Course Level Descriptions
Course Level Descriptions and Prerequisites
American Red Cross Preschool Aquatics
Preschool Aquatics (Tots): Children 4-5 years of age
Time 45 minute classes
Three (3) ability levels; Tots 1, 2, & 3
Preschool Aquatics (Tots)
Tots 1: Children learn the most elementary aquatic skills, which they build on as they progress through the Preschool Aquatics and Learn-to-Swim levels. At this first level, children start developing good attitudes and safe practices around the water.
Tots 2: Children are given further success with fundamental aquatic skills performed to a slightly more advanced degree that Tots 1. Most skills are performed with assistance. This level marks the beginning of independent aquatic locomotion skills. Children continue to explore using simultaneous and alternating arm and leg actions on the front and back to gain more proficiency for future strokes. Tots 2 adds to the self-help and basic rescue skills introduced in Tots 1.
Tots 3: Children build on the skills learned in Tots 1 and 2 by providing additional guided practice of basic aquatic skills at slightly more proficient levels and greater distances and times. Skills are performed independently. Children are taught to improve coordination of combined simultaneous arm and leg actions and alternating arm and leg action. Additional safety skills are introduced.
Prerequisites
Tots 1: None; orientation to the water
Tots 2: Enter & exit water independently
Blow bubbles
Float on front & back & recover to a vertical position with support
Tots 3: Glide on front, glide on back
Roll from front to back & back to front & recover to vertical position with support
Swim on front 3 body lengths with support
Learn –to- Swim Lessons: Must be 6 years of age and older
Time 45 minutes classes
Six (6) ability levels; Levels 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Learn-to-Swim levels 1-6
Level 1: Introduction to Water Skills
The objectives are to learn basic personal water safety information and skills, to help participants feel comfortable in the water and enjoy the water safely. Elementary aquatic skills are taught. Participants start developing positive attitudes, good swimming habits and safe practices in and around the water.
Level 2: Fundamental Aquatic Skills
The objective is to give participants success with fundamental skills. Participants learn to float without support and to recover to a vertical position. This level marks the beginning of true locomotion skills. Participants further develop simultaneous and alternating arm and leg actions on the front and back that lay the foundation for future strokes. Additional safety skills are introduced.
Level 3: Stroke Development
The objective is to build on previously learned skills by providing additional guided practice. Participants learn to survival float, swim the front crawl and elementary backstroke. The scissors and dolphin kicks are introduced which build on the fundamentals of treading water. Participants learn rules for headfirst entries and begin to learn to enter the water headfirst. Additional safety skills are introduced.
Level 4: Stroke Improvement
The objective is to develop confidence in the strokes learned thus far and to improve other aquatic skills. Participants improve their skills and increase their endurance by swimming familiar strokes (front crawl, elementary backstroke) for greater distances. Participants add the arm to the scissors kick for the sidestroke, learn the back crawl, breaststroke and butterfly, and the basics of turning at the wall.
Level 5: Stroke Refinement
The objectives are coordination and refinement of strokes. Participants refine their performance of all the strokes (front crawl, back crawl, butterfly, elementary backstroke and sidestroke) and increase their distances. Flip turns on the front and back are introduced.
Level 6: Swimming and Skill Proficiency
The objectives are to refine strokes so participants swim them with more ease, efficiency, power and smoothness and over greater distances. Three (3) options are offered – Personal Water Safety, Fundamentals of Diving and Fitness Swimmer. These options prepare participants for more advanced courses, such as Water Safety Instructor course or competitive swimming and diving.
Prerequisites
Level 1: None; orientation to the water
Level 2: Passed Tots Level 2 or Learn to Swim Level 1
Enter & exit water independently
Bob to safety
Glide to front, roll to back & stand up with support
Level 3: Passed Tots Level 3 or Learn to Swim Level 2
Jump/step in at chest level water
Push off & swim using combined arm & leg action on front 5 body lengths
Breathing with support
Level 4: Passed Learn to Swim Level 3
Jump in deep water
Swim front crawl 15 yards
Tread or float 30 seconds
Swim elementary backstroke 15 yards
Level 5: Passed Learn to Swim 4
Feet first entry into deep water
Swim front crawl 25 yards, change direction, elementary backstroke 25 yards
Swim breaststroke 15 yards, change direction, swim back crawl 15 yards
Level 6: Passed Learn to Swim Level 5
Dive into deep water
Swim front crawl 50 yards, change direction, elementary backstroke 50 yards
Swim breaststroke 25 yards, change direction, swim back crawl 25 yards
Choose a specialty:
(Fitness Swimmer, Fundamentals of Diving, Personal Water Safety)