The Intro to Para Swimming program aims to provide individuals with disabilities the opportunity to learn and improve competitive swimming skills in a safe and welcoming environment, starting at whatever level of experience and skill they may possess.

To participate in the program, swimmers must be comfortable in the water, be able to float independently on either their front or back and have a desire to improve their swimming skills. Wherever possible, we strive to provide in-water support to help swimmers build confidence, strength and have a positive swimming experience.

The ultimate goal of this program is to assist swimmers in increasing their skills and confidence to a level at which they may choose to transition into other training groups within local competitive swim clubs.

Program Structure

Water sessions are structured similar to a traditional competitive swimming practice with swimmers participating in warm up, technique development, aerobic conditioning, and warm down – all scaled to meet individual swimmer’s needs.

The Para Swimming program is split into 2 age groups:

Group 1 – Ages 9 – 16yrs

Group 2 – Ages 14+yrs

The age overlap between Group One and Group Two accommodates participants’ swimming skills and comfort levels in the water. Coaches, in consultation with the parents/guardians, may request to move a participant between groups to meet the individual swimmer’s support needs.”

Winter 2025 Program Details

Group 1 (age 9 – 16yrs) Saturdays 11:50 am-12:35 pm

Group 2 (age 14+yrs) Saturdays 12:45-1:30 pm

Winter Session: January 11 – April 5 [no practice February 15, 22 & March 15]

(10) sessions – $125.00 / Carleton University Students – $0.00 FREE

*Give it a Try – we provide any new interested participants (1) free practice before they commit to registration during the first or second week of each term. Please contact the Manager of Aquatics at aquatics@cunet.carleton.ca if you are interested in trying it out.

Any additional questions regarding programming details or any other aspect of the Intro to Para Swimming program please contact aquatics@cunet.carleton.ca or 613-520-2600 ext. 8444

This program has been made possible with the guidance and support from Swim Ontario’s Darda Sales, a three-time Paralympic swimmer, one-time wheelchair basketball player and dual sport World Champion. As co-founder of the Intro to Para Swimming program with the London Aquatic Club in Ontario and her role as the Ontario Provincial Para Swimming Development Consultant, Darda brings extensive insight into para sports from both an athlete and coach perspective.

Darda Sales can be reached at paradevelopment@swimontario.com

The Para Swimming program is run in partnership with Swim Ontario and with ParaSport® Ontario supported by the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

We are thankful to Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities for selecting Carleton University to receive a grant from their Sport Relief Fund. With Jumpstart’s support, we are able to provide equipment, quality coaching and subsidized registration fees for all participants who attend our Adaptive Sport programs.

Register

Registration by phone or in person is on available during our hours of operation. Register online 24/7. To register in person, visit our Welcome Centre in the Alumni Hall.