Group Swim Lesson Placement Guide

Due to the progressive nature of swim lessons appropriate placement is essential.  Every child will be evaluated by our Water Safety Instructors for his/her level at the beginning of each session.  The program descriptions listed below are to inform you of the different levels of the American Red Cross Learn to Swim Program only:

Welcome to the City of Groveport’s new and improved swim lesson program.  We have redesigned our swim lesson program to be consistent with the new 2009 guidelines set by the American Red Cross Learn to Swim Program.  In making this change, we will continue to offer quality swim lessons with the objective to help participants be safe when they are in or around the water.  With the new structure of the levels, we hope to simplify your understanding the progression of levels, and the overall experience of taking swim lessons with the City of Groveport.

Below is listed the different classes, objectives of each class as well as the exit assessment each individual must pass to move to the next level.  If all of this seems a bit overwhelming don’t worry our instructors will evaluate each participant at the beginning of each session and place them accordingly.  If you have any questions about Swim Lessons please contact:

Parent and Child Swim Classes

(Children under 3 years old) Parents are in the water with the children.  All children not toilet trained must wear a waterproof diaper

Parent and Child Level 1
Ages 3 months to 6 months
This class is designed allow parents and little ones to have a peaceful and relaxing first experience with the pool. Singing, games and some basic skills are taught, designed to help you and your child learn to love the pool.

Parent and Child Level 2
Ages 6 months to 1.5 years
This is a class for children who haven’t had lessons or experience with water. It is designed to help the child trust the parent in the water. The instructor teaches the child to respect the water and enjoy the experience with the parent through drills, games and songs. The child will be going under the water within the first few weeks.

Parent and Child Level 3
Ages 1.5 to  2.5 years
Children must already be comfortable in the water, enjoy going under water, be able to swim a short distance after jumping into the water and be comfortable lying on their back with little support.

Parent and Child Level 4
Ages 2.5 to 3 years
Parents will start the session with their child in the water and then move out of the water slowly, away from their child until the instructor is teaching the children without the parents being present.

Preschool Level 1 (Ages 3-5)

Learning Objectives

• Enter and exit water using ladder, steps or side
• Bowing bubbles through mouth and nose, 3 seconds
• Submerging mouth, nose and eyes
• Opening eyes under water and retrieving submerged objects, 2 times (in shallow water)
• Front and back glide, 2 body lengths
• Recover from a front glide to a vertical position
• Back float, 3 seconds
• Recover from a back float to a vertical position
• Roll from front to back and back to front
• Treading with arm and hand actions (chest-deep)
• Alternating leg action on front, 2 body lengths
• Simultaneous leg action on front, 2 body lengths
• Alternating arm action on front, 2 body lengths
• Combo arm and leg actions on front, 2 body lengths
• Simultaneous leg action on back, 2 body lengths
• Simultaneous arm action on back, 2 body lengths
• Simultaneous arm action on front, 2 body lengths
• Alternating leg action on back, 2 body lengths
• Alternating arm action on back, 2 body lengths
• Combined arm and leg actions on back, 2 body lengths

Exit Skills Assessment

• Enter independently, using either the ladder, steps or side, travel at least 5 yards, submerge to mouth and blow bubbles for at least 3 seconds then safely exit the water. Children can walk, move along the gutter or swim.
• While in shallow water, glide on front at least 2 body lengths, then roll to back and float on back for 3 seconds then recover to a vertical position

Preschool Level 2 (Ages 3-5)

Learning Objectives

• Bobbing, 3 times
• Enter water by stepping in (in shoulder deep water)
• Exit water using ladder, steps or side (in chest-deep water)
• Opening eyes under water and retrieving submerged objects, 2 times (in chest-deep water)
• Front float, 3 seconds
• Front glide, 2 body lengths
• Recover from a front float or glide to a vertical position
• Back float, 5 seconds
• Back glide, 2 body lengths
• Recover from a back float or glide to a vertical position
• Roll from front to back and back to front
• Treading using arm and leg actions, 5 seconds (in shoulder-deep water)
• Combined arm and leg actions on front and back, 3 body lengths
• Finning arm action on back, 3 body lengths

