Pool area at Omagh Leisure Complex
 

Swimming Lessons and Lifesaving Courses

Learn to Swim!

Omagh Leisure Complex is pleased to offer a variety of programmes for children and adults to learn to swim and gain lifesaving skills. From our progressive Learn to Swim Programme and weekly Fast Track programmes to Rookie Lifesaving Award and National Pool Lifeguard Qualifications.

NEW Pre-School Lessons

In addition to our new continuous Learn to Swim Programme (read more details below), we are delighted to offer the return of toddler lessons following Swim Ireland’s Aquatic Academy Pre-School programme.

Initially we will be offering Pre-School 2 and Pre-School 3 for children aged 4 years 6 months – 4 years 11 months only and spaces will be limited until we can determine the speed of progression. Once we better understand how the continuous assessment is working for us, we may be able to advertise more spaces in higher stages – read more information on content at the bottom of this webpage to determine which Pre-School stage is best suited for your child.

As these lessons are part of the Swim Ireland Aquatic’s Academy, the content does support progression into Junior 1 however this is subject to class availability and the following criteria being met:

  • Children must have passed all elements of Pre-School 3
    AND
  • Children must be 5 years old

*Please note that a parent/guardian must accompany the child at all times in the pool during Pre-School lessons.

Pre-School 2
Time: Saturdays at 11:00 – 11:30am (starting from Saturday 14th February 2026)
Age: 4 years 6 months – 4 years 11 month
Suitability: For children who have had no formal lessons and/or little experience in the pool (see bottom of this webpage for exact class content)
Spaces: 7 available

Pre-School 3
Time: Saturdays at 11:30am – 12:00pm (starting from Saturday 14th February 2026)
Age: 4 years 6 months – 4 years 11 month
Suitability: For children who have had some formal lessons and/or some experience in the pool (see bottom of this webpage for exact class content)
Spaces: 7 available

These lessons will go on sale on Thursday 12th February at 10am. You can watch our How to Book video guide ahead of this date to see the new site and process.

How To Book Video Guide
BOOK HERE

NEW Learn to Swim Programme

Exciting changes are coming to our swimming lessons!

From February 2026, our Learn to Swim Programme will be changing from the current 8 week block system to a new continuous assessment model using new software called CoursePro. This means that children will be continuously assessed on their progress in lessons and as soon as they are ready to progress to the next stage, they can! It also means no more enrolment days and a programme that is built for children to progress at their own pace.

We know you will have many questions on this new system and how you can book so we have complied some FAQs which we hope will help and you can read the full Terms and Conditions for registering on the new Swimming Lesson Programme below.

We understand there is a lot of change and kindly ask for your patience as the system is new for us as well as you!

For more information on the content of each Stage of Swim Ireland’s Aquatics Academy (children’s swimming lessons), please see the bottom of this webpage.

CoursePro FAQs
Terms and Conditions
How To Book Video Guide

Rookie Lifeguard Courses

Become a Rookie Lifeguard at Omagh Leisure Complex!

OLC’s Rookie Lifeguard Programme is a popular, fun and educational junior award scheme for 8 – 12 year olds. For most children, it’s the first opportunity to explore water safety and learn valuable life skills.

During the programme, each Rookie will be made aware of how to take care of themselves, their family and friends, providing them with the information needed to promote water safety in their day-to-day activities.

Progressing from stage 1 of the Bronze Award right through to stage 3 of the Bronze Award, Rookies start the programme at an ability level suitable for swimmers who have just learned to swim and progress to the level of performing lifesaving tows.

Before booking you must ensure that your child can swim 25 metres front and back; tread water for 30 seconds; and surface dive to the bottom of the pool.

Rookie Bronze – the first stage on your child’s Rookie Lifeguard career
Days: Fridays, starting 06 February 2026
Times: 4.40pm – 5.20pm

Once children have completed the Rookie Bronze Award, they will have the opportunity to continue progressing through the Rookie Programme with stages 1, 2 & 3 of Rookie Silver and stages 1, 2 & 3 of Rookie Gold.

