Swim Lesson Level Descriptions
Parent-Child Swim Lessons Level 1
Age: 6 months to 3 years
These eight 30-minute lessons will familiarize children and their caregivers with the water, teach swimming readiness skills, and teach techniques caregivers can use to orient their children to the water.
One parent or caregiver, age 13 or older, must accompany each child in the water and participate in class.
No skill prerequisites.
Parent-Child Swim Lessons Level 2
Age: 6 months to 3 years
These eight 30-minute lessons will improve skills learned in Parent & Child Aquatics Level 1, teach more advanced skills, and continue to build on water safety knowledge for caregivers and children.
One parent or caregiver, age 13 or older, must accompany each child in the water and participate in class.
Prerequisites: Successful completion of Parent & Child Level 1 OR child must be comfortable entering the water, exploring shallow water and submerging nose and mouth independently.
Preschool Aquatics 1 (PSA 1)
Age: 3 to 5 years
Familiarize children 3 to 5 years old with the aquatic environment and help them acquire basic aquatic skills. Help participants begin to develop positive attitudes and safe practices in and around the water.
No skill prerequisites. Child must be at least 3 years old.
Preschool Aquatics 2 (PSA 2)
Age: 3 to 5 years
Build on and improve skills learned in PSA 1. Focus will be on front crawl, front and back glides, and recoveries.
Prerequisites:
Successful completion of PSA 1 OR child must be able to enter the water independently, bob 5 times to chin level, and safely exit the water. Child should also be able to glide on front at least 2 body lengths, then float for 3 seconds on back and recover to vertical with assistance.
Preschool Aquatics 3 (PSA 3)
Age: 3 to 5 years
Increase proficiency and build on the basic aquatics skills learned in PSA 1 & 2. Reinforce water safety concepts and skills introduced in earlier levels and introduce additional water safety topics.
Prerequisites:
Successful completion of PSA 2 OR child must be able to glide on front at least 2 body lengths, roll to back and float for 5 seconds, then recover to vertical with assistance. Child must also be able to glide on back at least 2 body lengths, roll to front and float for 5 seconds, then recover to vertical with assistance. Child must be able to swim using combined arm and leg actions on front for 3 body lengths, roll to back and float for 5 seconds, roll to front and swim for 3 body lengths with assistance.
Learn to Swim 1 (LTS 1)
Age: 6 Years & Older
Familiarize children 6 years of age and older with the aquatics environment. Students will learn basic aquatics skills while developing positive attitudes and learning safe practices in and around water.
No skill prerequisites. Child must be at least 6 years old.
Learn to Swim 2 (LTS 2)
Age: 6 Years & Older
Build on the basic aquatics and water safety skills and concepts learned in LTS 1. Students will learn front crawl, front and back glides, recoveries, and they will be introduced to deep water.
Prerequisites: Successful completion of LTS 1 OR student must be able to enter the water independently, bob 5 times, and safely exit the water. Students should also be able to glide on front at least 2 body lengths, roll to back, then float for 3 seconds and recover to vertical with assistance.
Learn to Swim 3 (LTS 3)
Age: 6 Years & Older
Build on the skills learned in LTS 1 and 2 to help participants achieve basic competency in the water. Students will learn rhythmic breathing, treading water, and basic dives. The breaststroke and butterfly will be introduced at this level.
Prerequisites: Successful completion of LTS 2 OR student must be able to glide on front at least 2 body lengths, roll to back and float for 5 seconds, then recover to vertical without assistance. Students must also be able to glide on back at least 2 body lengths, roll to front and float for 5 seconds, then recover to vertical without assistance. Students must be able to swim using front crawl for 3 body lengths, roll to back and float for 5 seconds, then roll to front and swim using front crawl for 3 body lengths.
Learn to Swim 4 (LTS 4)
Age: 6 Years & Older
Building on the skills learned in LTS 1, 2, and 3, participants will work on rotary breathing, freestyle backstroke, elementary backstroke, scissor kick, and sidestroke. Kicks and turns will also be introduced.
Prerequisites: Successful completion of LTS 3 OR swimmers must be able to front and back crawl 25 yards.
Learn to Swim 5 (LTS 5)
Age: 6 Years & Older
Refine all six strokes including swimming for longer distances, introduce new water safety skills while building on ones previously learned and perform flip turns for Front and Back crawl.
Prerequisites: Successful completion of LTS 4 or be able to perform the following:
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 backcrawl for 15 yards. 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 6 (LTS 6)
Age: 6 Years & Older
Focus on refining strokes, building endurance and stroke proficiency. Throughout the session instructors will teach swimmers how to utilize pace clocks and water fitness equipment and to swim with ease and efficiency, gaining the ability to swim smoothly over greater distances. Goggles are recommended.
Prerequisites: Successful completion of LTS 5 or be able to perform the following:
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. Swim breaststroke for 25 yards, change direction of travel as necessary and then swim back crawl for 25 yards using appropriate and efficient turning styles throughout.