Larkey Sharks Little Fins Program 🦈 

Little Fins is our introductory swim program designed for young swimmers who are not quite ready for full swim team—but are excited to learn and build confidence in the water.  This program helps children develop foundational swim skills in a supportive, fun environment and gives families a chance to see whether swim team may be a good fit in the future.

Who Is Little Fins For?

Little Fins is for children who are:

  • 4-6 years old.  Children must be 4 years old by June 15, 2026 in order to register.  

  • Comfortable in the water

  • Able to follow basic instructions from coaches

  • Fully potty trained, no swim diapers are allowed

⚠️ Age Requirement Matters
For the safety and experience of all swimmers (and coaches), children must be 4 years old by June 15th. This cutoff aligns with Walnut Creek Swim Conference and Contra Costa County age-group rules.

Registering for Little Fins at age 4 allows swimmers:

  • At least 1 year of Little Fins 

  • Followed by up to 2 potential years (ages 5 & 6) of 6-Under Sharks Swim Team (pending coach readiness evaluation)

2026 Program Dates & Schedule 

Program Dates:
📅 Tuesday, June 9 – Monday, July 13, 2026
(Spirit Meet on July 13)

Practice Days:
🗓️ Tuesday–Friday

Time:
⏰ 12:30 PM – 1:00 PM

Cost 

💲 Pricing coming soon (TBD)

  • Pool members: $TBD 

  • Non-members: $TBD 

ℹ️ Multiple swimmer discounts do not apply across Little Fins and Swim Team registrations.

What Do Little Fins Swimmers Learn?

Little Fins focuses on beginning swim techniques that prepare swimmers for freestyle and future swim team participation.  By the end of the season, the goal is for swimmers to:

  • Swim one lap of freestyle unassisted 

  • Build confidence, water comfort, and listening skills

  • Feel excited—not overwhelmed—about swimming

🏁 Big Moment:
Little Fins swimmers get to race in our Sprit Meet on July 13th, swimming the length of the pool while the entire Sharks team cheers them on. It's the highlight of the season, mark your calendars now because you don't want to miss it!

 

Readiness & Safety Guidelines

During the first week of practice coaches will assess each swimmer’s readiness. To participate, swimmers must be able to:

  • Follow instructions from our coaching staff

  • Put their face in the water

  • Float on their back with assistance

This is not a 1:1 program—coaches work with 2-4 swimmers at a time.  For safety reasons, placement is at the discretion of the Little Fins coaching staff. If your child is not yet ready or does not meet the age requirement, we recommend 1:1 private swim lessons at Larkey as an alternative.

 

Registration Timeline & How to Sign Up

Priority Registration

  • Monday, April 13, 2026 at 10:00 AM

  • Open to current Larkey Pool members and Sharks families 

  • If/when registration is full, please select Waitlist and we may add more space in the upcoming weeks

Non-Member Registration

  • Monday, April 20, 2026 at 10:00 AM

  • Opens only if space remains and the program is not already sold out. 

🔗 Sign-Up Genius link: (Link will be emailed to current Larkey Pool members and posted here once registration opens)

After signing up on Sign-Up Genius, please pay immediately via the Larkey Sharks Square Store:

 

Should you sign your child up for Little Fins or 6&U Swim Team?

To join the Larkey Sharks Swim Team, 6-and-under swimmers should be able to:

  • Swim the length of the pool without a coach in the water 

  • Not touch the bottom of the pool (occasional use of lane lines is okay)

  • Follow lap-swim instructions independently

  • Demonstrate focus, listening skills, and a positive attitude

By the first meet on Saturday, May 9th, swimmers should be able to complete 25 yards unassisted.  Here’s a great article to help you decide if your swimmer is ready for full swim team.

Questions?

📧 Email us at [email protected].  We’re happy to help you decide if Little Fins is the right fit for your swimmer!