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| Level Descriptions |
Prior to registering for any swim class, please review the level descriptions below to ensure proper placement.
For the safety of the swimmers and our instructors, swimmers will NOT be permitted to participate in a level that is inappropriate for the skill level. Staff will move swimmers to an appropriate class, IF THERE IS SPACE! Becaues our classes generally fill up, it is likely that a move would include a different day, time, or session.
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Parent-Child Aquatics
6 months - 3 years old
Introduces basic skills to parents & children, including safety topics
A responsible adult is required to be in the water for each child enrolled in the class.
- 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
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Pre-School Aquatics
Children 3-4 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 ~ 5 times
- 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 ~ 15 seconds
- 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 15 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 15 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 ~ 10 seconds
- Bobbing ~ 10 times
- Rotary breathing ~ 5 times
- Front, jellyfish and tuck floats ~ 10 seconds
- 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 ~ 30 seconds
- 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
- Danger of drains
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 or tread water for 15 seconds and then return to a vertical position, then exit the water.
- Move into a back float for 15 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 5+ 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 3 seconds
- Bobbing ~ 5 times
- Back float ~ 5 seconds
- Open eyes under water and retrieve submerged objects in shallow water 2 times
- Front and back glides and back float 2 body lengths each side
- 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 ~ 2 body lengths
- Alternating and simultaneous arm actions on front and back ~ 2 body lengths
- Combined arm and leg actions on front and back ~ 2 body lengths
- 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 5 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 5 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 into shoulder deep water
- Exit water using ladder, steps or side from chest deep water
- Fully submerge and hold breath ~ 10 seconds
- Bobbing ~ 10 times
- Open eyes under water and retrieve submerged object in chest deep water ~ 3 times
- Rotary breathing ~ 5 times
- Front, jellyfish and tuck floats ~ 10 seconds each
- Back float ~ 15 seconds
- Front and back glides and back float ~ 2 body lengths
- 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 ~ 15 seconds in shoulder deep water
- Combined arm and leg actions on front and back ~ 5 body lengths each side
- Finning arm action on back ~ 5 body lengths
- 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
- Danger of drains
Level 2 Exit Skills Assessment
- Step from side into chest-deep water,push off the bottom, move into a treading or floating position for at least 15 seconds, swim on front and/or back 5 body lengths, then exit the water.
- Move into a back float for 15 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, fully submerge, then recover to the surface and return to the side
Headfirst entries from the side in sitting and kneeling positions (water must be at least 9’ deep)- Bobbing while moving toward safety ~ 15 times
- Rotary breathing ~ 15 times
- Survival float ~ 30 seconds
- Back float ~ 1 minute
- Change from vertical to horizontal position on front and back
- While in a vertical position, rotate one full turn
- Tread water ~ 1 minute
- Push off in a streamlined position then begin flutter and dolphin kicks on front 3-5 body lengths
- Front crawl and elementary backstroke ~ 15 yards each
- Breaststroke kick 15 yards
- Scissor kick ~ 15 yards
- Reach or throw, don’t go
- Think twice before going near cold water or ice
- Look before you leap
- Developing breath control safely
- Making good decisions - choosing an exit point
Level 3 Exit Skills Assessment
- Jump into deep water from the side, recover to the surface, maintain position by treading or floating for 1 minute, rotate one full turn, then turn as necessary to orient to the exit point, level off, swim front crawl and/or elementary backstroke for 25 yards, then exit the water.
- Push off in a streamlined position, then swim front crawl for 15 yards, change position and direction as necessary, swim elementary backstroke for 15 yards, then exit the water.
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 3-5 body lengths
- Feet first surface dive
- Survival swimming ~ 1 minute
- Front crawl and backstroke open turns
- Tread water using 2 different kicks ~ 2 minutes
- Front crawl and elementary backstroke ~ 25 yards
- Back crawl, breaststroke, sidestroke and butterfly ~15 yards
- Push off in a streamlined position then begin flutter and dolphin kicks on back 3-5 body lengths
- Reach or throw, don’t go ~ Demonstrate a reaching and a throwing assist
- 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.
- Submerge and swim a distance of 3-5 body lengths underwater without hyperventilating, return to the surface, then exit the water
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 ~ using LEGS ONLY ~ 2 minutes
- Front crawl and elementary backstroke 50 yards
- Back crawl, breaststroke, sidestroke and butterfly 25 yards
- Standard (back) scull 30 seconds
- 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, recover to the surface, swim front crawl for 50 yards, then swim elementary backstroke for 50 yards using appropriate and efficient turning styles throughout.
- Swim breaststroke for 25 yards, change direction & position of travel as necessary & swim back crawl for 25 yards using appropriate and efficient turning styles throughout.
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: 3/9/16 |
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