Here at Regal Swim, we offer at-your-home lessons. These are great for beginner swimmers. However, we know there are intermediate and advanced swimmers looking for something in a bigger pool. So here is a list of intermediate and advanced swim programs for kids in Los Angeles and the South Bay. (Most programs have a waitlist, so we recommend you start the sign-up process 3 months in advance.)
Swim Teams & Pre Swim Teams
Some children are intimidated by the big pools that these facilities use. It’s a good idea to have your child swim at the facility (or somewhere similar) before doing the tryout.
Manhattan Beach Dolphins Swim Team
- Location: Begg Pool, Manhattan Beach
- Ages: 5-17
- Website: Manhattan Beach Dolphins Home
- How to Sign Up: Must have completed the Manhattan Beach Pre-Swim program.
Manhattan Beach Dolphins Pre Swim Team
- Location: Begg Pool, Manhattan Beach
- Ages: 5 -17
- Tryout: 50 yards freestyle and 50 yards backstroke
- Website: Pre-Swim Team/Swim Team | City of Manhattan Beach
- How to Sign Up: For Fall Season 2023, click here to sign up.
- Manhattan Beach residents August 7th 6am; waitlist fills up by 7am.
- Non Manhattan Beach Residents August 21st 6am; waitlist fills up by 7am.
- Make sure to create an account and be logged in before 6am.
Palos Verdes Aquatic Club Swim Team
- Location: Palos Verdes High School, Palos Verdes Estates
- Ages: 6 years and up
- Tryout: New swimmers need to have their skills evaluated by a member of the coaching staff at Palos Verdes High School. (From what I’ve heard from parents, it’s 25 yards of freestyle, backstroke, breastwork, and butterfly in the evaluation.)
- Website: Palos Verdes Aquatic Club
- How to Sign Up: Click here for the try out form.
Palos Verdes Armada Swim Team
- Location: Rolling Hills Country Day School, Palos Verdes
- Ages: 7-17
- Tryout: 50m freestyle, 50m backstroke, 50m butterfly
- Website: PV Site – Palos Verdes Armada Swim Team
- How to Sign Up: Contact Jared Lee at jaredlee0516@gmail.com
South Bay Swim Team (Hawthorne)
- Location: Hawthorne Pool, Hawthorne
- Ages: 5-17
- Tryout: 100 yards freestyle, 100 yards backstroke, and 50 yards breaststroke
- Website: Hawthorne Pool | Hawthorne, CA
- How to Sign Up: Email southbayswimteam@socal.rr.com.
ALPHA Aquatics: El Segundo’s Swim Team
- Location: El Segundo
- Ages: 6-18
- Tryout: It is recommended that students are able to swim 25 yards free-style, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly and do flip-turns.
- Website: Alpha Aquatics : Swim Today
- How to Sign Up: Click here to sign up. Will be placed on a waitlist.
ZAP Zenith Aquatic Program
- Location: Ranchos Palos Verdes
- Ages: 7-14
- Tryout: There are now 3 distinct Squad classes:
- Squad 1 swimmers must be at least 7-8 years old
- Squad 2 swimmers must be at least 9-11
- Squad 3 swimmers must be at least 12 and older.
- Website: Zap Swimming
- How to Sign Up: Register online!
ZAP Zenith Aquatic Program Pre Swim Team
- Location: Ranchos Palos Verdes
- Ages: 4-6
- Tryout: Mini Squad swimmers must be 4-6 years old
- Website: Zap Swimming
- How to Sign Up: Register online!
Introduction to Water Polo
Unlike the other swim programs for kids, splash ball is truly a team sport. It also helps students work on their hand-eye coordination because a ball is involved.
Splash Ball – Manhattan Beach
- Location: Begg Pool, Manhattan Beach
- Ages: 8-14
- Tryout: Must be able to swim 25 yards
- Website: Activity search | MBPR Registration
- How to Sign Up: Register online!
Splash Ball – PV Waterpolo Club
- Location: Torrance
- Ages: 7-10
- Tryout: No tryout
- Website: PV Water Polo Club
- How to Sign Up: Must register for a USA Water Polo Trial membership.
Junior Lifeguards
The Los Angeles Fire Department Junior Lifeguards program is the most competitive of the swim programs for kids. Honestly, it’s not for everyone. If you student wants to do it, plan on starting to train a year in advance. If it’s not for your child, no problem. There are other less competitive junior lifeguard programs to try!
LA County Fire Department Junior Lifeguards
- Location: LA County Beaches
- Ages: 9-17
- Tryout: 100 yards freestyle in under the the required time
- 1:50 for ages 9-11 as of July 1 – “C” Age Group
- 1:40 for ages 12-13 as of July 1 – “B” Age Group
- 1:30 for ages 14-17 as of July 1 – “A” Age Group
- Website: LA County Fire
- How to Sign Up: Register online!
.
Redondo Beach Junior Lifeguard Camp
- Location: Redondo Beach
- Ages: 8-14
- Tryout: It is recommended that students can swim 100 yards in under 2:30 and tread water for 5 minutes.
- Website: BeachSports
- How to Sign Up: Register online!
Hawthorne Aquatic Center Junior Lifeguards
- Location: Hawthorne Pool, Hawthorne
- Ages: 11-14
- Tryout: Must be able to swim 200 yards or pass their intermediate swim class.
- Website: Hawthorne Pool
- How to Sign Up: Call (310) 349-1670 to sign up for July 24 – August 18, 2023.
Junior Lifeguard Prep
These programs assume your child already has good freestyle technique and focus on endurance and speed.
Perfect Day Surf Junior Guard Program
- Location: Redondo Beach
- Ages: 9-14
- Website: Perfect Day Surf Camp
- How to Sign Up: Register here!
Swim Torrance Junior Lifeguard Prep
- Location: Torrance
- Ages: 9-17
- Website: Swim Torrance
- How to Sign Up: Fill out this form: interest list.
Long Beach JGs Prep Class
- Location: Long Beach
- Ages: 9-17
- Website: Long Beach JGs
- How to Sign Up: Register online!
ZAP Zenith Aquatic Program Prep Classes
- Location: Ranchos Palos Verdes
- Ages: 9-18
- Tryout: There are two conditioning courses
- Conditioning 1 swimmers must be 9-11 years old to join and must be able to swim the 100 freestyle in a minute fifty (1:50 or faster). Practices are 90 minutes in length.
- Conditioning 2 swimmers must be 12 years old and up to join and must be able to swim the 100 freestyle in a minute thirty (1:30) or faster.
- Website: Zap Swimming
- How to Sign Up: Register online!
Train with Regal Swim
If you have access to a backyard or apartment pool, we can help you prep for most of the above programs! The only exception is the LA County Junior Lifeguard program because students need to practice in a larger pool for that. However, many students have benefited from taking lessons with us in their smaller pools before joining a junior lifeguard prep program because those programs focus more on endurance and speed over technique. To schedule a private lesson with us, please visit our home page RegalSwim.com, or you can just use the plug-in below!
- We accept bookings up to 80 days in advance. (If you want a lesson June 19 from 4pm to 5pm, the slot becomes available at 5pm on March 31.)
- If you see a window that says “Your phone ____ is already associated with another email.” Click “UPDATE.”
- Click here to watch a video on how to schedule a swim lesson.
- If you book a lesson with an instructor who does not go to where your pool is located, the lesson will be canceled.
