Puffers

This is a beginner swim class designed for the nervous swimmer or very beginner. These ages tend to have more fear of the water because they have not learned how to swim and are a little older. We understand that and work on being safe in the water and not scared of it. We will work on submersion’s and back floats while assisting the child to feel comfortable and safe in the water. The foundation of streamlining will be introduced. We also work on building confidence in and around the water and encourage the swimmers to have some fun in the pool.

Class limit: 4

The Goals of a Puffers Class:

1. Develop a high comfort level underwater
2. Float independently 3 to 5 feet, eyes down
3. Master a turn-around swim
4. Develop a relaxed back float

The requirements to graduate into the Stingrays class are: Relaxed prone float 3 to 5 feet; back floating with minimal assistance; and be able to demonstrate a safety swim

Stingrays

This level is for the swimmer who has developed comfort in the water and is ready learn the basics of freestyle and backstroke and streamlining. The students discover in this class that the water is a fun place to be and learn to develop their own sense of confidence. Adding correct arms to their streamline is where we spend a lot of time in preparation for learning to side breathing. Safety is reinforced in each class and we review what to do if they fell in the pool.

Class limit: 4

The Goals of a Stingrays Class:

1. Develop good streamlining skills
2. Swim freestyle with correct arms
3. Independent backstroke kick with arms at the side and in a streamline to the wall

The requirements to graduate into the Seals class are: A relaxed head down Freestyle swim, able to back float with kicks in a streamline back to the wall, and the unassisted safety swim.

Seals

The Seals class is for children who are able to swim freestyle and backstroke over a short distance and are now ready to learn freestyle side breathing (preferred side breathing). Adding side breathing takes practice and we do a lot of correct reinforcement of the basics learned up to this point. In this class we see the swimmers putting all the things learned above together and their confidence grows. Swimming some distanced is added in the pool and the safety swims are practiced.

Class limit: 4

The Goals of a Seals Class:

1. Freestyle side breathing to the preferred side
2. Maintain back streamline and kick while teaching backstroke arms
3. Teach butterfly and breaststroke kicks

The requirements to graduate into the Dolphins class are: Preferred side breathing, full backstroke, and the safety swim

Dolphins

Dolphin swimmers have achieved the skills of swimming backstroke and freestyle with side breathing to the preferred side. These students are now ready to learn freestyle side breathing to the non-preferred side and butterfly and breaststroke Progression. Proper technique and plenty of practice time is given to these swimmers in order for them to put all the stroke progressions together. This is an exciting time to see all the hard work done in the previous classes as a true swimmer emerges.

Class limit: 4

The Goals of a Dolphin Class:

1. Freestyle side breathing to the non-preferred side
2. Learn underwater starts
3. Learn the correct Butterfly and Breaststroke progression

The requirements to graduate into the Sharks class are: Relaxed Freestyle swim, float independently three to five feet; back floating with minimal assistance; and be able to demonstrate a safety swim. For 5 -13 year olds, visit our Pre swim team section.

Sharks

This class is where we focus on bilateral side breathing. The students are also ready to learn the flip turns by pushing off the wall in a back streamline and executing sit-down dives with the correct commands. We will also work on teaching butterfly and breaststroke progression with breathing. In the Shark class, we are preparing our swimmers for swim team abilities. Many times on a swim team, proper strokes are not practiced and work out distance is what is focused on. We work with our swimmers on the benefit of doing all the strokes correctly which result in faster swims on the swim team!

Class limit: 4

The Goals of a Sharks Class:

1. Master freestyle with bi-lateral breathing
2. Master Flip turns
3. Breaststroke and butterfly progression with breathing

The requirements to graduate into the Pre Swim Team class are: Be able to demonstrate bilateral breathing; breathing for butterfly and breaststroke; and be comfortable with flip turns at the wall. For 5 -13 year olds, visit our Pre-swim team section.

Pre-Swim Team

The Power and Endurance Pre-Swim Teams are a place where swimmers can practice their swimming skills and work on their endurance in the pool. We have two different levels of Pre-Swim Teams. Our first team is called Endurance and we work with the swimmers on swimming longer distances while maintaining their fundamentals. Our more advanced team is called Power and that is where we work with the swimmers on advance techniques that will maintain their endurance.

PRIMARY GOALS

1. Develop strength in the pool
2. Increase endurance while swimming
3. Maintain fundamentals

Requirements To Swim On Endurance Pre-Swim Team:
This team is joined by Instructor invitation only. The reason we select our swimmers is that many of our students are not ready for the endurance portion of this team. We are looking for swimmers who understand how to move in a group, can swim freestyle ½ the length of the big pool taking only one breath, and are able to kick on their back with correct form.

Requirements To Swim On Power Pre-Swim Team:
This team is by invitation only for Dolphins and below. Sharks and above are welcome. On this team, we are looking for swimmers who are able to swim using side breathing to their preferred side and who are also in the process of learning non preferred side breathing. Kicking is an important part of this team and we want to make sure these swimmers have a firm grasp of their stroke of the week kicks. This team will use flip turns as they perform their endurance swims and use advanced swim skills.