Swim Lessons
Levels 1-6 Descriptions
Level 1-Introduction to Water Skills
Purpose
To begin developing positive attitudes, good swimming habits and safe practices in and around the water
Prerequisites
None – Participants start at about 6 years of age.
Learning Objectives
- Enter and exit water using ladder, steps or side
- Blow bubbles through mouth and nose
- Bobbing
- Open eyes under water and retrieve submerged objects
- Front and back glides and floats
- Recover to 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
- Learn how to stay safe in, on and around the water, including the use of a life jacket, recognizing lifeguards, and sun safety
Level 2- Fundamental Aquatic Skills
Purpose
To give participants success with fundamental skills, including learning how to float without support and to recover to a vertical position
Prerequisites
Valid American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim Level 1: Introduction to Water Skills certificate
OR
Successful demonstration of all certification requirements from Level 1
Learning Objectives
- 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 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 perform simple nonswimming assists
- Learn how to stay safe in, on and around the water, including the use of a life jacket, recognizing 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
Level 3- Stroke Development
Purpose
To build on the skills in Level 2 by providing additional guided practice in deeper water
Prerequisites
Valid American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim Level 2: Fundamental Aquatic Skills certificate
OR
Successful demonstration of all certification requirements from Level 2
Learning Objectives
- Enter 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
- Change from vertical to horizontal position on front and back
- 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
Level 4-Stroke Improvement
Purpose
To develop participants’ confidence in the strokes learned in Level 3 and to improve other aquatic skills
Prerequisites
Valid American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim Level 3: Stroke Development certificate
OR
Successful demonstration of all completion requirements from Level 3
Learning Objectives
- 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 crawl, 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
Level 5- Stroke Refinement
Purpose
To further learn how to coordinate and refine strokes
Prerequisites
Valid American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim Level 4: Fundamental Aquatic Skills certificate
OR
Successful demonstration of all completion requirements from Level 4
Learning Objectives
- Shallow-angle dive from the side then glide and begin a front stroke
- Tuck and pike surface dives, submerge completely
- Front flip turn and backstroke flip turn while swimming
- Front and 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
Level 6- Fitness Swimmer
Purpose
To refine strokes so participants swim them with more ease, efficiency, power and smoothness and over greater distances
Prerequisites
Valid American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim Level 5: Stroke Refinement certificate
OR
Successful demonstration of all completion requirements from Level 5
Learning Objectives
- Increase endurance while swimming 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
- Breaststroke turn
- Butterfly turn
- Demonstrate etiquette in fitness swimming
- Discuss and demonstrate how to use the following equipment while swimming:
- Pull buoy
- Fins
- Pace clock
- Paddles
- Describe the principles of setting up a fitness program
- Demonstrate various training techniques
- Calculate target heart rate
- Apply the principles of water exercise
