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swimming lessons at the Urbandale swimming pool

Register for all programs and events at the Urbandale Swimming Pool, 7201 Aurora Ave.

American Red Cross Swimming Lessons

The Urbandale Swim Program teaches children how to swim and be safe in and around the water.

Please read the following skills to determine what level your child should enter. The skills listed are what they must successfully complete to move to next course.

INFANT AND PRESCHOOL AQUATIC PLAYTIME (IPAP) 6 months – 4 years old This class is to inform you, the parent, on ways to enjoy the water with your child. The program emphasizes parental teaching methods for water adjustment and basic skills. An adult must be in the water with their child throughout the class time. This class will not teach your child how to swim. This class is designed to make your child more comfortable in and around the water.

LEVEL 1: Introduction to the Water   

  1. Blow bubbles (3 seconds)
  2. Supported front and back float
  3. Supported kicking on front and back
  4. Safety rules

LEVEL 2: Basic Water Skills

  1. Submerge and retrieve object in shallow water
  2. Front/back float, unsupported (5 seconds)
  3. Introduction to sidestroke and backstroke
  4. Jump into deep water from side of pool
  5. Introduction to elementary backstroke
  6. Personal safety

LEVEL 3: Stroke Introduction

  1. Elementary backstroke & sidestroke (15 yards)
  2. Dive from side of pool from kneeling position
  3. Introduction to breaststroke & butterfly
  4. Front crawl, face in water with rhythmic breathing (15 yards)
  5. Back crawl (15 yards)
  6. Personal Safety and Rescue

LEVEL 4: Stroke Development

  1. Swim underwater (3 body lengths)
  2. Dive from side of pool
  3. Elementary backstroke/sidestroke/breaststroke butterfly (20 yards)
  4. Front and back crawl (25 yards, using side breathing)
  5. Personal Safety and Rescue

LEVEL 5: Stroke Improvement

  1. Swim underwater (15 yards)
  2. Shallow dive from side of pool
  3. Breaststroke/sidestroke (25 yards)
  4. Elementary backstroke/butterfly (25 yards)
  5. Front and back crawl (50 yards)
  6. Personal Safety and Rescue

FAQ's of Urbandale Swimming Lessons

When/Where can I register for lessons? Saturday, May 3 (Session 1 & 2) at the Urbandale Senior Center, 7305 Aurora Avenue. Saturday, June 21 (Sessions 3, 4, 5) at the Urbandale Pool. You may register after the beginning registration dates, providing class availability, at the Urbandale Pool, 7201 Aurora Avenue.

Why are there specific days for swimming lesson registration? The demand for summer lessons is high. To make it as fair as possible we have set aside 2 separate days to register. You may register after the beginning registration date, providing class availability, anytime the pool is open for public/lap swim.

Are there separate registration times for residents and non-residents? Urbandale residents may register from 8:00–8:30 a.m. Non-residents may register from 8:30-9:00 a.m.

How do I know what class my child should be in? Above is a list of what the student must complete to pass that class. Please ask your child what he/she can do from the list of skills. If your child participated in the Urbandale lessons in the past, you should have received a certification card, indicating your child passed the current class or an achievement letter which informed you of what your child must work on to pass that class.

If my child is in the wrong class, will he/she be moved to the correct class? Your child will be moved only if there is an opening in that class. For optimum learning we restrict the number of students in each class based on the class requirements. Levels 1 & 2 (6 students), Levels 3 & 4 (8 students) Level 5 (10 students).

Why are the locker room doors locked during lessons? The doors are locked so we can monitor who enters the locker rooms. The locker room doors will be unlocked 5 minutes before the start of your lesson and locked 5 minutes after the lesson begins. Parents are encouraged to accompany the student to their class location, then return to the lobby. Chairs are available in the lobby as well as picnic tables in front of the building. Lions Park, located across from the pool, has many shade trees to sit under to make your wait more comfortable.

What if I need to pick up my child early from lessons and the locker room doors are locked? Please inform your child’s instructor that he/she must leave early on a certain date. The instructor will send the child to the locker room early to dress and to let the parent in.

My child will need to miss some classes. Are there any make-ups? No, sessions are scheduled back to back starting in June.

Will lessons be cancelled because of thunderstorms? No, lessons will take place because we are an indoor pool.

Can I watch my child’s lesson? Family observation days are Mondays and Thursdays. We encourage you to wait in the lobby or outside on all other days. This helps to reduce the amount of distractions that may interfere with your child’s lesson.

Can siblings swim in the Aquatic Playground during lessons? No, we do not have a staff member available at the Aquatic Playground during our lessons and the State of Iowa will not allow us to have anyone on the outside pool decks.

I’m not sure if my child should be in Level 2 or Level 3. Can I register him in each class, and then get a refund for the class he does not participate in? Because the lessons fill so quickly, we request that you register for only one class per session. Please ask pool staff for assistance in determining your child’s course.

We will be on vacation one week during the session. Can we enroll in another session for one week to make up for the week missed? No, lessons fill quickly and we are unable to break up the session, or add more students than the designated number for each class. If you are unable to attend the entire session, please register in a different session.

My grandchild will be here for one week. Can I pay for just one week? No, participants must sign up and pay for the entire session. An important component of the lesson is the trust and confidence each student feels with the instructor and the other students that develops in the 8 days of class.

PleSwimming Lessons Chartase call 278-3959 if you have additional questions.

 

Please register at the pool for all pool activities and rentals