The City of Hercules is a partner with the American Red Cross as an authorized provider in aquatic training and teaching the Learn-to-Swim Lesson program to the community of Hercules. The Hercules Swim Center and our instructors value our community and want to ensure that we are providing the best swim lesson program to our participants by offering a wide variety of swim lessons and programs that meet all ages. We are proud of the swim lesson program we offer here at the Hercules Swim Center, and appreciate that you have chosen us for your swim lesson needs.

Each swim lesson session consists of eight (8) twenty-five (25) minute classes. For full class schedule or to register, please use our online registration. 

Private (3+ years)

Private swim lessons are specifically developed and designed based on the participant’s current and past swimming ability and history which is custom created by your swim instructor. Private lessons are one on one student to teacher ratio, Private lessons will be held in either the main pool or play pool depending on the participant's request, pool availability, and the swim instructor's recommendation.

AquaTot: Parent & Child Swim Lessons
AquaTot: Parent & Child swim lessons are designed to create an enjoyable environment for infants and toddlers to become comfortable in, on and around the water with parent support and help. An Adult is required to accompany each infant or toddler in the water and participate in every class. Adults learn how to teach their infant or toddler important water safety skills, learn how to safely handle their infant or toddler in, on and around water, as well as how to become water smart. This class is held in a group setting with up to 18 other infants or toddlers; all classes will be held in our play swimming pool which is perfect for this age group with an ideal water depth of 0 feet to 3 1/2 feet of water.

Learn-to-Swim LEVEL 1: Introduction to Water Skills  
Our American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim Level 1 group swim class is held in our play swimming pool which is specially designed for participants to be introduced to basic swimming skills to feel comfortable and confident in a safe and enjoyable water environment. This group swim class is a six (6) to one (1) student to teacher ratio. All participants will be introduced and develop water competency, basic swimming skills: blowing bubble, holding their breath, retrieving a submerged object, and learning the basic minimum skills needed to be safe in, on and around the water. 

Learn-to-Swim LEVEL 2: Fundamental Aquatic Skills
Our American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim Level 2 group swim class is held in our play swimming pool which is specially designed for participants to build on skills that they learned in Level 1. Your child will begin to perform skills at a slightly more advanced level and begins gaining rudimentary propulsive skills on both the font and the back. This level marks the beginning of independent aquatic locomotion skills. This group swim class is a six (6) to one (1) student to teacher ratio. 

Learn-to-Swim LEVEL 3: Stroke Development 
Our American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim Level 3 group swim class is held in our main swimming pool. This group swim class will introduce new swimming and water safety skills which will include front crawl, elementary backstroke, scissors and dolphin kicks, survival float, diving, and treading water. Each class is loaded with fun, engaging and challenging activities that motivates each participant to want to learn how to swim and help promote water competency. This group swim class is a six (6) to one (1) student to teacher ratio.

Learn-to-Swim LEVEL 4: Stroke Improvement 
Our American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim Level 4 group swim class is held in our main swimming pool. This group swim class introduces new swimming and water safety skills to improve stroke proficiency and to be able to swim longer distances. Upon completion of this level, participants will be able to swim twenty-five (25) yards in front crawl and elementary backstroke, and swim fifteen (15) yards of breaststroke, butterfly, back crawl, and sidestroke. This group swim class is a seven (7) to one (1) student to teacher ratio.

Learn-to-Swim LEVEL 5: Stroke Refinement /Swim Team Readiness
Our American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim Level 5 group swim class is held in our main swimming pool. This group swim class will refine all six (6) swimming strokes as well as challenge each participant to swim longer distances, and introduce new water safety skills. The expectations for this level are higher now in regards to distance and quality. This group swim class is a ten (10) to one (1) student to teacher ratio.

Early Registration
Although it is difficult to know what level your child is supposed to be in, we encourage parents to register for multiple sessions at the beginning of swim lesson session; registration is on a first come, first serve basis. Please review the swimming class descriptions below to determine what class will best fit what you are looking for.

