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| Level Descriptions |
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Parent-Child Aquatics
6 months - 3 years old
Level 1—Introduces basic skills to parents and children, including safety topics
- Getting wet with toys and kicking
- Enter water by lifting in and walking in
- Out of water and in water exploration
- Blowing bubbles on the surface
- Blowing bubbles with the nose and mouth submerged
- Underwater exploration
- Submerging mouth, nose, and eyes
- Front and back floats and glides
- Roll from front to back and back to front
- Passing from instructor to parent
- Leg actions on front and back
- The importance of wearing a lifejacket
- How to call for help and the importance of knowing CPR and first aid
- Basic water safety rules
- General water safety around the home
- Recreational water illness
- Sun Safety
Level 1 Exit Skills Assessment
NONE
Level 2—Builds on the skills introduced in Level 1, with the participants improving these skills + more…..
- Enter the water in a seated position and by rolling over from a seated position and sliding in
- Enter the water by stepping in, jumping in, and using a ladder or stairs
- Exploring the pool (in shallow water)
- Using the side of the pool and a ladder to exit
- Opening eyes and retrieving objects below the surface
- Opening eyes and retrieving submerged objects
- Bobbing
- Front and back floats and glides
- Front glide to the wall
- Roll from front to back and back to front
- Passing between adults
- Drafting with breathing
- Alternating or simultaneous arm and leg action on the front and back
- Combined arm and leg action on the front with breathing
- Combined arm and leg action on the back
- Wearing a lifejacket in the water
- Reaching assists
- Basic water safety and rules review
- Safety at the beach and at the water park
- Water toys and their limitation
Level 2 Exit Skills Assessment
NONE
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Pre-School Aquatics
Children 3-5 years old
PS Level 1—There are no prerequisites for this course
Helps participants feel comfortable in the water and enjoy the water safely.
- Enter and exit water using ladder, steps or side independently
- Blowing bubbles through mouth and nose
- Submerging mouth, nose and eyes
- Open eyes underwater and retrieve submerged objects
- Front glide and recover to a vertical position with support
- Back glide and recover to a vertical position with support
- Back glide with support
- Roll from front to back and back to front with support
- Treading with arm and hand actions - Explore
- Alternating and simultaneous leg actions on the front and back with support
- Alternating and simultaneous arm actions on the front and back with support
- Staying safe around aquatic environments
- Recognizing the lifeguards
- Don’t just pack it, wear your jacket
- Recognizing an emergency
- How to call for help
- Too much sun is no fun
PS Level 1 Exit Skills Assessment
All PS1 Exit Skills can be performed with support
- Enter Independently, using either the ladder, steps, or side, travel at least 5 yards, submerge mouth and blow bubbles for at least 3 seconds then safely exit the water.(children can walk, move along the gutter, or “swim”).
- While in shallow water, glide on front at least 2 body lengths, then roll to back and float on back for 3 seconds then recover to a vertical position.
PS Level 2—Must have a PS L1 Certificate or demonstrate skills
Builds on the skills learned in PS1 and gives participants success with fundamental skills, such as floating & basic locomotion.
- Enter water by stepping in
- Exit water using ladder, steps or side
- Bobbing
- Open eyes under water and retrieve submerged objects
- Front and back floats and glides
- Recover from a front or back float or glide to a vertical position
- Roll from front to back and back to front
- Tread water using arm and leg actions
- Combined arm and leg actions on front and back
- Finning arm action on back
- Staying safe around aquatic environments
- Recognizing the lifeguards
- Don’t just pack it, wear your jacket
- Recognizing an emergency
- How to call for help
- Too much sun is no fun
PS Level 2 Exit Skills Assessment
All PS2 Exit Skills can be performed with assistance
- Glide on front at least 2 body lengths, roll to back, float on back for 5 seconds then recover to a vertical position.
- Glide on back for at least 2 body lengths, roll to front, float for 5 seconds then recover to a vertical position.
- Swim using combined arm and leg actions on front for 3 body lengths, roll to back, float for 5 seconds, roll to front then continue swimming on front for 3 body lengths.
