Narwhals Tryouts

Participation in Narwhals is on a tryout or invitation-only basis. Current Fitness Alive swimmers must be recommended by their coach. New Fitness Alive swimmers and former clients who have lapsed must complete a free tryout. Scroll to the bottom of this page to begin booking your tryout. Read more about our Narwhals program here.

Upcoming Tryout Dates

We will hold free 15-minute tryouts for our Fall Session 2026 Narwhals program on Saturday, July 25th, at our Center City pool. Read the class descriptions and Tryout Requirements below, then sign up for a tryout here.

Sign-ups are managed in the Fitness Alive Booking Portal. If you do not yet have a portal account, you’ll need to create one. Then, go to Register on the lefthand menu, and click Narwhals Tryouts.

Class Descriptions

 

Narwhals Silver

Ages 7-12

Narwhals Silver

Intro to pre-competitive swim. Focusing on foundational knowledge around legal stroke technique refinement and swim team terminology, this 30-minute small-group class, which meets 1x per week, allows swimmers to get a glimpse into what being a part of a swim team is like. They will refine all four competitive strokes while gaining confidence with flip turns and streamlines, swim team terminology, and introduction to the pace clock.

Narwhals Gold

Ages 8-12

Narwhals Gold

Advanced pre-competitive swim. Focusing on refinement of legal stroke technique while utilizing swim team terminology, this hourlong small-group class — with options for sessions 1x per week or 2x per week — adequately prepares swimmers to transition to a swim team and improve physical fitness. Swimmers will learn to utilize the pace clock to perform sets in order to increase endurance. This class is perfect for swimmers looking to graduate to a swim team program, increase yardage for swimming/triathlon competition, or improve general aerobic physical fitness.

 

Tryout Requirements

Swimmers will need to complete a free 10-15 minute tryout that assesses the following:

 

Narwhals Silver

Narwhals Gold
• Age minimum: 7
• Complete 2 lengths of freestyle demonstrating proficiency with bilateral breathing.
• Complete one length of backstroke
• Complete one length of breaststroke (general knowledge of form, but proficiency not necessary)
• Complete at least 1/2 length of butterfly (general knowledge of form, but proficiency not necessary)
• Tread water for 90 seconds 		• Age minimum: 8
• Complete 4 lengths of freestyle with general knowledge of flip turns
• Complete 2 lengths of backstroke
• Complete one length of legal breaststroke
• Complete one length of legal butterfly
• Tread water for 2 minutes