Norwood Swim Club

Swim Lesson Program

 

Norwood offers a five level lesson program suited for all youth ages and abilities, from beginner to advanced.  It is a modified and simplified version of the American Red Cross swim lesson program.

 

Level 1:

The intro level for the beginning swimmer, all skills are performed with assistance. Being comfortable and safe in the water is most important.

• Blowing bubbles through the mouth and nose

• Submerging the mouth, nose, and eyes

• Front float with and without alternating kicking

• Back float with and without alternating kicking

• Alternating arms on the front and back

• Elementary backstroke arms on the back

• Jumping in from side of pool

• Picking up submerged objects in chest deep water

**To move onto Level 2, a swimmer must demonstrate all of the above skills with some degree of comfort; some instructor assistance can be provided; they must comfortably and repeatedly put their entire face in the water**

 

Level 2:

The beginning swimmer becomes more comfortable in the water and begins to perform skills with some assistance.

• Bobbing (fully submerging the head), 5 times

• Front and back float, 5 seconds

• Alternating kicking on the front and back, 3 body lengths

• Rolling from front to back and back to front

• Alternating crawl stroke arms with or without head up breathing, 3 body lengths

• Elementary backstroke arms and legs on the back, 3 body lengths

• Picking up submerged objects in shoulder deep water

• Jumping in from side of pool and returning without assistance

• High level of comfort in shoulder deep water

**To move onto the Level 3, a swimmer must demonstrate all of the above skills with little to no instructor assistance; they must be able to get a breath when swimming on their front without touching the bottom; the back float and kicking must be independent or with minimal help**

 

Level 3:

Swimmers comfort level in the water is high and they become independent swimmers in shallow water; minimal assistance is provided.

• Front float with kicking

• Back float with kicking

• Alternating crawl stroke arms, rolling onto back to breathe and return to front

• Introduction to side breathing with crawl stroke

• Elementary backstroke arms and legs

• Introduction to backstroke

• Introduction to swimming in the deep end, including treading water

**To move onto the level 4, a swimmer must demonstrate all of the above skills for the width of the shallow end; the swimmer must also be comfortable swimming in the deep end and be able to get comfortably get a side breath and continue swimming on their front; all skills on their back must be done completely independently**

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Level 4:

Swimmers continue to refine old skills and learn new skills as they become independent swimmers in deep water; minimal assistance is provided.

• Front and back float with kicking

• Freestyle arms with side breathing only

• Elementary backstroke

• Backstroke

• Introduction to breaststroke

• Introduction to dolphin kicking on the front

• Treading water, 30 seconds

• Introduction to diving

**To move onto the level 5, a swimmer must demonstrate all of the above skills for the width of the deep end; swimmers should have a high level of comfort with side breathing on freestyle and have proper body position with all skills on their back**

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Level 5:

Swimmers continue to refine old skills and learn new skills.

• Stroke refinement of the freestyle, backstroke, and breaststroke (based on swim team disqualification standards)

• Treading water, 1 minute

• Diving, including racing dives

• Introduction to butterfly

• Introduction to flip turns