Aquatics

Swim lessons are Tuesdays and Thursdays for 30 minutes between 3:30-8pm. They are available for anyone ages 6 months to adult. Prices vary per session.  We also offer private and semi-private lessons. Please click here to be added to the interest list for a future session. Email the aquatics director (aquatics@bellinghamathleticclub.com) with any questions or call the Front Desk at (360) 676-1800.

 
Angelfish: For those age 6 mo-3 years

• This is a Parent-Child aquatics class, focused on water adjustment and enjoyment!
• You will learn how to hold your child in the water, practice survival skills and play games aimed at
  providing a positive first experience in the pool

Beluga: For those age 3 - 5 years

• For students who have never had lessons before
• Focus on head & face submersion, bubbles through mouth & nose 5 seconds
• Introduction to front and back floats, & elementary backstroke (w/assistance)
• Introduction to jumps & water safety

Starfish (Youth Beginner): For students aged 6+ who are just starting out Swimming

•  Focus on transitioning from swimming with assistance to unassisted skills - by the end of the level
  they will be swimming 10 feet on their own
• Effective kicks
• Front swimming in streamline position
• Front & Starfish floats, unassisted (10+ seconds)
• Elementary backstroke, unassisted

Clownfish: For those who have passed Beluga

• Focus on transitioning from swimming with assistance to unassisted skills - by the end of the level
  they will be swimming 15-20 feet on their own.
• Effective kicks
• Front swimming in streamline position
• Front & Starfish floats, unassisted (10+ seconds)
• Elementary backstroke, unassisted

Dolphin: For those who have passed Clownfish/Starfish

• Focus on increased distance and endurance - They will be swimming full lengths on a regular
  basis.
• Development of freestyle (crawl stroke) technique & intro to side breathing
• Front streamlined swimming w/ rollover for breathing
• Back streamlined swimming
• Introduction to backstroke
• Introduction to treading water (build up to 30 seconds)
• Retrieve submerged object

Flounder: For those who have passed Dolphin

•  Distance: They will be swimming 4-6 lengths on a regular basis.
• Refine freestyle w/ side breathing
• Refine backstroke
• Introduction to breaststroke
• Tread water (45-60 seconds)

Jellyfish: For those who have passed Flounder

• Distance: 6-8 lengths
• Refine freestyle
• Refine backstroke w/ open turns and flag navigation
• Refind breaststroke w/ open turns
• Intro to butterfly
• Intro to flip turns
• Side stroke
• Introduction to yardage & warm ups and cool downs

Manatee: For those who have passed Jellyfish

• Distance: 10-12 lengths
• Refine freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly
• Introduction to backstroke flipturns
• Introduction to IM order
• Competitive swimming skills including time clock, starts, turns, & finishes

Swim Team: For those who have passed Manatee or by Instructor Recommendation

• Must know all 4 strokes (freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly
• The goal of our swim team is to transition students into swimming as a competitive sport. This is a
  learning based program intended to prep students for swimming in high school or a similar club
  team.

Adult Lessons: For anyone age 13+

•  Most adults who want to learn to swim have a specific goal in mind- whether it’s getting
  comfortable enough in the water to swim recreationally, or improving your technique to aid your
  lap swimming workout - We can work with you wherever you’re comfortable!
• There is no curriculum for this class, so just let us know where you’re starting at the beginning of
  class and we’ll work with you from there.

Swim Lessons

Q. Do I need to pay when I sign up or can I pay on the first day of class?
A. In order to reserve your spot, payment is due at the time of sign up. If payment is not made during registration, you will be placed on the waiting list.

Q. Can I get in the water with my child?
A. If your child is under the age of three, we offer our parent/child (Angelfish) swim class in which an adult does get in the water with the child. If the child is over the age of three, they are placed in a class with an instructor and other children who have the same skills, and the parent does not get in the water.

Q. My child can swim, but I don’t know which level to put him or her in?
A. The swim levels are posted on our website with the corresponding skills taught in that level. If your child can do the skills listed in a particular level, then they should be placed in the next level up. If you’re unsure, give us a call! Any of our instructing staff can place students in the appropriate level.

Q. How do I know my child is in the correct swim class level?
A. The first day of class is designed to assess the skills of the children in the class. If we think your child would benefit more from a different class, the Aquatics Director will notify you after the first day and your child will be placed in the class they will be most successful in.

