Swim Starters

Recommended age range: 6 months to 3 years

Develops water enrichment and aquatic readiness in children.

Stage A: Water Discovery (6 months - 3 years)

Parents accompany children in this stage, which introduces infants and toddlers to the aquatic environment through exploration and encourages them to enjoy themselves while learning about the water. The goals of this stage include the following:

• Encouraging parents to set developmentally appropriate expectations for infants and toddlers enrolled in swim lessons
• Introducing and emphasizing basic water safety to parents and providing a positive family aquatic experience
• Building relationships among and between parents and children by providing opportunities for fun and interaction in the water

Stage B: Water Exploration (1-3 years)

In this stage, parents work with their children to explore body positions, floating, blowing bubbles, and fundamental safety and aquatic skills. Children should be able to walk before taking this class. The goals of this stage include the following:

• Encouraging children to move purposefully in the water in response to visual and verbal cues and using toys and flotation devices
• Emphasizing basic aquatic safety to parents
• Building relationships among and between parents and children by providing opportunities for fun and interaction in the water.
• Preparing children to independently take lessons in a small group

Swim Basics

Classes offered for Preschool (3-5 years) & School Age (5-12 years)

Develops personal water safety and basic swimming skills in students of all ages.

Stage 1: Water Acclimation

Students develop comfort with underwater exploration and learn to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water in stage 1. This stage lays the foundation that allows for a student’s future progress in swimming. Students in this stage focus on the following:

• Exploring the aquatic environment and personal skills with instructor help
• Developing basic skills to propel and glide through the water with instructor help
• Learning basic aquatic safety and accepting some of the responsibility for safe practices
• Comfortable putting eyes, ears and nose in water

Stage 2: Water Movement

In this stage, students focus on body position and control, directional change, and forward movement in the water while also continuing to practice how to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water. Students in this stage focus on the following:

• Exploring the aquatic environment and personal skills without instructor help
• Developing basic skills to propel and glide through the water without instructor help
• Proficiency in floating on front and back
• Learning basic aquatic and boating safety and accepting some of the responsibility for safe practices

Stage 3: Water Stamina

In this stage, students learn how to swim to safety from a longer distance than in previous stages in the event of falling into a body of water. This stage also introduces rhythmic breathing and integrated arm and leg action. Students in this stage focus on the following:

• Integrating arm action, leg action, and rhythmic breathing in back and front glides
• Developing forward movement on the front and back
• Practicing skills and safety techniques in deep water
• Able to swim 10-15 yards on own

Swim Strokes

Offered for Preschool (Stage 4 only) or School Age

Introduces and refines stroke technique in advancing students.

Stage 4: Stroke Introduction

Students in this stage develop stroke technique in front crawl and back crawl and learn the breaststroke kick and butterfly kick. Water safety is reinforced through treading water and elementary backstroke. Students in this stage focus on the following:

• Developing the front crawl and back crawl
• Introducing components of the breaststroke and butterfly
• Learn rotary breathing
• Practicing safety techniques in deep water

Stage 5: Stroke Development

Students in this stage work on stroke technique and learn all major competitive strokes. The emphasis on water safety continues through treading water and sidestroke. Students in this stage focus on the following:

• Developing stamina in the front crawl and back crawl
• Developing the breaststroke and butterfly
• Introduction of turning techniques for competitive strokes
• Building endurance techniques for deep-water safety

Stage 6: Stroke Mechanics

In this stage, students refine stroke technique on all major competitive strokes, learn about competitive swimming, and discover how to incorporate swimming into a healthy lifestyle. Students in this stage focus on the following:

• Developing endurance in the competitive strokes
• Developing skills related to competitive swimming like flip turns
• Enhancing skills and building endurance in deep water
• Preparation for competitive, leadership or recreational swimming opportunities