Aquatics Programming
Aquatic based classes are an excellent way to stay fit no matter your age or physical fitness. It is never too late to learn to swim or sharpen your skills and enjoy this lifelong recreational pursuit. Continue reading for descriptions of our group levels, private offerings, and additional pool activities!
Group Swim Lessons
Winter swim lessons will begin on January 8th. Registration opens December 18th at 10am, and closes the Friday before class.
Level 1: Getting comfortable
Level 1 is for individuals with no previous swim experience. It is designed to give swimmers the time and assistance needed to feel more comfortable and confident in the water.
Pre-requisites:
- None
Learning goals:
- Entering and exiting the water
- Being comfortable in the water
- Submerging your face under water
- Floating on your back
- Floating on your front
- Blowing bubbles
- Flutter kick
While these classes are designed to cover all material within the timeframe, everyone learns at a different pace. You may have to take one level multiple times before moving on to the next level – and that’s ok! Please look through all course descriptions before making your selection.
Level 2: Intro to Freestyle
Level 2 is for individuals with little to no previous swim experience. It is designed for swimmers who are comfortable in the water but have no practical understanding of swimming.
Pre-requisites:
- Comfortable in the shallow end (4ft)
- Can submerge face underwater
Learning goals:
- Blowing bubbles
- Floating on your back unassisted
- Floating on your front unassisted
- Safety Rolls
- Elementary backstroke
- Flutter kick
- The beginning of frontcrawl
While these classes are designed to cover all material within the timeframe, everyone learns at a different pace. You may have to take one level multiple times before moving on to the next level – and that’s ok! Please look through all course descriptions before making your selection.
Level 3: Improving strokes
Level 3 is for individuals who want to learn the basics of crawl stroke, backstroke, and breaststroke. Swimmers must be able to float on their front and back unassisted, and feel fully comfortable submerging their face underwater.
Pre-requisites:
- Comfortable in the shallow end (4ft)
- Can submerge face underwater
- Unsupported back float
- Unsupported front float
Learning goals:
- frontcrawl
- backstroke
- breaststroke
- Treading water in the deep end
While these classes are designed to cover all material within the timeframe, everyone learns at a different pace. You may have to take one level multiple times before moving on to the next level – and that’s ok! Please look through all course descriptions before making your selection.
Level 4: Stroke Technique, Endurance, and Butterfly
Level 4 is for individuals who can perform crawl stroke, backstroke, and breaststroke. This class focuses on improving efficacy and endurance while swimming. Swimmers will also be introduced to butterfly stroke.
Pre-requisites:
- Able to swim one length of crawl stroke
- Able to swim one length of backstroke
- Able to swim one length of breaststroke
Learning goals:
- Improve stroke efficiency for three strokes
- Learn the basics of butterfly
- Improve endurance while swimming
- Introduction to flip turns
While these classes are designed to cover all material within the timeframe, everyone learns at a different pace. You may have to take one level multiple times before moving on to the next level – and that’s ok! Please look through all course descriptions before making your selection.
Level 5: Introduction to Fitness Swimming
Level 5 focuses on stroke technique for the four main strokes and a small emphasis on learning how to swim for fitness.
Pre-requisites:
- Comfortable swimming 50 yards each (without stopping) of crawl stroke, backstroke, and breaststroke
- Understanding of butterfly
Learning goals:
- Improving stroke techniques using drills
- Using a pace clock to track stroke efficiency, speed, and increase workout
- Lap swim etiquette (sharing a lane, circle swimming)
- Set building
Please look through all course descriptions before making your selection.
Swim Fitness
Tired of making your own swim sets? Twice a week, get in a good hour-long workout in our Swim Fitness class. An experienced swimmer and instructor will create a workout for the class, providing tips & tricks along the way. This class is designed for advanced swimmers who want to use swimming as exercise and improve their strokes. Workouts vary in focus from sprinting, long distance endurance, and stroke technique. Attention will also be given to flip turns, open turns, and dives.
