Junior Blues: Swim for Life

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.

This is an entry-level program for children who are not yet floating independently. This class includes water and pool orientation and introduces floats and glides with kicks. 

This group class is taught in the 25yd or Teach pool and has a small class size of a maximum 3:1 student-to-instructor ratio.

Prerequisites: Children must be at least 5 years old by the first class. Swimming abilities: None.

This second orientation level helps develop front and back swim skills. Children are introduced to deep water activities and the proper use of a Personal Flotation Device (PFD). Flutter-kick with assisted glides builds endurance. 

This group class is taught in the 25yd/Varsity or Teach pool and has a small class size of a maximum 3:1 student-to-instructor ratio.

Prerequisite: Children must be at least 5 years old by the first class. Completion of LSS Swim for Life 1. Children should be comfortable fully submerging their heads underwater, blowing bubbles and performing unassisted floats/glides and kicks before beginning Swim for Life 2. 

Children continue to work on kicks and glides and unassisted front crawl for 5 m. Children are introduced to Swim to Survive skills: Jump into deep water, tread water for 15 sec and swim/kick 10 m. This class is held in either the 25yd or 50m pool. Classes in the 50 m pool are taught entirely in deep water; please consider this when choosing a class. 

This is a small group class with a maximum of 4:1 student-to-instructor ratio.

Prerequisite: Children must be at least 5 years old by the first class. Completion of LSS Swim for Life 2. Children should be comfortable performing unassisted glides and kicks on the front, back and side (5-7m) and swimming front crawl (wearing PFD) before beginning Swim for Life 3. 

The front crawl (10m) and back crawl (10m) are further developed and a whip kick on the back (5m) is introduced. Swimmers work on forward roll entry, surface support, and handstands for their underwater skills. An interval training of 4x 10m kicks builds fitness and endurance. This class is held in either the 25yd or 50m pool. Classes in the 50 m pool are taught entirely in deep water; please consider this when choosing a class. 

This is a small group class with a maximum of 4:1 student-to-instructor ratio.

Prerequisite: Children must be at least 5 years old by the first class. Completion of LSS Swim for Life 3. Children should be comfortable swimming front crawl and back crawl for 5 m without an aid or instructor’s assistance before beginning Swim for Life 4. 

Children practice kneeling dives into deep water and perform summersaults for their underwater skills. They'll work on 15 m of front crawl, back crawl and 10 m of whip kick. Their endurance will be challenged with a continuous 25m swim as part of the Swim to Survive skills. 

This class is held in either the 25yd or 50m pool. Classes in the 50 m pool are taught entirely in deep water; please consider this when choosing a class. 

This is a group class with a maximum of 6:1 student-to-instructor ratio.

Prerequisite: Children must be at least 5 years old by the first class. Completion of LSS Swim for Life 4. Children must be able to perform whip kick on the back for 5 m and swim front crawl and back crawl for 10 m before beginning Swim for Life 5. 

Front and back crawl skills continue to develop with a 25m swim of each. Eggbeater kick, whip kick on the front, as well as breaststroke arms are introduced. Swimmers at this level complete their full Swim to Survive Standard: Roll entry into deep water, tread water for 1 min, and swim continuously 50m.  Interval training consisting of 2x25m front or back crawl, and 25 m front crawl sprints build endurance. 

This class is held in either the 25yd or 50m pool. Classes in the 50 m pool are taught entirely in deep water; please consider this when choosing a class. 

This is a group class with a maximum of 6:1 student-to-instructor ratio.

Prerequisite: Children must be at least 5 years old by the first class. Completion of LSS Swim for Life 5. Children must be able to perform whip kick on the back for 10 m and swim front crawl and back crawl for 15 m before beginning Swim for Life 6. 

Front crawl, back crawl and endurance continue to develop (50m each). Breaststroke and head up front crawl are introduced.  Timed treading water and a 75m swim build endurance. If registration is low, this class may be combined with other classes. 

This class is held in either the 25yd or 50m pool. 

