Sandy Beach Swimming Lesson Descriptions

(American Red Cross Compliant)

Parent & Child Aquatics Level 1
(Introduces basic skills to parents and children, including safety topics)

• Getting wet with toys an kicking
• Enter & exit water by walking in
• Out-of-water and in-water exploration
• Blowing bubbles on the surface and with mouth and nose submerged
• Underwater exploration
• Submerging mouth, nose and eyes
• Front and back floats and glides
• Roll from front to back and back to front
• Passing from instructor to parent
• Leg actions on front and back
• The importance of wearing a life jacket
• How to call for help and the importance of knowing first aid and CPR
• Basic water safety rules
• General water safety around the home
• Recreational water illness
• Sun safety

Preschool Aquatics Level 1
(Builds on skills learned in parent and child aquatics with instructors help)

• Blow bubbles 3 seconds
• Submerge nose, eyes, mouth
• Open eyes under water & retrieve object
• Front and back glide, 2 body lengths
• Roll from front to back and back to front
• Treading with arm and hand motions
• Alternating and simultaneous leg action on front and back
• Alternating and simultaneous arm action on front and back
• Combined arm and leg action on front and back

 
Learn to Swim Levels 1-6
 
Level 1:  Introduction to Water Skills
(Helps participants feel comfortable in the water)

• Enter and exit water walking from beach
• Blow bubbles through mouth and nose
• Bobbing
• Open eyes under water and retrieve submerged objects
• Front and back glides and back float
• Recover to vertical position from a front glide and back float or glide
• Roll from front to back and back to front
• Tread water using arm and hand actions
• 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
• Staying safe around aquatic environments
• Recognizing the lifeguards
• Don't just pack it, wear your jacket
• Recognizing an emergency
• How to call for help
• Too much sun is no fun

 
Level 2:  Fundamental Aquatic Skills
(Gives participants success with fundamental skills)

• Enter and exit water by walking in from beach
• Fully submerge and hold breath
• Bobbing
• Open eyes under water and retrieve submerged objects
• Front, jellyfish and tuck floats
• Front and back glides and back float
• Recover from a front and back float or glide to a 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 on back
• Staying safe around aquatic environments
• Don't just pack it, wear your jacket
• Recognizing an emergency
• How to call for help
• Too much sun is no fun
• Look before you leap
• Think so you don't sink
• Reach or throw, don't go

 
Level 3:  Stroke Development
(Builds on the skills in Level 2 through additional guided practice in deeper waters)

• Enter water by walking in from beach
• Bobbing while moving toward safety
• Rotary breathing
• Survival float
• Back float
• Change front vertical to horizontal position on front and back
• Tread water
• Push off in a streamlined position then begin flutter and dolphin kicks on front
• Front crawl and elementary backstroke
• Scissors kick
• Reach or throw, don't go
• Think twice before going near cold water or ice
• Look before you leap

 
Level 4:  Stroke Improvement
(Develops confidence in the skills learned and improves other aquatic skills)

• Swim under water
• Feet-first surface dive
• Survival swimming
• Tread water using 2 different kicks
• Front and back crawl, elementary backstroke, breaststroke, sidestroke and butterfly
• Push off in a streamlined position then begin flutter and dolphin kicks on back
• Reach or throw, don't go
• Recreational water illnesses
• Think so you don't sink
• Think twice before going near cold water or ice
• Wave, tide or ride, follow the guide

 
Level 5:  Stroke Refinement
(Provides further coordination and refinement of strokes)

• Tuck and pike surface dives
• Tread water
• Front and back crawl, elementary backstroke, breaststroke, sidestroke and butterfly
• Standard scull on back
• How to call for help and the importance of knowing first aid and CPR
• Recreational water illnesses
• Reach or throw, don't go
• Look before you leap
• Think so you dont sink
• Think twice before going near cold water or ice
• Wave, tide or ride, follow the guide

 
Level 6:  Swimming and Skill Proficiency
(Refines the strokes so participants swim them with ease, efficiency, power and smoothness over greater distances)

• HELP Position
• Huddle Position
• Feet first surface dive
• Tuck surface dive
• Pike surface dive
• Back float, survival float, and survival swimming
• Treading water using only legs, 2 minutes
• Surface dive and retrieve an object from the bottom (in water at least 7-10 feet deep)
• Front crawl, elementary backstroke, back crawl, breaststroke, sidestroke and butterfly

 
Guard Start

• Passed Level 6
• Has a desire to learn guarding skills
• Prepares you for lifeguard course