Multiple Registrations
If you or your child is registered for multiple swim lesson sessions and is in the wrong level, it is the participant/parent's responsibility to make any changes prior to the start date of that particular swim lesson session. The swim lesson instructors ends class early the Tuesday prior to the session end date to communicate with either the participant or the participant's parent on what level to register for the following swim lesson session. We encourage the participant and/or the participant's parent to speak with the their instructor to see what level they should register for the following swim lesson session, and/or make any changes to their upcoming swim lesson schedule. If you wait, you may not get the time or class you want or need. All registrations, including class changes, are on a first come, first served basis. Our swim lesson instructors do not register, change, or cancel swim lessons for our program participants.

Making Changes
It is the parent and/or participant's responsibility to make all changes to their swim lesson schedule: level, dates, & times. The City will ensure that each participant is in the appropriate class per the instructor's recommendation, but can not guarantee that it will be at the same time as originally registered. All registrations and changes are on a first come, first served basis. It is the participant's/parent's responsibility to make all changes to their swim lesson schedule.

Cancellation Policy
Refunds and/or transfers will only be granted on or before the first class meeting. No refunds or transfers will be granted after the first class meeting. There is a $15.00 service charge on all refunds/transfers initiated by the participant. If the course is canceled by the City, the participant will have the option of transferring to another program or will be granted a full refund.

Make-Up Classes
The City does not make-up or refund for any missed classes, unless the participant has a Certified Doctor’s Excuse stating the reason the participant was unable to swim in the water for the period of time. In order to receive a refund for the length of time unattended, the Certified Doctor's Excuse must have the current date, time, and length of time that the participant is unable to attend the class. All refunds will be reviewed by the Recreation Program Supervisor and will be processed upon request.

Swim Diaper Policy
Any child that is not completely potty trained must wear an approved swim diaper while swimming in our facility. To avoid pool closure and/or the cancellation of your swimming lesson/program, please remember to have your child visit the restroom periodically throughout your swim time.

Weather Policy
The Swim Center will be open rain or shine. If lightning, thunder, or heavy hail/rain occurs, the Swim Center will be closed immediately. The Swim Center may close at any time without notice due to program changes, weather conditions, or emergency situations.

Pool Rules
All program participants, spectators, and City staff are required to follow all posted, written, and verbal pool rules and regulations. Failure to follow the pool rules that have been set by the City of Hercules and enforced by City staff, could result in future participation in our programs and facilities to be jeopardized.

Our Instructors
The Hercules Swim Center's swim lesson instructors work hard to ensure that each participant receives the best swim lesson instruction by following the guidelines and standards that have been recommended and set by the City and the American Red Cross. Please do not disrupt our instructor's class time as we value our swim lesson time to ensure that we are meeting our participant's swim lesson needs. 

Communication Is Key
On the first day of all individual swim lessons, our swim instructors will take the first (5) to (10) minutes to meet with each participant and/or their parent. Please utilize this time and inform our swim lesson instructors what you would like them to focus on for the next two weeks, what the participant already knows, what you would like to work on, what pool you would like the class to be held in, and any other important information that will help our instructions build and develop a detailed lesson plan around the participant's swimming ability and needs.

Why Isn't My Child Passing
Each level is designed around the specific swim skills that have been set by the American Red Cross; for a participant to pass or move onto the next level, they must pass all the required swim skills & exit skills for that particular swim level; this is for each participant's safety. Our swim instructors strive towards each participant's swimming success; please be patient with your child and support them on the progress that they are accomplishing each day within our swim lesson program. Your support and encouragement will help your child and our instructors to have safe and enjoyable swim lesson class.

Discipline Procedure
At the Hercules Swim Center, swim instructors do not discipline program participants, but they will ask a disruptive student to sit out of the water if they can not listen or follow the instructions that have been provided. It is important our instructors teach each participant the importance of safe swimming within our program; our time is valuable and each minute counts towards the success of each of the participant's swimming success. Our mission is to teach each participant water safety and how to swim. Please help and support our instructors by encouraging your child to have good behavior, good listening skills, and to follow the pool safety rules while they are swimming in our swim lesson program or in the swim center complex.