Swim Class Descriptions
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Parent & Infant (Approx. age 6 - 18 months) Summer Only
Water Adjustment
- Getting wet
- Water entry
- Exploring the pool
Swim on Front and Back
- Front float (face may be in or out of water)
- Front glide (face may be in or out of water)
- Leg action on front (with support from parent)
- Back float (ears may be in or out of water)
- Back glide (ears may be in or out of water)
- Leg action on back (with support from parent)
Breath control
- Blowing bubbles
- Underwater exploration
Changing Direction
- Roll over from front to back (with support)
- Roll over back to front (with support)
Personal Safety
- Choosing a life jacket
- Using a life jacket
Water Exit
- Lifting out
TOTS (Approx. age 18 - 36 months) Summer Only
Child should be well enough adjusted to leave parent/guardian and be with instructor
Water Adjustment
- Getting wet
- Water entry
- Exploring the pool
Swim on Front and Back
- Front float (face may be in or out of water)
- Front glide (face may be in or out of water)
- Leg action on front (face may be in or out of water)
- Arm action on front (face may be in or out of water)
- Combined stroke on front
- Back float (ears may be in or out of water)
- Back glide (ears may be in or out of water)
- Leg action on back (ears may be in or out of water)
- Arm action on back (ears may be in or out of water)
Breath Control
- Blowing bubbles
- Underwater exploration
Changing Direction
- Roll over from front to back
- Roll over back to front
Personal Safety
- Choosing a life jacket
- Using a life jacket
- Basic safety rules
Water Exit
- Using side of pool, steps or ramp
- Using ladder
Level 1: Intro to Water Skills (Approx. age 3 - 4 years)
Child should be well enough adjusted to leave parent/guardian and be with instructor
Water Entry and Exit
- Enter and exit water safely using ladder, steps or side
Breath Control & Underwater Swimming
- Submerge mouth, nose and eyes
- Exhale underwater (blow bubbles) through mouth and nose,
for 3 seconds
- Open eyes underwater, pick up a submerged object held at
arms length 2 times
Buoyancy on Front and Back
- Front float with support for 5 seconds
- Recover from a front float to a standing position
- Back float with support for 5 seconds
- Recover from back float to a standing position
Changing Directions and Positions
- Change direction of travel while walking or paddling
- Roll over from back to front (with support)
- Roll over from front to back (with support)
Treading
- Explore arm and hand movement (with support)
Swim on Front and Back
- Alternating arm action with support for 5 feet
- Simultaneous arm action with support for 5 feet
- Alternating leg action with support for 5 feet
- Simultaneous leg action with support for 5 feet
- Combined stroke on front using any type of arm and leg
action with support for 5 seconds
General and Personal Water Safety
- Water Safety rules
- How to use a life jacket
- Wearing a life jacket in the water
Helping Others
- How to recognize a swimmer in distress
- How to get help
Exit Skills Assessment
1. Enter unassisted, move 5 yards, bob 5 times to chin level
and safely exit the water (Participants can walk, travel along
gutter, or "swim")
2. Float on front with support for 3 seconds, roll to back (with
assistance) and float on back with support for 3 seconds
Level 2: Fundamental Water Skills (Approx. age 5 - 6 years)
Water Entry and Exit
- Enter water by stepping or jumping from the side
- Exit water safely using ladder or side
Breath Control and Underwater Swimming
- Submerge entire head for 5 seconds
- Bob 5 times
- Open eyes underwater, pick-up a submerged object 3 times
in shallow water
Buoyancy on Front and Back
- Front float for 5 seconds
- Recover from a front float to a standing position
- Front glide for 2 body lengths
- Jellyfish float for 5 seconds
- Back float for 5 seconds
- Recover from back float to standing position
- Back glide for 2 body lengths
Changing Direction and Position
- Change direction of travel paddling on front or back
- Roll over from back to front
- Roll over from front to back
Treading
- Tread water using arm and leg action
Swim on Front, Back and Side
- Combined arm and leg action on front for 15 feet
- Finning arm action on back for 10 feet
- Sculling arm action on back for 10 feet
- Combined arm and leg actions on back for 15 feet
General and Personal Water Safety
- Water safety rules
- How to use a life jacket
- Move in water while wearing a life jacket
Helping Others
- How to recognize a swimmer in distress
- How to get help
Exit Skill Assessment
1. Step from side into chest deep water, move into a front
float for 5 seconds, roll over to a back float, return to
standing position, then move back to a back float for 5
seconds and return to a standing position
2. Push off and swim using a combination of arm and leg action
for 15 feet on front; push off and swim using a combination
of arm and leg action for 15 feet on back
Level 3: Stroke Development (Approx. age 7 - 8 years)
Water Entry and Exit
- Jump into deep water from the side