Q. How big are your classes?
A. The maximum number of students to one instructor is 5. For Angelfish and Swim Team, the maximum number of students to one instructor is 12.

Q. This session has already started; can I still sign my child up?
A. Yes, if there is a class with open space, we will gladly accept sign-ups after the session has started.

Q. Can I request that a class be offered at a specific time?
A. Yes, you may request a class if you have a specific time that you would like a class to be offered. The Aquatics Director does their best to schedule the class at the times requested.

Q. When are your swim lessons?
A. Our swim lessons are Tuesdays and Thursdays and usually run in 4-week sessions of 8 lessons. We have lessons from 3:30-8:00pm. Classes are 30 minutes long and begin every half hour.

Q. Do you have swim lessons on other days of the week besides Tuesdays and Thursdays?
A. We do not. Our swim lessons are only on Tuesdays and Thursdays. However, private swim lessons can be scheduled at any time throughout the week (as long as the pool is not in use for another program or class).

Q. Can I just sign up for one day a week (Tuesday OR Thursday)?
A. Yes. If we have spots available in a class, you may sign up for just one day a week and pay a per-class rate. 

Q. Do you prorate the price if I miss a class?
A. We are able to prorate lessons if you know about the absence at the time of registration or due to illness. However, if you do not tell us about the absence at the time of registration, we are not able to provide a refund.

Q. Where can I find a schedule of the classes offered?
A. We post schedules for swim lessons on our website on a seasonal basis!

Q. When will the Aquatics Director be in the club so I can talk to them?
A. The Aquatics Director’s hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:30pm-8pm. The best way to reach them is via email at aquatics@bellinghamathleticclub.com.

Q. Do you offer private swim lessons?
A. Yes, we offer private swim lessons at a rate of $50 per half hour. We can also offer semi-private or group private lessons. Email aquatics@bellinghamathleticclub.com to request private lessons.

Q. I need to cancel or reschedule my private lesson, how do I get a hold of the instructor?
A. Instructors will schedule private lessons with you individually, so they will give you their contact information when they call you to schedule. If you do not have the instructor’s contact information, please email (aquatics@bellinghamathelticclub.com) or call the front desk and they will notify the instructor for you. NOTE: The front desk CANNOT give out instructor’s contact information for any reason.

Q. I put in a private swim lesson request and I have not heard back yet.
A. We have had a waitlist for private lessons. Private swim lessons are scheduled based on instructor’s availability. If you don’t hear from an instructor, feel free to reach out to the Aquatics Director again, but please be patient as they have been in high demand.

Q. How big is your pool?
A. Our pool is 50 feet long and 30 feet wide. The shallowest point is 3 feet and the deepest point is 4 feet.

Q. What is the temperature of your pool?
A. We keep our pool between 84 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit.

Swim Team

Q. Who can join swim team?
A. BAC accepts any swimmer who passes the tryout test, or swimmers who have successfully completed manatee skills. This is an introductory swim team where students will learn to view swimming as a sport, rather than a fun activity. They will learn the official USA swimming rules & standards, stroke improvement, flip turns, starts, time clock and many other necessary swimming skills.

Q. What are the prerequisites?
A. Tryout Test: Swimmers must complete at least 3 lengths of each stroke (freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly), complete at least 1 flip turn on stomach & back, swimmers must be able to complete 12 lengths of freestyle or backstroke, and demonstrate basic knowledge of swimming skills (ex floats, glides, side breathing, treading water, etc). All ages are welcome, as this is a skill-based program aimed at education and fun! OR Swimmers who have completed the “Manatee” level of our learn-to-swim program and can demonstrate those skills.

Q. When can my student take the tryout test?
A. Tryout testing will take place during regular swim team time, from 5:30-6:30pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Or make arrangements with the aquatics director via email (aquatics@bellinghamathleticclub.com).

Q. What time is swim team practice?
A. Swim team will run from 5:30-6:30pm on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

Q. Is it competitive?
A. Our program is currently aimed at an introduction to swimming as a sport. At this point, the focus will be on learning competitive swimming skills, but not actually competing against other teams. Additional questions, contact aquatics@bellinghamathleticclub.com.