Swim Lesson Course Descriptions  

Lesson instruction will occur from the pool and/or pool deck by a certified instructor. Course schedule is subject to change.

Effective July 1, 2021 the following fees will be charged for any withdrawal or transfer from this course. Withdrawal fee: $8 Transfer fee: $7. Withdrawals or transfers after course begins will not be permitted.

Note: These course descriptions are meant to serve as a guideline, when placing your swimmer, please choose the appropriate level based on skill level. If you are registering your swimmer for a class and their age falls outside of the parameters, please call Customer Service for assistance. 

Water Exploration- Adult & Child Aquatics; 1-4 years

Class is designed to help develop swimming readiness by leading parents and their children in water exploration activities with the objectives of having fun and being comfortable in, on and around the water. Skills include: water entry, holding position, bubble blowing, supported front and back kicking, floats, glides, arm movements and under water exploration. Adult must accompany child in water during class. 

Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for Water Exploration - Adult and Child.  


Water Acclimation- Preschool Aquatics; 3-6 years

The preschool aquatics program is the next step up from Adult and Child class; designed to teach fundamental water safety and aquatic skills to beginners. This beginning swim class will emphasize on water adjustment to help young swimmers enjoy using the pool and learn to feel comfortable in, on and around the water on their own with the instructor. Adults do not accompany child in water. Preschool aquatics program will lay the foundation needed for young swimmers to progress through the City of Modesto Learn-to-Swim program as they get older and more experienced. There are no prerequisites for Preschool Aquatics.

Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for Water Acclimation - Preschool Aquatics. 


Introduction to Swimming Skills- Level 1;   4-8 years

This course continues to orient children to the aquatic environment and teaches them elementary swimming skills that will be built upon as they progress through the City of Modesto Learn-to-Swim program. Level 1 teaches breath control, supported floating, kicking on front and back and alternating arm action. 

Prerequisites: 

Successful completion of Preschool Aquatics or comfortable putting face in the water and able to follow group instructions.

Fundamental Swimming Skills-Level 2; 6-12 years

Students will learn to demonstrate rhythmic breathing, front and back glides, rolling over from front to back, combined front and back strokes (without support), and introduction to elementary backstroke. Students will also learn to jump into chest deep water. 

Prerequisites: 

Successful completion of Level 1; comfortable floating on front and back, and swim on front and back for a minimum of 5 feet with support.

Stroke Development- Level 3; 6-14 years

Students will learn to demonstrate rotary breathing, front and back glides traveling two body lengths, front and back crawl, elementary backstroke and side stroke. Students will also learn to jump into deep water safely. 

Prerequisites:

Successful completion of Level 2; independent front and back floats for 5 seconds, and swim on front and back for15 feet using a combined arm and leg action.

Stroke Improvement- Level 4; 8-17 years

Students will learn to demonstrate deep water floats, dives, open turns, treading water, streamlines, and breaststroke and be introduced to butterfly kick. In Level 4, swimmers will be introduced to swimming 25 yards at a time. 

Prerequisites: 

Successful completion of Level 3; front crawl, back crawl and elementary backstroke for 15 yards with appropriate breathing and a 30 second float.

Stroke Refinement- Level 5; 10-17 years

Level 5 swimmers are introduced to more advanced swim skills including butterfly, streamlines and flip turns, and surface dives. Swimmers will continue to refine their strokes and be challenged by swimming continuously with wall turns. 

Prerequisites:

Successful completion of Level 4; freestyle, backstroke and sidestroke for 25 yards, 1 minute float, and breaststroke for 15 feet.

Introduction to Competitive Swimming- Level 6; 8-17 years

Level 6 prepares students for the swim team and Junior LG program. Students swim continuously with more ease, proficiency, power, and smoothness over great distances. In Level 6, students focus on competitive starts and flip turns, will complete swim work sets, and focus on stroke techniques. 

Prerequisites: 

Successful completion of Level 4 or must able to swim 25 yards with combined stroke action and be safe in deep water.

Private Swim Lessons, 3 years+

Private instruction to fit your needs. Perfect for adults and children! If you or your child needs to work on a specific skill, receive extra help to pass a specific level, or would benefit from one on one instruction, private lessons are the perfect option. Private lessons are 1:1 (one swim instructor for one swimmer) but will occur while other lessons take place within the pool.

Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for Private Swim Lessons.


Adult Private Swim Lessons; 18 years+ 

Private instruction to fit your needs. Perfect for adults. Whether you are a beginner or you need to work on a specific skill, private lessons are the perfect option. These lessons are tailored to fit your specific needs. Private lessons are 1:1 (one swim instructor for one swimmer) but will occur while other lessons take place within the pool.  

Prerequisites: 

There are no prerequisites for Adult Private Swim Lessons.