Aquatics Youth Descriptions

YOUTH SWIM LESSON LEVELS

Stage 1: Water ACCLIMATION 

Summary: Students develop comfort with underwater exploration and learn to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water. Children entering this level should be comfortable working with an instructor without a parent in the water. Youth Swim Stage 1 is for students who aren’t yet comfortable going underwater voluntarily.

Skills learned:

  • Bob to submerge in the water
  • Front and back glide to the wall for five feet with help
  • Front and back float for 10 seconds with help
  • Roll from back to front and front to back with help
  • Jump, push, turn, grab with help
  • Swim, float, swim 10 feet with help
  • Exit the water
Stage 2: Water MOVEMENT 

Summary: Swimmers entering this level should be able to go underwater voluntarily. Students focus on body position and control, directional change, and forward movement in the water while continuing to practice how to safely exit if they would fall into a body of water. Youth Swim Stage 2 is for students who aren't yet able to do a front and back float on their own. 

Skills learned:

  • Bob to submerge in the water
  • Front and back glide to the wall for five feet with help
  • Front and back float for 10 seconds with help
  • Roll from back to front and front to back with help
  • Jump, push, turn, grab with help
  • Swim, float, swim 10 feet with help
  • Exit the water
Stage 3: Water STAMINA 

Summary: Children entering this level should be able to front and back float independently. Students learn to swim to safety from a longer distance. They are introduced to rhythmic breathing and integrated arm and leg action. Youth Swim Stage 3 is for students who aren’t yet able to swim 10-15 yards on their front and back.

Skills learned:

  • Retrieve an object in chest-deep water
  • Swim on their front and back for 10 yards
  • Roll from back to front and front to back
  • Jump, push, turn, grab 10 yards
  • Swim, float, swim 15 yards
  • Tread water for 30 second
  • Exit the water
Stage 4: STROKE INTRODUCTION 

Summary: Children entering Youth Swim Stage 4 should be able to swim 15 yards on their front and back independently. Students develop stroke technique in front and back crawl and learn the breaststroke kick and butterfly kick. Treading is also introduced. 

Skills learned:

  • Swim the front crawl with rotary breathing for 15 yards
  • Breaststroke kick for 15 yards
  • Butterfly kick for 15 yards
  • Elementary backstroke for 15 yards
  • Dive from a sitting position
  • Tread water using a scissor and whip kick for one minute
  • Swim any combination of strokes for 25 yards
Stage 5: STROKE DEVELOPMENT 

Summary: Children entering Youth Swim Stage 5 should be able to swim 15 yards of front and back crawl. Students work on stroke technique and learn all major competitive strokes. Emphasis on water safety continues through treading water and sidestroke.

Skills learned:

  • Swim the front crawl with bent-arm recovery for 25 yards
  • Breaststroke for 25 yards
  • Butterfly with simultaneous arm action and kick for 15 yards
  • Back crawl for 25 yards
  • Sidestroke for 25 yards
  • Dive from a kneeling position
  • Tread water using a scissor and whip kick for two minutes
  • Swim any combination of strokes for 50 yards
Stage 6: STROKE MECHANICS 

Summary: Children entering Youth Swim Stage 6 should be able to swim 25 yards of front crawl, back crawl, and breaststroke. Students refine stroke technique on all major competitive strokes, learn about competitive swimming, and discover how to incorporate swimming into a healthy lifestyle. 

Skills learned:

  • Swim the front crawl for 50 yards and do a flip turn
  • Breaststroke for 50 yards and do an open turn
  • Butterfly for 25 yards
  • Back crawl for 25 yards and do a flip turn
  • Sidestroke or elementary backstroke for 50 yards
  • Dive from a standing position
  • Tread water for one minute and retrieve an object from the bottom of the pool
  • Swim any combination of strokes for 150 yards                                                                                                                                        
Stage 7:

Children entering Youth Swim Stage 7 should be able to swim 25 yards of front crawl, back crawl, and breaststroke and butterfly, for ages 12-14.