The Aquatics Department offers numerous classes each year for adults and children to learn to swim. Certified American Red Cross instructors teach all swimming classes. Enrollment for classes is limited in order to maintain quality instruction and an optimal teaching environment. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Youth lessons are not being offered for the Fall 2022 semester. Check back in the spring for future swim lesson package options.
Youth Lessons
The cost of each session (includes all lesson days in the session) is noted below.
- $60 per child for currently-enrolled FSU students (enrollment verified at time of registration)
- $70 per child for Campus Recreation members
- $80 per child for Non-Members who are FSU Faculty / Staff
- $90 per child for Non-Members who are not affiliated with FSU
Refunds: Refunds will be issued upon request for cancellations made at least 10 days before the registered session starts. Requests made later than 10 days before the session starts will only be issued if the registered participant provides medical documentation of an injury or illness.
Class Location: All lessons are conducted at the Leach Recreation Center Pool.
Class Length: Classes run 30 minutes to 1 hour in length depending on the level.
Make-Up Days: Make-up classes are only offered if FSU Campus Recreation must cancel the lesson for any reason. Personal conflicts to attend a lesson does not constitute a makeup lesson. Classes may be canceled due to weather. It is facility policy to close the pool when lightning has come within the stated safety zone. Monitor your email for notification should this affect your class.
Swimmer Refusal to Enter Water: Due to the class’s concentrated structure, instructors will attempt up to two times to get the swimmer into the water, but if the swimmer refuses the class will continue without them. A guardian can work with their swimmer to get them back to actively participating during that time and can rejoin when they are ready.
Spectator Policy: Guardians of swimming participants in all levels are required to wait in the stadium seating off the pool deck (Mezzanine Level). An elevator is available for use.
What Should I Wear: Proper swimming attire is required. Swimmers of all ages must wear actual bathing suits. “Basketball style” shorts are allowed. Female suits can be one or two-piece; however, sports bras and undergarments are not permitted. All children in diapers must wear a swim diaper.
What Should I Bring: Towel, change of clothes, and extra swim diapers for children in diapers.
Register Online or In-Person: Registration takes place in Rec Connect, our online portal, or in-person at the Leach Recreation Center during normal operating hours. For assistance with Rec Connect, please visit our Rec Connect Help Desk.
Multiple Registrations: If you are planning on registering multiple dependents for the same session, please be sure to add them as dependents on your Rec Connect account. For assistance, please call 850-655-6750 or 850-644-0548.
Parking: Please visit FSU Transportation & Parking Services for more information on passes and visitor lots. Meter parking is also available off Chieftan Way on the west side of the Leach Center.
Register Here
Swim Lesson Levels
- Must be 6 months – 3 years old to participate.
- Introduces basic skills to guardians and children. Guardians learn how to safely work with their child in the water, including supporting and holding their child in the water appropriately and preparing and encouraging their child to participate fully and try the skills. Children receive an introduction to basic skills that lay a foundation for learning to swim. In addition, guardians are introduced to several water safety topics.
- Must be between 3 – 5 years to participate
- Participants will work on learning skills with support, assistance, and eventually independence. Skills learned will cover entering and exiting the water, water adjustment, breath control, buoyancy on the front and back, changing directions while moving in the water, and multiple water safety topics.
- Purpose: Must be at least 6 years old to enter Learn-To- Swim
- This level is for those who have never taken lessons, are hesitant in the water, or have minimal skills. This level begins with water acclimation and builds to submersions, floating, and more.
- Exit Skills Assessment to move to Level 2:
- Enter independently, using either the ramp, steps or side; travel at least 5 yards; bob 5 times; then safely exit the water.
- Glide on front at least 2 body lengths, roll to a back float for 5 seconds and recover to a vertical position. (This part of the assessment can be performed with assistance.)
- Purpose:
- This level marks the beginning of true locomotion skills. Participants learn to glide and float without support and recover to a vertical position. Participants further develop simultaneous and alternating arm and leg actions on the front and back, laying the foundation for future strokes. New water safety topics are introduced, and previously acquired water safety knowledge and skills are reinforced.
- Exit Skills Assessment to move to Level 3:
- Step from side into chest-deep water, push off the bottom, move into a treading or floating position for at least 15 seconds, swim on front and/or back for 5 body lengths, then exit the water.
- Move into a back float for 15 seconds, roll to front, then recover to a vertical position.
- Push off and swim using combined arm and leg actions on front for 5 body lengths, roll to back, float for 15 seconds, roll to front, then continue swimming for at least 5 body lengths.
- Purpose: Participants learn and practice survival floating and learn to swim front crawl and elementary backstroke at rudimentary proficiency levels. You introduce the scissors and dolphin kicks and extend the time duration for treading water. Participants also learn rules for headfirst entries and begin to learn to enter the water headfirst from a seated position at poolside (if the water is 9 feet deep or deeper)
- Exit Skills Assessment to move to Level 4:
- Basic water competency in a pool environment.
- Starting to show stroke proficiency in the front crawl and elementary backstroke.
- Begun learning the breaststroke and the scissors kicks and can tread water for 1 minute.
- Demonstrate comfort in deep water and can enter the water headfirst from both the sitting and the kneeling positions.
- Purpose: Participants improve their aquatic skills and increase their endurance by swimming the strokes learned in Level 3 (i.e., front crawl, elementary backstroke) for greater distances and with more advanced proficiency. Participants add arm actions to the previously learned scissors kick and breaststroke kick to perform the rudimentary sidestroke and to learn the breaststroke. Participants also begin to learn the back crawl and butterfly and the basics of performing a simple open turn at a wall.