Exit Skills Assessment

• Glide on front at least 2 body lengths, roll to back, float on back for 5 seconds then recover to a vertical position.
• Glide on back for at least 2 body lengths, roll to front, float for 5 seconds then recover to a vertical position.
• Swim using combined arm and leg actions on front for 3 body lengths, roll to back, float for 5 seconds, roll to front then continue swimming on front for 3 body lengths

Preschool Level 3 (Ages 3-5)

Learning Objectives

• Enter water by jumping in shoulder-deep water
• Fully submerging and holding breath, 5 seconds
• Bobbing, 5 times (in chest-deep water)
• Front float, 5 seconds
• Jellyfish float, 5 seconds
• Tuck float, 5 seconds
• Recover from a front float to a vertical position
• Back float, 15 seconds
• Back glide, 2 body lengths
• Recover from a back float or glide to a vertical pos.
• Change direction of travel while swimming on front or back
• Treading using arm and leg actions, 15 seconds (in shoulder-deep water)
• Combined arm and leg actions on front and back, 5 body lengths
• Finning arm action on back, 5 body lengths

Exit Skills Assessment

• Step from side into chest-deep water, move into a front float for 5 seconds, roll to back, float for 5 seconds then return to a vertical position
• Move into a back float for 5 seconds, roll to front then recover to a vertical position
• Push off and swim using combined arm and leg actions on front for 5 body lengths, roll to back, float for 15 seconds, roll to front then continue swimming for 5 body lengths. (Child can be assisted when taking a breath.)

Learn to Swim Level 1

Learning Objectives

• Enter water using ladder, steps or side
• Exit water using ladder, steps or side
• Blowing bubbles through mouth and nose, 3 seconds
• Bobbing, 3 times
• Opening eyes under water and retrieving submerged objects, 2 times (in shallow water)
• Front glide, 2 body lengths
• Recover from a front glide to a vertical position
• Back glide, 2 body lengths
• Back float, 3 seconds
• Recover from a back float or glide to a vertical position
• Roll from front to back
• Roll from back to front
• Treading using arm and hand actions (in chest-deep water)
• Alternating leg action on front, 2 body lengths
• Simultaneous leg action on front, 2 body lengths
• Alternating arm action on front, 2 body lengths
• Simultaneous arm action on front, 2 body lengths
• Combined arm and leg actions on front, 2 body lengths
• Alternating leg action on back, 2 body lengths
• Simultaneous leg action on back, 2 body lengths
• Alternating arm action on back, 2 body lengths
• Simultaneous arm action on back, 2 body lengths
• Combined arm and leg actions on back, 2 body lengths

Exit Skills Assessment

• Enter independently, using either the ladder, steps or side, travel at least 5 yards, bob 3 times then safely exit the water. (Participants can walk, move along the gutter or “swim.”)
• Glide on front at least 2 body lengths, roll to a back float for 3 seconds and recover to a vertical position. (This part of the assessment can be performed with support.)

Learn to Swim Level 2

Learning Objectives

• Enter water by stepping or jumping from the side (in shoulder-deep water)
• Exit water using ladder, steps or side (in chest-deep water)
• Fully submerging and holding breath, 5 seconds
• Bobbing, 5 times (in chest-deep water)
• Opening eyes under water and retrieving submerged objects, 2 times (in chest-deep water)
• Front float, 5 seconds
• Jellyfish float, 5 seconds
• Tuck float, 5 seconds
• Front glide, 2 body lengths
• Recover from a front float or glide to a vertical position
• Back float, 15 seconds
• Back glide, 2 body lengths
• Recover from a back float or glide to a vertical position
• Roll from front to back
• Roll from back to front
• Change direction while swimming on front or back
• Treading using arm and leg actions, 15 seconds (in shoulder-deep water)
• Combined arm and leg actions on front, 5 body lengths
• Finning arm action on back, 5 body lengths
• Combined arm and leg actions on back, 5 body lengths

Exit Skills Assessment

• Step from side into chest-deep water, move into a front float for 5 seconds, roll to back, float for 5 seconds then return to a vertical position.
• Move into a back float for 5 seconds, roll to front then recover to a vertical position.
• Push off and swim using combined 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.  The participant can be assisted when taking a breath.

