Swim Lesson Levels
Not sure which swim lesson stage to choose? Click the link below!Swim Lesson Stage Finder
Prerequisites: be at least 6 months old by the first day of class.
Skills Learned at this Stage: In a fun learning environment, participants explore the water, swimming readiness skills, and basic aquatic safety with parental support. Parents are educated on water safety techniques to enjoy the water with their child. Children must wear a swim diaper (available for purchase at our Pro-Shop).
Getting wet with toys and kicking
Submerging mouth, nose, and eyes (on their time)
How to call for help and the importance of knowing first aid and CPR
Enter the water by lifting in and walking in
Front and back floats and glides
Out-of-water and in-water exploration
Roll from front to back and back to front
Basic water safety rules
Exit the water by lifting out and walking out
Passing from instructor to parent
General water safety around the home
Blowing bubbles on the surface
Leg actions on the front and back
Recreational water illnesses
Blowing bubbles with the mouth and nose submerged
The importance of wearing a life jacket
Sun safety
Underwater exploration
Prerequisites: be at least 2 years old by the first day of class.
Skills Learned at this Stage: In a fun learning environment, the participant, with support exploring the water, safety around water, blowing bubbles, exploring submerging, front and back floats, and arm and leg actions. Continued parent education on water safety techniques to enjoy the water with their child. Children must wear a swim diaper (available for purchase at our Pro-Shop).
Enter the water in a seated position, and by rolling over from a seated position and sliding in
Bobbing
Combined arm and leg actions on the front with breathing
Front and back floats and glides
Enter water by stepping in, jumping in, and using a ladder or stairs
Front glide to the wall
Combined arm and leg actions on back
Roll from front to back and back to front
Wearing a life jacket in the water
Exploring the pool (in shallow water)
Passing between adults
Reaching assists
Using the side of the pool and a ladder to exit
Drafting with breathing
Basic water safety rules review
Opening eyes and retrieving objects below the surface
Alternating or simultaneous leg actions on front and back
Safety at the beach and at the waterpark
Opening eyes and retrieving submerged objects
Alternating or simultaneous arm actions on front and back
Water toys and their limitations
For children 3- 5 years old. Gives young children a positive, developmentally appropriate aquatic learning experience that emphasizes water safety, survival, and foundational swimming concepts. Skills are age-appropriate, helping participants achieve success on a regular basis while in a class environment with their peers.
Prerequisites: Child must be able to stand in the shallow end of the pool (depth 2 feet). Able to self-separate from parents (Parent & Child Level 2 is similar to Preschool Level 1 and recommended for preschool age children who cannot self-separate).
In Preschool Level 1, swimmers work on entering and exiting the water safely and with permission, breath control, submerging, supported front and back floats, supported arm and leg actions on front and back. Instructors work with swimmers to develop positive attitudes and safe practices in and around water. Children must wear a swim diaper if not toilet trained. Skills list:
Enter and exit water using ladder, steps, or side independently with permission
Back glide
Staying safe around aquatic environments
Blowing bubbles through mouth and nose
Roll from front to back and back to front
Recognizing the lifeguards
Submerging mouth, nose, and eyes
Treading with arm and hand actions
Don’t just pack it, wear your jacket
Open eyes underwater and retrieve submerged objects
Alternating and simultaneous leg actions on front and back
Recognizing an emergency
Front glide and recover to a vertical position
Alternating and simultaneous arm actions on front and back
How to call for help
Back float and recover to a vertical position
Combined arm and leg actions on front and back
Too much sun is no fun
Students must complete an exit assessment to move to the next level.
Prerequisites: Complete Preschool Level 1
In Preschool Level 2, swimmers are already comfortable in the water, so they work on building on and improving water safety skills, breath control for 5 seconds, submerging, front and back floats with minimal assistance for 15 seconds, arm and leg actions on front and back with minimal assistance for 2 body lengths.
Skills list:
Enter the water by stepping in
Roll from front to back and back to front
Don’t just pack it, wear your jacket
Exit water using a ladder, steps, or side
Tread water using arm and leg actions
Recognizing an emergency
Bobbing
Combined arm and leg actions on front and back
How to call for help
Open eyes underwater and retrieve submerged objects
Finning arm action on back
Too much sun is no fun
Front and back floats and glides
Staying safe around aquatic environments
Recover from a front and back float or glide to a vertical position
Recognizing the lifeguards
Students must complete an exit assessment to move to the next level.
Prerequisites: Complete Preschool Level 2
In Preschool Level 3, swimmers work on comfortably in chest deep water and swimming on their front and back independently for 3 body lengths. They build endurance and independence in gliding on their front and back, front and back crawl, elementary backstroke, and treading water. Water safety skills are reinforced. Skills list:
Enter water by jumping in
Change the direction of travel while swimming on front or back
Recognizing an emergency
Fully submerging and holding breath
Tread water using arm and leg actions
How to call for help
Bobbing
Combined arm and leg actions on front and back
Too much sun is no fun
Front, jellyfish, and tuck floats
Finning arm action on back
Look before you leap
Back float and glide
Staying safe around aquatic environments
Think so you don’t sink
Recover from a front and back float or glide to a vertical position
Don’t just pack it, wear your jacket
Reach or throw, don’t go
Students must complete an exit assessment to move to the next level.
Based on a logical, six-level progression that helps swimmers about 6 – 13 years of age develop their water safety, survival and swimming skills. It is designed to give participants a positive learning experience.
