Instructional Policies

Skill Levels

When enrolling children in swim lessons, please sign up for the appropriate level for your son/daughter based on the following skill level description: Skill Level description.

Tiny Tots or Splash:

Swim classes are offered for children 3 and up. If your 3 year old requires being carried to poolside, does not want you to leave the deck, is not toilet trained or will not put his or her face in the water, please wait another few months before enrolling, or consider our Tiny Tots program for children 6 months to 3 1/2 years of age (this class requires an adult in the pool with the child).

Levels 2,3,4,5,6 and 7:

Swimmers wishing to enroll in these Levels will need an in-pool evaluation. New students signing up for an incorrect level will be moved to a lower level if space allows. If there is no space, a refund minus $25 will be charged.

In order to schedule an evaluation, please send an email to: evaluations@charlesriveraquatics.com. Provide your name, swimmer's name and a phone #. Email responses to schedule an evaluation are sent Monday-Friday. The office is closed on the weekend.

Advancement

We want your child to gain the full benefits of our program. Every child is different and development may be varied. We respect these differences and encourage children to progress at their own rate, as some are more aware kinesthetically in the pool than others.

Therefore, please do not push your child or compare him/her to other children as it is common for swimmers to repeat the same level many times until a skill set is achieved. We want to foster a love of swimming and once your child masters the skills performed in the current class, then s/he will move to the next level.

There is no movement in the middle of a session to a higher level, as this disrupts a class.

Absence from Charles River Aquatics

After an absence of four months or more, a swimmer must prove he/she is capable of swimming in the level he registers for. CRA reserves the right to move the swimmer into a lower level, if he is unable to perform all the skills of the registered level.

Hands-on Teaching

In order to properly teach swim lessons, CRA instructors will: manipulate children’s arms and legs in and out of the water, turn children’s heads for side-breathing, support children’s bodies for floats (both on their stomach and their back), help young children exit the pool, guide children into the water for dives, assist anyone afraid to dive into the water, and flip children’s legs over their heads for somersaults.

Preparing for Class

Because of limited space in the pool, children are only allowed on pool deck 5 minutes before class starts. If you come early, please remain in the locker room, the observation room, or in the hallway.

Equipment/Clothing

Goggles are required for children in Levels 1-6. (We do not require goggles for Splash Class, although it’s a good idea for the children to wear them. When a child’s eyes are protected, he/she is more willing to put his face/eyes into the water.) You can buy goggles at any sports store. We also sell goggles for $5.00 at the pool. We do not loan goggles, as this could lead to eye infections.

We do not provide towels.

One piece bathing suits are advised for girls.

Please avoid excessively long shorts for boys, as they create drag and hamper the child’s ability to swim correctly.

Hair should be tied back or a lycra, silicon or latex cap should be worn. Swimmers in Levels 5/6 must wear a swim cap unless they have hair above their ears.

Class Size

There are only four swimmers allowed in Splash Class through Level 4. We will not break this rule, as this is one reason why CRA is able to teach lessons so effectively.

Level 5 allows 5 swimmers and no more than six swimmers will be allowed in Levels 6/7.

For more information about swimming policies, please visit our FAQ page, or call us at 617-777-3556.