PS Level 3—Must have a PS L1 Certificate or demonstrate skills
Builds on the skills of PS2 and improves participants’ coordination of simultaneous arm and leg actions and alternating arm and leg actions.
- Enter water by jumping in
- Fully submerge and hold breath
- Bobbing
- Front, jellyfish and tuck floats
- Back float and glide
- Recover from a front or back float or glide to a vertical position
- Change direction of travel while swimming on front or back
- Tread water using arm and leg actions
- Combined arm and leg actions on front and back
- Finning arm action on back
- Staying safe around aquatic environments
- Don’t just pack it, wear your jacket
- Recognizing an emergency
- How to call for help
- Too much sun is no fun
- Look before you leap
- Think so you don’t sink
- Reach or throw, don’t go
PS Level 3 Exit Skills Assessment
All PS3 Exit Skills are done independently
- Step from side into chest deep water, move into a front float for 5 seconds, roll to back, float for 5 seconds and then return to a vertical position.
- Move into a back float for 5 seconds, roll to front, and then recover to a vertical position.
- Push off and swim using a combination of arm and leg actions on front for 5 body lengths, roll to back, float for 15 seconds, roll to front then continue swimming for 5 body lengths. (the child can be assisted when taking a breath).
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LEARN TO SWIM
Children 6+ years old
Level 1—Introduction to Water Skills
Helps participants feel comfortable in the water
- Enter and exit water using ladder, steps or side
- Blow bubbles through mouth and nose
- Bobbing
- Open eyes under water and retrieve submerged objects
- Front and back glides and back float
- Recover to vertical position from a front glide or back float or glide
- Roll from front to back and back to front
- Tread water using arm and hand actions
- Alternating and simultaneous leg actions on front and back
- Alternating and simultaneous arm actions on front and back
- Combined arm and leg actions on front and back
- Staying safe around aquatic environments
- Recognizing the lifeguards
- Don’t just pack it, wear your jacket
- Recognizing an emergency
- How to call for help
- Too much sun is no fun
Level 1 Exit Skills Assessment
- Enter Independently, using either the ladder, steps, or side, travel at least 5 yards, bob 3 times then safely exit the water (participants can walk, move along the gutter, or “swim”.)
- Glide on front at least 2 body lengths, roll to a back float for 3 seconds and recover to a vertical position. (This part of the assessment can be done with support.)
Level 2—Fundamental Aquatic Skills
Gives participants success with fundamentals skills
- Enter and exit water by stepping or jumping from the side
- Exit water using ladder, steps or side
- Fully submerge and hold breath
- Bobbing
- Open eyes under water and retrieve submerged objects
- Front, jellyfish and tuck floats
- Front and back glides and back float
- Recover from a front and back float or glide to vertical position
- Roll from front to back and back to front
- Change direction of travel when swimming on front or back
- Tread water using arm and leg actions
- Combined arm and leg actions on front and back
- Finning arm action on back
- Staying safe in aquatic environments
- Don’t just pack it, wear your jacket
- Recognizing an emergency
- How to call for help
- Too much sun is no fun
- Look before you leap
- Think so you don’t sink
- Reach or throw, don’t go
Level 2 Exit Skills Assessment
- Step from side into chest-deep water, move into a front float for 5 seconds, roll to back, float for 5 seconds then return to a vertical position.
- Move into a back float for 5 seconds, roll to front and recover to a vertical position.
- Push off and swim using combined arm and leg action on front for 5 body lengths, roll to back, float for 15 seconds, roll to front then continue swimming for 5 body lengths. (You can assist the participant when taking a breath.)
Level 3—Stroke Development
Builds on the skills in Level 2 through additional guided practice in deeper water.
- Enter water by jumping from the side
- Headfirst entries from the side in sitting and kneeling positions (water must be at least 9’ deep)
- Bobbing while moving toward safety
- Rotary breathing
- Survival float
- Back float
- Change from vertical to horizontal position on front and back
- Tread water
- Push off in a streamlined position then begin flutter and dolphin kicks on front
- Front crawl and elementary backstroke
- Scissor kick
- Reach or throw, don’t go
- Think twice before going near cold water or ice
- Look before you leap
Level 3 Exit Skills Assessment
- Jump into deep water from the side, swim front crawl for 15 yards, maintain position by treading or floating for 30 seconds and swim elementary backstroke for 15 yards.
