About Our Swim School
Palo Alto Swim School 2023
We are pleased to announce Palo Alto Swim & Sport will be offering group swim lessons for the community in 2023.
At this time we are not offering any lessons available to the public as of January 2023.
Please check back soon for updates!
Levels and Classes at Palo Alto Swim School
Class Level Progressions at Palo Alto Swim School
During the first group lesson, our instructors will assess swimmers through our in-water progression to assess skills and confirm whether that is the appropriate level for your swimmer. The Instructor and Deck Coordinator will decide which level best suits swimmers based on their abilities, comfort, and safety. If the staff decides that the level is too easy or too difficult for the swimmer, the caretaker must sign up for the appropriate class based on the staff’s evaluation.
*Class Ratios are for booking purposes. Unforeseen circumstances day of may increase ratio.
Private Lessons are taught based on the ability and individual needs of the swimmer. The instructor will assess swimmers to ensure where the lesson will start.
Water Babies 1 (Age 6-18 months)
This infant class will introduce your child to the water and aims to help your child gain comfort while swimming with a caretaker. The class will sing songs and play games while teaching back floats, cuddle kicks, submerging underwater, and how to safely swim to the wall and climb out. The max student-to-teacher ratio is 6:1, with a minimum age of 6 months and a maximum age of 18 months. Your child must be 6 months old by your first lesson or turning 6 months old within your session to attend.
Duration: 30 minutes
Goal: Water comfort.
Class ratio: 6:1
1 caretaker per child
Note: “Double-Diaper” policy is required for students under 3 years old regardless if toilet trained or not. This is a disposable swim diaper covered by a reusable swim diaper.
Water Babies 2 (Age 1.5-3 yrs)
This class will introduce your child to the water and aims to help your child gain comfort while swimming with a caretaker. As students get closer to 3 years old, we will begin to prepare them for youth swim lessons. The class will teach students to blow bubbles, back float, equipment-assisted and no assisted tummy kicks, back kicks, submerging underwater, and how to safely swim to the wall and climb out. The max student-to-teacher ratio is 6:1, with a minimum age of 1.5 years and a maximum of 3 years old. Your child must be 1.5 years old by your first lesson or turning 1.5 years old within your session to attend.
Duration: 30 minutes
Goal: Water comfort.
Class Ratio: 6:1
1 caretaker per child
Note: “Double-Diaper” policy is required for students under 3 years old regardless if toilet trained or not. This is a disposable swim diaper covered by a reusable swim diaper.
Level 1: Little Kids (Beginners 3 – 4.11 years old)
No experience needed! This beginner class focuses on your child’s water confidence while developing their comfort and basic water safety skills. This class will teach fundamental swim skills such as submerging underwater, “Starfish” floats (front and back side), and leading up to kicks (front and back side) for a short distance with no assistance. We will also teach students how to recover after jumping/falling into the water. Your child must be turning 3 years old within your session to attend.
*Requirement: 3 yo – 4.11 yo
Goal: Water comfort with little assistance.
Duration: 30 minutes
Class Ratio: 3:1
Note: If your swimmer is not toilet trained, our “Double-Diaper” policy is required. This is a disposable swim diaper covered by a reusable swim diaper.
Level 1: Big Kids (Beginners 5 years old+)
No experience needed! This beginner class focuses on your child’s water confidence while continuing to develop their comfort and basic water safety skills. This class continues teaching fundamental swim skills learned from Level 1-Little Kids such as submerging underwater and floating. We will work on independent swimming at a longer distance, breathing techniques, and water safety skills such as knowing what to do if we fall in the pool!
*Requirement: 5+ years old OR completion of Level 1: Little Kids
Goal: Safe, Independent swimmers.
Duration: 30 minutes
Class Ratio: 3:1
Level 2
This intermediate class teaches students introductory swim strokes for Freestyle and Backstroke while continuing to develop their comfort and water safety skills.
*Requirement: Must be independent swimmers to enter this level OR completion of Level 1:Big Kids.
