Page 11 - Final Brochure 2021 Summer R2

American Red Cross Swimming Course Descriptions

The “Learn to Swim” courses (Level 1-6) cover a range of skills. Students should be placed in the appropriate level
based on their abilities, and must complete one level and get their certificate (or demonstrate level requirements) before
entering the next level. Please refer to the descriptions below to determine what level your child should be.
Little Swimmers (ages 1-5 years) Level 4: Stroke Improvement
These programs emphasize water adjustment, fun, and Level 4 participants learn to: perform shallow dive or dive
preparatory activities for swimming. Each child must be from stride positon, perform open turns on front and back
accompanied by a parent or other adult in the water. NO using any stroke, use safe diving rules, perform a throw-
diapers in the pool. Swim diapers or plastic pants ing assist, swim underwater, tread water using sculling
ONLY. Class Limit: 6 arm motions and kick, perform compact jump into water
from a height while wearing a life jacket. They will also
Pre-School (ages 3-5 years) perform feet-first surface dive, perform the following:
This class is for swimmers ready to learn to swim without Front and back crawl, swim on side using scissors-like
mom or dad. This class bridges between Little Swim- kick, breaststroke, butterfly, elementary backstroke.
mers and Level 1. Basic skills taught using games, Class Limit: 6
songs and toys to provide a fun introduction to swimming
and water safety. Class Limit: 4

Level 5: Stroke Refinement
Level 1: Intro to Water Skills (ages 5 & up) This class provides further coordination and refinement of
This class helps students feel comfortable in the water. strokes. Level 5 participants learn survival swimming
Level 1 participants learn to: enter and exit water safely, and perform rescue breathing. They will also perform the
open eyes underwater, pick up submerged object, swim following: standing dive, open turns on front and back,
on front and back using arm and leg actions, submerge front and back crawl, tuck surface dive and pike surface
mouth, nose and eyes. They will also, float on front and dive, front flip turn and backstroke flip turn, elementary
back, follow basic water safety rules, exhale underwater backstroke, butterfly, breast stroke and sidestroke.
through mouth and nose, explore arm and hand move-
ments, and use a life jacket. Class Limit: 6
Class Limit: 4

Level 6: Swimming and Skill Proficiency
Level 2: Fundamental Aquatic Skills This class refines the strokes so students swim with ease,
Level 2 participants learn to: enter water by stepping or efficiency, power and smoothness over greater distances.
jumping from the side, open eyes underwater, pick up a Level 6 is designed with “menu” options that focus on
submerged object, roll over from front to back, back to preparing students to participate in more advanced
front, swim on side, exit water safely using ladder or side, courses. Level 6a - Lifeguard readiness and Level 6b -
float on front and back. They will also tread water using Fundamentals of diving. Class Limit: 6
arm and leg motions, move in the water while wearing a
life jacket, submerge entire head, perform front and back
glide, and swim on front and back using combined We encourage all participants to download
strokes. Class Limit: 5 the American Red Cross Swim app as it
helps keep track of levels they have
completed along with videos so they can
Level 3: Stroke Development practice their skills outside of class.
Level 3 participants learn to: jump into deep water from
the side, bob with the head fully submerged, perform
survival float, butterfly - kick and body motion. They will
also use Check-Call-Care in an emergency, dive from
kneeling or standing position, and use rotary breathing in
horizontal position, change from horizontal to vertical
position on front and back; perform the HELP and Hud-
dle positions, submerge and retrieve and object, perform
front and back glide, perform front and back crawl, and
perform a reaching assist. Class Limit: 5

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