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Swimming Lessons

October 10, 2023
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Parent permission & registration form are required for enrollment in this program.

Swimming Counts!

Swimming Counts Logo above image of student with instructor

Swimming Counts! is a partnership between the City of Winnipeg and the Winnipeg School Division that focuses on water safety education.

The program consists of:

  • One, 1-hour dry-land classroom-based session (at the students' school)
  • Three, pool-based sessions (at a City of Winnipeg swimming pool)
    • 1st Class – 1 Hour
    • 2nd and 3rd Class – 45 Minutes

Swimming Counts! offers three levels in the pool (beginner, intermediate and advanced) to accommodate children of all skill levels and abilities. The skills and knowledge presented are to prepare students to participate safely in, on, and around water. Each child will be assessed and challenged to the best of their ability.

Swimming Counts! Is as easy as 1, 2, 3

1. Water Safety (classroom session)

Classroom sessions will be interactive and include the following material:

  • Water safety rules and pool rules
  • Safe entries and exits and know the swimming areas
  • Identifying buoyant objects
  • Reaching and throwing assists
  • Boat safety and boat rules
  • Exposure to heat and exposure to cold (hypothermia)
  • Personal flotation devices (PFDs) and lifejackets
  • Emergency medical services (EMS)
  • Ice safety/rescue

2. Water Safety Skills (pool sessions)

Demonstrate and participate in:

  • Rules/ entries
  • Reaching and throwing assists
  • Don PFDs/ H.E.L.P. position
  • Entries wearing a PFD (side/front rolls)
  • Endurance swim wearing a PFD
  • Surface support (treading water)
  • Ice safety education

3. Water Swim Skills (pool sessions)

Participate in (beginner, intermediate and advanced):

  • Movement through water, submersion, rhythmic breathing
  • Floats and glides
  • Kicking techniques using an aid/without an aid
  • Introduction to new strokes
  • Review of strokes
  • Drills for all strokes
  • Endurance swims

Each student will receive a certificate of participation.

Water Safety Instructors will track students’ abilities and make a recommendation on which level the student should enroll in after completion of the program to continue to develop their swimming skills for life!

Preparing for the Pool

  • All students entering the pool will wear proper swim attire;
  • Lined gym shorts
  • T-shirts may be permitted
  • Lifeguard will use discretion about acceptability with consideration for culture, diversity and religion
  • NO sweat pants or jeans
  • Cannot swim with only undergarments 
  • Students must bring a towel
  • Lockers are available for $0.25 at all City of Winnipeg pools.
  • Eating is not recommended half an hour before swim time
  • Do not have child attend swimming if they are feeling unwell, especially if they have an upset stomach, diarrhea, vomiting (within the past day) or have a cough
  • Participants who experience incontinence must wear leak-proof swim pants or garments of similar nature.

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