UToledo Swim School
The Office of Recreational Services offers American Red Cross Swim Lessons for ages 6 months through adult and for all skill levels. Classes are taught by certified American Red Cross Water Safety Instructors. The objective of UT Swim School is to provide members and guest with a premier swim instruction experience!
Session 1 WeekdaysSession 1 SundaysSession 2-3 Weekdays
INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO REGISTER
REGISTRATION (UToledo EMPLOYEE OR STUDENT) OR REGISTRATION (NON- EMPLOYEE OR STUDENT)
Group lessons
Group lessons are a place for all. Those who are beginners, fearful of water, water lovers, or advanced swimmers will receive the benefits of group lessons. Group lessons are 30 minutes long per session for Parent & Child, Preschool classes (Levels 1-3), Learn to Swim (Level 1-6), and Adult classes (Level 1 - 3). The amount of classes per session is specified below. Lessons will take place at the Student Recreation Center Pool.
- A parent or guardian is required in the water, with the swimmer, for all Parent & Child classes.
Private lessons
Private lessons are a great option for those who are looking to improve their swimming skills. Times and dates of lessons are determined by the instructor and participant. Private lessons consist of four, thirty minute lessons.
Semi-Private lessons is an option that provides instruction for two swimmers of similar swimming levels with one instructor. Times and dates of lessons are determined by the instructor and participants. Semi-private lessons consist of four, thirty minute lessons taught by a UT Swim School American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor. Cost is split between the participants.
UToledo Swim School Descriptions
Parent-Child Level 1 and 2: (Ages 6 months - 3 years)
Parent and Child Level 1 : Introduces basic skills to parents and children. Parents learn how to safely work with their child in the water, including:
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- Supporting and hold their child in the water
- Encouraging their child to participate fully and try the skills.
Children receive an introduction to basic skills that lay the foundation for learning to swim and parents are introduced to several water safety topics. An adult must be present in the water with each child. There is no prerequisite required for this class.
Parent and Child Level 2: Builds on the skills introduced in Level 1. Participants improve on these skills and learn more advanced skills in Level 2. As with Level 1, water safety topics are also included in this level.
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- Both parents/guardians and children have a familiarity in the water
- There will be a focus in learning the role of an adult in the process of swimming
This class is not designed to teach children to become good swimmers or to survive in the water on their own. An adult must be present in the water with each child. Successful completion of Parent and Child 1, or prior approval is required to take this class.
Preschool Aquatics: Levels 1 - 3 (Ages 3-5 years)
Preschool Aquatics Level 1: This class is designed for children who do not have previous experience in a structured class setting or being away from their parents/guardians in the water.
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- Children will work on basic swimming skills to become comfortable in the water.
- Skills will be learned through play and incidental learning to encourage a fun and enjoyable experience in the water.
Preschool 1 introduces basic aquatic skills. In addition, children start developing positive attitudes and safe practices around the water in Preschool Aquatics Level 1. There is no prerequisite required for this class.
Preschool Aquatics Level 2: The objectives of Preschool 2 are to further develop basic aquatic skills. Children begin to perform these skills at a slightly more advanced level, for
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- Longer distances or in deeper water
- Longer periods of time and with more confidence
Many skills in Preschool 1 are performed with assistance. Preschool 2 marks the beginning of independent aquatic locomotion skills. Children continue to explore using simultaneous and alternating arm and leg actions on the front and back to gain greater proficiency in preparation for performing strokes. Successful completion of Preschool Aquatics Level 1, or prior approval is required to take this class.
Preschool Aquatics Level 3: The objective of this class is to increase children’s proficiency in performing previously learned skills. This is accomplished by providing additional guided practice and increasing repetitions, distances, times or levels of refinement. The skills in Level 3 are performed independently.
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- Children will look to improve their coordination and control of combined simultaneous arm and leg actions
- Children will continue to work on alternating arm and leg actions.
- New water safety topics are introduced, and previously acquired water safety knowledge and skills are reinforced.
Successful completion of Preschool Aquatics Level 2, or prior approval is required to take this class.
Learn to Swim: Levels 1 - 6 (Ages 6 and up)
Level 1: Introduction to Water Skills
This class has the following objectives
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- To orient participants to the aquatic environment and
- Help participants gain basic aquatic skills.
- Start learning about how to be safe around water.
There is no prerequisite required for this class.
Level 2: Fundamental Aquatic Skills
This class is designed for children who have successfully completed Level 1: Introduction to Water Skills. Learn to Swim Level 2 builds on the basic aquatic skills and water safety skills and concepts learned in Level 1.
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- Perform skills at a slightly more advanced level
- Gain rudimentary propulsive skills on both the front and the back.
This level marks the beginning of independent aquatic locomotion skills.Successful completion of Level 1, or prior approval is required to take this class.
Level 3: Stroke Development
This class builds on the skills learned in Levels 1 and 2.
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- Learn to swim the front crawl and elementary backstroke at rudimentary and proficient levels
- Scissor and dolphin kicks are introduced.
Upon successful completion of Level 3, participants will have achieved basic water competency in a pool environment. Successful completion of Level 2, or prior approval is required to take this class.
Level 4: Stroke Improvement
This class is designed for children who have successfully completed Level 3. In Level 4, participants improve their aquatic skills and increase their endurance by;
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- Swimming the strokes learned in Level 3 for longer distances and with more advanced proficiency.
- Adding arm actions to the previously learned scissor kick and breaststroke kick to perform the rudimentary sidestroke
- Participants begin to learn breaststroke, the back crawl and the butterfly
- The basics of performing a simple open turn at a wall.
Successful completion of Level 3, or prior approval is required to take this class.
Level 5: Stroke Refinement
The objective of stroke refinement is
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- Developing performance of all 6 strokes
- Increases students’ endurance to improve their distances.
- More focus on the technique needed to be successful in Level 6.
Successful completion of Level 4, or prior approval is required to take this class.
Level 6: Swimming Skill and Proficiency
The objective of this level is to;
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- Refine strokes to swim with greater efficiency and effectiveness over longer distances.
- Transition from Learn-to-Swim to competitive swimming
- Refine participants’ strokes in order to increase ease, efficiency, power and smoothness over longer distances.
Successful completion of Level 5, or prior approval is required to take this class.
Adult: Beginner – Advanced
Learning the Basics: Introduction to Water Skills
- Gain basic aquatic skills and swimming strokes in this level.
- Learn skills and concepts needed to stay safe in and around water and to help themselves or others in an aquatic emergency.
There is no prior swimming ability or experience needed.
Improving Skills:
- Improve basic aquatic skills and the six basic swimming strokes.
- Learn skills and concepts needed to stay safe in and around water and to help themselves or others in an aquatic emergency.
Prerequisites include confidence in the water as well as ability to swim on front and back in shoulder deep water.
Swim for Fitness:
- Refine front crawl, back crawl, and breaststroke strokes and turns to build endurance and technique.
- Learn skills and concepts needed to stay safe in and around water above one’s head.
Successful completion of Adult Improving skills, or prior approval is required to take this class.
For more information, email aquatics@utoledo.edu.