Millard North Swim Lesson Guide

Which Level is right for my child?

Level 1 is for beginners with little or no experience in the water. To enroll into Levels 2-6, students must have completed or at least be able to confidently demonstrate the skills listed in the previous level, including the exit skill requirements

LEVEL 1: Introduction to Water Skills ages 4 & up

Purpose: Helps students develop positive attitudes, good swimming habits and safe practices around the water. Level 1 participant learns to:

• Enter and exit water safely
• Blow bubbles through mouth and nose
• Bobbing
• Open eyes under water and retrieve submerged objects
• Front and back glides and floats
• Recover to vertical position
• Roll from front to back and back to front
• Alternating and simultaneous leg actions on front and back
• Alternating and simultaneous arm actions on front and back
• Combined arm and leg actions on front and back
• Learn how to stay safe, including recognizing an emergency and knowing how to call for help

Level 1 Exit Skills Assessment:

1. Enter unassisted, move 3 body lengths,
2. Bob 3 times then safety exit water;
3. Glide on front 2 body lengths, roll to a back float for 3 seconds.

LEVEL 2: Fundamental Aquatics Skills

Purpose: Give students success with fundamental skills. Learn to float and recover to a vertical position.

Level 2 participants learn to:

• Enter and exit water by stepping or jumping from the side
• Fully submerge and hold breath
• Bobbing

• Open eyes under water and retrieve submerged objects
• Front, jellyfish and tuck floats
• Front and back glides and fronts
• Recover to vertical position
• Roll from front to back and back to front
• Change direction of travel while swimming on front or back
• Tread water using arm and leg actions
• Combined arm and leg actions on front and back
• Finning arm action
• Safety skills – recognizing an emergency, knowing how to call for help, pool rules

Level 2 Exit Skills Assessment:

1. Step from side into water, move into a front float for 5 seconds, roll over to a back float for 5 seconds then return to vertical position.
2. Push off & swim using a combination of 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.
3. Combined arm and leg action on back, 5 body lengths.

LEVEL 3: Stroke Development

Purpose: Builds on skills from Level 2 & develops strokes through additional guided practice in deeper water. Level 3 participants learn:

• Jump into deep water from the side
• Dive from sitting and kneeling positions, in water at least 9 feet deep
• Bobbing
• Rotary breathing
• Survival float
• Back float
• Change from vertical to horizontal position on front and back
• Tread water
• Flutter, scissor, dolphin and breaststroke kicks on front
• Front crawl and elementary backstroke
• Learn to look carefully before entering the water
• Learn to perform simple non-swimming assists
• Learn to recognize, prevent and respond to water emergencies

Level 3 Exit Skills Assessment:

1. Jump into the water and recover to a back float position for 30 Seconds.
2. Jump into the water and tread water for 30 seconds
3. Jump into deep water from the side, swim front crawl for 1 width of pool (approx. 15 yards) with face in the water and rhythmic breathing pattern (to side), and maintain position by treading or floating for 30 seconds, back crawl for 1 width or 15 yards.