Group Swim Lesson Skills

Fearful Beginner Class

This class is best suited for children who have not been adjusted to an aquatic environment or who are not comfortable being in the water without a parent or guardian. 

Little Dippers Class

Please note: children under 5 may only participate in the fearful beginner and little dipper classes.

In order for a child to be eligible to participate in the LITTLE DIPPERS class, they must demonstrate proficiency in:

  • Being fully potty trained
  • 3-4 years of age by start of session
  • Comfortable in water 
  • Comfortable being under water for at least 3-5 seconds

Advanced Little Dippers Class *NEW THIS SEASON*

 In order for a child to be eligible to participate in the ADVANCED LITTLE DIPPERS class, they must demonstrate proficiency in:

  • Being fully potty trained
  • 4-5 years of age by start of session
  • Comfortable in water 
  • Comfortable having face in water
  • Has prior swim lessons experience

Beginner Class

Suggested Age: 5-7 years old. Please note, children under 5 may only participate in the fearful beginner and little dipper classes.

In order for a child to be eligible to participate in a BEGINNER class, they must demonstrate proficiency in:

  • Water adjustment skills
  • Comfortable in water at least chest deep
  • Able to hold breath underwater for at least 5 seconds
  • Able to tread water for a short time

Advanced Beginner Class

Suggested Age: 6-8 years old. Please note, children under 5 may only participate in the fearful beginner and little dipper classes.

In order for a child to be eligible to participate in the ADVANCED BEGINNER class, the participant must demonstrate proficiency in:

  • Ability to hold breath underwater for AT LEAST 10 seconds
  • Prone (face down) glide
  • Back glide
  • Survival float
  • Prone glide with kick
  • Back glide with kick
  • Beginner crawl stoke with kick – 15 yards
  • Beginner back stroke with kick – 15 yards
  • Jumping into shallow water and ability to recover and swim
  • Jump into deep water, level, and swim
  • Change directions in water without placing feet on bottom of pool

Intermediate Class

Suggested Age: 7-9 years old.

In order for a child to be eligible to participate in the INTERMEDIATE class, they must demonstrate proficiency in:

  • All criteria above for ADVANCED BEGINNER, and:
  • Treading water for at least 3 minutes
  • Front crawl stroke with kick and rhythmic breathing
  • Elementary back stroke
  • Back stroke with arms and kick
  • Standing front dive
  • Underwater swim for at least 15 feet
  • Comfortable swimming in deep water
  • Survival float for at least 3 minutes
  • Open turns

Swimmer Class

Suggested Age: 8 and up.

In order for a child to be eligible to participate in the SWIMMER class, they must demonstrate proficiency in:

  • All criteria above for INTERMEDIATE
  • Side stroke
  • Breast stroke
  • Surface dives
  • Long shallow dives
  • 1-meter board – jumping entry
  • 1-meter board – standing dive

If you are not sure about where to place your child, we recommend placing your child in a lower level class. Each child is tested on the first day of every session and he/she will be moved up or down if it is deemed necessary by the swim instructor.