SWIM LESSONS

Learn to swim, kick, turn, and flip! Whether you’re looking to become a recreational lap swimmer or the next Michael Phelps, you’ll gain essential skills in our private and group lessons. Our instructors will help you develop your technique, endurance, and confidence in the pool. Private and group lessons are available to Students, Campus Affiliated Members, and Community Members.

Questions? Reach out to us at lessons@recwell.wisc.edu.

view youth swim lessons

SWIM LESSONS

We are now offering in-person private and group swim lessons at the Nicholas Recreation Center.

Learn More

PRIVATE LESSONS

Photo of two people swimming next to each other in an indoor pool holding onto floating devices

Private lessons are built for swimmers looking for individualized attention and direction. Designed with the swimmer’s individual goals in mind, each package includes three 30-minute lessons. After purchasing a private lesson, our team will reach out to you within two business days to gather your goals and availability.

The last day to purchase spring private swim lessons is Friday, March 22 in order to ensure private lesson packages can be completed prior to the end of the semester. Private lesson purchases will reopen again in May.

UW-Madison Students: $75

Members: $90

REGISTER HERE

This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.

Learn more

Prerequisites:

  • All fitness levels are welcome

Class components:

  • Focus on the specific skills and techniques that will improve your swimming experience, regardless of your current ability

GROUP LESSONS

Photo of a swim instructor guiding a woman as she swims with floating dumbbells in her hands

Level 1

At the beginner level, you’ll be introduced to the basics of swimming and become comfortable in the water. With the help of an instructor, you’ll learn to float and glide, and swim freestyle and backstroke.

UW-Madison Students: $75
Members: $90

Register here for 1 class per week

Register here for 2 classes per week

This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.

Learn more

Designed for:

  • Swimmers with little or no swimming experience

Prerequisites:

  • No experience required

Class components:

  • Safe water entry and exit
  • Basic breath control
  • Body balance (float on your front and back)
  • Glide on front and back
  • Flutter kicking with a kickboard
  • Introduction to front crawl (freestyle) and back crawl (backstroke)
Photo of a person performing a front stroke in an indoor swimming pool lane

Level 2

At this level, you’ll expand your knowledge of what you learned in Level 1, further developing your freestyle technique and endurance while learning new skills. Increasing endurance, gaining confidence in deep water, and open turns are all skills that you’ll learn at this level.

UW-Madison Students: $75
Members: $90

Register here for 1 class per week

Register here for 2 classes per week

This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.

Learn more

Designed for:

  • Swimmers who can comfortably swim freestyle independently in shallow water
  • Swimmers who are comfortable in shallow water and have been introduced to deep water

Prerequisites:

  • All skills from level 1 or, the ability to:
    • Float for 30 seconds on front and back
    • Swim independently for 15 yards
    • Demonstrate freestyle stroke technique

Class components:

  • Improve technique and increase endurance for freestyle and backstroke
  • Rotary breathing
  • Open turns
  • Treading water and deep water safety
  • Introduction to breaststroke kick
Photo of a man performing a front stroke in a lane in an indoor pool

Level 3

At our highest level of group lessons, you’ll begin learning advanced strokes and lap swimming skills, including butterfly, sidestroke, streamline positioning, and flip turns. Upon completion of this level, you’ll be ready to move into our Masters Swim program, lap swim on your own, or work with one of our instructors in private lessons.

UW-Madison Students: $75
Members: $90

Register here for 1 class per week

This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.

Learn more

Designed for:

  • Swimmers who have experience swimming freestyle, backstroke, and have been introduced to breaststroke
  • Swimmers who are comfortable swimming in deep water
  • Swimmers who are comfortable swimming the length of the pool

Prerequisites:

  • All skills from level 2 or, the ability to:
    • Float on back for one minute in deep water
    • Swim at least 25 yards of front crawl and back crawl

Class Components:

  • Streamline positioning
  • Flip turns
  • Improve breaststroke technique
  • Introduce butterfly and sidestroke

SWIM CLINICS

Swim clinics are free, single day instructional programs focused on specific swimming skills and techniques. Clinics are perfect for any swimmer looking to improve their swimming experience or build new skills.

REGISTER HERE

MASTERS SWIM

Two swimmers in a pool lane with kickboards.

Enjoy the benefits of swimming with the support of a coach and a welcoming community. The Masters program meets twice per week for programmed workouts led by an experienced swim coach. Masters Swim Pass holders have access to a third weekly workout to complete on their own.  Programmed workouts will take place on Tuesdays & Thursdays from 6:30 – 7:30am.

Spring classes start January 16, however participants can join at any time during the semester.

UW-Madison Students: $95
Members: $150

Purchase Masters Swimming Pass

Masters Swimming Passes must be purchased each semester.

MEET THE MASTERS SWIMMING COACH

A photo of Petra Kilian.

Petra Kilian

Petra Kilian is a dynamic endurance coaching professional, currently a masters swim certified instructor, certified USAT Level One triathlon coach as well as Revolution Running coach. Petra’s endurance coaching style centers on building tight, trusted relationships with athletes using charismatic, honest communication and leveraging her vast personal experience as an endurance athlete. Originally from Germany, Petra is an active member of the tri- and running communities in Madison, and a regular volunteer at local Ironman and marathon events. Petra loves coaching Masters swim sessions, water aerobics and anything pool related as well as teaches strength classes and cycling and has been teaching fitness classes for over 20 years

SWIM TESTS

Swim lesson instructors are able to facilitate swim tests for study abroad trips or other programs requiring swim tests. Please fill out the swim test request form below and we will do our best to get your swim test scheduled with an instructor. There is a $25 charge for administering a swim test.