Goal: Introductory freestyle and backstroke, and independent swimming for half of the length (12.5 yds)
Duration: 30 minutes
Class Ratio: 3:1
Level 3
Swimmers will enhance their Freestyle by learning side-breathing and developing overall efficiency within the stroke while we also continue to work on Backstroke, and learn Breaststroke kicks. While endurance can be built over time, students entering this level should be comfortable swimming 25 yards and swimming in 6.5 feet depth.
*Requirement: Must successfully complete all Level 2 skills OR must be independent swimmers, know freestyle and backstroke arms and be comfortable in 6 feet-deep water while swimming 25 yards.
Goal: Catch-Up Freestyle w/side-breathing, Backstroke, Introductory Breaststroke, and endurance for 25 yds.
Duration: 30 minutes
Class Ratio: 4:1
Level 4
Swimmers will review Freestyle, Backstroke, and the introductory Breaststroke kick, and continue overall efficiency within the strokes. In this class, we will learn Breaststroke with proper breathing techniques, Butterfly, and somersaults to prepare for flip-turns. Through hands-on instruction, swimmers develop proper body position, breathing, and rhythm.
*Requirement: Must successfully complete all Level 3 level skills OR must be independent swimmers, know freestyle with side-breathing, backstroke, breaststroke kicks, and be comfortable in 6 feet-deep water while swimming 25 yards.
Goal: Endurance to swim Freestyle, Backstroke, Breaststroke, and Butterfly unassisted for 25 yards.
Class Ratio: 4:1
Duration: 30 minutes
Schedule & Pricing for Swim Lessons
Schedule – Fall/Winter 2022
We are not currently offering any swim lessons at this time. Please check back soon!
Pricing
Group Lessons: $125
*Youth Scholarships available from Beyond Barriers Athletic Foundation. For more information and to see if you qualify please fill out this form.
Lessons will be held in the Play Pool.
Cancellation Policy – Group Lessons
All bookings are final.
No refunds or credits will be issued.
No makeups, credits or refunds for missed classes
Beyond Barriers Athletic Foundation Scholarships
Palo Alto Swim & Sport is proud to partner with the Beyond Barriers Athletic Foundation (BBAF). BBAF offers scholarships to those financially in need who want to develop a life-long love for swimming in the Bay area. You can visit their website by clicking the link above to see all of their partners in the Bay area.
Palo Alto Swim & Sport offers BBAF scholarships for the following programs:
Swim School
Camp Rinconada Aquatics Camp
Lifeguard Certification
For more information and to see if you qualify please fill out this form.
Coaches & Instructors
Our Instructors
Each of our instructors completes training with a master instructor trainer before beginning solo instruction. Our Master Instructors have over 5 years of experience teaching swim lessons. New instructors are cross-trained with current instructors, so all instructors are familiar with current teaching techniques and methods. All our instructors attend regular on-going training throughout the year, to develop them as instructors, swimmers and individuals and strengthen our swim lesson program.
Marla Allen
Marla Allen has worked with Team Sheeper as a swim instructor and life guard since 2017. She has a passion for teaching the young and older students and new instructors. Her enthusiasm has coaxed the reluctant student to get their toes and faces wet and then develop them into strong swimmers all while having fun.
Policies & FAQs
Policies
Cancellations
No makeups, credits or refunds for missed lessons.
Bookings are final and no refunds will be issued.
15 Minute Sunscreen Rule
Palo Alto Swim and Sport requires that swimmers apply sunscreen at least 15 minutes prior to getting into the pool, and that they use the restroom prior to our lessons. This allows us to maintain optimal cleanliness to our facilities.
FAQs
Q: What do I need to bring to my child’s lesson?
A: Please bring a towel, swimsuit, sunscreen and goggles. At this time there are no extra items available for sale.
Q: What is the Diaper policy if my child is not potty trained?
A: Al children who are not potty trained must wear a disposable swim diaper and a plastic diaper cover under their swim suit. This ensures we do not have any unnecessary pool closures.
Q: Can I drop my child off?
A: No. A parent or guardian must remain on the premises at all times.