The Pickering Swim Club is recognized within the community for its swimming program excellence. We offer a range of swimming programs that allow swimmers to progress from entry level skill development to high intensity, elite level competitive swimming.

All new swimmers, whether FUNdamental or Competitive, must be assessed by a Pickering Swim Club coach before registering. 

Minimum prerequisite: Swimmers should be able to swim at least 15 meters unassisted. Only swimmers approved by our coaching staff will be invited to join the club.

Please note: An assessment appointment does not guarantee membership

Assessments are by appointment only. To request an assessment for your swimmer:

1. Fill out our Assessment Form
2. Our Registrar will contact you to confirm your assessment appointment. 
3. Please respond promptly to the scheduling email, as spaces are very limited.

Once your swimmer has been assessed, you may register them in the program assigned by our coaches. Please be sure to select the correct swim group during registration. Instructions for creating an account and completing registration will be provided at the assessment.

Note: Unauthorized or incorrect registrations may result in administrative fees.

For assistance:

• General Registration Questions: Contact the Registrar

• FUNdamentals Program Questions: Contact the Assistant Registrar

• Billing & Payment Inquiries: Contact the Treasurer

PRE-COMPETITIVE FUNdamentals

• Who it’s for: Young swimmers developing fundamental skills in a fun, supportive environment. This program focuses on having fun while preparing swimmers for the next step—competitive swimming.

• Program Details: 1 hour/week for 8 sessions

• Coach Ratio: 1 coach per 5 swimmers

• Next Session: Contact us for upcoming dates

COMPETITIVE STREAM 

Our competitive swim program is designed to develop swimmers from fundamental skills to high-performance racing. Swimmers progress through age- and skill-appropriate groups, with training tailored to their development and goals.

Meet Participation:

As part of a competitive program, swimmers are expected to attend swim meets. This may include home meets and external meets (most in the GTA, but travel meets are possible for some groups). This is a competitive program, and all groups are expected to participate in meets throughout the year. Swimmers should plan to attend a meet approximately every six weeks. 

Families are also expected to support the club by volunteering at hosted meets. Volunteer commitments are based on your swimmer’s group level and are reviewed annually. This helps ensure our club can continue offering high-quality programs and competitive opportunities for all swimmers. (Please see the Club Participation Section below for more information)

Placement: 

Swimmers are placed in groups based on multiple factors, including attendance, attitude, technique, ambition, maturity, motivation, and performance. Coaches regularly assess swimmers throughout the season, and movement between groups may occur earlier or later depending on a swimmer’s readiness, birthday timing, and overall development. Our goal is to ensure each swimmer trains in a group that supports growth, builds confidence, and fosters long-term motivation. Placement decisions are made by the coaching staff to provide the best environment for success. 

The diagram below shows how swimmers may move through groups. Arrows indicate possible transitions; final moves are determined by coaches and are not guaranteed.

club Participation - volunteering

As a volunteer-led club, we rely on our competitive families to support club activities—especially our hosted swim meets—by volunteering their time. This does not apply to swimmers in our FUNdamentals program.

Each family is expected to:

• Volunteer at 4 out of 5 hosted meets.

• Complete the number of points outlined in the chart below.

Volunteer commitments are based on your highest-level swimmer and do not change if a swimmer moves groups mid-season.

Note: Points are reviewed annually and may be updated for the following season. Please refer to our Registration Package for full details, including commitment points and any penalties.