| Learn
to Swim Class Descriptions |
| All courses are conducted under guidelines of American Red Cross Learn to Swim Program. Persons with disabilities are welcome to participate in our programs and classes. Reasonable accommodation
will be made with prior arrangements. |
| Age 4-7 Toddler |
| Water adjustment activities; water entry; elementary
forms of propulsive movements supported prone glide, front
kick, back float, back glide; breath control-bubble blowing,
introduction to rhythmic bobbing; underwater exploration;
safety skills-rolling over, personal flotation devices,
changing positions; Parent safety-reaching assists, towing;
water exit; Parents must participate with their child
in the water. |
| Level 1 Age 7 & Up Preschool |
| Fully submerge face (3 sec.); experience buoyancy (10
bobs to chin level); supported float on front; supported
float on back; bubble blowing; enter and exit water independently
using ladders, ramps, steps, or side of pools; move through
water comfortably (walk 5 yds in chest-deep water); supported
kicking on front; supported kicking on back; introduction
to altering arm action (walk 5 yds in chest deep water);
learn basic water safety rules; familiarity with getting
help & EMS; reaching assists without equipment; release
cramp; wear life jacket on deck and enter shallow water. |
| Level 2 |
| Hold breath/fully submerge head (3 sec.); retrieve
objects, chest-deep water; orientation to deep water with
support; prone float/glide, unsupported/recovery (5 sec.);
supine float/glide, unsupported recovery (5 sec.); leveling
off from a vertical position; get out at side pool; flutter
kick on front, support optional; flutter kick on back,
support optional; finning on back; back crawl arm action;
comb, stroke front, using kick and alternate arm (5 yds);
comb, stroke back, using kick and choice of arm out of
water (1 min); perform reaching and extension assist form
deck; assist non-swimmer to feet; becoming familiar with
rescue breathing. |
| Level 3 |
| Retrieve object, eyes open, no support; bob,
submerging head completely (15 times); bob in water slightly
over head to travel to safe area; jump into deep water
from side of pool; dive from side of pool from kneeling
and compact positions; prone glide with push off (2 body
lengths); supin glide with push off (2 body lengths);
Coordinate arm stroke for front crawl with breathing to
the side (10 yds); coordinate back crawl (10 yds); elementary
backstroke kick (10 yds); reverse direction while swimming
on front /back; learn safe diving rules; tread water;
jump into deep water with life jacket on; H.E.L.P. position
(1 min); huddle position (3 per group - 1 min); learn
to open airway for rescue breathing. |
| Level 4 |
| Deep water bobbing; experiment with buoyancy and floating
position; rotary breathing; dive from side of pool from
stride and standing; elementary backstroke (10 yds);
sculling on back (5 yds or 15 sec.); front crawl (25 yds
rotary breathing); back crawl (25 yds); breaststroke kick
(10 yds); sidestroke scissor kick (10 yds); introduction
to turning at wall; tread water with modified scissor,
modified breaststroke and rotary kicks (2 min); learn
rescue breathing; become familiar with CPR. |
| Level 5 |
| Alternate breathing; beginning diving progress &
standing dive from board; long shallow dive; breaststroke
(10 yds); sidestroke (10 yds); swimming underwater (3
body lengths); elementary backstroke (25 yds); butterfly-dolphin
kick (10 yds); front crawl (50 yds); back crawl (50 yds);
open turn on front; open turn on back; rules for safe
diving from board; recognition of spinal injury; hip/shoulder
support; feet-first surface dive; tread water (2min/2
different kicks). |
| Level 6 |
| Approach and hurdle on diving board; jump tuck from
diving board; front crawl (100 yds/1 turn min); back crawl
(100 yds/1 turn min); back crawl (100 yds/1 turn min);
breaststroke (25 yds); sidestroke (25 yds); speed turn
and pull-out for breaststroke; flip turn for front crawl;
pike surface dive; tuck surface dive; alternate kicks
for treading water (3 min/1 min w/no hands); throwing
assists; roll spinal injury victim face up; butterfly
(10 yds); breaststroke turn; sidestroke turn. |
| Level 7 |
| Springboard dive in tuck and pike positions; review
all strokes, turns and skills taught in previous levels
(500 yds of continuous swim); front crawl (200 yds); swimming
underwater (15 yds); back crawl (100 yds); breaststroke
(50 yds); sidestroke (50 yds); butterfly (25 yds); backstroke
flip trun; in-water rescue using equipment; conditioning
principles; check heart rate; retrieving diving brick,
deep water, 8-10'; review basic water safety skills; tread
water (5 min) |
