Make a splash at the UCSB Recreation Center! Our swim lesson program follows the American Red Cross progressive swimming level model which ensures swimmers gain valuable skills for confidence in the water. Group lessons are age and level-dependent. We offer private and small group lessons.
Age Restriction
Swim lessons are available to children ages 3+. Children must be at least 3 years old and 100% "potty-trained" at the time of the lesson. Swim diapers are NOT allowed in the Recreation Center pools.
Summer 2026 Swim Lessons
Registration opens Wednesday, April 15 at 10:00am.
PricingGroup Lessons Private Lessons |
Session DatesMonday - Thursday June 22 - July 2 |
We will be using a 'Waiting Room' during the first hour of registration. The waiting room will open online at 9:30am. Once registration begins at 10am all patrons that entered the waiting room before 10am will be assigned a random place in the registration queue. Anyone that enters after 10am will be placed at the end of the registration queue. This feature is intended to keep the registration system running smoothly due to the expected surge of swim lesson registrants.
Swim Lesson Levels
Refer to these examples when placing your child in a group lesson:
Age Breakdown
| Level 1 = 3-7 yrs (age varies by time) | Level 2 = 4-8 yrs | Level 3 = 5-8 yrs | Level 4 = 6-10 yrs | Level 5 = 7+ yrs |
Level 1: Water Exploration
Swimmers have little or no experience with the water. Swimmers will be comfortably oriented to the water and taught basic pool safety. Skills taught include submerging the face, blowing bubbles, bobbing underwater, assisted front and back floating, kicking on front and back, and assisted front and back gliding.
Level 2: Primary Skills
Swimmers can perform all of the skills in Level 1. Swimmers will learn to independently float on their front and back, independently glide on their front and back , glide on their front and back while kicking, retrieve objects underwater, front and back crawl for at least 5 yards, roll over from front to back and back to front in the water, and jump into the pool and level off from a vertical to a horizontal position.
Level 3: Stroke Readiness
Swimmers can perform all of the skills in Level 2. Swimmers will learn to tread water, glide on their front and back for 10 yards, elementary backstroke, kneeling, and compact dives.
Level 4: Stroke Development
Swimmers can perform all the skills in Level 3. Swimmers will further develop the skills learned in Level 3 and will increase their endurance by swimming freestyle and backstroke for 25 yards, elementary backstroke for 10 yards, treading water for 2 minutes as well as learning "side-breathing," breaststroke, and standing dive.
Level 5: Stroke Refinement
Swimmers can perform all the skills in Level 4. Swimmers will learn to side-breathe on both sides, swim breaststroke (10 yards), sidestroke (10 yards), underwater for 3 body lengths, elementary backstroke (15 yards), dolphin kick (10 yards), and freestyle and backstroke (50 yards). Swimmers will also learn flip turns, diving on the diving board, and feet-first surface diving.
Reminders
- Children must be at least 3 years of age and "potty-trained' before beginning lessons.
- Please do not schedule lessons directly before, during, or after your child's nap-time as this may interrupt their daily schedule.
- Please make sure your child does not eat a heavy meal 30 minutes prior to their lesson.
- Please give your children ample opportunity and encouragement to use the toilets before and after their lessons.
Facility Guidelines
- You must check in and out at the Rec Cen front desk.
- You may arrive 30 minutes before and stay 30 minutes after the lesson to practice, even if you do not have an UCSB Recreation Center membership.
- You must exit the facility no later than 1 hour after your lesson start time.
- We have new universal locker rooms (family friendly) available in the Rec Cen Galleria hallway. Rec Cen & MAC locker rooms are also available.
We provide swim equipment such as kick boards and other swimming aids. You should bring:
- Towel
- Swimsuit (rash guard, if desired)
- Water bottle
- Sunscreen
- Goggles (if preferred)
- Swim Cap (if preferred)
- No diving and no running on deck.
- Follow all lifeguard instructions at all times.
- The lesson pool (Pool B/small pool) is 4 feet deep.
- Be cautious when practicing on your own, as the larger pool (Pool A) and the dive pool can reach depths of 10-17 feet.
- The youth participant may be moved to a different skill level (e.g., beginner to intermediate or vice versa) if the instructors determine it would be beneficial.
- Your swim instructor may change due to class adjustment or scheduling needs. Please be prepared for potential instructor changes.
- The goal is to place the youth in the most suitable level for optimal learning and improvement.
- First Lesson: Please be at the swim lesson location 5 minutes prior to the first lesson so we may go over the pool rules and introduce the program and instructors.
- Lesson Area: Cones will be set up to mark the designated swim lesson area in Pool B/Small Pool. Please go to that area for the lesson(s). Parents/Guardians are not permitted within the marked (coned) area during the lessons.
- Pool Access: You may arrive 30 minutes before and stay 30 minutes after the lesson to practice, even if you do not have an UCSB Recreation Center membership.
- Locker Rooms:
- Available for changing before and after the lesson.
- Lockers in the locker room are available for rent at the front desk.
- You may leave your belongings on the chairs at the pool deck near your lesson area.
- Use of Equipment:
- You may access kickboards and other swim aids for practice. The equipment is located in the white bins near the lifeguard office and swim locker rooms.
- Please return all equipment after use. This equipment is not to be brought to the lesson.
- Punctuality:
- Lessons last 25 minutes, so please arrive on time to make the most of your session.
Refunds & Cancellations
Review our Refund/Transfer/Cancellation Policy & Fees here.