Private Swim Lessons
Private swim lessons provide 3 hours of 1-on-1 instruction with an experienced swim instructor! Instruction will be divided into 6, 30 minute sessions scheduled between you and your assigned instructor after registration.
Aquacise
Are you sick of boring cardio exercises? Join us for a weekly pool party! Improve your endurance and build muscle while moving to fun music, all while staying cool in the pool. Some weeks are dedicated to a specific theme — check out our registration page for more details!
Log Rolling
Come try out this fun and unique sport during IMA Friday Night Activities. Participants face off in 1-on-1 battles to see who can stay on the log the longest! Or, try it alone to get the best record of the night! Participants must read all relevant signage before participating, and follow all lifeguard instructions while at the pool.
For more information on the sport and using the logs, check out the Instruction Manual.
Lifeguarding + CPR
We offer American Red Cross safety courses with certified ARC Instructors! Anyone interested in being more prepared for emergencies, learning how to provide care, or who spends a lot of time around water should consider getting certified! All classes happen at the IMA.
CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuers with First Aid is offered on a monthly basis to members and non-members.
Lifeguarding with CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuers with First Aid is offered in Spring quarter to members and non-members. For more information on these programs, see our registration page.
Intramurals
Check out our aquatics-based Intramural programming!
To see a list of current classes, times, and to register, click the Register Here button:
FAQs
What group swim lesson should I sign up for?
There are several different options for you in regards to group lessons. We offer levels 1-5 to accommodate various skills levels and interests. Take a look at the class descriptions to see what group would be the best fit. If you have additional questions or would like to discuss them further, contact the Aquatics Manager (jvklay@uw.edu).
Are the private lessons better than the group lessons?
Private lessons are not better or worse than the group lessons. It really depends how best you as a student learn. If you learn better in a group, then the group lessons are a good fit. If you prefer more of a one on one interaction, the private lessons would be the better fit. The skills covered in both types are the same.
Can I ask for a specific instructor?
You can ask for a specific instructor but there is no guarantee that you will be placed with them. You can wait on that instructor to have some space in their schedule but it may take more time than you are willing to wait.
How long are the lessons?
Group lessons are each 30 minutes, twice a week, for three weeks (6 total classes). Private lessons are scheduled between yourself and the instructor: each single class can be 30 or 45 minutes long.
How do I purchase sessions?
Lessons can be purchased online through our online portal. If you are having trouble accessing the website or seeing correct prices, please reach out to recinfo@uw.edu.
If I fit some parts in the level but not all, do I need to retake the level?
If you do not fulfill the requirements for the next level, then you should retake the level again or go into private instruction.
Questions About Accessibility?
The University of Washington makes every effort to honor disability accommodation requests. UW Recreation encourages everyone to participate in our department offerings; please contact us at (206) 543-4590 or at recinfo@uw.edu for more information on how to get involved. Requests can be responded to most effectively if received as far in advance of the event as possible, preferably at least 10 business days.
Request Disability Services Office
To request disability accommodation, contact the Disability Services Office at:
- (206) 543-6450 (Voice)
- (206) 543-6452 (TTY)
- (206) 685-7264 (FAX)
- dso@uw.edu
- hr.uw.edu/dso
Request Disability Resources for Students
Or the Disability Resources for Students Office at:
- (206) 543-8924 (Voice)
- (206) 543-8925 (TTY)
- (206) 616-8379 (FAX)
- uwdss@uw.edu
- uwdrs.uw.edu
Insurance
UW Recreation does not provide accident or medical coverage for participants. It is recommended that participants obtain their own personal coverage. Students may obtain additional information on student accident/sickness insurance by contacting: Insurance & Cost | Husky Health & Well-Being (uw.edu)
Questions About Refunds?
For questions about program or membership refunds check the Registration page or contact recinfo@uw.edu.