Swimming Lessons
PlayLA Swim Lesson Levels
The American Red Cross Parent and Child Aquatics Level 1 program helps infants and young children become comfortable in, on, and around the water, laying the foundation for future aquatic skills. A guardian must accompany and participate with their child in every class. The program emphasizes water comfort, breath control, floating, safe entry and exit from the water, and wearing a life jacket. While the program is fun and engaging, it is not designed to teach independent swimming or water survival; it is water exploration in a safe aquatic environment.
The Parent and Child Aquatics Level 2 course is designed to build on the water comfort skills learned in level 1. The Level 2 program uses songs, games, and toys to keep children engaged while focusing on safety and bonding. Participants focus on retrieving submerged objects with eyes open, gliding on the front and back with assistance and changing body position from front to back.
A Parent or Guardian is required to be in the water with their child. Children will learn to enter and exit the water independently, submerge mouth underwater and blow bubbles for 3 seconds, glide on front for 2 body lengths then roll to back and float for 3 seconds and perform arm and leg actions on front and back.
Tiny Tots lessons provide small group instruction for youth ages 3 to 6 years old. Lessons are designed for first time swimmers. Classes are 25 minutes in length. Instructors are in the water with the students. Parents are NOT required to be in the water. Maximum of 3 participants per class. Starfish: For first time swimmers. Students will be taught to enter/exit the pool, have breath control, front/back floats and basic water safety. Minnow: Skills in Starfish are required. Opening of eyes and object retrieval underwater. Introduction of rotary arms and kicks during front and back glide.
Introduction to water safety and water acclimation. This level teaches buoyancy in water and basic locomotion skills. Kicking, breathing and alternative arm action techniques are introduced.
Beginner: Participants will learn to enter chest deep water by jumping in, fully submerge and hold breath for 10 seconds, rotary breathing, front float 10 seconds, back float 15 seconds, change direction of travel while swimming on front and back, tread water for 30 seconds in shoulder-deep water, combined arm and leg actions on front for 5 body lengths.
Participants learn advanced skill, dolphin and scissors kicks, rotary breathing, and progressive skills leading to diving, front crawl and elementary backstroke. Please note online registration is limited.
Refine crawl and elementary backstroke. Introduction to back crawl, breaststroke, sidestroke and butterfly. Turns and surface dives introduced.
Refine strokes and improve conditioning. Learn additional aquatic skills such as surface dives, flip turns and improve diving into the pool, refine their performance of all six swimming strokes.
Participants continue to refine all strokes with an emphasis on increased yardage and an introduction to advanced swimming turns. Increase fitness level and ability to swim longer distances.
Introduction to water safety and water acclimation. This Adult- beginner level teaches buoyancy in water and basic locomotion skills. Kicking, breathing and alternative arm action techniques are introduced.
Refine strokes and improve conditioning. Learn additional aquatic skills such as surface dives, flip turns and improve diving into the pool, refine their performance of all six swimming strokes.
Private Lessons
- Private and semi-private lessons provide personalized instruction to adults or youth ages 3 and older. Lessons are 25 minutes in length.
- Scheduling is subject to availability, must register for a minimum of four (4) lessons. See manager for more details and availability.
Group Lessons
- Online Registration only. (No phone registrations)
- 5 spots to online registration and 5 spots to in person registration.
- A total of 10 participants per class.
- Fees must be paid at time of registration. No exceptions.
- Make Checks payable to: City of L.A. Department of Recreation and Parks.
- No Refunds unless session is canceled.
- Lessons are 25 minutes. If late, we do not make up time.
- Swim instruction will be given from the pool deck.
Adult Lessons
- Introduction to water safety and water acclimation. The adult lessons teaches buoyancy in water and basic locomotion skills. Kicking, breathing and alternative arm action techniques are introduced.
- Participants continue to refine all strokes with an emphasis on increased yardage and an introduction to other advanced turns.