Learn to Swim Level 3

Learning Objectives

• Enter water by jumping from the side (into deep water)
• Headfirst entry from the side in a sitting position (in water at least 9 feet deep)
• Headfirst entry from the side in a kneeling position (in water at least 9 feet deep)
• Bobbing while moving toward safety, 5 times (in chest-deep water)
• Rotary breathing, 10 times
• Survival float on front, 30 seconds (in deep water)
• Back float, 30 seconds (in deep water)
• Change from vertical to horizontal position on front (in deep water)
• Change from vertical to horizontal position on back (in deep water)
• Tread water, 30 seconds (in deep water)
• Push off in a streamlined position on front then begin flutter kicking, 3–5 body lengths
• Push off in a streamlined position on front then begin dolphin kicking, 3–5 body lengths
• Front crawl, 15 yards
• Elementary backstroke, 15 yards
• Scissors kick, 10 yards

Exit Skills Assessment

• Jump into deep water from the side, swim front crawl for 15 yards, maintain position by treading or floating for 30 seconds and swim elementary backstroke for 15 yards.

Learn to Swim Level 4

Learning Objectives

• Headfirst entry from the side in a compact position (in water at least 9 feet deep)
• Headfirst entry from the side in a stride position (in water at least 9 feet deep)
• Swim under water, 3–5 body lengths
• Feet first surface dive, submerging completely
• Survival swimming, 30 seconds (in deep water)
• Front crawl open turn
• Tread water using 2 different kicks (modified scissors, modified breaststroke or rotary), 2 minutes
• Front crawl, 25 yards
• Breaststroke, 15 yards
• Butterfly, 15 yards
• Push off in a streamlined position on back and begin flutter kicking, 3–5 body lengths
• Push off in a streamlined position on back and begin dolphin kicking, 3–5 body lengths
• Elementary backstroke, 25 yards
• Back crawl, 15 yards
• Sidestroke, 15 yards

Exit Skills Assessment

• Perform a feetfirst entry into deep water, swim front crawl for 25 yards, change direction and position as necessary and swim elementary backstroke for 25 yards.
• Swim breaststroke for 15 yards, change direction and position as necessary and swim back crawl for 15 yards.

Learn to Swim Level 5

Learning Objectives

• Shallow-angle dive from the side (in water at least 9 feet deep)
• Shallow-angle dive, glide 2 body lengths and begin any front stroke (in water at least 9 feet deep)
• Tuck surface dive, submerging completely
• Pike surface dive, submerging completely
• Front flip turn while swimming
• Backstroke flip turn while swimming
• Tread water, 5 minutes
• Front crawl, 50 yards
• Breaststroke, 25 yards
• Butterfly, 25 yards
• Elementary backstroke, 50 yards
• Back crawl, 25 yards
• Standard scull, 30 seconds
• Sidestroke, 25 yards

Exit Skills Assessment

• Perform a shallow-angle dive into deep water, swim front crawl for 50 yards, change direction and position of travel as necessary and swim elementary backstroke for 50 yards.
• Swim breaststroke for 25 yards, change direction and position of travel as necessary and swim back crawl for 25 yards.

Learn to Swim Level 6

Swimming and Skill Proficiency: refines the strokes so students swim them with ease, efficiency, power and smoothness over greater distances. Level 6 is designed with "menu" options. Each of these options focus on preparing students to participate in more advance courses, such as Water Safety Instructor and Lifeguard Training. These options include:

• Personal Water Safety
• Lifeguard Readiness
• Fundamentals of Diving
• Fitness Swimming