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Learn to Swim Program

For ages 6 and up

As swimmers age, their motor skills and endurance improve. Children learn new skills best by having a gradual introduction to them, where they learn and master a task, and then add another element to it, such as being able to float and glide before learning to swim with arms and kick. Our swim lesson program for our school aged students break these classes out into skill levels where the swimmers are given challenges and goals appropriate to their ability. The instructors who teach these lessons use fun activities and task practice to get your swimmers to progress through the levels.

There are six levels of the Learn to Swim program, and they are designed for swimmers near ages 6 and up. These lessons are 45 minutes long, and class size ranges from about 4 – 10 students, depending upon the skill level of the class being taught. As these students are a bit older and have more endurance we have lengthened the class times to ensure adequate instruction and practice time. These levels are progressive and as your swimmers master skills in one level, they will move on to the next.

 
LTS Level 1
 
In Learn to Swim Level 1, the students perform skills with assistance as needed. Course objectives are:
 
· Enter and exit water using ladder, steps or side
· Blow bubbles through mouth and nose
· Bobbing (rhythmic breathing and bubble blowing)
· Open eyes under water and retrieve submerged objects
· Front and back glides and floats
· Recover to a vertical position
· Roll from front to back and back to front
· Tread water using arm and hand actions
· Alternating and simultaneous leg actions on front and back
· Alternating and simultaneous arm actions on front and back
· Combined arm and leg actions on front and back
· Learn how to stay safe, including recognizing an emergency and knowing how to call for help
· Learning how to stay safe in, on and around the water, including the use of a life jacket, recognizing lifeguards and sun safety.

Prerequisites for Learn to Swim Level 1:

· Be about 6 years of age or older
· Be able to participate in group lessons independently from their parent/guardian
 
 
LTS Level 2
 
In Learn to Swim Level 2, the distances increase from Level 1 and students do many skills unassisted as they gain more comfort in the water. Course objectives are:
 
· Enter and exit water by stepping or jumping from the side
· Fully submerge and hold breath
· Bobbing
· Open eyes under water and retrieve submerged objects
· Front, jellyfish and tuck floats
· Front and back glides and floats
· Recover to a vertical position
· Roll from front to back and back to front
· Change direction of travel while swimming on front or back
· Tread water using arm and leg actions
· Combined arm and leg actions on front and back
· Finning arm action
· Learn how to stay safe, including recognizing an emergency, knowing how to call for help and performing simple nonswimming assists
· Learn how to stay safe in, on and around the water, including the use of a life jacket, recognizing the lifeguards and sun safety
· Learn to look carefully before entering the water
· Learn what to think about and do when exhausted or caught in a dangerous situation

Prerequisites for Learn to Swim Level 2 include:

· Be able to enter the water using the ladder, steps or side, travel at least 5 yards, bob 3 times and then safely exit the water.
· Glide on front at least 2 body lengths, roll to a back float for 3 seconds and then recover to a vertical position, with or without support.
 
 
LTS Level 3
 
In Learn to Swim Level 3, the distances and skills increase from Level 2. All skills are performed without assistance and students begin to swim the front crawl an, the elementary backstroke. They are also introduced to the back crawl, breaststroke kick, butterfly kick and sidestroke kick in addition to beginner diving. Course objectives are:
 
· Enter the water by jumping from the side
· Headfirst entries from the side in sitting and kneeling positions
· Bobbing while moving toward safety
· Rotary breathing
· Survival float
· Back float
· Tread water
· Flutter, scissor, dolphin and breaststroke kicks on front
· Front crawl and elementary backstroke
· Learn to look carefully before entering the water
· Learn to perform simple nonswimming assists
· Learn to recognize, prevent and respond to cold water emergencies

Prerequisites for Learn to Swim Level 3 include:

· Be able to step from side into chest deep water, move into a front float for 5 seconds, roll to back float for 5 seconds and return to a vertical position.
· Be able to move into a back float for 5 seconds, roll to front and recover to a vertical position.
· Be able to push off and swim using combined arm and leg actions on front for 5 body lengths, roll to back, float for 15 seconds, roll to the front and continue swimming for 5 body lengths.
 
