St. Louis Mom Youth Sports Guide: Swimming + Diving

Barron Swim

From swim and gymnastics to dance and ninja, we offer something for every child in your family—all in one place. Our convenient scheduling makes busy lives easier, allowing families to book classes at the same time or back-to-back, saving time while keeping the fun going. With expert instruction across every program, each child follows a custom curriculum supported by our exclusive evaluation system, designed to build confidence, encourage growth, and positively reinforce learning at every stage.

We’re proud to welcome families to our brand-new, state-of-the-art Sports Center in Ballwin, MO, where swim, gymnastics, dance, and ninja are all under one roof for the ultimate all-in-one experience. In addition to Ballwin, we offer dedicated swim locations in South County and O’Fallon, MO, as well as a full gymnastics complex in South County—giving families flexible options and access to exceptional programs no matter where they’re located. Wherever your child’s interests take them, our goal is to help them learn, grow, and thrive.

Barron Swim School (Ballwin)

📍 15425 Clayton Rd, Ballwin, MO 63011

📞 (314) 414-6909

Barron Swim School (South County)

📍 11158 Lindbergh Business Ct, St. Louis, MO 63123

📞 (314) 485-6909

Barron Swim School (O’Fallon)

📍 330 Midfield Cir, O’Fallon, MO 63368

📞 (636) 542-8551

Gateway ISR

At Gateway ISR, I help St. Louis County families introduce their children to their very first sport: swimming. As a certified ISR Instructor with Gateway ISR and a mom of two Division I college athletes, I understand how early confidence shapes lifelong success. My lessons are calm, encouraging, and developmentally focused, helping children build independence, concentration, and problem solving skills in the water and in life. Parents value the relaxed, relatable atmosphere were communication is open and every child is truly known. More than swim lessons, Gateway ISR builds water safety, cognitive growth, and the foundation for a lifetime of strength and confidence. Rooted in compassion and designed for lasting success for families.

[email protected]

Things to Consider Before Signing Up For Swimming/Diving

There is a huge difference between swim lessons and competing on a swim/dive team! If your kid is not 100% comfortable swimming laps without stopping or in deep water, they are not ready to compete on a team. (Exception: some swim/dive teams have a “junior” team that is a bridge between lessons and actual competition – this is perfect for kids who know how to swim but just don’t quite have the confidence or stamina to train on the team)
Some swim/dive teams practice and compete year-round (in an indoor setting), while others are strictly summer seasons (post-Memorial Day – July) and practice and compete outdoors.
If your child competes on a summer swim/dive team at a local pool, they will likely practice multiple days a week, usually in the early mornings (7AM – 10AM).
Year-round swim teams tend to practice 1-2x’s per week in the evenings.
Gear/equipment involved:
- Swimsuit (most teams have a set suit that they require each of their swimmers/divers to wear – usually a racing-style one-piece for girls and “jammer” swim shorts for boys)
- Swim goggles
- Swim cap (optional, but most teams prefer their swimmers to compete in them)
Pro-Mom Tips:
- Take care of those expensive racing swimsuits! Most manufacturers have a preferred way of washing/drying them, and it really does extend the life of the suit.
- Quick-drying beach towels are your friend (yes, they are a lot more expensive than the traditional varieties, but it’s helpful that they can be hung up and dried relatively quickly and you don’t want to spend your days doing enormous loads of laundry)
- It may seem weird at first to write on your child with permanent marker, but it really is the best way for them (and the coaches, swim officials, etc.) to keep track of their events – IYKYK

St. Louis

Ballwin Blue Dolphin Swim and Dive Team

Competitive swim and dive team
Ballwin, Missouri
Ages 5 – 18
Cost starts at $160

Barron Swim

Ballwin, St. Louis, O’Fallon, MO

Barron Swim School offers year-round, confidence-building swim lessons for children starting as young as 4 months old.
Small class sizes, heated pools, and highly trained instructors create a safe and supportive environment for learning.
From beginner to advanced levels, our program helps children develop a lifelong love for the water.
Ages 4 months +

