Starfish (5+ years)
A class designed for non-swimmers. Students will learn basic water skills, i.e. floating, kicking, submersion and water mobility.
Classes run for 30 minutes with up to 4 students.
No assessment is required to book for this level.
Starfish Skills:
1. Enter and exit the water safely and confidently. Minimal instructor assistance.
2. Front float independently for 5 seconds.
3. Back float independently for 10 seconds.
4. Blow bubbles in water with face fully submerged.
5. Front torpedo from platform to instructor, including push and glide technique. (3m)
6. Kick on back with flotation aid to instructor. (3m)
Goldfish
Advanced beginners class where students learn the fundamentals of freestyle arms and backward streamline torpedo.
Classes run for 30 minutes with up to 5 students.
An assessment is required to book for this level.
Goldfish Skills:
1. Perform a slide in entry.
2. Transition from a back float to a front float before resuming back float position independently.
3. Front torpedo with chin on chest and straight legs kicking. (5m)
4. Freestyle with straight arms and legs kicking. No coordinated breathing. (5m)
5. Back torpedo with ears in the water and straight legs kicking.(5m)
Marlin
This class is a transition between advanced beginner and intermediate. Students will be introduced to the fundamental techniques for freestyle and backstroke. They will work towards swimming a distance of 10 metres.
Classes run for 30 minutes with up to 5 students.
An assessment is required to book for this level.
Marlin Skills:
1. Front torpedo in streamline position, with chin on chest, straight arms locked behind ears and straight legs kicking. (10m)
2. Back torpedo with straight arms locked behind ears, stomach at top of water and straight legs kicking above water. (10m)
3. Freestyle with straight arms, basic bilateral breathing and straight legs kicking. (10m)
4. Backstroke with straight arms and hands turning correctly, stomach at top of water and straight legs kicking above water. (10m)
5. Submerge and recover object from bottom of pool.
Swordfish
Students will learn the correct technique for freestyle breathing and backstroke. At this level, children will be expected to swim 15 metres of freestyle and backstroke to advance to the next levels.
Classes run for 30 minutes with up to 5 students.
An assessment is required to book for this level.
Swordfish Skills:
1. Freestyle with arms moving consistently, coordinated bilateral breathing and straight legs kicking. Catch up is no longer appropriate. (15m)
2. Backstroke with straight arms and hands turning correctly, stomach at top of water and straight legs kicking above water. (15m)
3. Submerge and recover object from bottom of pool.
Barracuda
The aim in this class is to develop correct technique for bilateral breathing freestyle, further development of backstroke technique and an introduction to breaststroke kick.
Classes run for 30 minutes with up to 5 students.
An assessment is required to book for this level.
Barracuda Skills:
1. Freestyle with bent arms reaching forward and pulling water, coordinated bilateral breathing and straight legs kicking. (20m)
2. Backstroke with straight arms and hands turning correctly, stomach at top of water and straight legs kicking above water. (20m)
3. Demonstrate correct breaststroke kick with feet turned out, push of water and glide for 2 seconds.
Bronze Dolphin
Aimed at further developing freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke skills, with a progression towards swimming 25m of each stroke with good technique. Butterfly kicking technique is introduced.
Classes run for 30 minutes with up to 8 students.
An assessment is required to book for this level.
Bronze Dolphin Skills:
1. Freestyle with bent arms reaching forward and pulling water, coordinated bilateral breathing and straight legs kicking. (25m)
2. Backstroke with straight arms and hands turning correctly, stomach at top of water and straight legs kicking above water. (25m)
3. Breaststroke with correct kick, feet turned out, push of water, glide for 2 seconds in streamline with arms and legs together. (25m)
4. Dolphin kick with feet together and arms by side. (5m)
Silver Dolphin
Further development of freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and Butterfly kick technique, building up to swimming 50m of each stroke.
Classes run for 45 minutes with up to 10 students.
An assessment is required to book for this level.
Silver Dolphin Skills:
1. Freestyle with bent arms reaching forward and pulling water, coordinated bilateral breathing and straight legs kicking. (50m)
2. Backstroke with straight arms and hands turning correctly, stomach at top of water and straight legs kicking above water. (50m)
3. Breaststroke with correct kick, feet turned out, push of water, glide for 2 seconds in streamline with arms and legs together. (50m)
4. Dolphin kick with feet together and arms by side. (15m)
5. Demonstrate a forward somersault in the water.
Gold Dolphin
Further development of freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke techniques, building up to swimming 100 metres of each stroke. Correct technique for butterfly is introduced and further developed.
Classes run for 45 minutes with up to 10 students.
An assessment is required to book for this level.
Gold Dolphin Skills:
1. Freestyle with bent arms reaching forward and pulling water, coordinated bilateral breathing and straight legs kicking.(100m)
2. Backstroke with straight arms and hands turning correctly, stomach at top of water and straight legs kicking above water. (100m)
3. Breaststroke with correct kick, feet turned out, push of water, glide for 2 seconds in streamline with arms and legs together. (100m)
4. Butterfly with correct timing, breathing after every second arm movement. (25m)
Children who have completed the Learn to Swim Program levels can progress to the Centre’s Transitional Squad Program and follow on to the Junior and Senior Squad Program.