Level Descriptions

Swim Lessons

Parent & Child Aquatics: infants/toddlers from 6 months to approximately 3 years of age

Preschool Aquatics: children approximately 4 to 5 years of age

Learn-to-Swim: children from approximately 6 years of age through older youth

Swim Lessons Levels

• Parent and Child Aquatics Level 1
• Parent and Child Aquatics Level 2
• Preschool Aquatics Level 1
• Preschool Aquatics Level 2
• Preschool Aquatics Level 3
• Learn-to-Swim Level 1—Introduction To Water Skills
• Learn-to-Swim Level 2—Fundamental Aquatic Skills
• Learn-to-Swim Level 3—Stroke Development
• Learn-to-Swim Level 4—Stroke Improvement
• Learn-to-Swim Level 5—Stroke Refinement   
• Learn-to-Swim Level 6—Fitness Swimmer

All Levels will focus on

• Water Adjustment, Entry and Exit
• Breath Control and Submerging
• Buoyancy on Front and Back
• Changing Direction and Position and Treading
• Swim on Front
• Swim on Back
• Water Safety

Parent and Child Aquatics Level 1

Level 1 introduces basic skills to parents and children. Parents learn how to safely work with their child in the water, including how to appropriately support and hold their child in the water, and how to prepare and encourage their child to participate fully and try the skills. Children receive an introduction to basic skills that lay a foundation for learning to swim. In addition, parents are introduced to several water safety topics.

The goals of Level 1 are to provide experiences and activities for children so they:

• Learn to ask for permission before entering the water.
• Learn how to enter and exit the water safely.
• Feel comfortable in the water.
• Practice blowing bubbles.
• Explore submerging to the mouth, nose, eyes and completely.
• Explore buoyancy on the front and back position.
• Change body position in the water.
• Learn how to play safely in the water.
• Experience wearing a U.S. Coast Guard–approved life jacket

PARENT AND CHILD AQUATICS LEVEL 2

Parent and Child Aquatics Level 2 builds on the skills introduced in Level 1. Participants improve on these skills and learn more advanced skills in Level 2. As with Level 1, water safety topics are also included in this level

Level 2 skills build on the skills learned in Level 1. The goals of Level 2 are to provide experiences and activities for children so they:

• Understand the need for adult supervision around water.
• Learn more ways to enter and exit the water safely.
• Explore submerging in a rhythmic pattern.
• Glide on the front and back with assistance.
• Perform a rudimentary stroke using combined arm and leg actions on the front and back with assistance.
• Change body position in the water.
• Experience wearing a U.S. Coast Guard–approved life jacket in the water.

PRESCHOOL AQUATICS LEVEL 1

Level 1 introduces basic aquatic skills, which children continue to build on as they progress through Levels 2 and 3 of Preschool Aquatics and then Learn-to-Swim. In addition, children start developing positive attitudes and safe practices around the water in Preschool Aquatics Level 1.

Exit Skills Assessment

When children complete Preschool Aquatics Level 1, they should be comfortable getting in and moving through the water and be willing to put their face in the water. Children should also be able to use arm and leg movements while supported.

All Preschool Aquatics Level 1 exit skills can be performed with support:

1. Enter independently, using either the ramp, steps or side, travel at least 5 yards, submerge to mouth and blow bubbles for at least 3 seconds, then safely exit the water. (Children can walk, move along the gutter or “swim.”)
2. While in shallow water, glide on front for at least 2 body lengths, then roll to back and float on back for 3 seconds, then recover to a vertical position.

Preschool Aquatics Level 2

The objectives of Level 2 are to further develop basic aquatic skills. Children begin to perform these skills at a slightly more advanced level (for example, for longer lengths of time, for longer distances or in deeper water). Many skills in Level 1 are performed with assistance. Level 2 marks the beginning of independent aquatic locomotion skills. Children continue to explore using simultaneous and alternating arm and leg actions on the front and back to gain greater proficiency in preparation for performing strokes. Level 2 also builds on the water safety topics introduced in Level 1.

Exit Skills Assessment All Preschool Aquatics Level 2 exit skills can be performed with assistance.  When children complete Preschool Aquatics Level 2, they should be gaining confidence in the water and should be willing to fully submerge. Children should also be able to use arm and leg movements with assistance as needed.

1. Glide on front for at least 2 body lengths, roll to back, float on back for 15 seconds, then recover to a vertical position.
2. Glide on back for at least 2 body lengths, roll to front, then recover to a vertical position.
3. 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 at least 3 body lengths.

Preschool Aquatics Level 3

The objective of Level 3 is to increase children’s proficiency in performing previously learned skills. This is accomplished by providing additional guided practice and increasing repetitions, distances, times or levels of refinement. The skills in Level 3 are performed independently. Children improve their coordination and control of combined simultaneous arm and leg actions and alternating arm and leg actions. New water safety topics are introduced, and previously acquired water safety knowledge and skills are reinforced.

