Please use the guidelines in each section below to determine which class is best (or most appropriate) for your child. Your child must be able to do ALL of the skills listed before entering the next level.
What is the right level for my child?
Here at Golden West Swim, we pride ourselves at taking a different approach to determining your child’s swimming ability and their placement in our classes. Other programs limit your child’s learning by the level you choose for them. Our program has broken down the learn to swim progression in a way that we have found to be highly successful.
How do we ensure your child is getting the most out of their lessons? Simple. On the first day of lessons every child enrolled will be tested by our instructors to get an accurate understanding of the child’s ability in the water. After a brief test at the beginning of the class, your child will be placed in the appropriate level with students who have similar strengths and abilities in the water. Our goal is to place your child in an environment where they can thrive and succeed in the pool, receiving quality instruction in an efficient and productive class. If you miss the first day, or your child isn’t willing to show the instructor their current level of skill, we will place them in the class that is most appropriate at that time. This program is designed for your child to succeed, regardless of their current ability.
PARENT & ME: Ages 6 months – 3 years
Class Focus: To promote comfort, safety and enjoyment in and around the water. One adult per child required. This swim class is for parents and infants with a focus on water adjustment to safe skills and practices. The class will equip parents with information on proper holds and safe submersions to help them become confident handling their infants in the water and help the infants adapt to the water.
Parent Goals: To equip parents with the holds, techniques and information necessary to confidently assist their infants in safely adapting to water.
Child Goals: To adjust to new sounds and experiences that help them adapt to water. The primary focus is on proper boundaries, natural breath control, safe submersion and training to find air on the back and the side of the pool. As the students show readiness, they will independently move through the water both to and from the wall and between the instructor and the parents.
Class Size: 6 students: 1 instructor, (Parents are in the water)
Lesson Length: 30 minutes
TRANSITIONAL PARENT & ME: Ages 2 - 3 years
Parent Goals: To transition their child to be independent within a class setting.
Child Goals: To adjust being a class without a parent. The primary focus is on proper boundaries, breath control, front glide, roll back to front with assistance. As the students show readiness, they will independently move through the water both to and from the wall.
Class Size: 4 students: 1 instructor, (Parents are in the water)
Lesson Length: 30 minutes
PRESCHOOL: Ages 3, 4, and 5 years
Preschool Classes are divided into three levels:
Starfish is a class designed for beginning swimmers and for children who are not yet comfortable in the water.
Guppies is a class designed for children who are more comfortable swimming in the water independently.
Seahorse is a class designed for children who can float independently and are advanced in swimming but are not ready to be a Stingray.
Class Size: 4 students: 1 instructor
Lesson Length: 30 minutes
Minnow – Ages 5 and up
5 years and up
Primary Focus: This is a beginner swim class to build confidence and develop safety skills in and around the water for a child with no prior swimming instruction with the goal of gaining control with breathing and basic swim skills.
Student Goals: To efficiently move through the water demonstrating the basics of the freestyle and backstroke and breath control.
Skills Taught – Bobs and breath control (Bubbles -through mouth/nose 5x 3 Seconds) – Front float / glide 5 seconds – Front glide with straight leg kicks – Back glide with straight leg kicks – Back float / glide 5 seconds – Roll front to back, back to front – Jump in and float on back – Freestyle arms, 5 strokes – Jump in and swim freestyle arms, 5 strokes – Monkey, airplane, soldier shape floats – Elementary backstroke, 3 strokes
Class Size: 6 students: 1 instructor
Lesson Length: 30 minutes
Stingray
Primary Focus: This swim class is designed for students to move from a basic understanding of freestyle and backstroke and gain independence in the water through improved breath control and more efficient strokes.
Student Goals: To learn proper stroke technique in freestyle and backstroke, learn side breathing to freestyle, and be introduced to beginning breaststroke.
Class Size: 6 students: 1 instructor
Lesson Length: 30 minutes
Seal
Primary Focus: Must pass Stingray (Level 2) or be able to perform freestyle and backstroke. This intermediate swim class is designed to develop children into more efficient swimmers by coordinating the arms, legs, breathing and body position with correct swim tempo.
Student Goals: To refine freestyle with rhythmic breathing and improve backstroke, breast stroke timing, and be introduced to sidestroke and treading water.
Class Size: 6 students: 1 instructor
Lesson Length: 30 minutes
Piranha
Primary Focus: This advanced swim class focuses on the refinement of the underwater technique in breaststroke, freestyle and backstroke and teaches sidestroke and an introduction to the butterfly.
Student Goals: To demonstrate freestyle with rhythmic breathing, backstroke, breaststroke, treading water and a correct sidestroke. Students will also learn the components of butterfly.
Class Size: 6 students: 1 instructor
Lesson Length: 30 minutes
Shark
Primary Focus: This advanced swim class focuses on the refinement of the underwater technique in breaststroke, freestyle and backstroke and teaches sidestroke and an introduction to the butterfly.
Student Goals: To demonstrate freestyle with rhythmic breathing, backstroke, breaststroke, treading water and a correct sidestroke. Students will also learn the components of butterfly.
Class Size: 8 students: 1 instructor
Lesson Length: 30 minutes
Dolphin (Intro to Swim Team)
Primary Focus: This advanced swim class is designed to refine and strengthen each swimming stroke and build endurance while swimming. Students will learn proper starts, turns, and breathing techniques for 4 competitive strokes and sidestroke.
Student Goals: To swim greater distances of freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, sidestroke, butterfly, tread water with ease and learn to flip turn.
Class Size: 10 students: 1 instructor
Lesson Length: 30 minutes
Water Polo
Based on swim ability
Must pass Piranha Level (Previous Level 3+) or have equivalent skills.
Description: Students learn fundamentals of water polo. Teaching proper passing, shooting, dribbling techniques. Introduction to front court offense and defense. Instruction on treading water and much more!
Class Size: 10 students: 1 instructor
Lesson Length: 45 minutes
Adult Classes: Ages 13 and up
Beginning/Intermediate/Advanced: All levels are welcome at the 9:00am group class. There are multiple instructors available at this time to accommodate all abilities. This class marks the introduction of competitive strokes. Freestyle and backstroke are mastered with an introduction to breaststroke, sidestroke, butterfly and diving. Treading water and recovery to a swimming position is mastered. Basic flip turns and turning at the wall are introduced. If you are unable to attend the 9:00am group class, please consider a private lesson (which are offered throughout the day).
Time Offered: 9:00am
Class Size: 8 students: 1 instructor
Lesson Length: 30 minutes
Private Lessons
Our program believes that children and adults generally learn better in groups. We recommend and encourage group lessons. However, we do offer 20-minute private lessons by appointment only, to both children and adults whose needs are better met by individual instruction.
Private lessons clients will be matched up with an instructor that best meets the needs of each individual swimmer. Private lessons are sold in packages of four 20-minutes lessons. The four lessons must occur consecutively (i.e., M-Th) during the same time slot for the entire week. Private lessons (Ratio 1:1) 1 instructor to 1 student.
If you need more information regarding private lessons please call 714-895-8228
Please click here to view our private lesson schedule.
Class Size: 1 student: 1 instructor
Lesson Length: 20 minutes