Learn-to-Swim

Aims of the classes

At the end of each stage, the swimmer needs to demonstrate the following abilities:

 

Red Hats

Beginner 1-5

Level 1

Buoyancy aids can be worn

  1. Blow bubbles confidently and continuously
  2. Splash water over face (not necessary to submerge)
  3. Using two floats (if needed) kick a width on front
  4. Using two floats (if needed) kick a width on back
  5. Star float for 3 seconds on the back or on the front (face in)
  6. Propel a floating object (ie blowing or pushing with nose) for a width
  7. Jump into the water from a standing position (assistance is permitted)

Level 2
  1. Blow bubbles for 3 seconds with face in the water
  2. Submerge confidently
  3. On front using float(s) kick continuously with long legs for one width
  4. On back using float(s) kick continuously with long legs for one width
  5. Paddle and kick for 3m on front (check 5m)
  6. Paddle and kick for 3m on front (check 5m)
  7. Enter shallow water safely (using a swivel movement) from a sitting position

(may achieve 5m at this stage, but not a requirement)

Level 3

Aim: 
5m & 10m
  1. Swim through a hoop, close to the surface
  2. Pick up an object from the pool floor using both hands and keeping eyes open
  3. Hold float in stretched arms, kick on front, blowing into water for 1 width (long blow and quick breath)
  4. Kick on back for 1 width, arms by sides (horizontal body position, head back in water, long legs)
  5. Push and glide on front (face in) (arms pointed and together) for 3 seconds and stand up
  6. Push and glide on back (arms by sides, flat body and ears in) for 3 seconds and stand up
  7. Paddle and kick for (5m) (10m) on front
  8. paddle and kick for (5m) (10m) on back

Level 4

Aim: 
10m &/or 15m
  1. Jump into shallow water (with a controlled landing onto the feet)
  2. Swim through a hoop (fully submerged)
  3. Hold a float top and bottom, show controlled breathing to the side while kicking a width
  4. Hold a float, kick (with long legs) for two widths continuously on front or back
  5. Star float on front (face in) for 5 seonds
  6. Star float on back for 5 seconds
  7. Mushroom float for 5 seconds
  8. Show basic breaststroke leg shape and action
  9. Swim (10m) (15m) on front using arms over and attempting breathing on side
  10. Swim (10m) (15m) on back using arms over, toes up high, eyes open and head back

Level 5

Aim: 
20m &/or 25m
  1. Pencil jump into water too deep to stand in, swim to the side and climb out
  2. Tread water for 10 seconds (if necessary using floats to develop leg action)
  3. Perform a 360 degree forward roll (can push off floor into forward roll)
  4. Perform a 360 degree log roll with hands by side (can push off from wall
  5. Kick continuously for 2 widths on front holding a float and breathing to side
  6. Kick continuously for 2 widths on back with a good body position
  7. Hold float, show an understanding of breaststroke kick (feet turned out, snap and stretch) for 5m
  8. Scull type action head first for one width (feet together and horizontal body position)
  9. Swim 25m front crawl confidently (without struggle) showing a continuous recognisable crawl action
  10. Swim 25m back crawl confidently (without struggle) showing a continuous recognisable crawl action

Yellow Hats

Improver 1

Level 6

Aim: 
50m & 75m
  1. Pencil jump into water too deep to stand in, surface and tread water for 20 seconds
  2. Push off from wall and swim 5m under water
  3. Hold 3 basic floats for 10 seconds each (Back)(Front)(Mushroom) in a continuous pattern
  4. Scull head first for one width
  5. Hand stand for 3 seconds
  6. Swim half a length back crawl and change to front crawl without loss of forward propulsion for finish the length
  7. Swim a minimum of 5m breaststroke, showing a basic understanding of the whole stroke
  8. Show simultaneous dolphin type leg kick on front, back or side for 1 width
  9. Swim 25m front crawl attempting good technique* (ie breathing to the side and good reach and pull)
  10. Swim 25m back crawl attempting good technique* (ie head still, high toes, long legs and continuous pull)

Green Hats

Improver 2

Level 7

Aim: 
100m &/or 200m
  1. Straddle step into deep water
  2. Kick efficiently on front crawl at a steady pace for 25m (holding a float)
  3. Perform a confident forward somersault using a push and glide if necessary
  4. Push off from the wall and glide hands-first to the pool floor, rotate, and, using feet, push off from floor to resurface
  5. Perform head first and feet first surface dives retrieving an object from at least 1.5m each time
  6. Scull 1 width head first and return sculling feet first
  7. Swim one width dolphin kick with undulation and face in water
  8. Swim 50m front crawl - continuously and with 'good technique'
  9. Swim 25m back crawl - continuously and with 'good technique'
  10. Swim 25m breast stroke - continuously and with 'good technique'

Blue Hats

Improver 3

Level 8

Aim:
200m &/or 400m
  1. Using a float, kick 50m in 1m 50 secs
  2. Sitting dive (check head position on entry) into streamlined 5m glide
  3. Kneeling dive (check head position on entry) into streamlined 5m glide
  4. Perform a back crawl start (a streamlined position shoule be shown into transition - ie 1 arm pull underwater)
  5. Swim front crawl, perform a forward somersault into the wall, push off on the back/then side/then front and kick away at full stretch
  6. Swim one width butterfly attempting arms over (breathing not necessary)
  7. Do a 5 minute timed swim with good technique (1 length each Front crawl, backstroke, breaststroke) - repeated
  8. Swim 2 lengths/50m front crawl - continuously and with good technique
  9. Swim 2 lengths/50m back crawl - continuously and with good technique
  10. Swim 2 lengths/50m breaststroke - continuously and with good technique

White Hats

Advanced

Level 9

Aim: 
600m &/or 800m
  1. Safe hands-first entry into deep water followed by a glide for 5m
  2. Show good streamlining off the wall just under the surface
  3. Understand lane discipline; safe orientation around the lanes
  4. Swim 50m front crawl breating every 3 & 4, good head position & body roll to breathe
  5. Swim 50m front crawl check stroke quality, show a turn and finish
  6. Swim 50m back crawl, check stroke quality (bent arm pull) (head still) and appropriate finish
  7. Kick 25m butterfly with arms extended, breathing every second kick
  8. Kick 50 breaststroke with arms extended and long glide - whip type action / knees hip width apart/heels high/dorsiflex feet
  9. Swim 50m breaststroke showing good timing of whole stroke and show a two handed finish
  10. Kick 25m butterfly with arms extended, breathing every second kick
  11. Swim 25m butterfly showing good overall technique and a good finish
  12. Swim 600/800m, 2 lengths of each stroke (front, back, breast) repeated

Level 10

Aim:
  1. Swim 300m front crawl - timed swim including turns (within 6 mins)
  2. Swim 4 length IM  - Fly/Back/Breast/Front - (attempt appropriate star/turns/finish)
  3. Swim 50m front crawl - Time trial
  4. Swim 50m backstroke - Time trial
  5. Swim 50m breaststroke - Time trial
  6. Swim 50m butterfly - Time trial