Prerequisites: None
In Learn to Swim Level 1, children work on comfortability in water, water safety, and basic swimming skills, such as: submerging, supported front and back floats, rolling front to back and back to front, gliding, kicking, front crawl arms, and jumping in.
Swimmers learn the following in Learn to Swim Level 1:
1. Enter and exit water
2. Blowing bubbles
3. Bobbing
4. Open eyes under water and retrieve submerged objects
5. Front glide and float, and recover to a vertical position
6. Back glide and float, and recover to a vertical position
7. Roll from front to back and back to front
8. Tread water, using arm and hand actions
9. Alternating and simultaneous leg and arm actions on the front
10. Alternating and simultaneous leg and arm actions on the back
11. Combined arm and leg actions on the front
12. Combined arm and leg actions on the back
13. Learn appropriate safety skills
LEVEL 1 EXIT REQUIREMENTS
1. Enter unassisted, travel 5 yards, bob 3 times, then safely exit the water
2. Glide on front at least 2 body lengths, roll to a back float for 3 seconds, and recover to a vertical position (can be performed with support)
Prerequisites: Complete Learn to Swim Level 1 or moving from Preschool Level 1 or 2.
In Learn to Swim Level 2, swimmers work on building independence, good body control and position, forward movement, and water safety. Swimmers are introduced to rotary breathing, prolonged front floats, treading water, and elementary backstroke. Skills learned in Learn to Swim Level 2:
1. Stepping or jumping from side to chest-deep water
2. Fully submerge and hold breath
3. Bobbing
4. Open eyes under water and retrieve submerged objects
5. Front, jellyfish, and tuck floats
6. Front glide and float, and recover to a vertical position
7. Back glide and float, and recover to a vertical position
8. Roll from front to back and back to front
9. Tread water, using arm and leg actions
10. Change direction of travel while swimming on front and back
11. Combined arm and leg actions on the front
12. Combined arm and leg actions on the back
13. Finning arm action onthe back
14. Learn appropriate safety skills
LEVEL 2 EXIT REQUIREMENT:
1. 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
2. Move into a back float for 5 seconds, roll to the 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 for 5 body lengths (can be assisted when getting a breath)
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 for 5 body lengths (can be assisted when getting a breath).
Prerequisites: Complete Level 2 skills and exit requirements
Swimmers work on the following skills in Learn to Swim Level 3:
1. Jumping into deep water from the side
2. Learning important safety information about diving
3. Bobbing while moving to safety
4. Rotary breathing
5. Survival Float
6. Back Float
7. Tread water for 30 seconds
8. Swimming the front crawl for 15 yards
9. Swimming elementary backstroke for 15 yards
10. Flutter, scissors, and dolphin kicks
11. Push off in a streamlined position on their front, then begin kicking
12. Learn appropriate safety skills
LEVEL 3 EXIT REQUIREMENTS
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.
Prerequisites: Complete Level 3 skills and exit requirements
Swimmers work on the following skills in Learn to Swim Level 4:
1. Compact and stride jumps
2. Feetfirst surface dive
3. Swim underwater
4. Tread water, using 2 different kicks
5. Survival swimming
6. Front crawl for 25 yards
7. Elementary backstroke for 25 yards
8. Breaststroke for 15 yards
9. Back crawl for 15 yards
10. Butterfly for 15 yards
11. Sidestroke for 15 yards
12. Open turns on the front and back
13. Flutter and dolphin kicks on back
14. Push off in a streamlined position on their back, then begin kicking
15. Learn appropriate safety skills
LEVEL 4 EXIT REQUIREMENTS
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.
Prerequisites: Complete Level 4 Skills and Requirements
Learned at this Stage: Swimmers must be able to swim front and back crawl 25 yards to enroll. Builds endurance and refines breaststroke, sidestroke, front crawl, back crawl, butterfly, elementary backstroke, and treading water. Introduces head-first surface dive, front crawl, and back crawl flip turns, and the importance of CPR/First Aid.
Shallow-angle dive from the side
Front and back crawl, elementary backstroke, breaststroke, sidestroke, and butterfly
Reach or throw, don’t go
Shallow-angle dive from the side then glide and begin a front stroke
Look before you leap
Standard scull
Think so you don’t sink
Tuck and pike surface dives
How to call for help and the importance of knowing first aid and CPR
Think twice before going near cold water or ice
Front flip turn and backstroke flip turn while swimming
Wave, tide or ride, follow the guide
Tread water
Recreational water illnesses
Prerequisites: Complete Level 5 Skills Learned at this Stage: Swimmers must be able to swim 50 yards front crawl and elementary backstroke to enroll. Builds endurance and refines front crawl, back crawl, elementary backstroke, butterfly, and sidestroke. Introduces butterfly and breaststroke turns, feet-first surface dive, retrieval of object from deep water, and personal water safety. Encourage Junior Lifeguard and Swim Instructor Aide as future courses.
Refines the strokes so participants swim them with ease, efficiency, power and smoothness over greater distances.
Level 6 is designed with “menu” options that focus on preparing participants for lifetime fitness and safety, as well as more advanced courses, such as the Water Safety Instructor course, or other aquatic activities, including competitive swimming or diving. Options include:
Personal Water Safety.
Fitness Swimmer.
Fundamentals of Diving.
Private Swim Lessons
Students work on basic swimming skills appropriate for their ability and in accordance with their individual goals. Water safety is stressed to all participants. Lessons are arranged to fit your schedule, pool availability, and instructor. Please note that we have a limited amount of instructors available so it may take time to get these lessons set up.