| Course Name: | Beginner 1 Non Swimmer |
| Age: | For non-swimmers 5 years + |
| Length of Session: | 40 / 45 minutes |
| Max. student :instructor ratio: | 4:1 |
| This stage offers an introduction to swimming lessons for the school aged child who cannot swim. The primary aim at this stage is to build self confidence and introduce the basic skills of floating, gliding and fundamental water skills. The child will then progress to the primary skills needed for freestyle and backstroke including body position, strong kicking action, and efficient arm movements. This level would also include basic safety aspects of entry and exit into the pool and aims to produce a relaxed and confident swimmer who can begin to learn the fundamentals of recognized swimming strokes. | |
| Course Name: | Beginner 1 Swimmer |
| Age: | Students are placed depending on their ability |
| Length of Session: | 40 / 45 minutes |
| Max. student :instructor ratio: | 4:1 |
| Children should be able to swim at least 5-10 meters and lift their head to take a breath. The aim at this level is to master the co-ordination of freestyle and backstroke whilst building on the skills learnt in the previous stage. Children at this stage will continue to learn the basics of freestyle and backstroke, such as correct body and head position, as well as being taught water safety skills and build their overall confidence. The aim is for the child to be able to swim 10 meters of Freestyle lifting arms over and breathing to the side, and 10 meters of Backstroke, with strong kick and basic arm movement. | |
| Course Name: | Beginner 1 Advanced |
| Age: | Students are placed depending on their ability |
| Length of Session: | 40 / 45 minutes |
| Max. student :instructor ratio: | 7:1 |
| Children should be able to swim at least 10 meters Freestyle with correct breathing to the side. The aim at this level is to improve the co-ordination of freestyle and backstroke whilst building on the skills learnt in the previous stage. Children at this stage will continue to learn the basics of freestyle and backstroke, such as correct body and head position, as well as being taught water safety skills and build their overall confidence. The aim is for the child to be able to swim 10 metres of freestyle maintaining good technique; strong flutter kick, lifting arms over, exhaling in the water and turning head to the side to breathe and to be able to swim 10 metres of backstroke with good body position,strong kick, and straight arm movement. | |
| Course Name: | Beginner 2 |
| Age: | Students are placed depending on their ability |
| Length of Session: | 40 / 45 minutes |
| Max. student :instructor ratio: | 8:1 |
| Children MUST be able to swim freestyle for 10 metres while breathing to the side and 10 meters backstroke to take this course. The main aim at this stage is to develop the swimmers endurance to 20 metres (2 widths) whilst maintaining the techniques previously learned. Constant vigilance by the coach to each child’s technique is of great importance at this stage; and a more advanced understanding of stroke technique will be introduced, such as lifting arm by elbow on freestyle, and the importance of correct hand positions entering the water. Emphasis on a strong kicking movement continues to be a major element at this stage. The fundamentals of diving safely from the sitting position and maintaining a streamlined position underwater are also introduced at this stage. | |
| Course Name: | Beginner 2 Advanced |
| Age: | Students are placed depending on their ability |
| Length of Session: | 40 / 45 minutes |
| Max. student :instructor ratio: | 9:1 |
| Children MUST be able to swim freestyle for 20 metres (2 widths) while breathing to the side and 20 metres (2 widths) backstroke to take this course. The aim at this stage continues to be to develop endurance over longer distances 40 metres (4 widths) whilst maintaining good stroke technique and propulsion in freestyle and backstroke. At this stage, the fundamentals of the breaststroke are introduced with particular emphasis on the correct kicking technique. Children are taught how to plantar flex their feet and kick back correctly with a ‘whip kick’ action. Breaststroke pull is then introduced, until a basic technique can be maintained over 20 metres (2 widths). Diving techniques from the crouching position are introduced. | |
| Course Name: | Beginner 3 |
| Age: | Students are placed depending on their ability rather than age |
| Length of Session: | 40 / 45 minutes |
| Max. student :instructor ratio: | 10:1 |
| Children must be able to swim freestyle, backstroke and a basic breaststroke for 40 metres (4 widths) to take this course. The skills and stroke techniques learnt in the previous stages are further refined and developed over distance at this stage. Developing the correct techniques of breaststroke i.e. the timing of the stroke are an important element in this stage before children progress to swimming lengths of the pool. The aim is for children to be able to swim 6-8 widths of the pool continuously, while maintaining correct stroke technique in freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke. Children will be introduced to the dolphin or butterfly kick at this stage. Diving techniques are further developed until children can safely dive from the crouch position. | |
| Course Name: | Beginner 4 |
| Age: | Students are placed depending on their ability rather than age |
| Length of Session: | 55 / 60 minutes |
| Max. student :instructor ratio: | 16:1 |
| Children must be able to swim freestyle backstroke, and breaststroke for a minimum 25 meters continuously to take this course. This class is conducted with the coach on pool deck, over lengths in a ‘lane’ of the pool. Basic ‘lane’ swimming discipline is introduced, as well as ‘streamlined’ starts and correct finish at the wall for each stroke. At this stage the aim is to maintain and build on all the techniques already learned, until children can swim 50 meters of freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke with little or no deterioration of stroke technique. The butterfly kick is developed and the basic butterfly arm movement is introduced. Stroke technique is further refined and more advanced techniques and drills are introduced to develop endurance and ‘faster’ more efficient propulsion. The standing dive is introduced and developed. Once strokes can be maintained over distances of 50 meters continuously, progression to the Improver level can take place. | |
| Course Name: | Improver |
| Age: | Students are placed depending on their ability rather than age |
| Length of Session: | 55 / 60 minutes |
| Max. student :instructor ratio: | 16:1 |
| Children MUST be able to swim freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke for 50 metres continuously to take this course. At this stage the aim is to maintain and build on all the techniques already learned, until children can swim 100 metres of freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke with little or no deterioration of stroke technique. Stroke technique is further refined and more advanced techniques and drills are introduced to develop endurance and ‘faster’ more efficient propulsion Diving is developed into a ‘competitive start’ with streamlined position in the water. The ‘tumble turn’ technique is taught for freestyle and backstroke, as well as competitive breaststroke and butterfly starts and turns. | |
