Youth Swim Skills Placement Guide

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Course Pre-Requisite Learning Outcomes

Parent Infant

No skill prerequisite
Child must be at least 6 months old
Parent/Guarding must accompany child in the water each class
  • Holding & Support Techniques
  • Cueing
  • Water Adjustment, Entry & Exit
  • Breath Control
  • Buoyancy on Front & Back
  • Changing Direction
  • Swim on Front & Back
  • Water Safety
Parent Toddler No skill prerequisite
Child must be at least 1.5 years old
Parent/Guarding must accompany child in the water each class
  • Holding & Support Techniques
  • Cueing
  • Water Adjustment, Entry & Exit
  • Breath Control
  • Buoyancy on Front & Back
  • Changing Direction
  • Swim on Front & Back
  • Water Safety
Pre-School Level 1 No skill prerequisite
Children should be 3-5 years old
  • Enter independently, using either the ramp, steps or side, travel at least 5 yards, submerge to mouth and blow bubbles for at least 3 seconds then safely exit the water. (Children can walk, move along the wall or “swim.”) 
  • Glide on front for at least 2 body lengths, roll to back, float on back for 15 seconds, then recover to a vertical position. 
  • Glide on back for at least 2 body lengths, roll to front, then recover to a vertical position. 
  • Swim using combined arm and leg actions on front for at least  3 body lengths, roll to back, float for 15 seconds, roll to front, then continue swimming on front for at least 3 body lengths.
Pre-School Level 2 No skill prerequisite
Children should be 3-5 years old
  • Step from the side into chest-deep water, push off the bottom, move into a treading or floating position for 15 seconds, swim on front and/or back for 5 body lengths, then exit the water. 
  • Move into a back float for  15 seconds, roll to front, then  recover to a vertical position.
  • 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, continue swimming for  5 body lengths
Youth Level 1: Introduction to Water Skills No skill prerequisite
Must be 5 years old
  • Orientate participants to the aquatic environment and help them gain basic aquatic skills
  • Help participants begin to develop positive attitudes and safe practices around water
  • Enter independently, using either the ramp, steps or side, travel at least 5 yards, bob 5 times, then safely exit the water. (Participants can walk, move along the gutter or “swim.”) 
  • Glide on front at least 2 body lengths, roll to a back float for 5 seconds, then recover to a vertical position. (This part of the assessment can be performed with assistance.)
Youth Level 2: Fundamental Aquatic Skills Successfully demonstration of Youth Level 1 skills assessment on first day of class.
  • Step from the side into chest-deep water, push off the bottom, move into a treading or floating position for at least 15 seconds, swim on front and/or back for 5 body lengths, then exit the water.
  • Move into a back float for 15 seconds, roll to front, then recover to a vertical position. 
  • 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 the front, then continue swimming for at least 5 body lengths. 
Youth Level 3: Stroke Development Successfully demonstration of Youth Level 2 skills assessment on first day of class.
  • Jump into deep water from the side, recover to the surface, maintain position by treading or floating for 1 minute, rotate one full turn, then turn as necessary to orient to the exit point, level off, swim front crawl and/or elementary backstroke for 25 yards, then exit the water. 
  • Push off in a streamlined position, then swim front crawl for 15 yards, change position and direction as necessary, swim elementary backstroke for 15 yards, then exit the water.
Youth Stroke Mechanics Must be able to demonstrate basic skills of Freestyle, Backstroke, Breaststroke and Butterfly
  • Perform a shallow-angle dive into deep water at least 9 feet deep, swim freestyle for 50 yards, then swim backstroke for 50 yards using appropriate and efficient turning styles throughout. 
  • Swim breaststroke for 50 yards, change direction of travel as necessary and then swim butterfly for 25 yards using appropriate and efficient turning styles throughout.
  • Swim 500 yards continuously using any 3 strokes, swimming at least 50 yards of each stroke.

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