Swim Lessons

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The Bainbridge Island Aquatic Center’s Learn-to-Swim Program aims to promote a safe and fun environment where students of all ages will become more confident in and around the water. Our instructors will strive to provide a student-centered approach focusing on safety, basic water skills, and proper swimming technique. Each student will have the opportunity to engage with their instructor and learn these vital skills in an environment that promotes fun and safety.

What if I don’t know what level I need to enroll in?
Please call and set up an appointment for a free skill evaluation! Our goal is to ensure your experience is positive, and the first step is to put you with the right level and instructor!

Youth

Water Adjustment - Ages 6 months - 5 years

The water adjustment classes are for beginner swimmers. These children experience the water with the support of an adult. Children in these levels are getting used to the water and beginning to explore the water through play.

Tiny Tots

This class is for children and their parents to experience the water together, with the guidance of a certified instructor. This class aims to help your child adjust to the water in a fun and safe environment. This class is appropriate for children between six months and two years old. Children must be able to hold up their heads independently.

Tiny Starfish

This class is for children and their adults to experience the water together, with the guidance of a certified instructor. This class aims to help your child gain confidence in working with an instructor in the water with your support. This class is suitable for older toddlers that are ready for more advanced skills and preschoolers who are not yet ready to be in the water without their adult.

Preschool Fish - Ages 3 - 5

Preschool Fish Ages 3 - 5

These little fish are beginning to build the foundations of swimming. They are learning to float and staring to move in the water independently or with the support of a certified instructor. These swimmers can follow directions and work with an instructor independently of their parents.

Starfish (K1)

Starfish (K1) is for preschoolers who have little to no water experience and are ready to explore the water independently of their parents. Swimmers should be able to follow directions and stay with the group. This class is designed for children who are new to swimming and are not yet comfortable submerging underwater or floating on their front or back. The instructors will introduce the young swimmers to the water in a fun and safe class in our zero-entry beach area.

Angelfish (K2)

Angelfish (K2) love to submerge underwater and are very comfortable floating on their fronts with their faces in the water, as well as on their backs with their ears submerged, with the help of an instructor. At this level, swimmers will utilize their floating skills to learn how to glide and float independently. Swimmers will also work on being comfortable in water over their heads.

Betta Fish (K3)

Betta Fish (K3) are comfortable and confident floating and gliding on their front and back independently. They are ready and excited to learn how to swim in water over their head and start exploring the deep end. Swimmers will use their front and back glides to develop their flutter kicks and begin incorporating arm motions on both the front and back strokes.

Clownfish (K4)

Clownfish (K4) can easily glide and kick on both their front and back five body lengths. Swimmers will use these skills to build front and back crawl strokes and increase their distance. Participants will also learn to rotate between front and back floats and glides. Clownfish are ready and excited to have class in the dive tank with their instructor.

Little Fish (K5)

This level is equivalent to the Fish swim class for older children. They are ready and eager to begin building swim strokes. They can swim halfway across the pool on their front and back, tread water, and back float for 15 seconds each. Swimmers will use their front and back rotation skills to begin learning how to side-breathe in front crawl. Swimmers will use their back floating and gliding skills to start learning the elementary backstroke kick.

Fish Swim School - Ages 6 and up

GUPPY L1

Guppies have little to no experience in the water. Swimmers will learn to be comfortable and confident submerging underwater, floating, and gliding independently on their front and back as they begin their swimming adventure.

MINNOW L2

Minnows love to submerge underwater. They are comfortable floating and gliding on their front and back and are ready to swim in the lanes. Swimmers will use these basic glides to build flutter kicking on the front and back, as well as arm motions. Swimmers will also learn how to rotate between front and back glides. Minnow will begin to explore swimming in water over their head with the instructor.