Chesterfield Crocs Dive and Swim Team

Competitive dive and swim team
Chesterfield, Missouri
Ages 5 – 18
Cost $100-160

Clayton Dive Team

The Center of Clayton + Clayton Shaw Park
June through August

Crestwood Swim and Dive Team

Competitive swim and dive team
Crestwood, Missouri
Ages 5 – 18
Cost unpublished

CSP Tideriders

Competitive swim team
Clayton, Missouri
Ages 5+
Cost starts at $1,300/year

Ellisville Swim Team

Competitive swim team
Ellisville, Missouri
Ages 5 – 18
Cost starts at $145

Fenton Sharks Swim and Dive Team

Competitive swim and dive team
Fenton, Missouri
Ages 5 – 18
Cost starts at $130

Gateway ISR

Greater St. Louis area

Helps St. Louis County families introduce their children to their very first sport: swimming
Gateway ISR builds water safety, cognitive growth, and the foundation for a lifetime of strength and confidence.
Lessons are calm, encouraging, and developmentally focused, helping children build independence, concentration, and problem solving skills in the water and in life.

JCC

Competitive swim team
Offered at both the Creve Coeur and Chesterfield locations
Ages 4 – 18
Cost ranges from $99-600

KEEN Swim

Location: Center of Clayton: 50 Gay Avenue, Clayton, MO 63105
All of KEEN’s programs are based on a single principle: pair a trained volunteer with an athlete and let them discover together how much they can do. Programs are all open and unstructured, allowing athletes facing significant challenges to have fun and be successful. KEEN programs are open to all youth ages 5-21 with physical or developmental disabilities. Certain programs are for select age groups only.
- Absolutely Free
- Volunteer-Run
- Age Appropriate & Non-Competitive
- Open, Unstructured and Flexible
- Tailored for Each Athlete’s Needs
- Inclusive, Regardless of Severity of Disabilities
KEEN Swim brings the KEEN formula to the pool, in which even the most cautious kids are eager to get in the water and splash about. At KEEN Swim, each swimmer and their volunteer can participate in a variety of swim activities, including diving for swim rings, playing with noodles, hitting inflatable balls, or just relaxing in the water. Swim sessions are unstructured and purely recreational; swim lessons are not provided.Ages: 5-21

Kirkwood Riptides Swim and Dive Team

Competitive swim and dive team
Kirkwood, Missouri
Ages 5 – 18
Cost starts at $150

Lindbergh Flyers Aquatic Swim Team

Competitive swimteam
Lindbergh High School pool, Sperreng Middle School pool, Kennedy Recreation Center
Ages 5 – 18

Manchester Stingrays Swim Team

Competitive swim team
Manchester, Missouri
Ages 5 – 18
Cost starts at $110

Missouri Athletic Club Swim and Dive Team

Competitive swim and dive team
Locations downtown STL and West County
Ages 5 – 18
Cost unpublished

Shrewsbury Sharks

Competitive swim team
Shrewsbury, Missouri
Ages 5 – 18
Cost $100-135

Sunset HIlls Swim and Dive Team

Competitive swim and dive team
Sunset Hills, Missouri
Ages 5 – 18
Cost starts at $150

UCity Swim Club

Competitive swim team(indoor and outdoor season)
University City, Missouri
Ages 5 – 18
Cost starts at $115/month

Webster Waves Swim and Dive Team

Competitive dive and swim team
Webster Groves, Missouri
Ages 6 – 18
Cost starts at $150

YMCA

Competitive swim team
Offered through multiple area YMCA locations
Ages 6 – 18

St. Charles

Barracudas Swim Team

Blanchette Aquatic Facility: 1900 W. Randolph Street, St. Charles, MO 63301
Ages 5 – 18
Nine week program, May through July
Cost: $175

Barron Sports

Ballwin, St. Louis, O’Fallon, MO

Barron Swim School offers year-round, confidence-building swim lessons for children starting as young as 4 months old.
Small class sizes, heated pools, and highly trained instructors create a safe and supportive environment for learning.
From beginner to advanced levels, our program helps children develop a lifelong love for the water.
Ages 4 months +