Swimming
Dive into the olympic-sized pool at The St. James. From swim classes to swim clubs, adults and kids will enjoy splashing around when they join our fun and safety-focused swimming programs.
The St. James Swim Club
Learn, improve, and compete in the pool. The swimming programs at The St. James are open to all ages and abilities. Whether you want to give your kids life-saving water skills, or you’re looking for competitive swimming clubs, we can help you achieve it. Beyond swim lessons and swimming teams, The St. James Pool House is open for cross-training, lap swimming, triathlon training, sport rehabilitation, and more. We offer:
- An indoor, olympic-sized training and competition pool
- Swimming lessons for kids and adults
- Swim club for competitive racing
- Private swim lessons and personalized training
- Seasonal pool programs and pool obstacle courses
Our 52-meter Myrtha training and competition pool features:
- Removable headwall and 20 track start blocks including the backstroke start system
- Stainless steel construction and an infinity-edge overflow gutter to reduce wake.
Training & Instruction
Learn to Swim: Splash Academy (Silver & Gold)
Learn to Swim: Splash Academy (Blue & Bronze)
Intermediate Swim Team: Stroke Elite
Intermediate Swim Team: Stroke Academy
Swimming Camps
Swimming Summer Camp (4-Days)
The St. James Swimming camp offers beginner to competitive swimmers the opportunity to learn a variety of strokes and techniques, as well as boosting endurance and confidence in the pool. The St. James swimming camps take place in one of the only full indoor Olympic size swimming pools in the area.
Ages
6 - 15
Schedule
Monday to Thursday | 9 AM - 3 PM
Dates
- Week 3 | Jun 17 - 21
- Week 4 | Jun 24 - 28
- Week 7 | Jul 15 - 19
Swimming Summer Camp (3-Days)
The St. James Swimming camp offers beginner to competitive swimmers the opportunity to learn a variety of strokes and techniques, as well as boosting endurance and confidence in the pool. The St. James swimming camps take place in one of the only full indoor Olympic size swimming pools in the area.
Ages
6 - 15
Schedule
Monday to Wednesday | 9 AM - 3 PM
Dates
- Week 1 | Jun 3 - 7
- Week 2 | Jun 10 - 14
- Week 5 | Jul 1 - 3
- Week 6 | Jul 8 - 12
- Week 8 | Jul 22 - 26
- Week 9 | Jul 29 - Aug 2
Events
Stroke & Turn Clinic
Designed to help athletes prepare for the summer season by focusing on improving their stroke techniques and turns. Covers essential aspects of competitive swimming, including proper body positioning, stroke mechanics, breathing techniques, and efficient turns. Recommended for athletes preparing for their transition to 50 meter racing.
Ages
6 - 18
Schedule
- Friday, June 21st
- Ages 12 - 18 | 11:00 AM-12:00 PM
- Ages 6 - 12 | 12:00 PM-1:00 PM
Dives & Turns Clinic
Tailored to help athletes improve their diving techniques and turns, focusing on essential aspects such as dive positioning, entry into the water, and underwater streamline. Athletes will learn efficient turning techniques for all strokes.
Ages
6 - 18
Schedule
- Thursday, June 27th
- Ages 12 - 18 | 11:00 AM-12:00 PM
- Ages 6 - 12 | 12:00 PM-1:00 PM
Relays Clinic
Specialized program designed to prepare athletes for the relay events in the summer season. Focuses on enhancing relay skills, including efficient relay exchanges, teamwork, and race strategies
Ages
6 - 18
Schedule
- Friday, July 5th
- Ages 12 - 18 | 11:00 AM-12:00 PM
- Ages 6 - 12 | 12:00 PM-1:00 PM
Long Course Clinic
Designed to prepare athletes for the upcoming 2024 Summer Olympics! Offers a unique opportunity to experience long course training, which mimics the 50-meter Olympic-sized pools used in the Games. Athletes will focus on building endurance, refining stroke techniques, and mastering the nuances of long course racing.
