Aquatics Programs

Open during the summer months, City of Phoenix pools are a great place to learn how to swim, attend a special event, exercise or just cool off.

City of Phoenix pools will be OPEN in summer 2021

Registration for swim lessons is OPEN (details below). All swim lessons are FREE.

Due to COVID-19 protocols, the format for swim lessons has been modified. Adult lessons, water aerobics, swim and dive teams, the water basketball league, and other special events and aquatics programs will not be offered during summer 2021.

General Information about Summer 2021

Special thanks to the support of community partners SRP and the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation.

Summer 2021 Swim Lessons

For summer 2021, all swim lessons at City of Phoenix pools are FREE and will be offered to youth ages 3 to 12 only.

Due to COVID-19 protocols, the number of classes and number of students in a class have been reduced. The format, schedule and registration process for lessons offered this summer also has been modified.

Lessons will be presented in four sessions and registration for each session will open on dates staggered throughout the summer, as listed below. Swim lessons for all four sessions this summer are viewable on the Activenet registration website.
Customers are encouraged to login to Activenet prior to the registration date to update or create their account and develop a “wish list" for their desired courses. Doing this in advance of the start of registration will help expedite the process and improve a customer's ability to enroll in the lessons they want.
While online registration is recommended, customers can register in-person at Maryvale Community Center (4420 N. 51st Ave.), Paradise Valley Community Center (17402 N. 40th St.) and South Mountain Community Center (212 E. Alta Vista Rd.) from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on the first day of registration for that session.

2021 Swim Lesson Sessions and Registration Schedule:

Session A: June 7 to June 17 – registration is OPEN

Session B: June 21 to July 1 – registration opens June 10 at 4:30 p.m.

Session C: July 5 to July 15 – registration opens June 24 at 4:30 p.m.

Session D: July 19 to July 29 – registration opens July 8 at 4:30 p.m.

View 2021 Swim Lesson Schedule and Register (Activenet registration website)View 2021 Swim Lesson Schedule (PDF format)Search the Swim Lesson Schedule by Pool Location

Due to the limited space available in each session and class, a registration waitlist will be maintained. Those who register for a class and do not attend the first class in their session will lose their spot to a student on the waitlist.

Students will be asked to register in one of two categories – non-swimmer or swimmer. Students for non-swimmer classes will be required to have a parent or guardian accompany them in the pool during each lesson. For the non-swimmer classes, an instructor will be teaching and guiding the parent/guardian about how to help their child with the swimming skills being taught.

Prior to registering, please determine if your child is a non-swimmer or swimmer by matching the following benchmarks to your child's skill level. A non-swimmer would be categorized as a student with a skill level within benchmarks 1 to 5, while a swimmer would be categorized as a student with a skill level within benchmarks 6 to 9.

Non-Swimmer Benchmarks:

Benchmark 1: Submersion of face and body

Benchmark 2: Independent floating on back

Benchmark 3: Self rescue and roll to breathe
To advance to Benchmark 4, a student will be expected to demonstrate the skills shown in the video below:

Benchmark 4: Forward movement with good body position

Benchmark 5: 1, 2, 3 breathing pattern with proper stroke
To advance to Benchmark 6, a student will be expected to demonstrate the skills shown in the video below:

Swimmer Benchmarks:

Benchmark 6: Freestyle

Benchmark 7: Backstroke
To advance to Benchmark 8, a student will be expected to demonstrate the skills shown in the videos below:

Benchmark 8: Butterfly

Benchmark 9: Breaststroke
To complete Benchmark 9, a student will be expected to demonstrate the skills shown in the video below:

Adult Lessons & Fitness Programs:

Silver Star:
This class is recommended for non-swimmers pre-teen to adults. Participants are taught based on individual abilities ranging from getting their face wet to the basic mechanics of freestyle.

Water Aerobics:
This class is designed to improve muscle tone, fitness level and flexibility through a series of water exercises. No swimming ability necessary. Classes will be held in water that is shoulder deep.

Adult Lap Swim:

Water Safety Programs:

Cub Club:
This Cigna Healthcare sponsored free program teaches water safety and basic first aid skills to children 7 to 10 years old. All program participants will receive a t-shirt and will compete in a city-wide Olympic event at the end of the season. Space is limited to the first 15 participants that enroll.

Discovery Guard:
This Cigna Healthcare sponsored free program teaches water safety and boating skills, use of flotation devices and basic first aid to children 11 to 13 years old. All program participants will receive a t-shirt and will compete in a city-wide Olympic event at the end of the season. Space is limited to the first 15 participants that enroll.

Junior Lifeguard:
This Cigna Healthcare sponsored free program teaches lifeguarding techniques, leadership, responsibility, first aid and CPR/AED training to children 14 to 15 years old. All program participants will receive a t-shirt and swim suit and will compete in a city-wide Olympic event at the end of the season.

Lifeguard Academy:
This Cigna Healthcare sponsored free program will train and certify participants in lifeguard training, first aid and CPR/AED.

Recreation & Sports Programs:

Swim Team:
This six week program is designed to enhance and improve swimming strokes for children ages 5 to 17 years old. Children are broken up into age groups to practice and then compete in recreational meets with 12 teams from other City of Phoenix pools. Practices include one hour of instruction four days per week, with swim meets on Thursday evenings beginning at 7:15 p.m. at various pools.
Prerequisites: Participants much be able to swim 25 meters continuously of any one of the four competitive strokes without assistance.

Dive Team:
This six week program is designed to enhance and improve diving skills for children ages 5 to 17 years old. Children are broken up into age groups to practice and then compete in recreational meets with 6 teams from other City of Phoenix pools. Practices include one hour of instruction four days per week, with dive meets on Tuesday evenings beginning at 6 p.m. at various pools.
Prerequisites: Participants much be able to do a forward jump, backward jump and forward dive from a 1-meter diving board.

Dive Lessons:
Diving Lessons: This class is for children and adults who want to learn the basics of diving or improve upon what they already know. No prior experience or training in diving is necessary. All dives will be executed from the side of the pool and a 1-meter diving board into deep water. Students must be able to recover from the dive and easily swim to the side of the pool without assistance.

Water Basketball Team:
This free program is for boys and girls ages 12 to 15 years old. Activities take place in approximately four feet of water. No swimming skills are necessary. Teams compete in recreational meets with 8 teams from other City of Phoenix pools. Practices include one hour of instruction Monday through Wednesday, with water basketball games on Thursday afternoons beginning at 2 p.m. at various pools. Transportation is provided for games.