Harvard Swimming & Diving

Harvard University Swim School

A Varsity Athletics Fundraiser

Fall, 2009

Saturday mornings, September 12 - October 24, 2009, SKIPPING the week of October 17.

Beginner through advanced swimming and diving lessons for children and adults.
Walk-ins may be turned away for Levels 1 & 2.
Advance registration is strongly encouraged.

ONLINE
APPLICATION:

Download Registration Form.

FOR:

Beginner swimming and diving lessons through advanced stroke improvement for children and adults.

INSTRUCTION:

A program for all levels of swimming and diving ability taught by members of the Harvard Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving Teams, under the supervision of the Varsity Coaching Staff. The purpose of the school is to give individualized instruction to children and adults. The program is for ages five (5) and up. Classes last 35-40 minutes.

WHEN:

Each Saturday for six weeks, starting on September 12 and ending on October 24, and SKIPPING the week of October 17. Classes are offered at 9:30 and 10:15 a.m. Adult classes offered at 10:15 a.m. only. PLEASE NOTE that there is NO CLASS ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, due to facility conflicts

WHERE:

Blodgett Olympic Swimming Pool, and the Malkin Athletic Center (MAC), Harvard University. Blodgett Pool is located at the corner of North Harvard Street and Soldiers Field Road adjacent to the Murr Athletic Center, which is at the open end of the Harvard Football Stadium). The Malkin Athletic Center is located approximately 3 blocks from the Harvard Square T station. Please see MAP.

PARKING:

Parking is limited, especially at the MAC. Participants may park at Blodgett and walk approximately 6 blocks to the MAC or find alternate parking in Harvard Square. Upon entering the athletic complex at Gate 6, proceed around the football stadium to the Visitor Parking area near the baseball field, and then walk toward the Charles River and Blodgett Pool. If the security gate is open, you may also turn right immdeiately upon entering the complex to drop children off next to the Ticket Office at the Murr Center. Short term parking is also available across North Harvard Street at the Business School. (There may be an additional fee to park at the Business School.)

SWIMMING LEVELS:

Harvard Swim School has recently adopted the "Swim America" system, which includes 10 swimming "skill sets," or "learning stations." Each skill set includes specific drills which build upon earlier sets and offer a clear path for advancement. Instructors will evaluate students in the first class and place them at the appropriate station. Students will practice the skills for that station, and will advance through the stations as they continue to progress. At the end of the session, parents will receive a certificate indicating what stations have been successfully completed.

For enrollment purposes and pool space considerations, we will continue using the same 6 class levels as we have in the past so that we may keep students grouped at the same general ability levels. Levels 1 and 2 are offered as "semi-private" lessons. We will close these classes when we have reached a maximum of 2 students per instructor.

  1. Non-Swimmer
  2. Beginner: puts face in water, can swim ten feet or so.

In Levels 3 - 6, we will create groups based on age as much as possible. The student-to-teacher ratio in these levels will be approximately 4:1 for Level 3, and 6:1 for Levels 4, 5 and 6.

  1. Advanced Beginner: swims approximately twenty-five yards freestyle with face in water, and backstroke.
  2. Intermediate: The swimmers should be able to complete at least 25 yards, which is one length of the pool, freestyle and backstroke. This level transitions to the deep water and the focus will be on learning the correct technique for freestyle and backstroke, and introducing breaststroke and butterfly.
  3. Advanced: The swimmer can complete at least 100 consecutive yards of freestyle and/or backstroke. This level assumes basic knowlege of all four competitive strokes and provides instruction on their proper technique.
  4. Stroke Technique: This level is for the advanced swimmer who has the endurance to complete at least 400 consecutive yards and can perform at least 50 yards of each of the four competitive strokes. Instruction and feedback emphasize correct technique in order to make the swimmer more efficient and effective in the water.

DIVING LEVELS:

All diving classes are run together, although divers are grouped according to their ages and ability levels. Levels 1 (non-diver) and 2 (a beginner who can dive from the board) will do additional work on the ground to learn and practice body positions and boardwork techniques, and will also use the side of the pool and the 1-meter platform for takeoff and entry work.

Levels 3 (and intermediate who can do 5 or 6 different dives) and 4 (a competitive diver) will procede to the diving boards more quickly. All divers will have an opportunity to work on both the 1-meter and 3-meter boards.

Please note that THERE ARE NO DIVING CLASSES ON APRIL 4 AND APRIL 25, due to facility conflicts.

ADULTS:

Please indicate swimming or diving levels as per the above criteria.

REGISTRATION:

Please fill out the registration form and return it by Friday, March 27, 2009.

We will confirm receipt of your registration by email soon after it is received, BEGINNING MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2009.

Advanced registration is strongly encouraged as classes may become filled. Note: Refunds are not possible.

COST:

The program costs $195 for 6 semi-private lessons (Levels 1 & 2), and $156 for all other swimming classes. Diving classes are $122. This program is a fund-raiser for our varsity swim programs, so additional contributions are welcome!

Please make checks payable to HARVARD UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT, and send registration form and check to:

Harvard University Swim School
Murr Center - 65 North Harvard Street
Boston, MA 02163-1012

MORE
INFORMATION:

You may write to Keith Miller (kdmiller@fas.harvard.edu).

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Harvard Varsity Swimming and Diving - swim@hcs.harvard.edu