Learn to Swim Skill Levels
Level 1
- Enter and Exit water independently.
- Blow Bubbles for 3 seconds
- 3 Bobbers
- Open eyes and retrieve submerged object x 2
- Front float for 3 seconds with support
- Front glide to vertical position with support
- Back float for 3 seconds with support
- Back glide to vertical position with support
- Roll from front to back with support
- Roll from back to front with support
- Treading - explore in chest-deep water
- Front Crawl with assistance
- Breaststroke with assistance
- Back Crawl with assistance
- Elementary Backstroke with assistance
- Discuss staying safe around water.
- Discuss recognizing lifeguards.
- Demonstrate wearing lifejackets.
- Demonstrate how to call for help.
- Discuss Sun Safety.
- Enter independently - travel at least 5 yds, bob 3 times then safely exit.
- Glide on front at least 2 body lengths, roll to a back float for 3 seconds and recover to a vertical position with support.
Level 2
- Enter and Exit water independently.
- Hold Breath for 5 seconds
- 5 Bobbers
- Open eyes and retrieve submerged object x 2
- Front float for 5 seconds independently (Jelly Fish, Front Float, Tuck Float)
- Front glide to vertical position independently
- Back float for 15 seconds independently
- Back glide to vertical position independently
- Roll from front to back independently
- Roll from back to front independently
- Treading - independently for 15 seconds
- Front Crawl independently for 5 body lengths
- Breaststroke with assistance
- Back Crawl independently for 5 body lengths
- Elementary Backstroke independently for 5 body lengths
- Discuss staying safe around water.
- Discuss recognizing an emergency (How to call for help, Look Before you Leap)
- Demonstrate wearing lifejackets.
- Demonstrate reach or Throw, Don't Go
- Discuss Sun Safety.
- Enter independently - move into a front float for 5 seconds, roll to back, float for 5 seconds then return to a vertical position.
- Move into a back float for 5 seconds, roll to front, then recover to a vertical position with support.
- 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 5 body lengths.
Level 3
- Enter water by jumping from side
- Headfirst entry from the side in a sitting and kneeling position
- Bobbing while moving toward safety
- Rotary breathing 10 times
- Survival float for 5 seconds
- Change from vertical to horizontal position on front
- Change from vertical to horizontal position on back
- Back glide to vertical position independently
- Treading - independently for 30 seconds
- Front Crawl independently for 15 yds
- Front float glide, begin flutter kicking
- Front float glide, begin dolphin kicking
- Breaststroke with assistance
- Back Crawl independently for 5 body lengths
- Elementary Backstroke independently for 15 yds
- Scissor kick for 10 yds
- Think Twice Before Going Near Cold Water or Ice
- Demonstrate wearing lifejackets.
- Demonstrate Reach or Throw, Don't Go
- Look Before you Leap
- Jump into deep water from the side, swim front crawl for 15 yds, maintain position by treading or floating for 30 seconds and swim elementary backstroke for 15 yds.
Level 4
- Headfirst entry from the side in a compact and stride position
- Swim underwater 3-5 body lengths
- Feet first surface dive
- Rotary breathing 10 times
- Survival swimming for 30 seconds
- Treading - independently for 2 minutes
- Front Crawl open turn, 25 yds
- Butterfly 15 yds
- Back glide, begin dolphin kicking
- Back glide, begin flutter kicking
- Breaststroke 15 yds
- Back Crawl open turn, 15 yds
- Elementary Backstroke independently for 25 yds
- Sidestroke for 15 yds
- Think So You Don't Sink
- Discuss Recreational Water Illness
- Demonstrate Reach or Throw, Don't Go
- Discuss Look Before you Leap
- Perform a feetfirst entry into deep water, swim front crawl for 25 yds, change direction and position as necessary and swim elementary backstroke for 25 yds.
- Swim breaststroke for 15 yes, change direction and position and swim back crawl for 15 yds.
Level 5
- Shallow-angle dive from the side
- Shallow-angle dive, glide two body lengths and begin any front stroke
- Tuck surface dive
- Pike surface dive
- Front flip turn while swimming
- Backstroke flip turn while swimming
- Tread water for 5 minutes
- Front Crawl 50 yds
- Butterfly 25 yds
- Breaststroke 25 yds
- Back Crawl 25 yds
- Elementary Backstroke 50 yds
- Sidestroke for 25 yds
- Sculling for 30 sec
- Think So You Don't Sink
- Think Twice Before Going Near Cold Water or Ice
- Demonstrate Reach or Throw, Don't Go
- Look Before you Leap
- Discuss Wave, Tide or Ride, Follow the Guide
- Perform a shallow-angle dive into deep water, swim front crawl for 50 yds, change direction and position of travel as necessary and swim elementary backstroke for 50 yds.
- Swim breaststroke for 25 yds, change direction and position of travel as necessary and swim back crawl for 25 yds.
Level 6
- Front crawl open turn
- Backstroke open turn
- Front flip turn
- Backstroke flip turn
- Butterfly turn
- Breaststroke turn
- Sidestroke turn
- Treading - kicking only for 2 minutes
- Front Crawl 100 yds
- Butterfly 50 yds
- Breaststroke 50 yds
- Back Crawl 50 yds
- Elementary Backstroke 50 yds
- Sidestroke 50 yds
- Think So You Don’t Sink
- Help position 2 minutes
- Feet-first surface Dive
- Tuck surface dive
- Pike surface dive
- Back float 5 minutes
- Front float 5 minutes
- Huddle position 2 minutes
- Survival float 5 minutes
- Survival swimming 10 minutes
- Surface dive and retrieve an object from 7 feet
- Discuss Swim with a Buddy in a Supervised Area
- Discuss Learn About Boating Before You Go Floating
- Discuss Look Before you Leap
- Swim 500 yds continuously using any 3 strokes of your choice, swimming at least 50 yds of each stroke.
- Jump into deep water, perform a survival float for 5 minutes, roll onto back and perform a back float for 5 minutes.
- Perform a feet-first surface dive, retrieve an object from the bottom of the pool at a depth of 7 feet, return to surface and return to starting point.