Swim Lessons :: VBgov.com - City of Virginia Beach

Swim Lessons

We offer both group and private lessons for swimmers of all abilities and ages. Participants will need a valid recreation center membership or day pass for each day of lessons.

COVID-19 Update: For the latest information, please refer to our FAQ.

Swim lessons during COVID-19 are open to members only, if your membership has expired you can renew by calling into a center prior to the start of lessons. We are not taking new members at this time.
All swim lessons for children age 5 and under will require an adult guardian to participate in the water with the child to facilitate holding techniques and social distancing.
Student to Teacher ratios have been significantly reduced to protect the health and safety of our members and instructors.

Group Swim Lessons

Tiny Bobbers with Adult Guardian | Ages 1-2

A safe and fun introduction to the water for youth ages 1-2 to share with a participating adult guardian. The purpose of the course is to familiarize children with the water and teach swimming readiness skills. In addition, the course provides safety information for parents and teaches parents techniques they can use to help orient their children to the water. Water safety topics for the pool, home, beach and waterpark are also included. Note: This class is not intended to make children water safe.

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Preschool Aquatic Program - Level Descriptions

Preschool Aquatics Level 1: Introduces basic aquatic skill, which children continue to build on as they progress through Levels 2 and 3 of Preschool Aquatics and then Learn to Swim. Children start developing positive attitudes and safe practices around the water. Many skills are performed with assistance from the instructor.
Preschool Aquatics Level 2: Further development of basic aquatic skills continues. Children begin to perform skills at a slightly more advanced level by practicing skills for a longer period of time or longer distances. This also marks the beginning of independent skills.
Preschool Aquatics Level 3: Additional guided practices help increase child's proficiency in performing previously learned skills by increasing repetitions, distances, times or levels of refinement. Skills are performed independently.

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American Red Cross Learn to Swim Classes | Ages 6-15

This six-level Learn to Swim program allows students to progress through the levels at their own pace, mastering the skills in one level before advancing to the next. This program provides an increased emphasis in the areas of drowning prevention and water safety and emphasizes an inclusive approach to swimming and water safety. A 50% cost reduction for Learn to Swim Levels 1 & 2 and 3 & 4 is available to those who qualify.

Learn to Swim Levels 1 & 2

Level 1: Introduction to Water Skills - Orients swimmers to aquatic environment and helps develop a positive attitude and safe practices. This level is for the non-swimmer who does not submerge head or body.
Level 2: Fundamental Aquatic Skills - Builds on the basic aquatic skills and concepts learned in Level 1. Requires successful completion of Level 1 or ability to fully submerge, float on front and back with support for 5 seconds and recover.

Learn to Swim Levels 3 & 4

Level 3: Stroke Development - Continues to build on skills learned in Levels 1 and 2 in order to achieve water competency in the pool. Requires successful completion of Level 2 or ability to swim 5 body lengths using a combination of arm and leg actions on back and front with face in water, as well as float or tread for 15 seconds.
Level 4: Stroke Improvement - Improves proficiency in swimming skills introduced in Level 3. Requires successful completion of Level 3 or ability to tread water or float for 1 minute, swim front crawl or elementary backstroke 25 yards and then exit the pool.

Learn to Swim Levels 5 & 6

Level 5: Stroke Refinement - Refines all 6 swimming strokes. Requires successful completion of Level 4 or ability to swim front crawl for 25 yards, swim breaststroke and back crawl for 15 yards, submerge and swim a distance of 3 to 5 body lengths underwater.
Level 6: Fitness Swimmer - Focuses on refining strokes and turns and building endurance. Requires successful completion of Level 5 or ability to swim front crawl 50 yards then swim elementary backstroke for 50 yards and swim 25 yards of both breaststroke and back crawl. Course starts with a 12-Minute endurance swim test.

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Adult Group Lessons | Ages 14 & up

Learn to swim and get fit! This class includes both American Red Cross Learn to Swim skills for beginners and advanced workout/fitness techniques. Since the class is customized to the individual, it is ideal for all swimmers from beginners who are learning stroke development or breathing techniques to those preparing for the Adult Swim Workout.

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Private Lessons

Don't be shy about your swimming ability! Our one-on-one, individualized instruction makes it easy for you to relax and enhance the skills you want to focus on. Ideal for non-swimmers, fitness swimmers, and those who want to improve competitive skills. Offered in 30-minute sessions. Note: Children must be at least 3 years old to participate.

Learn to Swim Lessons
# participants	1 session	6 sessions
1	$35	$185
2-3	$33 per person	$169 per person

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Participants will need a valid recreation center membership or day pass for each day of lessons. View additional terms.

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Group Dive Lessons

Introduction to Springboard Diving | Ages 7-15

Learn basic diving skills, including approaches, forward, back dives off a 1-meter diving board. Participants must be deep water safe and be able to dive off the diving board.

Intermediate Springboard Diving | Ages 7-15

Learn competitive diving skills including advanced forward, backward, inward, reverse and twist dives. Participants must be able to perform a forward dive with a four step approach, forward somersault and back dive with a back take-off.

Water Safety Resources

Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional, injury-related death in children ages 1 to 14, and many of these tragedies are preventable with the proper instruction and learned techniques. Living in a place like Virginia Beach where there is such an abundance of access to waterways, it’s a vital skill that every child should know. Here are some easy ways to learn water safety at home.