Swim Lessons & Leadership

As part of the City’s COVID-19 response, as of January 5, 2022, all indoor registered and drop-in programs are cancelled. Refunds will be issued.

Washrooms and showers are available at select recreation centres.

Stay up-to-date on all changes to City services.

Find a Registered Program

Find swim programs and activities close to your home or work and register online.

Registered Swim Program Map

Registered Programs listings

Guardian Swim (6 months to 5 years)

This program provides an introduction to the aquatic environment and to basic swimming skills for children with support from their parent or guardian.

One caregiver per participant must participate in the water at all times.

Guardian Swim 1

  • Introduction to entries and exits, submersion and breath control.
  • Introduction to assisted basic floats.

Guardian Swim 2

  • Introduction to front and back glide and submersion.
  • Development of front float, back float, and surface support.

Guardian Swim 3

  • Introduction to front swim with basic arm action, jump into the water with personal flotation device (PFD).
  • Development of all skills unassisted.

Preschool Swim (3 to 5 years)

This is the first opportunity for a child to participate in a swim program without their guardian. It may also be their first swimming experience.

One caregiver per participant must participate in the water at all times.

Preschool Swim 1: Penguin

  • Introduction to entries and exits, submersion and breath control.
  • Introduction to basic floats with assistance.

Preschool Swim 2: Stingray

  • Development of entries, exits, bobbing and floats without assistance.
  • Introduction to front swim.
  • Continuous swim of 3 metres.

Preschool Swim 3: Otter

  • Development of front swim, back swim.
  • Introduction to side glides, sculling, and deep water.
  • Continuous swim of 5 metres.

Preschool Swim 4: Dolphin

  • Development of front swim, back swim, and sidekick.
  • Jump into deep water.
  • Continuous swim of 10 metres.

Ultra Swim (5 to 16 years)

One caregiver per participant must participate in the water at all times for Ultra Level 1 to 4.

Ultra Level 1

  • Introduction to entries and exits, submersion and breath control, and basic floats with assistance.
  • Lessons are 30 minutes long.

Ultra Level 2

  • Introduction to deep water, surface support, side glide, and kicking.
  • Development of front swim, back kick and glides continuous swim of 5 metres.
  • Lessons are 30 minutes long.

Ultra Level 3

  • Introduction to front crawl, diving, and back swim.
  • Development of surface support, side glide, and kicking.
  • Continuous swim of 10 metres.
  • Lessons are 30 minutes long.

Ultra Level 4

  • Introduction to side breathing, somersault, whip-kick, and forward roll.
  • Development of front crawl and treading water.
  • Continuous swim of 25 metres.
  • Lessons are 30 minutes long.

Ultra Level 5

  • Introduction to back crawl, eggbeater kick, and elementary backstroke arms.
  • Development of front dive, forward roll, front crawl.
  • Continuous swim of 75 metres.
  • Lessons are 30 minutes long.

Ultra Level 6

  • Introduction to stride entries, surface dives, breaststroke, and interval training.
  • Development of front crawl, back crawl, elementary backstroke, and eggbeater.
  • Continuous swim of 150 metres.
  • Lessons are 45 minutes long.

Ultra Level 7

  • Introductions to shallow dive into deep water, clothed treading water.
  • Development of surface dives, eggbeater, front crawl, back crawl, elementary backstroke, and breaststroke.
  • Continuous swim of 200 metres.
  • Lessons are 45 minutes long.

Ultra Level 8

  • Development of strokes and skills.
  • Continuous swim of 300 metres.
  • Lessons are 60 minutes long.

Ultra Level 9

  • Development of strokes and skills.
  • Continuous swim of 400 metres.
  • Lessons are 60 minutes long.

Ultra Youth Swim (9 to 16 years)

This program provides the opportunity to gain knowledge and skills in swimming and water safety with participants in the same age group. Lessons are 60 minutes long.

Ultra Youth 1

  • Introduction of front and back swim, front, side, back glide, submersion and breath control, surface support and deep water.
  • Continuous swim of 25-50 metres.

Ultra Youth 2

  • Introduction of stride entry, eggbeater, surface dives, breaststroke.
  • Development of front crawl, back crawl, elementary backstroke, surface support.
  • Continuous swim of 50-100 metres.

Ultra Youth 3

  • Development of strokes and skills
    continuous swim of 100-300 metres.

Adult Swim (17+ years)

This program provides the opportunity to gain knowledge and skills in swimming and water safety. Participants work on skill items at their own pace.

Adult 1

  • Introduction of front and back swim, front, side, back glide, submersion and breath control, surface support and deep water.
  • Continuous swim of 25-50 metres.

Adult 2

  • Introduction of stride entry, eggbeater, breaststroke development of front crawl, back crawl, glides, surface support and deep water.
  • Continuous swim of 50-100 metres.

Adult 3

  • Development of strokes and skills.
  • Continuous swim of 100 – 300 metres.

Older Adult Swim (60+ years)

This program provides the opportunity to gain knowledge and skills in swimming and water safety. Participants work on skill items at their own pace.

Older Adult 1

  • Introduction of front and back swim, front, side, back glide, submersion and breath control, surface support and deep water.
  • Continuous swim of 25-50 metres.

Older Adult 2

  • Introduction of stride entry, eggbeater, breaststroke development of front crawl, back crawl, glides, surface support and deep water.
  • Continuous swim of 50-100 metres.

