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AccessibilitySwim Prep
Whether you’re looking for a career or summer job in lifeguarding or water safety instruction, our free Swim Prep Program can help you get there.
Who Should Apply
Through this program, intermediate and advanced-level swimmers receive free personalized training to improve their speed, endurance, and stroke technique. You can develop the skills and confidence you’ll need to pass the lifeguard qualifying exam and/or water safety instructor entrance requirements.
You can register for as few or as many sessions as needed to reach your personal goal!
Program Details
The Swim Prep Program provides participants with advanced instruction and one-on-one coaching on different strokes. Instructors will assess the following strokes and offer tips for improvement:
- Front Crawl
- Back Crawl
- Breaststroke
- Elementary Backstroke
- Sidestroke
- Butterfly
Instructors will also test your ability to pass lifeguard-specific requirements:
- 50-yard time trial
- 440-yard time trial
- Treading 2 minutes
Schedule
Training takes place every Saturday and Tuesday between October 14, 2025, and March 28, 2026. Sessions last between 1 and 1 ½ hours. Water Safety Instructor workouts continue through June 7. Swimmers must be 16 years or older and are required to take a water competency test to show swim skills at the intermediate level.
How to Register
Recreation center membership is not required, but individuals must sign up in advance to attend a session. Please check session information below to register.
Swim Prep Events
Tuesday, January 20, 2026
St. John's Recreation Center: Swim Prep
at Indoor Pool (in St. John’s Recreation Center), Brooklyn 
5:00 p.m.–6:30 p.m.
A class for swimmers ages 15+, focused on skills assessment and prep.
Free! Recreation Center Membership required
Saturday, January 24, 2026
Constance Baker Motley Recreation Center: Swim Prep
at Indoor Pool (in Constance Baker Motley Recreation Center), Manhattan
3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
A class for swimmers ages 15+, focused on skills assessment and prep.
Free! Recreation Center Membership required
Flushing Meadows Corona Park Aquatics Center: Swim Prep
at Indoor Pool Deck (in Flushing Meadows Corona Park Aquatics Center & Ice Rink), Queens
3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
A class for swimmers ages 15+, focused on skills assessment and improvement.
Free! Recreation Center Membership required
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
St. John's Recreation Center: Swim Prep
at Indoor Pool (in St. John’s Recreation Center), Brooklyn
5:00 p.m.–6:30 p.m.
A class for swimmers ages 15+, focused on skills assessment and prep.
Free! Recreation Center Membership required
Saturday, January 31, 2026
Constance Baker Motley Recreation Center: Swim Prep
at Indoor Pool (in Constance Baker Motley Recreation Center), Manhattan
3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
A class for swimmers ages 15+, focused on skills assessment and prep.
Free! Recreation Center Membership required
Flushing Meadows Corona Park Aquatics Center: Swim Prep
at Indoor Pool Deck (in Flushing Meadows Corona Park Aquatics Center & Ice Rink), Queens
3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
A class for swimmers ages 15+, focused on skills assessment and improvement.
Free! Recreation Center Membership required
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
St. John's Recreation Center: Swim Prep
at Indoor Pool (in St. John’s Recreation Center), Brooklyn
5:00 p.m.–6:30 p.m.
A class for swimmers ages 15+, focused on skills assessment and prep.
Free! Recreation Center Membership required
Saturday, February 7, 2026
Constance Baker Motley Recreation Center: Swim Prep
at Indoor Pool (in Constance Baker Motley Recreation Center), Manhattan
3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
A class for swimmers ages 15+, focused on skills assessment and prep.
Free! Recreation Center Membership required
Flushing Meadows Corona Park Aquatics Center: Swim Prep
at Indoor Pool Deck (in Flushing Meadows Corona Park Aquatics Center & Ice Rink), Queens
3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
A class for swimmers ages 15+, focused on skills assessment and improvement.
Free! Recreation Center Membership required
Tuesday, February 10, 2026
St. John's Recreation Center: Swim Prep
at Indoor Pool (in St. John’s Recreation Center), Brooklyn
5:00 p.m.–6:30 p.m.
A class for swimmers ages 15+, focused on skills assessment and prep.
Free! Recreation Center Membership required
Saturday, February 14, 2026
Constance Baker Motley Recreation Center: Swim Prep
at Indoor Pool (in Constance Baker Motley Recreation Center), Manhattan
3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
A class for swimmers ages 15+, focused on skills assessment and prep.
Free! Recreation Center Membership required
Flushing Meadows Corona Park Aquatics Center: Swim Prep
at Indoor Pool Deck (in Flushing Meadows Corona Park Aquatics Center & Ice Rink), Queens
3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
A class for swimmers ages 15+, focused on skills assessment and improvement.
Free! Recreation Center Membership required
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
St. John's Recreation Center: Swim Prep
at Indoor Pool (in St. John’s Recreation Center), Brooklyn
5:00 p.m.–6:30 p.m.
A class for swimmers ages 15+, focused on skills assessment and prep.
Free! Recreation Center Membership required
Saturday, February 21, 2026
Constance Baker Motley Recreation Center: Swim Prep
at Indoor Pool (in Constance Baker Motley Recreation Center), Manhattan
3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
A class for swimmers ages 15+, focused on skills assessment and prep.