- Head-first entry from the side in a sitting or kneeling position
Breath Control and Underwater Swimming
- Submerge and retrieve and object for 3 seconds
- Perform bobs with head fully submerged 5 times
- Perform rotary breathing with the body in a horizontal
position 5 times
Buoyancy on Front and Back
- Front glide using 2 different kicks for 2 body lengths
- Survival float for 30 seconds
- Back glide using 2 different kicks for 2 body lengths
- Back float for 30 seconds
Changing Directions and Position
- Change from vertical to horizontal position on front in
deep water
- Change from vertical to horizontal position on back in deep
water
Treading
- Tread water for 30 seconds in deep water
Swim on Front, Back and Side
- Front crawl for 15 yards
- Butterfly: kick and body motion for 15 feet
- Back crawl for 15 yards
General and Personal Water Safety
- Water safety rules
- Wearing a life jacket, enter the water using ladder, steps or
side of pool
- HELP position for 1 minute
- Huddle position for 1 minute
Helping Others
- Perform a reaching assist
- Check - Call - Care
Exit Skill Assessment
1. Jump into chest deep water from the side, swim front crawl
for 15 yards with face in the water and rhythmic breathing
pattern (to front or side), maintain position by treading or
floating for 30 seconds and swim back crawl for 15 yards
Level 4: Stroke Improvement (Approx. age 9 - 10 years)
Water Entry and Exit
- Dive from side in a compact or stride position
Breathing Control and Underwater Swimming
- Swim underwater for 3 body lengths
- Perform a feet-first surface dive and submerge completely
Buoyancy on Front and Back
- Survival float for 1 minute in deep water
- Back float for 1 minute in deep water
Changing Directions and Position
- Open turn on front and push off in streamlined position
- Open turn on back and push off in streamlined position
Treading
- Tread water using modified scissor, breaststroke or rotary
kick and sculling motions for 1 minute
Swim on Front, Back and Side
- Front crawl for 25 yards
- Breaststroke for 15 yards
- Butterfly for 15 yards
- Back crawl for 25 yards
- Elementary back stroke for 15 yards
- Swim on side with scissor kick for 15 yards
General and Personal Water Safety
- Additional rules for safe diving
- Compact jump into the water from height while wearing a
life jacket
Helping Others
- Throwing assists
- Care for conscious choking victim
Exit Skill Assessment
1. Perform a feet-first entry into chest-deep water, swim front
crawl for 25 yards, maintain position on back for 1 minute in
deep water (floating or sculling) and siwm elementary back-
stroke for 15 yards
2. Swim breaststroke for 15 yards, tread water for 1 minute
and swim back crawl for 25 yards
Level 5: Stroke Refinement (Approx. age 11 - 12 years)
Water Entry and Exit
- Shallow dive from side
- Shallow dive, glide two body lengths and begin any front
stroke
Breath Control and Underwater Swimming
- Swim underwater for 15 yards
- Tuck and pike surface dives
Buoyancy on Front and Back
- Survival float for 2 minutes
- Back float for 2 minutes
Changing Directions and Position
- Flip turn on front
- Fliip turn on back
Treading
- Tread water using two different kicks (scissor, breaststroke
or rotary)
Swim on Front, Back and Side
- Front crawl for 50 yards
- Butterfly for 25 yards
- Breaststoke for 25 yards
- Back crawl for 25 yards
- Sidestroke for 25 yards
General and Personal Water Safety
- Survival swimming for 2 minutes
Helping Others
- Rescue breathing
Exit Skill Assessment
1. Perform a shallow dive into deep water, siwm front crawl for
50 yards, maintain position on back for 2 minutes in deep
water (float or scull) and swim elementary backstroke for
25 yards
2. Swim breaststroke for 25 yards, tread water for 2 minutes
and swim back crawl to 50 yards
Diving Lessons (Approx. age 7 - 14 years) Summer Only
Students must be able to jump from the diving board to the surface of the water and swim to the side of the pool. Must also be able to change directions while swimming and pull themselves out of the water. Students must pass Level (3) swimming to take diving.
Beginning
- Forward approach
- Back jump
- Beginning voluntary dives (forward dive, back dive, inward
dive, reverse dive, forward dive with half twist)
- Introduction to optional dives (forward somersault, back
somersault)
Intermediate
- Refine voluntary dives
- Beginning optional dives
Advanced
- Continued refinement of voluntary dives
- Emphasis on optional dives
Note: Competitive diving is difficult and will take a lot of work, practice and time. Students may need to stay in the same class for more than one session.
Adult Swimming Lessons (Fall/Winter/Spring Sessions Only)
Beginner
- Water Adjustment
- Front floats
- Back floats
- Rhythmic breathing
- Beginning backstroke
- Emphasis on freestyle
Intermediate
- Refine freestyle
- Refine backstroke
- Beginning breaststroke
- Beginning diving
- Lap swimming techniques
Advanced
- Refine freestyle
- Refine backstroke
- Refine breaststoke
- Beginning butterfly
- Racing dive
- Flip turns
- Lap swimming techniques
- Racing techniques