NPLQ

NPLQ Courses at OLC!
Are you or someone you know interested in getting your lifeguard qualification? We are running a National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) course this summer at Omagh Leisure Complex in partnership with RLSS UK.
We do not currently have an NPLQ course scheduled at Omagh Leisure Complex.
 
To enrol you must complete a pre-requisite test which must be booked directly with the course instructor.
Course Prerequisites:
Be 16+ years of age on the date of assessment
Jump/dive into deep water
Swim 50 metres in no more than 60 seconds
Swim 100 metres continuously on front and 100metres continuously on back
In deep water, tread water for 30 seconds
Surface dive to the floor of the pool
Climb out of the pool unaided without using a ladder/steps where the pool design permits.

You must be able to attend all days to gain your qualification.

 

NEW Swim Ireland Aquatics Academy

From January 2025, we have adopted Swim Ireland’s Aquatics Academy which has replaced our previous term-time programme for children’s lessons from Level 1-7 and Advance Stroke Development.

Swim Ireland’s Aquatics Academy focuses on repetitive, accurate and quality practice to build upon and strengthen a child’s confidence and ability in the water. Children will progress through the Junior Aquatics Academy with Stages 1-4 and then the Senior Aquatics Academy with Stages 1-3 and children are still required to be age 5+ to enrol in the programme.

Whilst our staff work on transitioning to the Swim Ireland Aquatics Academy this term, we will be putting a pause on all baby and toddler lessons. Those who were enrolled in these lessons during term 2 (November 2024 – January 2025) will be contacted by us prior to term 4 (March/April – June 2025) commencing.

For more details on what the new Aquatics Academy entails and more, please read our informational guide. 

Informational Guide

Learning Outcomes for the Aquatics Academy

Please see below what learning outcomes are covered within each stage of The Aquatics Academy or you can view these in the informational guide above.

Children must be age 5+ to be able to enrol into the programme at any stage and while there is no pre-requisite skills for enrolment onto Junior 1, it is strongly encouraged that children have had some experience in the water at lease on a casual basis.

Pre-School 2 (age 4 years 6 months - 4 years 11 months)

By the end of Pre-School 2, swimmers can:

  1. Enter and exit the water safely.
  2. Splash hands in the water.
  3. Comfortable with water being poured over the head and body.
  4. Comfortable wetting or splashing the face, putting the chin in the water and blowing bubbles.
  5. Float on the front using appropriate holds.
  6. Float on back using appropriate holds.
  7. Reach and grab toys on the water surface.
  8. Move through the water on front and back.
  9. Rotate 180 degrees in a horizontal or upright position.

A parent/guardian is required to accompany children in the pool for these lessons at all times. 

Pre-School 3 (age 4 years 6 months - 4 years 11 months)

By the end of Pre-School 3, swimmers can:

  1. Enter water from sitting position. Exit water safely.
  2. Blow bubbles with the mouth and nose under water.
  3. Enter the pool, rotate, and return to the side.
  4. Float on the front and back, demonstrating at least 3 shapes.
  5. Push off on front and back.
  6. List 2 pool rules.
  7. Move an object on water surface with hand(s) sculling movement.
  8. Paddles through the water for 5 seconds.
  9. Move through the water on front and back.
  10. Rotate 360 degrees using a log roll.

 

A parent/guardian is required to accompany children in the pool for these lessons at all times. 

Junior 1 (age 5+)

By the end of Junior 1, swimmers can:

  1. Enter and exit the water safely using at least one of the methods available.
  2. Blow bubbles with the face underwater.
  3. Perform a mushroom float for 5 seconds.
  4. Push off from the wall on front with arms extended, return to upright position.
  5. Push off from the wall on back with arms by side, return to upright position.
  6. Rotate 360 degrees using log roll and in upright position.
  7. Perform alternating action of arms and legs for at least 5 seconds.
  8. Perform simultaneous action of arms and legs for at least 5 seconds.
  9. Perform static standing hand scull with cupped hands.
  10. Identify who can keep your safe in the water.

