Group Lessons

Choosing the Right Swim Class/Level:

If you are unsure of a child's level, you can bring your swimmer in to be tested or contact the Aquatics Director to ask questions. An in person evaluation will ensure that your child will be in the right class. It only takes a few minutes for an instructor to evaluate a swimmer's level. Call the Aquatics office for more information or to schedule an appointment to start your swimmer off with the right class this session.

Observation of Lessons
While we recognize that parents are as thrilled about the progress of their children as the students are, we respectfully ask that parents remain seated on the 6 foot side of the pool bleachers for the duration of your child's lesson. Unless specified (such as a parent/child swim class) parents are not permitted in the water with their children as this is a distraction to the group as a whole. Thank you for your cooperation.

Make Up Policy:
Group swim classes at the Bridgewater JCC enjoy a limited four student to one instructor ratio. Because of this ratio classes fill up quickly leaving not much option for a makeup class. In order to make up a class, a doctor's note must be given to the Aquatics Office. Swim class make ups will be granted on an individual basis by the Aquatics Director and must be completed by the end of the programming session in which the student is enrolled. The Aquatics Department cannot guarantee that a makeup class will be available, however every effort will be made to accommodate the need of the individual.

Session Dates: January 14 to March 31, 2012.
No classes will be held on 1/16, 2/18, 2/19 and 2/20

• Parent/Child Courses (ages 6 months-3 and a half years) 
• Preschool Courses
• Youth Courses
• Adult

Parent/Child Courses (ages 6 months-3 and a half years): 

Aquatots I (Ages 6 months-18 months): A fun introduction to the water for infants beyond the bathtub! Song and activities help to develop basic arm and leg movements as well as learning to be comfortable getting their faces and bodies wet. Water safety and fun is also stressed. A swim diaper and rubber pants are required under the child's swimsuit

Aquatots II (Ages 18 months to 3 years old): For those little swimmers who are already comfortable in the water! Songs and activities help infants and toddlers further help them gain confidence and practice their budding basic swimming skills. Starfish skills are introduced and children begin to work more with the instructor to get prepared to move to the next level of swimming and rely less on Mommy and Daddy's help. A swim diaper and rubber pants are required under a child's swimsuit.

Little Starfish: This course is for those little ones who can't wait to put their faces in the water and splash around but aren't quite ready to leave Mommy and Daddy and move onto Starfish. This course will teach all of the Starfish skills with the comfort of their parents or adult friend in the water to help them explore the fun world of the pool. Emphasis will be placed on transitioning toddlers from parents to instructor and gaining confidence with their independence in the water.

Starfish: There are no prerequisites for this course. The objective of Level 1 is to help children feel comfortable in the water and to enjoy the water safely. In Level 1, elementary aquatic skills are taught, which children build on as they progress through the Preschool Aquatics and Learn-to-Swim levels. At this level, children also start developing good attitudes and safe practices around the water.

Seaponies: Children entering this course must have a Preschool Aquatics Level 1 certificate or be able to demonstrate all the completion requirements from Level 1. The objectives of Level 2 are to build upon the skills learned in Level 1 and give children success with fundamental skills. Children learn to float on their back without support and to recover to a vertical position. This level marks the beginning of true locomotion skills. Children continue to explore simultaneous and alternating arm and leg actions on front and back to lay the foundation for future strokes. Level 2 adds to the self-help and basic rescue skills begun in Level 1.

Dolphins: Children entering this course must have a Preschool Aquatics Level 2 certificate or must be able to demonstrate all the completion requirements from Level 2. The objective of Level 3 is to build on the skills in Level 2 by providing additional guided practice. Children learn to effectively coordinate combined simultaneous arm and leg actions and alternating arm and leg actions. As in all levels, additional safety skills are learned

Advanced Dolphins: Children entering this course must have a Preschool Aquatics Level 3 certificate or must be able to demonstrate all the completion requirements from Level 3. This course is designed for students who can swim halfway across the pool but need work on coordination and endurance. Elementary backstroke and diving will also be introduced to students.

Youth Courses (5 years and up)

Level 1 (Introduction to Water Skills): There are no prerequisites for this level. The objectives of Level 1 are to learn basic personal water safety information and skills, to help participants feel comfortable in the water and to enjoy the water safely. In Level 1, participants learn elementary aquatic skills, which they will build on as they progress through the six Learn-to-Swim levels. At this level, participants begin developing good attitudes about swimming and water safety, good swimming habits and safe practices in and around the water.

Level 2 (Fundamental Aquatic Skills): Participants entering this course must have a Level 1 certificate or must be able to demonstrate all the completion requirements in Level 1. The objective of Level 2 is to give participants success with fundamental skills. Participants learn to float without support and to recover to a vertical position. This level marks the beginning of true locomotion skills. Participants continue to explore simultaneous and alternating arm and leg actions on the front and back to lay the foundation for future strokes.

Level 3 (Stroke Development): Participants entering this course must have a Level 2 certificate or must be able to demonstrate all the completion requirements in Level 2. The objectives of Level 3 are for participants to learn the survival float, the elementary backstroke and to coordinate the front crawl. They are introduced to the scissors kick and the dolphin kick and build on the fundamentals of treading water. Participants also learn rules for headfirst entries and begin to learn to enter the water headfirst from the side of the pool (if the water is 9 feet deep or deeper).

Level 4 (Stroke Improvement): Participants entering this course must have a Level 3 certificate or must be able to demonstrate all the completion requirements in Level 3. The objectives of Level 4 are to develop confidence in the strokes learned thus far and to improve other aquatic skills. Participants improve their skills and increase their endurance by swimming familiar strokes (front crawl, elementary backstroke) for greater distances. Students also continue to build upon the scissors kick and dolphin kick by adding the arms for sidestroke and butterfly. The back crawl and the breaststroke are introduced in Level 4, as well as the basics of turning at a wall.

Level 5 (Stroke Refinement): Participants entering this course must have a Level 4 certificate or must be able to demonstrate all the course requirements in Level 4. The objectives of Level 5 are to coordinate and refine strokes. Participants refine their performance of all the strokes (front crawl, back crawl, butterfly, breaststroke, elementary backstroke and sidestroke) and increase their distances. Flip turns on the front and back are also introduced.

Level 6 (Personal Water Safety): Participants entering this course must have a Level 5 certificate or must be able to demonstrate all the completion requirements in Level 5. The objectives of Level 6 are to allow for swimmers to be comfortable and confident in the water, while increasing their endurance and their stroke efficiency. Swimmers will perfect breaststroke and butterfly as well as continue building all strokes and endurance. Flip turns will be introduced and diving will be expanded to proficiency.

Adult swim instruction is given on a one-on-one basis, 30 minute sessions. The following time slots are available for the Fall 2011 session beginning the week of September 24th, 2011:

• Mondays 6:30-9:30PM (12 weeks) $240 members, $350 non members
• Tuesdays:  9:00-11:00AM, 6:30-9:30PM (12 weeks)  $240 members, $350 non members
• Wednesdays: 11:00-1:00PM (11 weeks) $220 members, $310 non members
• Thursdays:  1:00-2:30PM (7 weeks) $140 members, $250 non members

To book a slot please contact Stephanie Johnson, Aquatics Director
at 908-725-6994 X230 or email Sjohnson@ssbjcc.org