Swimming Lessons Level Information

Parent/Child Class

Ages 3&4

Designed for the beginner swimmer that is not yet ready to take on swimming lessons independently.

Level 1 Prep – (Individuals in Level 1 Prep must be at minimum 3 feet and 4 inches tall)

Ages 3&4 Low child to instructor ratios. Limited availability.

Designed for the beginner independent swimmer. Provides preparation for level 1 swim lessons. Provides very basic water skills combined with structured play. Our goal is to acclimate your child to the water, establish their safety zone, and form an understanding for the rules.

Level 1

Ages 5&6

For the beginner swimmer who is comfortable in the water. In Level 1—Introduction to Water Skills, your child is introduced to basic skills as the foundation for future skills and the development of water competency (the basic minimum skills needed for water safety).

Certain milestones are necessary for successful completion of Level 1, including:

Entering the water independently using the ramp, steps or side.
Traveling at least 5 yards, bobbing 5 times and then safely exiting the water.
Opening eyes underwater and retrieving submerged object.
Gliding on front with assistance at least 2 body lengths.
Rolling to a back float for 5 seconds with assistance.
Recovering to a vertical position with assistance.
Combined arm and leg actions on front and back with assistance.
Alternating and simultaneous arm and leg actions on front and back with assistance.

It is common for children to participate in several sessions of Level 1 before they successfully demonstrate each skill. That is okay! It is not important how quickly they move through a level, but that they acquire each skill.

Students spend 5-10 minutes of class in swim discovery, paring skills they learned that day with games to help reinforce that swimming is fun. (Think front crawl arms sharks and minnows.

Level 2

Ages 6-14

Level 2—Fundamental Aquatic Skills builds on skills learned in Level 1. Your child begins to perform skills at a slightly more advanced level and begins gaining rudimentary propulsive skills on both the front and the back. This level marks the beginning of independent aquatic locomotion skills.

Our instructors follow a plan to introduce new swimming and water safety skills and build on previously learned skills, including the development of water competency (the basic minimum skills needed for water safety). Each class is loaded with fun, engaging and challenging activities that motivate children to want to perform and learn to swim.

Some of the milestones that are necessary for successful completion of Level 2 include:

Stepping from the side into chest-deep water.
Fully submerging and holding breath.
Pushing off the bottom, moving into a treading or floating position for at least 15 seconds, swimming on front and/or back for 5 body lengths and then exiting the water.
Moving into a back float for 15 seconds, rolling to front and then recovering to a vertical position.
Pushing off and swimming using combined arm and leg actions on front for 5 body lengths, rolling to back, floating for 15 seconds, rolling to the front and then continue swimming for 5 body lengths.

Level 3

Ages 6-14

In Learn-to-Swim Level 3, our instructors follow a plan to introduce new swimming and water safety skills and to build on previously learned skills. Your child learns to swim the front crawl and elementary backstroke at rudimentary levels, is introduced to the scissors and dolphin kicks, learns the survival float and increases the time duration for treading water. Your child also learns the rules for headfirst entries and begins to learn to enter the water headfirst from a seated position at poolside (if the water is 9 feet deep or deeper). Each class is loaded with fun, engaging and challenging activities that motivate children to want to perform and learn to swim and help your child develop water competency.

Some of the milestones in Level 3—Stroke Development include:

Flutter, scissors, breaststroke and dolphin kicks.
Jumping into deep water from the side, recovering to the surface, maintaining position by treading or floating for 1 minute, rotating a full turn and then turning as necessary to orient to the exit point.
Swimming the front crawl and/or elementary backstroke for 25 yards and then exiting the water.
Pushing off in a streamlined position, swimming the front crawl for 15 yards, changing position and direction, swimming the elementary backstroke for 15 yards and then exiting the water.

Level 4

Ages 6-14

In Learn-to-Swim Level 4, our instructors follow a plan to introduce new swimming and water safety skills and to build on previously learned skills, improving the swimming stroke proficiency and swimming for longer distances. Each class is loaded with fun, engaging and challenging activities that motivate children to want to perform and learn to swim.

Some of the milestones in Level 4—Stroke Improvement include:

Swimming the front crawl for 25 yards.
Swimming the elementary backstroke for 25 yards.
Swimming the breaststroke for 15 yards.
Swimming the butterfly for 15 yards.
Swimming the back crawl for 15 yards.
Swimming the sidestroke for 15 yards.
Headfirst entry* from a stride position (*only if the water is at least 9-feet deep).
Open turns on the front and back.

Level 5

Ages 6-15

In Learn-to-Swim Level 5, our instructors follow a plan to refine all six swimming strokes including swimming for longer distances, introduce new water safety skills while building on ones previously learned and perform flip turns on the front and back. The expectations are higher now in regards to distance and quality. Each class is loaded with engaging and challenging activities and drills to build endurance and improve technique.

Some of the milestones in Level 5—Stroke Refinement include:

Performing a shallow-angle dive into water at least 9-feet deep.
Performing a tuck and pike surface dive
Swimming the front crawl for 50 yards.
Swimming the elementary backstroke for 50 yards.
Swimming the sidestroke for 25 yards
Swimming the breaststroke for 25 yards.
Swimming the back crawl for 25 yards.
Swimming the butterfly for 25 yards
Front and back flip turns