Junior 2

By the end of Junior 2, swimmers can:

  1. Enter and exit the water safely using at least two of the methods available.
    Perform diving pre-requisite skills: aquatic breathing, aquatic vision, total submersion and resurface, change of direction underwater.
  2. Perform continuous bobs, completely submerging body underwater and blowing bubbles.
  3. Float on front and regain upright position.
  4. Float on back and regain upright position.
  5. Push and glide on front in streamlined position.
  6. Push and glide on back in streamlined position.
  7. Perform a streamlined float on front, tuck knees to chest, return to streamlined position on front.
  8. Push and glide on front exhaling, rotate to back, inhale, rotate to front, exhale.
  9. Perform alternating kick and arm action on front for at least 10 seconds.
  10. Perform simultaneous kick and arm action on front for at least 10 seconds.
  11. Perform alternating kick and arm action on back for at least 10 seconds.
  12. Perform hand scull in figure of 8 shape while standing.
  13. Identify three lifesaving aids and three pool rules.

Junior 3

By the end of Junior 3, swimmers can:

  1. Perform a jump in 1.8m or greater to enter the water safely.
    Exit from water 1.8m or greater unaided (specific location).
  2. Float on front, perform a tuck, rotate to float on back, regain standing position.
  3. Float on front, perform a tuck, rotate to float on front, regain standing position.
  4. Fully submerge underwater to pick up an object.
  5. Push and glide on front in streamlined position, perform 6 kicks.
  6. Push and glide on back in streamlined position, perform 6 kicks.
  7. Push and glide on side, rotate onto front.
  8. Push and glide on side, rotate onto back.
  9. Move on back for at least 10 seconds, perform tuck float, rotate to front, return to the wall on front.
  10. Perform alternating kick and arm action on front for at least 15 seconds.
  11. Perform simultaneous kick and arm action on front for at least 15 seconds.
  12. Perform alternating kick and arm action on back for at least 15 seconds.
  13. Perform sculling action on front or back for at least 5 seconds.
  14. Perform water safety and lifesaving skills.

Junior 4

By the end of Junior 4, swimmers can:

  1. Perform a fall entry in 1.8m or greater to enter the water safely.
  2. Float on front for 5 seconds, mushroom float for 5 seconds, float on back for 5 seconds.
  3. Perform feet first surface dive.
  4. Push and glide on front and perform a handstand.
  5. Push and glide on left, rotate to front, rotate to right, while kicking continuously.
  6. Push and glide on side exhaling, rotate to back, inhale, rotate to other side exhale, while kicking continuously.
  7. Perform frontcrawl leg and arm action for at least two stroke cycles.
  8. Perform backstroke leg and arm action for at least two stroke cycles.
  9. Perform breaststroke leg and arm action for at least two stroke cycles.
  10. Perform butterfly leg and arm action for at least one stroke cycle.
  11. Push and glide to commence streamlining practice
  12. Perform sculling action for at least 10 seconds.
  13. Tread water for at least 15 seconds.

Senior 1

By the end of Senior 1, swimmers can:

  1. Perform a sitting dive in 1.8m or greater to enter the water safely.
  2. Perform rotation and orientation practices.
  3. Perform the 4 strokes with technical efficiency.
  4. Perform a sequence of up to 2 linked practices, to develop a skill base of all 4 strokes.
  5. Push and glide to commence the 4 strokes.
  6. Perform sculling practices.
  7. Perform water safety and lifesaving practices.

Senior 2

By the end of Senior 2, swimmers can:

  1. Perform a tuck roll in 1.8m or greater to enter the water safely.
    Perform a crouch dive in 1.8m or greater to enter the water safely.
  2. Perform rotation and orientation practices.
  3. Perform the 4 strokes with technical efficiency.
  4. Perform a sequence of up to 3 linked practices, to develop a skill base of all 4 strokes.
  5. Push and glide to commence the 4 strokes with technical efficiency.
  6. Perform sculling practices.
  7. Perform water safety and lifesaving practices.

Senior 3

By the end of Senior 3, swimmers can:

  1. Perform entries in 1.8m or greater to enter the water safely.
  2. Perform touch/turn in the four strokes, push off in streamlined position, and glide to surface.
  3. Perform the 4 strokes with efficient breathing tehnique.
  4. Perform a sequence of up to 4 linked practices, to develop a skill base of all 4 strokes.
  5. Perform streamlining practices.
  6. Perform sculling and paddling practices.