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 5-9

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.
Bobbing 5 times and then safely exiting the water.
Opening eyes underwater and retrieving submerged object.
Front and back glides.
Back float for 5-10 seconds.
Recovering to a vertical position.
Combined arm and leg actions on front and back.
Alternating and simultaneous arm and leg actions on front and back.

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.

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:

Reinforcement of level 1 skills.
Stepping from the side into chest-deep water.
Fully submerging and holding breath.
Tread water for 15 seconds.
Introduce elementary backstroke.
Introduce rotary breathing.
Swimming using combined arm and leg actions on front and back 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:

Reinforcement of level 2 skills.
Flutter, scissors, breaststroke and dolphin kicks.
Tread for 1 minute.
Swimming the front crawl with rotary breathing.
Elementary backstroke and back crawl for 15 yards.
Intro to diving.

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 and back crawl for 25 yards.
Swimming the elementary backstroke for 25 yards.
Swimming the breaststroke for 15 yards.
Swimming the sidestroke for 15 yards.
Entering 9-12 foot water.
Tread 2.5 minutes.
Headfirst entry* from a stride position (*only if the water is at least 9-feet deep).
Open turns on the front and back.
Feet and head first surface dives.

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 standing dive into water at least 9-feet deep.
Performing a tuck and pike surface dive.
Swimming the front and back 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.
Front and back flip turns.
Tread 5 minutes.
Jump off diving boards.