The Half Hour Rule: lesson length and its importance

BritSwim swimming classes are half an hour long. We teach in 30-minute sessions because our experience, and the accepted research in the swimming community worldwide, backs up the fact that this is the optimal duration for classes.

Half an hour in the water is equivalent to 45 to 60 minutes of land training. Moving in water is harder than moving on land – so your child will be using as much energy in a 30 minute class as they would in an hour-long session of any other sport. Not only that, but the nature of learning in water requires a different kind of focus; partly because the movement is so different and ‘unnatural’, and partly because safety concerns make absolute attention absolutely necessary during swimming lessons.

BritSwim, in agreement with the vast majority of recognized swimming bodies internationally, believes that 30 minute sessions represent the perfect length of lesson. After the half-hour mark, a student’s focus, and ability to absorb and retain information will dwindle, which means your child is not getting the most out of the class, and you are not getting your money’s worth. 

Just as important is the factor of enjoyment of the swimming lesson. Overly-long classes will drain a student’s concentration and enthusiasm, and at BritSwim, we want every child to leave the swimming pool happy with their class, and looking forward to the next one.

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