Ages
6 - 18
Schedule
- Friday, July 12th
- Ages 12 - 18 | 11:00 AM-12:00 PM
- Ages 6 - 12 | 12:00 PM-1:00 PM
Divisional & All-Stars Clinic
Tailored to help athletes prepare for the pinnacle events of the summer season: Divisionals and All-Stars. Focuses on fine-tuning race strategies, perfecting stroke techniques, and improving overall performance in preparation for these highly competitive meets.
Ages
6 - 18
Schedule
- Friday, July 19th
- Ages 12 - 18 | 11:00 AM-12:00 PM
- Ages 6 - 12 | 12:00 PM-1:00 PM
College Prep Clinic
Led by former NCAA Division I athletes, offering a unique opportunity for swimmers to prepare for collegiate-level training. Athletes will receive coaching on advanced training techniques, race strategies, and goal setting, providing them with a competitive edge as they transition to collegiate swimming.
Ages
6 - 18
Schedule
- Friday, July 26th
- Ages 12 - 18 | 11:00 AM-12:00 PM
- Ages 6 - 12 | 12:00 PM-1:00 PM
Masters Swim Program
The St. James Masters swimming program is a team-based training program to help adult athletes achieve their swimming goals. From basic swim principles to advanced racing techniques, STJ pro swim coaches give personalized instruction to help all levels become more proficient in the water.
Practices are run with a punch pass system. Each pass is valid for one year from the purchase date and can be used at any of the STJ Masters swim practices.
Practice Days & Times
- Tuesdays & Thursdays 6:00 - 7:00 AM, 12:00 - 1:00 PM
- Sundays 7:00 - 8:30 AM (long course)
Not sure you're ready for Masters swim practices? No worries! Join our pre-masters swimming program:
- Tuesdays & Thursdays 7:00 - 8:00 AM
Swim Evaluations
If you have any questions, please email swimming@thestjames.com
Swim Teams
Ready to race? The St. James Swim Club is a USA Swim team sanctioned to compete against the top swimmers from across the country. STJ athletes work as a team, building skills that help them excel in the water and on the deck. Whether you are looking for swimming teams for kids or more competitive swimming clubs, our program can help you meet your goals. Benefits of joining an STJ swim team include:
- Coaching from passionate, expert coaches
- Cultivating a lifelong love of swimming
- Building character, leadership skills, friendships, and team spirit
- Strength and conditioning that help you perform in and out of the pool
- Access to one of the finest swimming facilities in the DMV
Competitive Swim Team
Competitive level group practices for all athletes who are competent in all four strokes. These athletes will have the ability to compete with other local and national clubs. Pre-requisite: Must be able to swim all four strokes legally.
Ages
Coed 4 - 18
Schedule
Practices occur Monday thru Saturday
Private Swimming Lessons
We offer private swimming lessons for everyone, from first-time swimmers to competitive racers. New to the water? Our safety-focused swim coaches will teach you or your kids vital, life-saving swimming skills. Looking to improve your time? STJ coaches will help you increase stamina, fine-tune stroke movements, and build swim-enhancing physical fitness including flexibility and cardiovascular strength.
First Time Swimmers
The St. James swim instructors work with beginners from infants to adults to make sure everyone is comfortable in the pool. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends youth swimming lessons to protect from drowning as early as age one. Parents are welcome to watch from our comfortable spectator seating we guide their children through water basics. Private swimming lessons are available for adults of every age as well. Adults in particular often benefit from personalized attention to help them overcome any preconceived notions or fears of the water.
Instructors teach the basics, including safely entering the pool, floating, treading water, breathing, kicking with your legs and stroking with your arms. The St. James Swim Program recommends new swimmers should expect to spend at least 2 hours a week in the pool to achieve competency.
Advanced Swim Lessons
The St. James Swim offers advanced lessons for competitive swimmers who are looking to improve in the pool. Whether its correcting form, practicing dives or kick turns, or working on an individual stroke - we have expert instructors to guide you to become faster and more powerful in the water. One-on-one instruction allows for coaches to identify weaknesses and suggest ways to improve on a personalized basis. This is how individual swimmers can gain a competitive edge and advance to elite levels in the sport.
Meet Our Aquatics Admin
Randy Cooper
Director of Aquatics
Get in Touch
Interested in swimming at The St. James? Contact us to request information about adult and youth swimming lessons, swim teams, and more.