Details
Our aquatics instruction courses will take you from a basic level of swimming strokes through to intermediate proficiency, stroke mechanics and beyond!
Winter Registration Opens on November 28 at 7 am!
Looking for swimming lessons for your kids? Check out our Junior Blues Aquatics Instructional Programs here: Junior Blues Swimming
Aquatics Registered Programs
- Absolute Beginner Level I
- Absolute Beginner Level I (Women-Only)
- Basic Swim Level II
- Basic Swim Level II (Women-Only)
- Intermediate Swim Level III
- Intermediate Swim Level III (Women-Only)
- Stroke Mechanics Level IV
- Stroke Mechanics Level IV (Women-Only)
- Swim Training Level V
- Private Swim Lessons
- Private Swim Lessons (Women-Only)
- Springboard Diving (not offered in all terms)
- Trans Swim Lessons Beginner
- Drop-in Learn to Swim Beginner
- Drop-in Learn to Swim Beginner Women Only
- Drop-in Learn to Dive All Levels (not offered in all terms)
Location
Athletic Centre (55 Harbord St., Toronto)
Our classes are offered at three different pools, so please make sure to check your receipt for the confirmation of the class location:
- Teach Pool
- Benson 25yd Pool
- Varsity Pool 50m Pool
Programs & Schedules
Absolute Beginner Level I
Prerequisite: None
Participants will learn introductory swimming skills including floats on their front and back, rhythmic breathing forward and to the side, and front and back glides with flutter kicking. This will build toward the completion of a front swim and back swim of 3 sets of 15 metres each. By the end of the level, participants will complete a distance swim of 30 metres.
Note: Women's Only class is only for those who identify as a woman. During women-only registered classes: Windows and doors are completely covered. Only staff members who are women are on deck. An enclosed shower space is available immediately outside the pool. Women can change into bathing attire in accessible, private washrooms adjacent to the pool deck so that they do not need to go through public spaces in bathing attire.
Participants to Instructor ratio: 6:1
Basic Swim Level II
Prerequisite: Completion of Absolute Beginner Level 1 OR participants must be able to swim 15 metres on their front with face submerged and 15 metres on their back. Participants must also be able to complete a distance swim of 30 metres.
Participants will improve their endurance and swimming technique working towards a front swim and back swim of 3 set of 25 metres each. Participants will be introduced to whip kick on their front and back and elementary back stroke completing 2 sets of 10 metres of this stroke. Participants will work on treading for 60 seconds and continue to fine-tune their flutter kick. By the end of the level, participants will complete a distance swim of 100 metres.
Note: Women's Only class is only for those who identify as a woman. During women-only registered classes: Windows and doors are completely covered. Only staff members who are women are on deck. An enclosed shower space is available immediately outside the pool. Women can change into bathing attire in accessible, private washrooms adjacent to the pool deck so that they do not need to go through public spaces in bathing attire.
Participants to Instructor ratio: 8:1
Intermediate Swim Level III
Prerequisite: Completion of Basic Swim Level 2 OR participants must be able to swim 25 metres of each front crawl and back crawl. Participants must also be able to complete a distance swim of 50 metres in deep water.
Participants will continue to work on their swimming technique working towards completion of 100 metres of front crawl with proper side-breathing and 100 metres of back crawl. Swimmers will be introduced to both breaststroke and side stroke, completing 2 sets of 25 metres of each of these strokes. Participants will also be introduced to dolphin kick and diving. By the end of the level, participants will complete a distance swim of 300 metres.
Note: Women's Only class is only for those who identify as a woman. During women-only registered classes: Windows and doors are completely covered. Only staff members who are women are on deck. An enclosed shower space is available immediately outside the pool. Women can change into bathing attire in accessible, private washrooms adjacent to the pool deck so that they do not need to go through public spaces in bathing attire.
Participants to Instructor ratio: 8:1
Stroke Mechanics Level IV
Prerequisite: Completion of Intermediate Swim Level 3 OR participants must be able to swim 100 metres of each front crawl and back crawl and 25 metres of breaststroke. Participants must also be able to complete a distance swim of 200 metres of continuous swimming in deep water.
Participants will fine-tune their stroke technique and build on their endurance working towards 200 metres each of front crawl and back crawl, 100 metres of breaststroke and 50 metres of side stroke with appropriate form. Swimmers will continue working on their dolphin kicks, be introduced to butterfly, and try out some flip turns. By the end of the level, participants will complete a distance swim of 400 metres.