Older Adult 3

  • Development of strokes and skills.
  • Continuous swim of 100 – 300 metres.

Competitive Swim: SPLASH Swim Team

The SPLASH Swim Team is geared towards developing competitive swimming skills. Expand your swimming potential by practicing in a team-based and competitive environment.

  • 2 practices a week.
  • The program runs for 8 or 9 weeks.
  • Swimmers compete according to the year they were born.

This program requires the review of Ontario’s Concussion Awareness Resources and the City of Toronto’s Concussion Code of Conduct. A signature indicating acknowledgement will be required for participants under the age of 26, or parents/caregivers of participants under the age of 18, on the first day of program participation.

For more information visit Concussion Safety.

Challenge

This program teaches competitive skills and improves fitness and endurance.

  • 3 levels
    • Bronze
    • Silver
    • Gold
  • 1 practice per week.
  • There are no swim meets.

Stroke Improvement

Child Stroke Improvement:

  • For swimmers in Ultra 5 and up.
  • Provides extra practice on front crawl, back crawl, elementary backstroke and breaststroke.

Adult Stroke Improvement:

  • For swimmers 17+.
  • Allows improvement for strokes and fitness under instructor guidance.

Pre-lifeguard Programs

Patrol Program – 9 years old+

Rookie Patrol:

  • Prerequisite: Ultra Swim 8
  • Includes:
    • Timed 100-metre swims.
    • 350-metre workouts.
    • Swimming with clothing.

Develops swimming strength and efficiency with emphasis on personal responsibility for Water Smart behaviour.

Ranger Patrol:

  • Prerequisite: Ultra Swim 9
  • Includes:
    • Timed 200-metre swims.
    • 100-metre fitness medley.
    • Support/carry a 5-pound weight.

Improves rescue abilities in the water.

Star Patrol:

  • Prerequisite: Ultra Swim 9
  • Includes:
    • Timed 300-metre swims.
    • 600-metre workouts.
    • Lifeguard whistle signals.
    • Airway/bleeding first aid priorities.

Junior Lifeguard Club – 8 years old+

  • Prerequisite: must be able to swim 2 lengths of the pool easily.
  • Good for:
    • Improving skills and strokes.
    • Making new friends.

For swimmers who love the water and want to complement the skills, they are learning in lessons or swimming teams.

Bronze Program

Bronze Star and Basic First Aid (CPR-A)

  • Prerequisites: none
  • Participants:
    • Do coursework by themselves and with a partner.
    • Develop problem-solving and decision-making skills.
    • Learn one-rescuer adult CPR and obstructed airway response.
    • Learn how to contact Emergency Medical Services.
    • Develop Water Smart confidence.
    • Lifesaving skills for themselves.

Skills learned in the course are official training certifications of the Lifesaving Society.

Bronze Medallion and Emergency First Aid (CPR-B)

  • Prerequisites: Bronze Star or minimum 13 years old+
  • Skills include:
    • Victim assessment.
    • Adult, child and infant CPR.
    • Obstructed airway response.
    • Identification and treatment of respiratory and circulatory emergencies.
  • Candidates must be able to complete a 500-metre swim in 15 minutes or less by the course exam date.

Bronze Medallion and Emergency First Aid (CPR-B) are prerequisites for all future lifesaving awards.

Emergency First Aid (CPR-B)

  • Prerequisites: none
  • Skills include:
    • Victim assessment.
    • Choking, respiratory and circulatory emergencies such as heart attack and stroke.
    • How to deal with external bleeding.
  • Successful candidates receive Emergency First Aid and CPR-B certifications.

Emergency First Aid is recognized by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board.

Bronze Cross

  • Prerequisites: Bronze Medallion and Emergency First Aid.
  • Participants learn:
    • The difference between lifesaving and lifeguarding.
    • Principles of emergency procedures and teamwork.
    • How to use special equipment.
  • Candidates must be able to complete a 600-metre swim in 18 minutes or less by the course exam date.

Bronze Cross is one* of the prerequisites for lifeguard training in the National Lifeguard Service (NLS) program and Lifesaving Society Instructors.

*Standard First Aid (CPR-C) is a requirement for National Lifeguard Certification. CPR-C is not included in Bronze Cross courses appearing in the FUN Guide.

Pool Use

  • Shower with soap before you enter the pool.
  • All swimmers must change from street clothes to swimsuit and/or clean clothing used only for swimming.
  • Do not wear outside shoes on the pool deck.
  • Do not bring strollers from the outside on the pool deck.
  • For swimmers who aren’t toilet trained:
    • We recommend specially designed swim diapers or pants.
    • Cotton diapers are only allowed if snug pants are worn to cover the diaper.
    • Disposable diapers are not allowed as they fall apart with too much water and clog the pool’s filters.
  • Those with serious medical conditions should be accompanied by a caregiver familiar with their condition.

Change rooms

There are a limited number of pools that have a family/universal change room:

  • Children 6 years of age and younger can use the change room with their caregiver regardless of the child’s gender.
  • Children 7 years of age and older must use the change room designated for their gender.
  • You can make alternate arrangements with facility staff if change room accommodations don’t work for you.

Lockers may be available in change rooms to store items. The City of Toronto is not responsible for lost or stolen items.

Photography

If you want to take pictures of your child while they are swimming you must speak with staff at the facility first. Using a phone, tablet, camera or other electronic or photographic device is not allowed in washrooms and change rooms at all City of Toronto facilities.