl and back crawl (100m each) and head up swim (25m) and demonstrate proper eggbeater and scissor kicks (15m each) before beginning Swim for Life 9.
Swim for Life 10 /Ranger (8-14 y.o.)
The final level in the Swim for Life program provides stroke refinement. Swimmers develop better strokes over 75 m swims of each stroke. They tackle Lifesaving Sport skills in a lifesaving medley, timed object support and rescue with a buoyant aid. First aid focuses on assessment of unconscious victims, treatment of victims in shock and obstructed airway procedures. Skill drills develop a strong lifesaving foundation.
This class is held in either the 25yd or 50m pool. This is a group class with a maximum of 10:1 student-to-instructor ratio.
Prerequisite: Completion of LSS Swim for Life 9/CRC Swim Kids 9 or 10. Participants must be able to swim all four strokes, complete a timed swim of 100 m in under 3 mins and know basic first aid before beginning Swim for Life 10.
Prerequisites and Transferring from other Swim Lessons
Moving to the next program level - As the program develops from the skills learned in the previous level, it is critical to be able to complete all skills and learning in a level in order to complete the level and move on. Performance criteria required for each skill need to be met on 3 separate occasions.
Swimmers who haven’t completed skills have the opportunity to continue to work on achieving the necessary progression step by registering in the level an additional time until their skills are strong enough to enter the next level. Your child will achieve physical developmental milestones at his or her own rate. It is important to look at the successes achieved during each lesson set, knowing that taking a level again offers the opportunity to improve on the skills that are the building blocks for success at the next level.
Transferring from a different program? Check out our handy Program/Level comparison guide here:
Frequently Asked Questions - Junior Blues Swim for Life
What general information do I need to know?
- 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 the pool deck.
- Health regulations prohibit street shoes, food, glass containers and drink 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 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 Junior Blues Aquatics Progress Booklet during this time.
- Watch for Junior Blues Aquatics newsletter about photo week and other important dates before your first class!
How do I enter the facility?
Swimming classes are held in the Varsity (50m) pool, the teach pool, and 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 pass.
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 are permitted on deck.
Can classes be observed?
We find that children excel more in the class and have a better focus when parents are not directly by the pool/lesson.
Parents & guardians may view their child’s lesson from a designated on-deck seating 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.
What is the ratio of swimmers to instructors?
Swim for Life 1 to 4 – 4:1
Swim for Life 5 to 6 – 6:1
Swim for Life 7 to 8 – 8:1
Swim for Life 9 to 10 – 10:1
Locations and Change Rooms
The swimming pool location for your child's lesson (50m, 25yd or Teach Pool) is indicated on your receipt.
What change rooms can I use before coming to the pool?
Children five and under may use either changing room with adult supervision.
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 across from the 50m Varsity Pool office. We also have a gender-neutral change stall located outside the 25 yd/Benson pool.
Changing children on the pool deck is not permitted.
Questions? Contact the Coordinator of Aquatics and Program Administration at 416-978-5845 or via email at junior.blues@utoronto.ca