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What will
my child learn in the SwimAmerica program?
The fundamentals
At SwimAmerica we teach much
more than just how to swim properly. We emphasize a solid
foundation in core fundamentals - breathing & floating
skills. Advanced drill techniques developed and refined by
Coach Jim over that past 20 years give special attention to correct
breathing, body position, stroke and enhance swimmers
coordination. Mastery of these skills help children develop the
confidence to enjoy swimming. Our program teaches all four
competitive strokes and the starts and turns. It is excellent
preparation for swimmers who would like to join the swim team; but,
it teaches much more.
Proficiency leads to ACHIEVEMENT, SELF-ESTEEM and the enjoyment of
life. SwimAmerica teaches the skills necessary for a lifetime of
SAFETY, FUN and FITNESS on the water!
At SwimAmerica, we use a training program that was developed by
experts: The Nation’s Leading Swim Coaches. Our methods have
been tested and refined over the years. It is the finest way to
teach children to swim.
The SwimAmerica program differentiates between infants &
toddlers, preschoolers and school age children
because of their different developmental requirements. All groups
are taught the same skills, but, the approach used is tailored to
the physical, emotional and intellectual development stages of the
age group.
Infants &
Toddlers
ages 4 months - 3+ years
Parent-Tot
Water adaptation through songs and play. The introduction to
foundational skills that your baby will master as he or she grows.
A wonderful bonding experience for parent and child that
facilitates communication, tactile connection, and trust.
Baby Grad
Advanced class for Parent-Tot graduates. Child must be at least 2
and a half years of age and have the permission of the SwimAmerica
Site Supervisor. This class is for children transitioning from
Parent-Tot to instructor-only classes. Child must be able to wait
their turn, follow simple instructions, and be comfortable working
with instructor only and be able to initiate drills on their
own.
Preschoolers
ages 3 to 6 years
Stations 1, 2, and
3
Children
learn (1)water adaptation and safety skills, (2) breathing
skills, and (3) floating skills. Children learn to "Roll
Over, Float, and Yell For Help." The mastery of this drill alone
can make a difference in a water emergency. Children at this stage
are still coach dependent.
Advanced Swimmers (Stations 4 - 8)
Swimmers will
learn the basics of all 4 competitive strokes: freestyle,
backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly. Empasis is on quality and
technique.
School Age
ages
6 years +
Stations 1, 2, and
3
In these
stations, the children learn proper breathing, floating on front
and back, kicking on front and back, and rolling over from front to
back, without support.
Station
4
In this station, children
learn the basic freestyle without breathing to the side and the
side-glide kick. They already float and kick on the front and the
back without support.
Station 5
In this station,
students learn the freestyle breathing to the side and the basic
backstroke. To start in this station, the children must be capable
of swimming proper freestyle without breathing, and side-glide
kick.
Station 6
In this station,
students build their endurance until they are able to swim 50 yards
freestyle and 25 yards backstroke. They will also learn to tread
water. To enter this station the children must have a clean
freestyle, with bilateral breathing to the side, and proper
backstroke.
Station
7
This station teaches the
breaststroke. To start in this station, the children must have
mastered the freestyle with bilateral breathing, and the
backstroke.
Station 8
This station
teaches the butterfly. To start in this station, the children must
have mastered the freestyle with bilateral breathing, the
backstroke, and the breaststroke.
Stations 9 and 10
(Pre-Team)
To start in these
stations, the children must have mastered the freestyle with
bilateral breathing, the backstroke, the breaststroke, and the
butterfly. These stations prepare the children for the swim team.
The children further improve their endurance until they can swim
300 yards freestyle in proper stroke technique. They also learn
turns and perfect their stroke technique in all 4 strokes. Children
will also learn the basic drills that are used on the Bluefish Swim
Club.
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