 
LTS Level 4
 
In Learn to Swim Level 4, swimmers begin to master the front crawl and the elementary backstroke. They also begin to coordinate the remaining 4 strokes which include the butterfly, the back crawl, the breaststroke and the sidestroke. In addition, swimmers will progress to compact and stride dives. Course objectives are:
 
· Headfirst entries from the side in compact and stride positions
· Swim under water
· Feetfirst surface dive
· Survival swimming
· Front crawl and backstroke open turns
· Tread water using 2 different kicks
· Front and back craw, elementary backstroke, breaststroke, sidestroke and butterfly
· Flutter and dolphin kicks on back
· Learn to look carefully before entering the water
· Learn what to think about and do when exhausted or caught in a dangerous situation
· Learn to perform simple nonswimming assists
· Learn about recreational water illnesses and how to prevent them

Prerequisites for Learn to Swim Level 4 include:

· Being able to jump into deep water from the side, swim front crawl for 15 yards, maintain position by treading or floating for 30 seconds and swim elementary backstroke for 15 yards.
 
 
LTS Level 5

In Learn to Swim Level 5, swimmers complete their mastery of all strokes and add in competitive and recreational starts and turns. Swimmers also add advanced surface dives and underwater swimming skills to their knowledge. Course objectives are:

· Shallow-angle dive from the side with a racing pull out
· Tuck and pike surface dives, submerging completely
· Front flip turn and backstroke flip turn while swimming
· Front crawl, back crawl, elementary backstroke, breaststroke, sidestroke and butterfly
· Sculling
· Learn to look carefully before entering the water
· Learn what to think about and do when exhausted or caught in a dangerous situation
· Learn to perform simple nonswimming assists
· Learn about recreational water illnesses and how to prevent them
· Learn how to call for help and the importance of knowing first aid and CPR
· Learn basic safety guidelines for participating in aquatic activities at waterparks
 
Prerequisites for Learn to Swim Level 5 include:
 
· Be able to perform a feet-first entry into deep water, swim front crawl for 25 yards, change direction and position as necessary and swim elementary backstroke for 25 yards.
· Be able to swim breaststroke for 15 yards, change direction and position as necessary and swim back crawl for 15 yards.
 
 
LTS Level 6

In Learn to Swim Level 6, swimmers add to their endurance and final mastery of all strokes. Fitness swimming and personal water safety are emphasized in this class. Swimmers will learn about setting lifetime fitness goals, training principles and water safety skills for open water and boating environments. Course objectives include:

· Increase endurance while performing the following strokes:
  •  Front crawl – 100 yards
  •  Back crawl -- 100 yards
  •  Butterfly -- 50 yards
  •  Elementary backstroke -- 50 yards
  •  Breaststroke -- 50 yards
  •  Sidestroke -- 50 yards
· Demonstrate the following turns while swimming:
  • Front crawl open turn
  • Backstroke open turn
  • Sidestroke turn
  • Front flip turn
  • Backstroke flip turn
  • Butterfly turn
  • Breaststroke turn
· Tread water, kicking only, in deep water, for 2 minutes
· Demonstrate a feet-first surface dive and retrieve an object from a depth of 7 feet
· Demonstrate the HELP position for 2 minutes
· Demonstrate the huddle position for 2 minutes
· Demonstrate a survival float in deep water for 5 minutes
· Demonstrate a back float in deep water for 5 minutes
· Demonstrate survival swimming for 10 minutes
· Swim while clothed, using any type of stroke (optional activity)
· Demonstrate self-rescue techniques while clothed (optional activity)
· Discuss basic safety rules for open water environment and boating

Prerequisites for Learn to Swim Level 6 include:

· Perform a shallow-angle dive into deep water, swim front crawl for 50 yards, change direction and position of travel as necessary and swim elementary backstroke for 50 yards.
· Swim breaststroke for 25 yards, change direction and position of travel as necessary and swim back crawl for 25 yards.