Information about course levels

Level 1: Introduction to Water Skills

Prerequisite: Students must be at least 4 years old.

Class size average is six students taught by one instructor and one swim aide. Students will begin developing positive attitudes, good swimming habits and safe practices in and around the water. Each lesson is ½ hour.

Download a fact sheet about Level 1 (PDF)

Level 2: Fundamental Aquatic Skills

Prerequisite: Students must have passed Level 1

Class size average is six students taught by one instructor and one swim aide. This level will give participants a chance to increase their fundamental skills, including learning how to float without support and to recover to a vertical position. Each lesson is ½ hour.

Offered in ALL SECTIONS

Download a fact sheet about Level 2 (PDF)

Level 3: Stroke Development

Prerequisite: Students must have passed Level 2

Class size average is eight students taught by one instructor and one swim aide. Students will build on the skills learned in Level 2 through additional guided practice in deeper water. Skills taught include the survival float, back float, treading water, rotary breathing, front crawl, elementary backstroke, flutter, scissor, dolphin and breaststroke kicks in front, and swim unsupported for 15 yards. Each lesson is 45 minutes.

Download a fact sheet about Level 3 (PDF)

Level 4: Stroke Improvement

Prerequisite: Students must have passed Level 3

Class size average is eight students taught by one instructor. Here, students develop confidence in the strokes learned in Level 3 and improve other aquatic skills including swimming under water, feetfirst surface dive, front crawl and backstroke open turns, treading water using two different kicks, front and back crawl, breaststroke, elementary backstroke, butterfly, and sidestroke. Each lesson is 45 minutes.

Download a fact sheet about Level 4 (PDF)

Level 5: Stroke Refinement

Prerequisite: Students must have passed Level 4

Class size average is eight students taught by one instructor. Students will learn further coordination and refinement of strokes, how to tuck, pike surface dives, submerging completely, front flip turn and backstroke flip turn while swimming, and continue to refine their breaststroke, butterfly, sidestroke, and the front and back crawl. Students will also work on building endurance by swimming longer distances. Each lesson is 45 minutes.

Download a fact sheet about Level 5 (PDF)