Swim Levels

Pre-school Levels (age 3-5)

Level a - Intro to Water Skills

• Blow bubbles with mouth and nose

• Front float and back float

• Roll from front to back and back to front

• Combined arm and leg action on front

• Combined arm and leg action on back

Level a Exit Skill- Enter water and swim 5 yards and safely exit the water.  Glide on front for 2 body lengths and roll on back for 3 seconds.

Level b - Intro to Water Skills

• Open eyes underwater to retrieve submerged objects

• Front float and back float for 3 seconds

• Swim on front and roll on back for a rest

• Combined arm and leg action on front, 3 body lengths

• Finning on back, 3 body lengths

Level b Exit Skill- Swim using combined arm and leg actions on front for 3 body lengths, roll to back, float for 5 seconds, roll to front then continue swimming on front for 3 body lengths.

Level c - Intro to Water Skills

• Front and back glides, 2 body lengths

• Change direction of travel while swimming on front or back

• Treading water using arm and leg action

• Combined arm and leg action on front, 5 body lengths

• Combined arm and leg action on back, 5 body lengths

Level c Exit Skill- 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 front then continue swimming for 5 body lengths.   

School-Aged Levels (over 5)

 Level I - Intro to Water Skills

• • Submerge mouth, nose, and eyes

  • Blow bubbles with mouth and nose

  • Open eyes underwater and pick up a ring

  • Move 5 feet on front using arms and legs

• Move on back with finning and kicking

Level I Exit Skills- Enter unassisted, move for 5 yards, and safely exit the water.  Float on front with support for 3 seconds, roll to back and float on back with support for 3 seconds.

Level II- Fundamental Skills

• • Combined arm and leg actions on front, 15 feet

  • Combined arm and leg actions on back, 15 feet

  • Change direction of travel paddling on front

  • Roll over from front to back

• Tread Water, using arm and leg motions

Level II Exit Skills- Jump into water, move into a front float, roll over to a back float, and return to a standing position.  Swim using a combination of arm and leg action  on front and back.

Level III- Stroke Development

• • Perform side breathing while on front

  • Front glide and back glide for two body lengths

  • Demonstrate proper front crawl, 40 feet

  • Demonstrate proper back crawl, 40 feet

  • Butterfly kick and body motion, 15 feet

  • Whip kick on front and back

  • Introduction to elementary back stroke

• Head-first entry from the side

Level III Exit Skills- Jump into deep water from the side, swim front crawl using rhytmic side breathing for 40 feet, tread water for 30 seconds, swim back crawl for 40 feet

Level IV- Stroke Improvement 

• Open front turn into streamline position  

• Swim underwater, 3 body lengths  

• Front crawl (freestyle) 25 yards

• Back crawl, 25 yards

• Elementary backstroke, 15 yards

• Breaststroke, 15 yards

• Butterfly, 15 yards

Level IV Exit Skills- Dive into deep water, swim front crawl for 25 yards, swim elementary backstroke for 15 yards.  Swim breaststroke for 15 yards, tread water for 1 minute, and swim back crawl for 25 yards.

Level V- Stroke Refinement

• • Shallow dive from the side

  • Flip turn on front and back

  • Front crawl (freestyle) 50 yards

  • Back crawl, 50 yards

  • Elementary backstroke, 25 yards

  • Breaststroke, 25 yards

• Butterfly, 25 yards

Level V Exit Skills- Perform a shallow dive into deep water, swim front crawl for 50 yards, swim elementary backstroke for 25 yards.  Swim breaststroke for 25 yards, tread water for 2 minutes, and swim back crawl for 50 yards.