American University Developmental
4400 Massachusettes Ave. Washington DC, 20016
Our Developmental programs are devoted to competitive stroke instruction with an emphasis on balance in the water through specialized drills. It is not a “beginner or novice” learn-to-swim program.
Winter 2026 Session
This program is currently FULL and on a waitlist.
Program Details
How to Waitlist / Enroll
All enrollment is processed via our Jackrabbit Enrollment Portal.
You must login / create an account to view and enroll in classes.
Current Families
Families who already have an account with NCAP Swim School can log into their Parent Portal with this button. Select ‘ find classes’ and ‘show me full classes with waitlists’. Adjust the filters as needed.
New Families
Families interested in joining us this Winter can create an account using this button. Skip the ‘Select Classes’ option to create your account. You must exit and log in using the ‘Parent Portal’ button above to view classes. Once in your portal, select ‘ find classes’ and ‘show me full classes with waitlist’.
Waitlist FAQs
If you only see an option to waitlist your swimmer for a class, that likely means the class is full and is waitlist-only.
If you can’t find a waitlist for a specific class, the waitlist is likely already full and I recommend emailing me directly to express interest in joining the class.
We do move lots of swimmers off the waitlist every session. We do our best to move swimmers off the waitlist before the session starts but will keep accommodating waitlist swimmers until late Febuary of 2026. We can not guarantee when or if your child will move off the waitlist.
You can waitlist for as many classes as you’d like, but please only waitlist for one group class level (the appropriate level for your swimmer).
If we get an opening for your swimmer, we will reach out to you via email and offer you the class spot. We will typically hold the opening for you for 24 hours. If we do not hear back or if you decline, we move to the next swimmer on the list. We do not automatically move swimmers off the waitlist and into a class or charge your card without written permission.
There is no charge to join the waitlist for a class. Our system requires a payment method to create an account, but we do not charge the card without permission.
Class Descriptions
There are no exceptions to the age and skill requirements for each class.
All levels of the Developmental Program require that swimmers have the desire to improve by being engaged and applying coach feedback— classes are designed to be a practice-like environment.
All swimmers must be able to withstand water temperatures as low as 77º F for an hour and be comfortable in water up to 14 feet deep.
30-Minute Whales (6 - 10 Years Old)
Must be able to swim 25 yards of freestyle and backstroke, including the ability of consistent rotary breathing. This class teaches detail technique of freestyle, backstroke, introduces basic breaststroke, and builds endurance.
: Must be able to swim 75 yards of freestyle, 50 yards of backstroke, 25 yards of breaststroke, as well as an understanding of fly kick. This class teaches longer freestyle swimming, more advanced backstroke and breaststroke. This class will continue progressions on starts and flip turns, as well as detail technique of butterfly.
Barracudas (7 - 12 Years Old)
Sting Rays (7 - 13 Years Old)
Must be able to swim 75 yards of freestyle and backstroke, 50 yards of breaststroke, 25 yards of butterfly, as well as the ability to do flip turns. This class works on detailed mechanics of breaststroke and butterfly, as well as improving flip turns and starts. This class will also teach practice etiquette like reading a workout and the pace clock.
Octopus (7 - 13 Years Old)
Must be able to swim 100 yards of freestyle and backstroke, 75 yards breaststroke, 50 yards of butterfly, including the ability to do legal flip turns and starts. Swimmers must be able to do legal laps of all 4 strokes, 100 IM/intervals, and read a pace clock. This class works on longer breaststroke and butterfly, endurance swimming of all strokes, and continued improvement of starts and turns.
60-Minute Whales (6 - 11 Years Old)
Must be able to swim 50 yards of freestyle and backstroke, including the ability of consistent rotary breathing, as well as an understanding of breaststroke kick. This class teaches detail technique of freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, builds endurance and introduces starts and flip turns.