Toddler
Appropriate prerequisites: being able to wait for their turn and being comfortable with a ‘stranger’ teaching the lessons.
The skills taught during the lesson are:
Ø Personal safety skills
Ø Being comfortable in the water (water adjustment)
Ø Horizontal position with support
Ø Blowing bubbles with face in the water
Ø Breath control to do bobs under the water
Ø Open eyes underwater
Ø Face float and back float with help
Ø Kickboard use
Ø Face float without assistance
Ø Front and back kicking skills
Ø Front glide and kick with help
Ø Arm stroke - ‘shark-fin’ arms with help
Ø Deep water exposure, optional diving board exposure
Beginner 1
Appropriate prerequisites: comfortable in the water, able to let go of the wall to push off to instructor.
The skills taught during the lesson are:
Ø Personal safety skills including life jacket usage
Ø Breath control
Ø Bobs
Ø Kickboard use
Ø Front float without assist, 8 seconds
Ø Front glide and kick (streamline push-offs)
Ø Back float without assist, 8 seconds
Ø Back glide with kick (streamline push-offs)
Ø Arm stroke – ‘shark-fin’ arms without help
Ø Swimming 20 feet (about ½ the width of the pool)
Ø Jumping in from the side of the pool and returning to side
Ø Deep water exposure, optional diving board exposure
Beginner 2
Appropriate prerequisites: ability to swim about ½ the width of the pool without assistance and familiar with crawl stroke.
The skills taught during the lesson are:
Ø Personal safety skills including life jacket usage
Ø Breath control, learn side breathing
Ø Bobs
Ø Kickboard use
Ø Front float without assist, 10-15 seconds
Ø Front glide and kick (streamline push-offs)
Ø Back float without assist, 10-15 seconds
Ø Back glide with kick (streamline push-offs)
Ø Introduction to back stroke
Ø Swimming 40 feet (about the width of the pool)
Ø Deep water exposure, optional diving board exposure
Ø Change direction and turning over
Ø Treading water, 15 seconds
Ø Front dive from the side of the pool
Advanced Beginner
Appropriate prerequisites: ability to swim the width of the pool without assistance, comfortable with crawl stroke with some side breathing and familiarity with backstroke.
The skills taught during the lesson are:
Ø Personal safety skills including life jacket usage
Ø Breath control, coordinated side breathing
Ø Kickboard use
Ø Backstroke coordination and swim without assist
Ø Swimming 25 yards (the length of the pool)
Ø Deep water exposure, optional diving board exposure
Ø Change direction and turning over
Ø Treading water, 30-45 seconds
Ø Front dive from the side of the pool
Ø Survival floating
Ø Introduction to breaststroke with ‘whip-kick’
Ø Introduction to diving
Intermediate/Swimmer
Appropriate prerequisites: swim 25 yards (the length of the pool) with crawl stroke and side-breathing, familiar with back stroke and breast stroke.
The skills taught during the lesson are:
Ø Crawl kick, 25 yards
Ø Crawl stroke, 25 yards
Ø Breaststroke, 25 yards
Ø Backstroke, 25 yards
Ø Introduction to butterfly stroke
Ø Distance swim (stroke of choice), 100 yards
Ø Survival floating, 1 minute
Ø Treading water, 1 minute
Ø Standing front dive and underwater swimming
Ø Rescue skills
Ø Swim for 5 minutes
Intro to Swim Team
Appropriate prerequisites: familiar with all four strokes, ability to swim 100 yards or for five minutes.
The skills taught during the lesson are:
Ø Rhythmic breathing
Ø Understanding of clock/sets
Ø Front flip turn (freestyle)
Ø Open turn (butterfly and/or breaststroke)
Ø Back turn
Ø Dive (glide 20 feet underwater)
Ø No-breath 25-yards
Ø Swim for 10 minutes
Ø Tread water 5 minutes
Ø Distance swim (stroke of choice), 200 yards
Ø Butterfly, 25 yards
Ø Crawl stroke, 50 yards
Ø Backstroke, 50 yards
Ø Breaststroke, 50 yards