"Learn to Swim" Lesson Level Descriptions

(as defined by the American Red Cross)

Level 1: Introduction to Water Skills

Water Entry and Exit

Enter and exit water safely using ladder, steps or side
Breath Control and Underwater Swimming
Submerge mouth, nose and eyes
Blow bubbles through mouth and nose
Open eyes underwater, pick up a submerged object held at arms length

Buoyancy on Front

Maintain front float position (face in or out of water)
Recover from front float to standing position

Buoyancy on Back

Maintain back float position
Recover from back float to standing position

Changing Direction and Position

Change direction of travel while walking or paddling
Roll over from front to back
Roll over from back to front

Treading

Explore arm and hand movements

Swim on Front

Alternating arm action
Simultaneous arm action
Alternating leg action
Simultaneous leg action
Combined stroke on front (any arm and leg action)

Swim on Back

Alternating arm action
Simultaneous arm action
Alternating leg action
Simultaneous leg action
Combined stroke on back (any arm and leg action)

General and Personal Water Safety

Water safety rules
How to use a life jacket
Wearing a life jacket in the water

Helping Others

How to recognize a swimmer in distress
How to get help

Exit Skills

Exit Skill 1
Exit Skill 2

Level 2: Fundamental Aquatic Skills

Water Entry and Exit

Enter water by stepping or jumping from the side
Exit water safely using ladder or side

Breath Control and Underwater Swimming

Submerge entire head
Bobs
Open eyes underwater, pick up a submerged object

Buoyancy on Front

Maintain front float position (face in water)
Recover from front float to standing position
Front glide
Float in face-down position (jellyfish float)

Buoyancy on Back

Maintain back float position
Recover from back float to standing position
Back glide

Changing Direction and Position

Change direction of travel paddling on front or back
Roll over from front to back
Roll over from back to front

Treading

Using arm and leg motions

Swim on Front

Combined arm and leg actions on front

Swim on Back

Finning arm action
Sculling arm action
Combined arm and leg actions on back

Swim on Side

Alternating leg action
Simultaneous leg action

General and Personal Water Safety

Water safety rules
How to use a life jacket
Move in the water while wearing a life jacket

Helping Others

How to recognize a swimmer in distress
How to get help

Exit Skills

Exit Skill 1
Exit Skill 2

Level 3: Stroke Development

Water Entry and Exit

Jump into deep water from the side
Head-first entry from sitting or kneeling position

Breath Control and Underwater Swimming

Submerge and retrieve and object
Bobs with the head fully submerged
Rotary breathing

Buoyancy on Front

Front glide—kick one
Front glide—kick two
Survival float

Buoyancy on Back

Back glide—kick one
Back glide—kick two
Back float

Changing Direction and Position

Change from vertical to horizontal position on front
Change from vertical to horizontal position on back

Treading

Tread water

Swim on Front

Front crawl
Butterfly?kick and body motion

Swim on Back

Back crawl

General and Personal Water Safety

General water safety rules
Rules for safe diving
Enter the water wearing a life jacket
HELP position
Huddle position

Helping Others

Reaching assist
Check-Call-Care

Exit Skill

Exit Skill 1

Level 4: Stroke Improvement

Water Entry and Exit

Dive from compact or stride position

Breath Control and Underwater Swimming

Swim underwater (no hyperventilation)
Feet-first surface dive

Buoyancy on Front

Survival float

Buoyancy on Back

Back float

Changing Direction and Position

Open turn on front, push off in streamlined position
Open turn on back, push off in streamlined position

Treading

Tread water using scissors, breaststroke or rotary kick and
sculling arm motions

Swim on Front

Front crawl
Breaststroke
Butterfly

Swim on Back

Back crawl
Elementary backstroke

Swim on Side

Swim on side with scissors kick

General and Personal Water Safety

Additional rules for safe diving
Compact jump from height while wearing a life jacket

Helping Others

Throwing assist
Care for conscious choking victim

Exit Skills

Exit Skill 1
Exit Skill 2

Adult Beginners *

Please see Youth Levels 1-4

* All lessons will be tailored to fit the specific needs of the students

Adult Stroke Mechanics *

Strokes

Front Crawl - 100 Yards
Back Crawl - 100 Yards
Breaststroke - 100 Yards
Elementary Backstroke - 50 yards
Sidestroke - 50 yards
Butterfly - 50 yards

Turns

Front Crawl open turn
Sidestroke open turn
Backstroke open turn
Front flip turn
Breaststroke turn
Butterfly turn
Backstroke flip turn