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Little Fins is an introductory swim program for children ages 4 -7 years old (as of June 15)* who are not quite ready to begin swim team. Classes are held four days a week, Tuesdays through Fridays - starting Tuesday, June 10 and ending with the Spirit Meet on Monday, July 14, 2025.
* Our Little Fins program leadership are in agreement that it's important, for the well being and experience of all Little Fins program participants (including our coaching staff), that Little Fins swimmers are at least 4 years old (by June 15* of) that summer's program.
* June 15 is the date cut off also used by our team's Walnut Creek Swim Conference and the Contra Costa County community to determine a swimmer's age group eligibility. Therefore, registering for Little F
ins at 4 years old will provide your swimmer with at least a year of Little Fin experience, and then at least 2 more years (ages 5 & 6) of potential 6U Sharks Swim Team registration (also subject to coaches evaluation of readiness**).
We appreciate our community's enthusiasm for our in demand Sharks swim programs and your understanding of our team's registration policies.
Little Fins participants learn beginning swim techniques aimed at transitioning them towards the freestyle stroke of competitive swimming. The Little Fins program also gives families a chance to evaluate whether swim team** is a good fit for their child. The goal of the program is for students to be able to swim an unassisted lap of freestyle by the end of the season.
During the first week of practice, Little Fin coaches will assess the readiness of each child to participate in the program. If the coaches feel that a child is not ready for any reason, registration money will be refunded. Swimming experience is helpful and children should feel comfortable in the water. It is also critical that participating students be able to do the following:
This is not a 1:1 (coach/swimmer) program. All coaches plan to work with multiple swimmers simultaneously.
All Little Fin swimmers must be fully potty trained, no swim diapers are allowed in this program.
For safety reasons, it is up to the Little Fins Coordinators and up to Coaches' discretion whether a child qualifies for the program.
If they cannot do these skills, or will not be age 4 by June 15, please consider private swim lessons at Larkey. By the end of the program, the Little Fins will be swimming the length of the pool at our home Spirit Meet! It's fun and exciting for everyone - not just our Little Fins - but all the Sharks gather around to cheer them on! (Many Sharks** started in this program, too.) 2025 DATES: Tuesday, June 10 - Monday, July 14 (Spirit Meet) The 2025 Little Fins Program : COST: Pool members - $250 1st Little Fin swimmer, $225 2nd (also Little Fin) swimmer Multiple swimmer discounts do not apply for combined swim team and Little Fins swimmers. Priority registration* for Little Fins started Monday, April 14 at 10:00am. * Priority sign-up for existing Larkey Swim Club pool/Sharks team members for Little Fins opened on Monday, April 14, 2025 at 10:00am Once the "swimmers" sign-up is full, then please select the "waitlist" sign-up (Please note: available space is filling quickly, but we may be able to add some additional swimmers from the waitlist once we confirm adequate coaching staff). * IF there is any remaining sign-up space (under either "swimmers" or "waitlist"), it will be made available to non-members to sign up a week later on Monday, April 21, 2025 starting at 10:00 am. Click here (on/after the appropriate date for your membership status - see above) for the link to the Sign Up Genius for Little Fins: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C054CAAAC2AABF5C07-56084653-little Right after signing up please use this hyper-link and head to Larkey Sharks Square Store right away to pay: https://larkey-sharks-swim-team.square.site/ For more information about our wonderful Little Fins program, contact [email protected] ** In order for 6 and under swimmers to be members of the main Larkey Sharks swim team they should be able to swim the length of the pool with no coaches in water and not touching bottom of the pool. It is okay for 6 and under swimmers to occasionally use the lane lines. They should also exhibit a positive attitude toward swimming and be able to maintain focus as well as follow lap swim instructions independently for the duration of the daily practices. Listening and direction-following skills are also important because they make for a safer environment for everyone on the team. By the first meet in May, 6 and under swimmers should be able to swim 25 yards without a coach in the water and within a reasonable amount of time. Here's a great little article to help guide you on deciding if your swimmer is main/full swim team ready. |