Level 4—Stroke Improvement
Develops confidence in the skills learned and improves all other aquatic skills
- Headfirst entries from the side in compact and stride positions (water must be at least 9’ deep)
- Swim under water
- Feet first surface dive
- Survival swimming
- Front crawl and backstroke open turns
- Tread water using 2 different kicks
- Front and back crawl, elementary backstroke, breaststroke, sidestroke and butterfly
- Push off in a streamlined position then begin flutter and dolphin kicks on back
- Reach or throw, don’t go
- Recreation water illnesses
- Think so you don’t sink
- Look before you leap
Level 4 Exit Skills Assessment
- Perform a feet-first entry into deep water. Swim front crawl for 25 yards, change direction and position as necessary and swim elementary backstroke for 25 yards.
- Swim breaststroke for 15 yards, change direction and position as necessary and swim back crawl for 15 yards.
Level 5—Stroke Refinement
Provides further coordination and refinement of strokes
- Shallow-angle dive from the side then glide and begin a front stroke (water must be at least 9’ deep)
- Tuck and pike surface dives, submerge completely
- Front flip turn and backstroke flip turn while swimming
- Treading water
- Front and back crawl, elementary backstroke, breaststroke, sidestroke and butterfly
- Standard Scull
- How to call for help and the importance of knowing first aid and CPR
- Recreation water illnesses
- Reach or throw, don’t go
- Look before you leap
- Think so you don’t sink
- Think twice before going near cold water or ice
- Wave, tide or ride, follow the guide
Level 5 Exit Skills Assessment
- Perform feet first entry into deep water, swim front crawl for 50 yards, changing direction and position of travel as necessary and swim elementary backstroke for 50 yards.
- Swim breaststroke for 25 yards, change direction & position of travel as necessary & swim back crawl for 25 yards.
Level 6—Swimming and Skill Proficiency
Refines the strokes so participants swim them with ease, efficiency, power and smoothness over greater distance.
Level 6 is designed with “menu” options that focus on preparing participants for lifetime fitness & safety, as well as more advanced courses, such as the Water Safety Instructor course, or other aquatic activities, including competitive swimming/diving.
- Fitness Swimmer
- Swim front crawl and elementary backstroke 100 yards
- Swim back crawl, breaststroke, sidestroke, and butterfly 50 yards
- Front and back crawl open turns
- Front and back flip turns
- Breaststroke, butterfly and sidestroke turns
- Circle swimming
- Using a pace clock
- Swimming using pull buoys, fins and paddles
- Setting up an exercise program
- Various training techniques
- Calculating target heart rate
- Aquatic exercise
- Personal Water Safety
- Swim front crawl and elementary backstroke 100 yards
- Swim back crawl, breaststroke, sidestroke, and butterfly 50 yards
- Front and back crawl open turns
- Front and back flip turns
- Breaststroke, butterfly and sidestroke turns
- Help and Huddle positions
- Feet first, tuck and pike surface dives
- Back float
- Survival Float
- Survival swimming
- Treading water – kicking only
- Surface dive and retrieve and object from the bottom
- Think so you don’t sink
- Swim with a buddy in a supervised area
- Learn about boating before you go floating
Level 6 Exit Skills Assessment
- Swim 500 yards continuously using any 3 strokes of your choice, swimming at least 50 yards of each stroke (FS & PWS)
- Perform the Cooper 12 minute swim test and compare results with the pre-assessment results. (FS)
- Jump into deep water, perform a survival float for 5 minutes, roll onto back and perform a back float for 5 minutes. (PWS)
- Perform a feet-first surface dive, retrieve and object from the bottom of the pool at a depth of 7-10 feet, return to surface and return to starting point. (PSW).
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| Last Updated: 4/28/09 |
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