Swimming Lessons

The Canadian Red Cross announced in early 2022 that it was terminating its water safety programming December 31, 2022. The City of Medicine Hat is now an independent authorized provider of Starfish Swimming Canada swim and water safety lessons. To find out which lesson is right for you, view the Conversion Chart to see how your Red Class levels transition to the new program and visit the FAQs below.

Red Cross to Starfish swim lesson conversion chart  All lessons conversion chart    Swim lesson flow chart  Frequently asked questions

Starfish Swimming Canada

The Starfish Swimming curriculum is designed for students aged 6-months to adult. Benchmarks are established at each stage in the program that combine both swimming and safety skills. Students participate in experiential learning activities that allow them to explore the water in a creative and comfortable environment. Correct swimming techniques are taught from the very beginning, providing an easy transition to swim team.

If unsure what class to register your child in for swimming lessons, we do swim assessments free of charge. Please call 403-525-8926 or email us to set up a time.

Parented: StarBabies™ and StarTots™

The purpose of this course is to develop in very young children a high comfort level in the water while at the same time training the adults who accompany them in water safety and drowning prevention. This course does not teach children to become accomplished swimmers or to survive in the water; it does provide a confidence-building, fun, and loving experience. One adult must be in the water with each child. Swim diapers are required.

StarBabies™ - ages 6-18 months

StarBabies provides an orientation to water for babies and their parent/caregiver. The goal is to help babies gain comfort in the water and to teach parents/caregivers body position and submersion. Swim benchmarks include being relaxed in the water on front, back, vertical and side as well as entering the water with a submerge and exiting.

StarTots™ - ages 18-36 months

StarTots provides an orientation to water for babies and their parent/caregiver. Swimmers work on air recovery and rollover, as well as forward movement. The swim benchmarks include submerging off the wall, coming to surface and getting into back position, along with moving through the water independently.

Starfish Swim School™

Designed to meet the needs of children ages 3 and up, this course will develop a high comfort level in the water and a readiness to swim, and for those children who are developmentally ready, it will teach functional swim skills. This class approaches teaching swimming through creative, fun activities in the water. Students work toward developing the five competencies and progress toward achieving the benchmarks at their own pace in a small-group setting.  Once a swimmer has completed all levels of Swim School, proceed to Starfish Stroke School.

White - ages 3-5 and 6+

Introductory level where the focus is on readiness. Swimmers will learn to ask permission to enter the water and submerge under water.

Red - ages 3-5 and 6+

This level focuses on body positions and air exchange. Skills include float and kicking. Skill benchmark is a jump in and getting onto back to breathe for 5 seconds.

Yellow

The yellow level focuses on forward movement and direction change. Skills includes surface support, beginner stroke on front and back and direction changes in water. Safety benchmark: tread water 10 seconds Skill benchmark: swim-roll-swim Yellow is best for swimmers who are not afraid, can float on their front and back, and can jump in and return to the surface.

Blue

The blue level focuses on streamlined movement and side breathing. Skills include glides with kicks, and a focus on side glides and rolls.  Safety benchmark: use floatation to reach or throw to assist a swimmer and know how to call 911 Skill benchmarks: 10m side glide - roll - side glide with rhythmic breathing; 30 second water tread; 25m distance swim Blue is best for participants who can float, swim a beginner stroke and roll from front to back and back to front with no assistance.

Green

The green level focuses on water competency. Skills include head first entries, freestyle drills, kicking drills and treading water. Safety benchmark: disorienting entries and recover Skill benchmark: freestyle with side breathing and a safe swimmer sequence Green is best for swimmers who can tread water for at least 20 seconds, can glide in all positions and is comfortable in the deep water.

Starfish Stroke School™

This course is for students of all ages who have achieved the green Swim School benchmarks. Students develop endurance, refine freestyle and learn stroke technique for backstroke, butterfly, and breaststroke.  Each lesson is option, but for optimal learning and results, they should be taken in the following order:

Freestyle and Backstroke

Focus is on learning these two strokes and with their corresponding drills.  Skill benchmark: swim Freestyle and Backstroke for 25m each

Resting Strokes (Elementary Backstroke and Sidestroke)

In Resting Strokes, focus is on Elementary Backstroke and Sidestroke. The skill benchmark is 25m swim of each stroke.  Skill benchmark: swim Elementary Backstroke and Sidestroke for 25m each

Butterfly

The yellow course focuses on learning the Butterfly stroke. Skill benchmark: swim Butterfly for 10m

Breaststroke

In blue, swimmers will focus on learning the Breaststroke. Safety benchmark: survival swim for 2 minutes Skill benchmark: swim Breaststroke for 25m

Endurance

In this class, swimmers focus on endurance, starts and turns. Safety benchmark: tread water for 3 minutes Skill benchmark: swim 300 continuous meters

If you are registering a swimmer that requires adaptations or specialized services, please contact us. We look forward to working with you and your swimmer to create a positive experience.

Register for swimming lessons

Private lessons

Private lessons are a great way to acquire those last few skills needed to pass a swim level or introduce a reluctant swimmer to the water. Our qualified instructors will assess skill level and provide personalized instruction to help you achieve your goals. These lessons are not intended to complete a full lesson set and there is no guarantee that you will have the same instructor when booking more than one private session.

Because of water depth, different pools have different minimum age requirements for private lessons to ensure success:

• Crestwood Recreation Centre – 8 years old
• Big Marble Go Centre – 5 years old

View available lessons

Become a lifeguard

Lifeguards are highly skilled and trained individuals. To become a lifeguard you must be 16 years of age and have the following courses:

Program details and registration

Become a Starfish Swimming Instructor

This course develops instructional ability by focusing on how to effectively plan and teach the Starfish Canada swimming program. There is a skills evaluation, an online learning component, a classroom/pool component and practical teaching experience with a certified instructor. Certification is valid for 2 years.

Prerequisites:

• 15 years old
• Standard First Aid Level C CPR (current)

Program details and registration

Become a Lifesaving Instructor

The Lifesaving Swim Instructor course prepares candidates to instruct swimming lessons by learning progressions, strokes, games and safety items. Lifesaving instructors are responsible for teaching and evaluating candidates participating in the Canadian Swim Patrol, Bronze Medals, Distinction, Boat Rescue and Lifesaving Society CPR programs. The Lifesaving Instructor course prepares instructors to apply level 1 leadership competencies and strategies designed to teach lifesaving and water rescue education. Certification in Alberta and NWT includes CPR Instructor certification. 

Lifesaving Instructor certification is the prerequisite for other Lifesaving Society instructor certifications.

Prerequisites:

• Age: 16+ 
• Bronze Cross (or higher)

Length: 40 hours plus additional co-teach

Program details and registration

Frequently asked questions