Program Information
Junior Blues offers advanced swimming lessons for swimmers who are 8 to 16 years old and it is designed to help them build confidence in the water, improve their technique, and prepare them for competitive swimming.
ONLINE REGISTRATION AND SCHEDULE INFORMATION
- Intro to Competitive Swim (ages 8-10)
- Intro to Competitive Swim (ages 10-15)
- Intro to Competitive Swim (ages 11-15)
Prerequisites and Transferring from other Swim Lessons
Not sure what level to sign up for? Check out our handy level assessment tools!
Level Assessment Tool
Completing a level and managing expectations
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.
Program Descriptions and Prerequisites
Aquatics Specialty - Introduction to Competitive Swim
The Introduction to Competitive Swim course is designed to improve swimming skills and focuses on developing competitive swimming fundamentals, bridging the gap between learn-to-swim lessons and competitive swimming.
Prerequisites: Participants MUST be able to swim at least 50 metres each of front crawl and back crawl and swim 200 metres continuously in deep water (or equivalent of Swim for Life level 8).
Ratios vary by age group.
Sample workouts can be found here: Intro To Comp Level Assessment Tool
Frequently Asked Questions - Junior Blues Swim Specialty
What general information do I need to know?
- 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.
- Participants should meet their instructor on the pool deck.
- Health regulations prohibit street shoes, food and drink on the pool deck.
- No glass is permitted on the pool deck, in change rooms or in the pool gallery.
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 card 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 new card to replace a lost or forgotten card.
What should my child wear and bring
- Bathing suit and towel.
- Long hair should be tied back.
- Goggles are recommended but not required.
- No outdoor shoes are permitted on deck.
Can classes be observed?
Children under 12 years old must be supervised by parents/caregivers at all times.
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 or the pool gallery. 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 change rooms can I use before coming to the pool?
- The swimming pool location for your child's lesson is indicated on your receipt.
- 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 main entrance to the 25 yd Benson pool.
My child missed a class. Can they attend a makeup class?
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.
Looking for a Different Swim Program?
Junior Blues Aquatics is excited to offer a variety of other Swim and Aquatic Leadership programs for children aged 6 months to 17 years. Our easy-to-follow progressions and levels that flow seamlessly into each other will develop solid water safety skills, swimming strokes, and lifesaving knowledge for our Junior Blues swimmers.
Explore Junior Blues Aquatic Programming
Questions? Contact the Coordinator of Aquatics and Program Administration at 416-978-0227 or via email at junior.blues@utoronto.ca