FISH L3a

Fish are eager and ready to start building their swimming strokes. Fish are comfortable swimming in the dive tank. They can swim halfway across the pool on their front and back. Tread water and back float for 15 seconds each. Swimmers will use their front and back rotation skills to begin learning how to side breathe in front crawl. Swimmers will use their back rotation skills to begin learning side-breathing for front crawl. Swimmers will use their back floating and gliding skills to start learning the elementary backstroke kick.

FLYING FISH L3b

Flying Fish can easily and comfortably float on their backs and tread water in the dive tank for 30 seconds each. Swimmers are comfortable swimming two-thirds of the pool length for both the elementary backstroke kick and swimming backstroke and front crawl with rhythmic breathing. Swimmers will build on these basic skills to learn the full elementary backstroke and swim front crawl with more consistent side breathing. We will introduce scissor kick and sidestroke. A successful Flying Fish is ready to get their swim license.

STING RAY L4a

Sting Rays can float on their backs and tread water in the dive tank for one minute each. They can swim front crawl with consistent side breathing and correct elementary backstroke for 2/3 of a pool length. They can also swim backstroke, crawl, and sidestroke across the dive tank with a good kick and rhythmic arm motions. Sting Rays will build on these skills to refine the front, crawl, and elementary backstroke so that swimmers can swim 25 yards with consistent technique. Swimmers will continue to refine the sidestroke. They will learn the dolphin kick and breaststroke kick on their front in preparation for butterfly and breaststroke in Manta Ray.

MANTA RAY L4b

Manta Rays can tread water for one and a half minutes, swim front crawl with correct side breathing, and the elementary backstroke with a consistent glide for one pool length. Manta Rays can swim the sidestroke with a consistent scissor kick and the breaststroke kick with a glide for two-thirds of a pool length. Manta Rays can dolphin kick in streamlined five-body lengths. Swimmers will use these skills to refine the front crawl, back crawl, elementary backstroke, and sidestroke so that swimmers can swim the strokes with a consistent form for longer distances. Swimmers will use the dolphin kick to develop the butterfly stroke, and the breaststroke kick will be developed into the breaststroke.

DOLPHIN L5

Dolphins can tread water for two minutes and swim both the front crawl and elementary backstroke with correct technique, maintaining form for 50 yards. They can swim butterfly, breaststroke, back crawl, and sidestroke with correct timing and technique. Swimmers will learn front and back flip turns and focus on stroke refinement, efficiency, and endurance. They will work on the skills needed to join a swim team, swim for fitness, or gain the necessary stroke proficiency to become a lifeguard or swim instructor.

Youth Specialty Classes

Splash into Fitness 1

Ages 11 and under. This class is for the younger swimmer who has passed dolphin and wants to keep swimming for exercise. The emphasis for the younger, smaller swimmer is developing endurance and pacing with shorter repeat sets. Swimmers must be able to swim front crawl two pool lengths with good side – breathing the entire distance.

Splash into Fitness 2

Ages 11 – 17. This class is for the older swimmer capable of continuously swimming front crawl for eight pool lengths. Emphasis is on training which will enhance fitness, conditioning, and pacing. Personal goals may include developing swimming into a life- long fitness sport or conditioning for the high school swim team.

Diving Fish Level 1

Divers in level one are learning hurdles and the basics of safely jumping off the diving board. Divers begin to work on learning basic jumps in pike, tuck, and straight position. Divers also learn to go headfirst forward and backward while maintaining body position.

Diving Fish Level 2

Divers are refining their approach on the board while building their diving skills. Participants use the one-meter diving board for these skills. Skills include hurdle and approach forward, backward, pike, tuck, and stretch positions.

Intermediate Diving Fish

Intermediate Diving Fish is for those divers beginning to build skills to advance to the diving club. This level will use both the one-meter and three-meter springboards. To participate in this class, you must have passed Diving Fish Level 2 or have instructor approval.

Adult

Our staff at the Aquatic Center believes you are never too old to learn or refine a skill. Come learn how to float or how to do a flip turn. We have a suitable class for you!

Contact

Youth

Adult