These classes are designed for children from the age of 3. These classes develop the key skills required for children to join a Beginner with Confidence (BC).
Swim Grades
Beginner with Parent
Beginner
This is a class for new swimmers who have not yet reached the Performance Entry Requirements for Beginner with Confidence Level, please see BC grade for further information.
Beginner with Confidence
Performance Entry Requirements for Beginner with Confidence (BC). Achieve 6 of the 7 Key Learning Targets listed below, which may be performed wearing muscles, but without goggles.
- Enter shallow water by a) turning and sliding-in & b) jumping in independently.
- Exit shallow water without use of steps.
- Float motionless horizontally on front in shallow and deep water.
- Float motionless horizontally on back shallow and deep water.
- Swim 10m front paddle with arms pulling and legs kicking.
- Swim 10m on back.
- Dip face fully into water.
Beginner with Confidence Plus
Performance Entry Requirements for Beginner with Confidence Plus (BC+). Achieve 6 of the 7 Key Learning Targets listed below, to be achieved without muscles apart from Task 7, and without goggles.
- Enter DEEP water, by: a) turning and sliding-in, and b) jumping-in independently.
- Exit DEEP water without use of steps.
- Glide from side horizontally on front for slow count of 3, both face-out and face-in.
- Glide from side horizontally on back, arms at side for slow count of 3.
- Swim 10m front paddle with arms pulling and legs kicking, 5 meters of which in deep.
- Swim 10m on back, arms at side, still (not sculling), 5 metres of which in deep.
- Swim 5m using another pull (muscles may be worn for this activity).
- Swim 5m with face dipped in the water for at least half of the time (intermittent dipping).
- Duck body fully into water (full submersion).
Improver
Performance Entry Requirements for Improver. Achieve 8 out of the 9 key Learning Targets listed below, which must all be performed without muscles (except Task 7) and without goggles.
- Enter water by jumping-into deep water independently.
- Exit water without use of steps.
- Glide from side horizontally on front for slow count of 3, both face-out and face-in
- Glide from side horizontally on back, arms at side for slow count of 3.
- Swim 20m front paddle with arms pulling and legs kicking, from deep to shallow.
- Swim 20m on back, arms a side, still (not sculling), from deep to shallow.
- Swim 10m using a breastroke-type pull (muscles may be worn for this activity).
- Swim 10m with face dipped in the water for at least half of the time (intermittent dipping).
- Duck body fully into water (full submersion).
Improver Plus
Performance Entry Requirements for Improver Plus. Achieve 8 of the 9 Key Learning Targets listed below. Goggles may be worn, except for Task 1.
- Enter water by performing a crouch dive.
- Glide from side horizontally on front for 3 seconds (3 seconds of actual gliding) with face-in.
- Glide from side horizontally on back, arms at side, holding glide for 3 seconds.
- Swim 5m front crawl with face-in and arms recovered over water.
- Swim 2x10m back crawl, using 'broken', or intermittent arm pull.
- Swim 10m breastroke with face-out of the water using simultaneous arms and legs. Arm action to be in front of shoulders.
- Tread water for 30 seconds.
- Swim 2 metres fully submerged.
- Swim 50 metres without stopping. Using recognised (and easily recognisable) strokes conforming to the criteria listed in 4, 5 & 6.
Stroke Improver
Performance Entry Requirements for Stroke Improver. Achieve the 9 Key Learning Targets, listed below.
- Enter water by performing a standing dive from the poolside.
- Glide from side horizontally on front for 5 seconds (5 seconds of actual gliding) with face-in.
- Glide from side horizontally on back, arms in front of head, holding glide for 5 seconds.
- Swim 2x10m front crawl with face-in and arms recovered over water, with breathing predominantly sidewards. A short rest or pause is permissible between swims.
- Swim 3x10m backcrawl without stopping, using continuous arm action.
- Swim 2x10m breaststroke with face-out of the water using clearly recognisable breaststroke arms and leg actions. Arm action to be in front of shoulders. Feet should turn out on kick.
- Tread water for 2 minutes.
- Swim 5 metres fully submerged from a head-first surface dive.
- Swim 200 metres without stopping.
Advanced
Performance Entry Requirements for Advanced. Achieve the 10 Key Learning Targets, listed below.
- Enter water by performing a Spring Header from the poolside.
- Use an aquatic (underwater) glide into front crawl.
- Use an aquatic (underwater) glide into back crawl.
- Swim 25m front crawl using bi-lateral breathing.
- Swim 50m back crawl using an 's' style pull.
- Swim 50m breaststroke using aquatic glide timing and a whip kick with feet dorsi-flexed.
- Swim 15 metres butterfly.
- Tread water for 2 mins, 1 hand in air, then 1 min both hands in air.
- Swim 5 metres fully submerged from a feet-first surface dive, making a 90 degrees change of direction after 2.5 metres.
- Swim 600 metres without stopping.
PLEASE NOTE: There are 3 levels of Advanced groups.
Some of our Advanced swimmers have completed their 5,000 metre, Gold Survival & Rookie Awards. We have a range of Advanced groups suitable for children up to the age of 18.
