Swim Lesson Frequently Asked Questions

How do I register?
Please visit our Swimming Lesson Registration page and fill out the form. Payment and forms will be completed on the first day of class.

Where do I park?
There are several visitor parking lots near the Rec Center/Autry Court. Please view the campus map if you need to know where they are. There is a pay for parking lot in front of the Shepard School of Music. This parking lot is a 5-minute walk to the Recreation Center. There is also a free parking lot behind Rice Stadium. This parking lot is about a 20-minute walk from the Rec Center.

If a lesson is cancelled due to thunder/lightning, how do I get a refund?
If swimming lessons must be canceled due to the facility or inclement weather then your registration fee for the next session will be adjusted. The Rice Aquatic Center is required to close during times of lightning and thunder. If a lesson is canceled with less than half completed than the lesson will be considered canceled and adjustments will be made on your next registration. Swimmers will be given a certificate that can be returned for a one-class credit during their next registration. Registration with credits must be done in person. Ask your Learn to Swim Supervisor on the pool deck for more details.

If my swimmer is already enrolled in a session, do I need to re-register for the next session?
Yes, please register online for each session. The preregistration numbers help us plan how many instructors per level we will need.

How do I pick a level for me/my child?

• Youth Level 1 focuses on comfort level in the water, putting your face under, bobbing up and down and floats with assistance.
• In level 2 the swimmers begin pushing off the wall and gliding, learning floats on their own and learning the basics to front crawl and back crawl.
• Level 3 the swimmer starts swimming on their own and adding breastroke and dolphin kicking. Level three swimmers should be able to swim about 10 feet on their own, in frontcrawl and backcrawl, before taking the class.
• Level 4 swimmers work on refining all of the strokes and increase endurance. For more information on the levels please view our Swimmer Levels.