The University of South Florida Campus Recreation Department's Learn to Swim Program teaches children how to swim in a safe and fun environment. Your child will learn on an individual, rather than class basis, motivated with positive reinforcement by each instructor. Here, they will learn swimming, water survival and water safety skills putting you and your child at ease in and around the pool.
Guidelines & Program Policies * Levels/Curriculum * Schedule & Costs
Guidelines & Program Policies
Age:
Must be at least three years of age and potty trained to participate.Skill Evaluation:
On the first day of class we will evaluate your child's skill level to make sure they are placed in the correct class. Parents will not be responsible for choosing a class or skill level for their child.Observing Your Child:
As an observer, we ask that you stay seated on the bleachers and do not sit near the
pool deck. This will allow for the instructor to build trust with your child.Make-up Classes:
We do not offer make-up classes for classes that are missed by individual child. Due to
the different progression of individual classes and the child/instructor ratio, we will not be
able to add your child to another class for make-up. We want to provide all children with the adequate time with instructor. Please consider this when signing up for classes.Inclement Weather Policy:
Inclement weather or facility cancellation may occur. If this occurs, we may add time to your child's lesson to make-up for minutes. We often try to wait out the storm so we can get as much time in during that class. We also reserve Friday for a make-up day, if needed.
Levels/Curriculum
Level 1: Tadpoles
- Our Tadpole class introduces your child to the water and establishes comfort. In this class children will learn: water entries and exits using the ladder; breath control and underwater swimming through bobs and blowing bubbles; floating on their front and back for 5 seconds; rolling from back to front; front stroke and back stroke skills; and some treading water. We will also teach safety skills for in and around the pool.
- Standards: Little to no swim experience.
Level 2: Guppy
- The Guppy class initiates water entries through jumping or stepping off the side of the pool rather than using the ladder. Children will learn to: fully submerge in the water for 5 seconds; continue to develop their strokes; create endurance while swimming and treading water; and learn a series of safe ways to enter and exit a pool
(jump into the water, front float for 5 seconds, roll over to back float, then climb out).
- Standards:Swimmers should know front stroke and backstroke basics along with back floating and blowing bubbles in the water.
Level 3: Stingrays
- This level incorporates skills learned in the Guppy and Tadpole levels and moves them to deeper water where they will experience treading water, front and back floats, and kicking. Your child will also learn streamlining, scissor kicks, and be introduced to other strokes such as breaststroke and butterfly.
- Standards: Your child must be comfortable swimming, floating and kicking in the shallow end of the pool. He/she should know front stroke and back stroke.
Level 4: Shark
- The Shark level will develop your child's strokes and establish endurance using those strokes. Students will swim underwater, tread water for 5 minues in the deep end, learn feet first surface dives, streamlining, and all four strokes in more detail.
- Standards: Your child should be comfortable swimming in the deep end, on top and underneath the water. Knowledge of front stroke, backstroke and breaststroke, as well as some knowledge of butterfly is required.
Level 5: Dolphin
- The Dolphin level is a more advanced version of the Shark Level. This class expands knowledge and techniques of all four strokes and teaches front stroke and backstroke flip turns. Students will also increase endurance by swimming longer lengths (25-100 yards at a time) and sidestroke and head first diving.
- Standards: Your child must have the same standards of the Shark level, plus have a knowledge of all four strokes and streamlining.
Cost & Schedule
$120.00 = Twelve Classes (Monday-Thursday for three weeks)
Parking Permits & Procedures: If you plan to park at USF, a parking permit is required. Parking is within close walking distance to the indoor pool. Learn to Swim and the Campus Recreation Department are not responsible for any parking tickets from USF. Please park in the designated area (Lot 6).
Cancellations & Refunds: Cancellations made two weeks prior to the start of the session will be refunded with a cancellation fee of $20. If cancellations are made after that time or during the first week of the session, refunds will be made with a $50 cancellation fee applied. Cancellations after the first week will NOT be refunded.
| Session 1: | Session 2: | Session 3: | Session 4: |
| May 13-May 30 | June 10-June 27 | July 8-July 25 | July 29-August 15 |
| Monday: | Tuesday: | Wednesday: | Thursday: |
| 8:15AM- 9AM | 8:15AM- 9AM | 8:15AM- 9AM | 8:15AM- 9AM |
| 9:15AM-10AM | 9:15AM-10AM | 9:15AM-10AM | 9:15AM-10AM |
| 10:15AM-11AM | 10:15AM-11AM | 10:15AM-11AM | 10:15AM-11AM |
| 4PM-4:45PM | 4PM-4:45PM | 4PM-4:45PM | 4PM-4:45PM |
| 5PM-5:45 PM | 5PM-5:45PM | 5PM-5:45PM | 5PM-5:45PM |
| 6PM-6:45PM | 6PM-6:45PM | 6PM-6:45PM | 6PM-6:45 PM |
We may offer all levels during each time slot as long as we've reached the minimum number children to conduct a class.