Dates for the spring children’s swim lessons are listed below! Registration for this session will open on December 11th. Please stay tuned for more information on how to register.
Parent/Tot:Ages 2 – 3.5 years This class is designed to introduce infants and toddlers to the joys of swimming. Parents learn water adjustment techniques to help orient their child to water, including bubble blowing and underwater exploration. Infants and toddlers will be encouraged to blow bubbles, play with water toys, float on front and back, and experience reaching and kicking, later leading to proper stroke development.
Your child cannot enter the water unassisted; this is their first water experience, and they cannot be in the water independently.
Hoya 1:Ages 3 – 4.5 years This class is designed for young children to learn water adjustment and water exploration. Skills taught include bubble blowing, supported front and back kick, supported arms on front and back, supported front and back glide, and water safety. This class is designed for children who have had some lessons previously and are comfortable separating from their parents.
Can your child get in the water unassisted? Child has had experience in the water with a parent, and is ready to explore water safety and swimming independently with an instructor.
After the session, children should be able to put their face in the water, blow bubbles, bob while holding on to the wall, float on stomach and back (perhaps supported), and kick.
Hoya 2:Ages 4 – 7 years The swimmers are divided into groups based on their ability and work with instructors to enhance current skills and introduce new strokes and skills. Students will begin combining skills to form coordinated swimming strokes, back float, swim two body lengths, and full submersion.
Is your child comfortable going underwater?
After the session, children should be able to confidently submerge underwater, coordinate kicks and swimming strokes, and float and glide independently on front and back.
Hoya 3: Ages 5 – 9 years The swimmers will be grouped based on their ability and work with instructors to enhance current skills. Students will learn how to coordinate freestyle and backstroke better, streamline glide, Develop confidence and endurance in various strokes.
Can your child kick with a kickboard and swim short distances independently?
After the session, children should have learned basic elements of freestyle and backstroke.
Hoya 4: Ages 7 – 11 years Continue to work on freestyle and build endurance to swim across the pool alone, begin to put together elements of backstroke, start beginner breaststroke, explore diving and fundamentals of treading water.
Child should come into Hoya 4 able to swim freestyle almost halfway across.
After the session, children should be comfortable with the breaststroke, diving, and the fundamentals of treading water.
McCarthy pool is located at Yates Field House on the campus of Georgetown University.
Sundays: Parking is free at all University garages on Sundays. If you are driving, you can enter campus from Canal Road or Entrance #4 on Reservoir Road. We recommend using the free parking at the Leavey Center Parking Garage. Turn onto the road between Leavey Center and the Hariri Building (Business School) off West Rd – the garage will be signed and to the left.
The parking lot opposite the Field House (Lot Y) is reserved for handicapped members with a valid parking pass issued by OTM, and deliveries. Vehicles illegally parked will be ticketed and towed at the owner’s expense. For questions or further details about parking on campus, contact the Office of Transportation Management at (202) 687-4372.
Give yourself more time as it is about a 5-minute walk up the hill to the Field House.
First Lesson: As there will be a more in-depth check-in process the first day, we suggest you arrive 30 minutes early. The building and parking can be challenging so this should give you plenty of time.
Remaining lessons: We recommend arriving 15 minutes early for each lesson in order to have time for check-in and changing.
Children and caregivers will enter the pool through the pool balcony to access the locker rooms. We ask that you/your child changes in the locker room and not on the pool deck. All personal items should remain with the caregiver on the balcony. Strollers can be left at the building entrance where they will be monitored by the front desk.
Children 5 years of age or older must use gender appropriate locker rooms. Private restrooms are available behind Basketball Court #3 on Level 1. Please see Aquatic Staff to discuss special accommodations.
Children over the age of 5 are not allowed to enter the opposite gender’s locker rooms. We recommend bringing your child to the lesson in their swim suit if you are not comfortable with them changing by themselves. There are also alternative change room options that can be discussed with you upon check-in. The pool deck is accessed from the locker rooms on the first floor or through the balcony on the entrance floor. If you have any questions or concerns, we will have staff to assist you upon entry.
Our water temperature sits around 81 degrees and can be cool for young children. Please dress accordingly to account for this. Here is a link to a website that we recommend for children’s cool water swim suits.
Please remember:
Children with long hair (longer than shoulder length) must have their hair pulled back.
Swim caps can be worn to keep hair from the face and provide extra warmth.
Goggles are recommended for all classes other than Parent-Tot- instructors may teach portions of the class without goggles.
Towels and flip-flops can be placed pool-side during the lesson.
Please avoid t-shirts (unless swimming material), shorts, sewn-in floats, or swim aids such as inflatables.
There is an observation balcony that we request spectators view the class from. We understand your child might need some encouragement on the first lesson but it will be required to view from the balcony for each lesson following.
Our program strives to maintain a 2:5 instructor-child ratio. We like to remain flexible and have additional staff on hand that can assist when needed.
Unfortunately, you cannot cancel your registration after 72 hours before the start date of the session. In the event of a documented medical condition, you may be eligible for a pro-rated refund.
** No refunds will be issued after the first lesson.
Not all disciplinary problems are addressed and taken care of by our instructors. We use positive reinforcement to encourage appropriate class behavior such as self-identification of the problem, warnings, and time-outs. If our instructor does not have success with this, we may approach you in an effort to find a better method that is more effective for your child. We ask that you teach, talk about and review appropriate class behavior and pool rules with your child. We encourage parents to lead by example and to help children understand “respect” for the water, classmates, and instructors.
Children who sign up for the group or private lessons may not swim in the pool before or after class unless they have a membership to Campus Recreation and the pool is scheduled for open swimming. Parents of children, who are not members, are not allowed to work out in any part of the facility.
Georgetown University has a Protection of Minors Policy to protect those under 18 years of age who participate in programs and activities associated with the University and to provide guidance and requirements that apply to University students, faculty and staff who are involved with such programs and activities. The policy also includes requirements for non-University organizations that operate programs or activities involving minors on campus.
