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 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.