This is a group class with a maximum of 8:1 student-to-instructor ratio.

Prerequisite: Completion of LSS Swim for Life 6. Children must be able to perform whip kick on the back and front (15m) and swim front crawl and back crawl for 25 m before beginning Swim for Life 7. 

These advanced swimmers will rise to the challenge of sophisticated aquatic skills including stride entries, compact jumps and lifesaving kicks like eggbeater and scissor kick. They'll develop strength and power in head-up breaststroke sprints over 25 m. They'll easily swim lengths of front crawl, back crawl, and breaststroke, and they'll complain about the 300 m workout.

This class is held in either the 25yd or 50m pool. This is a group class with a maximum of 8:1 student-to-instructor ratio.

Prerequisite: Completion of LSS Swim for Life 7. Children must be able to swim breaststroke (25m), front crawl and back crawl (50m each) and head up front crawl (15m) before beginning Swim for Life 8. 

Participants who successfully complete this level meet the requirements for the Intro to Competitive Swim program at Junior Blues Aquatics Specialty.

Swimmers continue stroke development with 50 m swims of front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke. Lifesaving Sport skills include a 25 m obstacle swim and 15 m object carry. First aid focuses on assessment of conscious victims, contacting EMS and treatment for bleeding.  Fitness improves in 350 m workouts and 100 m timed swims.

This class is held in either the 25yd or 50m pool. 

This is a group class with a maximum of 10:1 student-to-instructor ratio.

Prerequisite: Completion of LSS Swim for Life 8. Participants must be able to swim breaststroke (50m), front crawl and back crawl (100m each) and head up swim (25m) and demonstrate proper eggbeater and scissor kicks (15m each) before beginning Swim for Life 9.

The final level in the Swim for Life program provides stroke refinement. Swimmers develop better strokes over 75 m swims of each stroke. They tackle Lifesaving Sport skills in a lifesaving medley, timed object support and rescue with a buoyant aid. First aid focuses on assessment of unconscious victims, treatment of victims in shock and obstructed airway procedures. Skill drills develop a strong lifesaving foundation.

This class is held in either the 25yd or 50m pool. 

This is a group class with a maximum of 10:1 student-to-instructor ratio.

Prerequisite: Completion of LSS Swim for Life 9. Participants must be able to swim all four strokes, complete a timed swim of 100 m in under 3 mins and know basic first aid before beginning Swim for Life 10.

• 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.
• Children must shower and should use the washrooms and blow their nose before the start of class.
• Participants should meet their instructor on deck.
• Health regulations prohibit street shoes, food, drink, and glass containers on the pool deck. 
• Junior Blues Aquatics Progress cards and stickers are included. For continuous evaluation please bring progress cards prepared by the previous instructor on the parent conference week.
• During the designated parent conference week, classes will end 5 minutes early to give parents the opportunity to speak with the instructors about their child’s progress. Please give your instructor your past  Progress Booklet during this time.

• Swimming classes are held in the Varsity (50m) pool, the teach pool, and the Benson (25yd) pool. Please check your program's registration page and your registration confirmation before your class.
• 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 pass 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 replacement pass.

• Bathing suit and towel.
• Long hair should be tied back.
• Goggles are permitted but not required.
• Children who are not toilet trained need to be wearing a swim diaper to prevent any solid matter from entering the pool. 
• Children who are cold in the water may wear a thermal bathing suit or tightly-fitted undershirt to help stay warm.
• No outdoor shoes are permitted on deck.

• 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.  
• 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.

• Swim for Life 1 to 2 – 3:1
• Swim for Life 3 to 4 – 4:1
• Swim for Life 5 to 6 – 6:1
• Swim for Life 7 to 8 – 8:1
• Swim for Life 9 to 10 – 10:1

• The swimming pool location for your child's lesson (50m, 25yd or Teach Pool) is indicated on your receipt.
• Children five and under may use either change room under adult supervision.
• Children six and over must use gender-specific changerooms matching their 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 25 yd/Benson pool.
• Changing children on the pool deck is not permitted.

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.