Register for Adult Aquatics Instruction
Our aquatics instruction courses will take you from a basic level of swimming strokes through to intermediate proficiency, stroke mechanics and beyond!
FALL REGISTRATION OPeNS SEptember 3rd at 7:00 am!
Looking for swimming lessons for your kids? Check out our Junior Blues Aquatics Instructional Programs here: Junior Blues Swimming
Programs & Schedules
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
- Trans Swim Lessons Beginner
- Drop-in Learn to Swim Beginner
- Drop-in Learn to Swim Beginner Women Only
| Day | Time | Class Type | Location |
| Monday | 12:15pm-1:15pm | Swim to Survive | 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 | 7:45pm-8:45pm | Trans Swim Lessons Beginner (Levels 1 & 2) | 25yd Benson Pool |
| Wednesday | 9:00am-9:45am | Learn to Swim Women Only Beginner (Levels 1 & 2) | 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 | |
| 12:00-1:30pm | Springboard Diving | 50m Varsity Pool (South End) | |
| 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 | |
| Thursday | 6:05pm-6:50pm | Learn to Swim Trans - Intermediate (Levels 3&4) | 25yd Benson Pool |
| Friday | 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) | 25yd Benson Pool | |
| 1:00pm-1:45pm | Intermediate Swim (Level 3) | 25yd Benson Pool | |
| 1:45pm-2:15pm | Private Swim | 25yd Benson Pool | |
| Sunday | 9:15am-9:45am | Private Swim Women-Only | 25yd Pool |
| 9:45am-10:30am | Stroke Mechanics Women-Only (Level 4) | 25yd Pool | |
| 1:30pm-2:30pm | Family Swim to Survive | Teach Pool/50m Pool (South End) |
- Classes are subject to change and cancellations.
| Day | Time | Class Type | Location |
| Mondays/Wednesdays | 6:45pm-7:30pm | Basic Swim (Level 2) | 25yd Benson Pool |
| 7:30pm-8:15pm | Absolute Beginner (Level 1) | 25yd Benson Pool | |
| Mondays (Mondays/Thursdays twice a week options available) | 7:30pm-9:00pm | Swim Training (Level 5) | 25yd Benson Pool |
| Tuesdays | 7:45pm-8:45 pm | Trans Swim Lessons Beginner (Levels 1 & 2) | 25yd Benson Pool |
| Wednesdays only | 6:45pm-7:30pm | Absolute Beginner (Level 1) | 25yd Benson Pool |
| 7:30pm-8:15pm | Intermediate Swim (Level 3) | 25yd Benson Pool | |
| Thursdays | 7:30pm-8:15pm | Stroke Mechanics (Level 4) | 50m Varsity Pool (North End) |
| Mondays/Thursdays twice a week options available) | 6:45pm- 8:15pm | Swim Training (Level 5) | 50m Varsity Pool (North End) |
- Classes are subject to change and cancellations.
Location:
Athletic Centre (55 Harbord St., Toronto)
25 Yard Pool - 25-yard Benson Pool | UofT - Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education (utoronto.ca)
50m Varsity Pool - Varsity Pool | UofT - Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education (utoronto.ca)
Absolute Beginner - Level I
- An introduction to basic swimming skills: buoyancy, breathing, submersion of whole face in water and propulsion. No swimming skills required.
- Note: Women's Only class is only for those who identify as a woman. An introduction to basic swimming skills: buoyancy, breathing, submersion of whole face in water and propulsion. No swimming skills required. 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 Adult Swim 1 - Absolute Beginner 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 15 to 30 metres.
- Note: Women's Only class is only for those who identify as a woman. Participants are taught front crawl, back crawl, treading water, and deep water skills when ready. 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 are taught front crawl, back crawl, treading water, and deep water skills when ready
- Participants to Instructor ratio: 8:1
- 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. Prerequisites: none
- 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
Intermediate Swim Level III
- Swimmers practice front crawl and back crawl and learn breast stroke, elementary back stroke and side stroke
- Prerequisite = Completion of Adult Swim 2 - Basic Swim 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 including in deep water.
- Note: Women's Only class is only for those who identify as a woman. Swimmers practice front crawl and back crawl and learn breast stroke, elementary back stroke and side stroke. 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
- Classes focus on improving stroke technique in front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke
- Prerequisite = Completion of Adult Swim 3 - Intermediate Swim OR participants must be able to swim 100 metres of each front crawl and back crawl, 25 metres of breast stroke. Participants must also be able to complete a distance swim of 200 metres of continuous swimming in deep water.
- Note: Women's Only class is only for those who identify as a woman. Swimmers practice front crawl and back crawl and learn breast stroke, elementary back stroke and side stroke. 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
- Participants are coached through a series of workouts. Workout distances average from 1 to 3.5 kilometres and accommodate a range of abilities.
- Participants to Instructor ratio: 10:1
Springboard Diving
- 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.
- 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).
- Participants to Instructor ratio: 12:1
Private 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 AQUATIC PROGRAMS
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.