Free! Recreation Center Membership required
Flushing Meadows Corona Park Aquatics Center: Swim Prep
at Indoor Pool Deck (in Flushing Meadows Corona Park Aquatics Center & Ice Rink), Queens
3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
A class for swimmers ages 15+, focused on skills assessment and improvement.
Free! Recreation Center Membership required
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
St. John's Recreation Center: Swim Prep
at Indoor Pool (in St. John’s Recreation Center), Brooklyn
5:00 p.m.–6:30 p.m.
A class for swimmers ages 15+, focused on skills assessment and prep.
Free! Recreation Center Membership required
Saturday, February 28, 2026
Constance Baker Motley Recreation Center: Swim Prep
at Indoor Pool (in Constance Baker Motley Recreation Center), Manhattan
3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
A class for swimmers ages 15+, focused on skills assessment and prep.
Free! Recreation Center Membership required
Flushing Meadows Corona Park Aquatics Center: Swim Prep
at Indoor Pool Deck (in Flushing Meadows Corona Park Aquatics Center & Ice Rink), Queens
3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
A class for swimmers ages 15+, focused on skills assessment and improvement.
Free! Recreation Center Membership required
Tuesday, March 3, 2026
St. John's Recreation Center: Swim Prep
at Indoor Pool (in St. John’s Recreation Center), Brooklyn
5:00 p.m.–6:30 p.m.
A class for swimmers ages 15+, focused on skills assessment and prep.
Free! Recreation Center Membership required
Saturday, March 7, 2026
Constance Baker Motley Recreation Center: Swim Prep
at Indoor Pool (in Constance Baker Motley Recreation Center), Manhattan
3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
A class for swimmers ages 15+, focused on skills assessment and prep.
Free! Recreation Center Membership required
Flushing Meadows Corona Park Aquatics Center: Swim Prep
at Indoor Pool Deck (in Flushing Meadows Corona Park Aquatics Center & Ice Rink), Queens
3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
A class for swimmers ages 15+, focused on skills assessment and improvement.
Free! Recreation Center Membership required
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
St. John's Recreation Center: Swim Prep
at Indoor Pool (in St. John’s Recreation Center), Brooklyn
5:00 p.m.–6:30 p.m.
A class for swimmers ages 15+, focused on skills assessment and prep.
Free! Recreation Center Membership required
Saturday, March 14, 2026
Constance Baker Motley Recreation Center: Swim Prep
at Indoor Pool (in Constance Baker Motley Recreation Center), Manhattan
3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
A class for swimmers ages 15+, focused on skills assessment and prep.
Free! Recreation Center Membership required
Flushing Meadows Corona Park Aquatics Center: Swim Prep
at Indoor Pool Deck (in Flushing Meadows Corona Park Aquatics Center & Ice Rink), Queens
3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
A class for swimmers ages 15+, focused on skills assessment and improvement.
Free! Recreation Center Membership required
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
St. John's Recreation Center: Swim Prep
at Indoor Pool (in St. John’s Recreation Center), Brooklyn
5:00 p.m.–6:30 p.m.
A class for swimmers ages 15+, focused on skills assessment and prep.
Free! Recreation Center Membership required
Saturday, March 21, 2026
Constance Baker Motley Recreation Center: Swim Prep
at Indoor Pool (in Constance Baker Motley Recreation Center), Manhattan
3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
A class for swimmers ages 15+, focused on skills assessment and prep.
Free! Recreation Center Membership required
Flushing Meadows Corona Park Aquatics Center: Swim Prep
at Indoor Pool Deck (in Flushing Meadows Corona Park Aquatics Center & Ice Rink), Queens
3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
A class for swimmers ages 15+, focused on skills assessment and improvement.
Free! Recreation Center Membership required
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
St. John's Recreation Center: Swim Prep
at Indoor Pool (in St. John’s Recreation Center), Brooklyn
5:00 p.m.–6:30 p.m.
A class for swimmers ages 15+, focused on skills assessment and prep.
Free! Recreation Center Membership required
Saturday, March 28, 2026
Constance Baker Motley Recreation Center: Swim Prep
at Indoor Pool (in Constance Baker Motley Recreation Center), Manhattan
3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
A class for swimmers ages 15+, focused on skills assessment and prep.
Free! Recreation Center Membership required
Flushing Meadows Corona Park Aquatics Center: Swim Prep
at Indoor Pool Deck (in Flushing Meadows Corona Park Aquatics Center & Ice Rink), Queens
3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
A class for swimmers ages 15+, focused on skills assessment and improvement.
Free! Recreation Center Membership required
Saturday, April 4, 2026
Constance Baker Motley Recreation Center: Swim Prep
at Indoor Pool (in Constance Baker Motley Recreation Center), Manhattan
3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
A class for swimmers ages 15+, focused on skills assessment and prep.
Free! Recreation Center Membership required
Flushing Meadows Corona Park Aquatics Center: Swim Prep
at Indoor Pool Deck (in Flushing Meadows Corona Park Aquatics Center & Ice Rink), Queens
3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
A class for swimmers ages 15+, focused on skills assessment and improvement.
Free! Recreation Center Membership required
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