Note: Women's Only class is only for those who identify as a woman. During women-only registered classes: Windows and doors are completely covered. Only staff members who are women are on deck. An enclosed shower space is available immediately outside the pool. Women can change into bathing attire in accessible, private washrooms adjacent to the pool deck so that they do not need to go through public spaces in bathing attire.
Participants to Instructor ratio: 8:1
Swim Training Level V
Prerequisite: Completion of Stroke Mechanics Level 4 OR participants must be able to swim 200 metres of both front and back crawl, 100 metres of breaststroke and swim a continuous distance of 400 metres.
Participants are coached through a series of workouts. Workout distances average from 1 to 3.5 kilometres and accommodate a range of abilities. Workouts will focus on fitness, endurance and fine-tuning technique in strokes with goals of improving speed and efficiency of strokes.
Participants to Instructor ratio: 10:1
Springboard Diving
Prerequisite: Participants must be comfortable jumping into deep water and able to complete the deep end swim test (jump in, submerge and recover, swim 25m and tread water for 2 minutes)
Divers learn basic skills in a safe and non-competitive environment. Emphasis is on the performance of basic skills from the one-metre springboard.
Three and five-metre entries are not available. All skill levels are welcome; no diving experience is necessary.
Participants to Instructor ratio: 12:1
Private Swimming Lessons
Private swimming lessons are offered in 30-minute sessions and are tailored to your specific needs. Times & locations may be selected from the pre-set classes
Unfortunately, requests for particular instructors and make-ups classes cannot be accommodated
Note: During women-only registered classes: Windows and doors are completely covered. Only staff members who are women are on deck. An enclosed shower space is available immediately outside the pool. Women can change into bathing attire in accessible, private washrooms adjacent to the pool deck so that they do not need to go through public spaces in bathing attire.
Participants to Instructor ratio: 1:1
Learn-To-Swim Program
The Learn to Swim program is equivalent to the Sport & Rec Aquatic Instructional programs: the levels, the curriculum, and the instructions are all the same – the only difference - flexible schedule!
Students and S&R members who cannot commit to a full term of instructional programs and would like to attend swim classes on a drop-in basis can sign up for this option. Classes are designed for beginners (Levels 1&2) and intermediate swimmers (levels 3&4) and are equivalent to the levels offered in a regular instructional program: level 1 - Absolute Beginner; level 2 - Basic Swim, level 3- Intermediate Swim; and level 4- Stroke Mechanics. Women-only and Trans-only options are also available.
How it works: Participants register up to 2 weeks in advance for the available drop-in slots and pay a prorated class fee. A flexible schedule allows participants to attend as many classes per week and term as they are available for, or they can supplement their regular classes with an extra class throughout the term.
If a participant knows they will not be able to attend a class, they can request a refund up to two days before the class start time by contacting Sport & Rec or the aquatics department.
Trans-Swim Lessons
Prerequisite: none
This is an inclusive swim time for trans, gender non-conforming, nonbinary and two-spirit students and members who would like to learn basic swim and water safety skills. Two beginner levels are covered in this class: Absolute Beginner (Level 1) and Basic Swim (level 2), with the goal of learning how to swim front crawl, back crawl, treading water, and deep water skills when ready.
The blinds will be drawn for more privacy and private change spaces are available. Windows and doors are completely covered. Clean clothing dedicated to swimming is the only requirement for bathing attire. An enclosed shower space is available immediately outside the pool. Change in accessible, private washrooms adjacent to the pool deck if you do not want to go through public spaces in bathing attire. Pre- and post-session discussion groups are incorporated into the class time but are optional for participants to attend.
Participants to Instructor ratio: 6:1
Swim to Survive
Participants will learn the minimum skills needed to survive an unexpected fall into deep water. These are expressed in a skill sequence in the Canadian Swim to Survive standard:
ROLL into deep water
TREAD water for one minute
SWIM 50 metres
Swim to Survive is different than swimming lessons - and not a replacement for them. Swim to Survive teaches just the essentials needed to survive an unexpected fall into deep water - an important first step to being safe around water.