When children complete Preschool Aquatics Level 3, they should be increasingly confident in the water. Children are starting to swim independently using arm and leg movements but may still need assistance when taking a breath.

Exit Skills Assessment All Preschool Aquatics Level 3 exit skills are done independently (defined as no adult contact, intervention or use of flotation devices).

1. Step from the side into chest-deep water, push off the bottom, move into a treading or floating position for 15 seconds, swim on front and/or back for 5 body lengths, then exit the water.
2. Move into a back float for 15 seconds, roll to front, then recover to a vertical position.
3.  Push off and swim using combined 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.

Learn-to-Swim Level 1—Introduction to Water Skills

Level 1 introduces basic aquatic skills, which participants continue to build on as they progress through Learn-to-Swim. In addition, participants start developing positive attitudes, effective swimming habits and safe practices in and around the water. Learn-to-Swim Level 1 skills overlap with the Preschool Aquatics Level 1 and 2 skills.

Exit Skills Assessment

1. Enter independently, using either the ramp, 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.”)
2. 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 performed with assistance.)

Learn-to-Swim Level 2—Fundamental Aquatic Skills

The objective of Learn-to-Swim Level 2 is to give participants success with fundamental skills. Many of the skills taught in this level are the same skills taught in Preschool Aquatics Level 3. This level marks the beginning of true locomotion skills. Participants learn to glide and float without support and recover to a vertical position. Participants further develop simultaneous and alternating arm and leg actions on the front and back, laying the foundation for future strokes. New water safety topics are introduced, and previously acquired water safety knowledge and skills are reinforced.

Exit Skills Assessment

When participants complete Learn-to-Swim Level 2, they should be increasingly confident in the water. Participants are starting to swim independently using arm and leg movements, but may still need assistance when taking a breath.

All Learn-to-Swim Level 2 exit skills are performed independently:

1. 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 for 5 body lengths, then exit the water.
2. Move into a back float for 15 seconds, roll to front, then recover to a vertical position.
3. Push off and swim using combined arm and leg actions on front for 5 body lengths, roll to back, float for 15 seconds, roll to front, then continue swimming for at least 5 body lengths.
4.  

Learn-to-Swim Level 3—Stroke Development

The objectives of Learn-to-Swim Level 3 are to expand proficiency of previously learned skills by providing additional guided practice. Participants learn and practice survival floating and learn to swim front crawl and elementary backstroke at rudimentary proficiency levels. You introduce the scissors and dolphin kicks and extend the time duration for treading water. Participants also learn rules for headfirst entries and begin to learn to enter the water headfirst from a seated position at poolside (if the water is 9 feet deep or deeper). As in all levels, new and previously addressed water safety topics are included. Participants who successfully complete Level 3 have achieved basic water competency in a pool environment.

Exit Skills Assessment

1. 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.
2. 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.

Learn-to-Swim Level 4—Stroke Improvement

In Learn-to-Swim Level 4, participants improve their aquatic skills and increase their endurance by swimming the strokes learned in Level 3 (i.e., front crawl, elementary backstroke) for greater distances and with more advanced proficiency. Participants add arm actions to the previously learned scissors kick and breaststroke kick to perform the rudimentary sidestroke and to learn the breaststroke. Participants also begin to learn the back crawl and butterfly, as well as the basics of performing a simple open turn at a wall.

Exit Skills Assessment

1. 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.
2. Swim breaststroke for 15 yards, change direction and position as necessary and swim back crawl for 15 yards.
3. Submerge and swim a distance of 3 to 5 body lengths underwater without hyperventilating, return to the surface, then exit the water.

Learn-to-Swim Level 5—Stroke Refinement  

In Level 5, participants refine their performance of all six strokes (i.e., front crawl, back crawl, butterfly, breaststroke, elementary backstroke and sidestroke) and increase the distances that they swim. Participants also learn to perform flip turns on the front and back.

Exit Skills Assessment

1. Perform a shallow-angle dive into water at least 9 feet deep, swim front crawl for 50 yards, then swim elementary backstroke 50 yards using appropriate and efficient turning styles throughout.
2. Swim breaststroke for 25 yards, change direction of travel as necessary, then swim back crawl for 25 yards using appropriate and efficient turning styles throughout.

Learn-to-Swim Level 6—Fitness Swimmer

Level 6 focuses on refining strokes and turns and building endurance.

Exit Skills Assessment When participants complete Learn-to-Swim Level 6—Fitness Swimmer, they have an understanding of how to incorporate fitness swimming, aquatic exercise or both into a fitness program, and are working to improve their level of fitness. In addition, they demonstrate effectiveness and efficiency in all strokes. They are able to swim continuously while using the appropriate turns for the stroke. They also have a solid understanding about how to be safe in, on and around the water.

1. Swim 500 yards continuously using any 3 strokes, swimming at least 50 yards of each stroke.
2. Perform the Cooper 12-minute swim test, and compare results with the pre-assessment results. (Swim for 12 minutes to cover the greatest distance possible, using whatever stroke is preferred. Rest as necessary, but go as far as possible.)