What to Wear
- Participants are asked to wear clean clothing dedicated to swimming
- Participants are welcome to bring goggles and a swim cap based on personal preference
Aquatic Adult Instructional Schedule Fall 2024
Classes will run from September 16 to December 1, 2024
Monday
Time | Class Type | Location |
---|---|---|
9:00am-9:45am | Absolute Beginner Women-Only (Level 1) | 25yd Benson Pool |
9:45am-10:30am | Basic Swim Women-Only (Level 2) | 25yd Benson Pool |
12:15pm-1:15pm | Swim to Survive (no extra fees) | 25yd Benson Pool |
1:15pm-2:00pm | Basic Swim (Level 2) | 25yd Benson Pool |
6:45pm-7:30pm | Absolute Beginner (Level 1) | 25yd Benson Pool |
6:45pm-7:30pm | Basic Swim (Level 2) | 25yd Benson Pool |
7:30pm-8:15pm | Intermediate Swim (Level 3) | 25yd Benson Pool |
7:30pm-9:00pm | Swim Training (Level 5) | 25yd Benson Pool |
8:15pm-9:00pm | Stroke Mechanics (Level 4) | 25yd Benson Pool |
Tuesday
Times | Class Type | Location |
---|---|---|
7:45pm-8:45pm | Trans Swim Lessons Beginner (Levels 1 & 2) | 25yd Benson Pool |
Wednesday
Times | Class Type | Location |
---|---|---|
9:00am-9:45am | Learn to Swim Women-Only Beginner (Levels 1 & 2) (pay-per-class) | 25yd Benson Pool |
9:45am-10:30am | Absolute Beginner Women-Only (Level 1) | 25yd Benson Pool |
12:00pm-12:45pm | Basic Swim Women-Only (Level 2) | 25yd Benson Pool |
12:15-1:45pm | Springboard Diving | 50m Varsity Pool |
12:15-1:45pm | Learn to Dive all levels (pay-per-class) | 50m Varsity Pool |
12:45pm-1:30pm | Intermediate Swim Women-Only (Level 3) | 25yd Benson Pool |
1:30pm-2:00pm | Private Lesson Women-Only | 25yd Benson Pool |
6:45pm-7:15pm | Private Swim | 25yd Benson Pool |
6:45pm-7:15pm | Private Swim | 25yd Benson Pool |
7:15pm-8:00pm | Basic Swim (Level 2) | 25yd Benson Pool |
7:15pm-8:00pm | Absolute Beginner (Level 1) | 25yd Benson Pool |
8:00pm-8:30pm | Private Swim | 25yd Benson Pool |
8:00pm-8:30pm | Private Swim | 25yd Benson Pool |
Friday
TIMES | CLASS TYPE | LOCATION |
---|---|---|
9:00am-9:45am | Absolute Beginner Women-Only (Level 1) | 25yd Benson Pool |
9:45am-10:30am | Basic Swim Women-Only (Level 2) | 25yd Benson Pool |
12:15pm-1:00pm | Learn to Swim Beginner (Levels 1 & 2) (pay-per-class) | 25yd Benson Pool |
1:00pm-1:45pm | Absolute Beginner (Level 1) | 25yd Benson Pool |
1:45pm-2:15pm | Private Swim | 25yd Benson Pool |
4:30pm-5:15pm | Absolute Beginner (Level 1) | 25yd Benson Pool |
5:15 pm-6:00pm | Basic Swim (Level 2) | 25yd Benson Pool |
6:00pm-6:45pm | Intermediate Swim (Level 3) | 25yd Benson Pool |
Saturday
Times | Class Type | Location |
---|---|---|
9:00am-9:45am | Basic Swim Women-Only (Level 2) | 25yd Benson Pool |
9:00am-9:45am | Learn to Swim Beginner Women-Only (Levels 1 & 2) (pay-per-class) | 25yd Benson Pool |
9:45am-10:30am | Stroke Mechanics Women-Only (Level 4) | 25yd Benson Pool |
9:45am-10:30am | Swim to Survive Women-Only (no extra fees) | 25yd Benson Pool |
1:30pm-2:30pm | Family Swim to Survive (no extra fees, for families only) | Teach Pool/50m Pool (South End) |
3:00pm-3:30pm | Private Swim | 25yd Benson Pool |
3:30pm-4:00pm | Private Swim | 25yd Benson Pool |
4:00pm-4:30pm | Private Swim | 25yd Benson Pool |
4:30pm-5:00pm | Private Swim | 25yd Benson Pool |
Classes are subject to change and cancellations.