American Red Cross Swim Levels

Preschool Aquatic Program

(3-5 yrs old) Children are introduced to the water without a parent.  This class teaches your child to become comfortable in the water, learn breath control by blowing bubbles and breath holding, floating, kicking, underwater exploration, and arm movements.

Level 1 – Introduction to Water Skill

For children with little or no experience.  Participants will become familiar with the aquatic environment and learn elementary skills such as blowing bubbles, submersion, assisted floating, assisted gliding, plus arm and leg movements.

Level 2 – Fundamental Skills

This class builds on skills learned in Level 1.  Must be able to enter the water unassisted.  Participants will learn to retrieve an object from below the surface with eyes open, flutter kick on front and back, arm movements on front and back, treading water, floating unassisted and must exit the pool unassisted.

Level 3 – Stroke Development

This class builds on locomotion skills learned in Levels 1 and 2.  Participants will learn rotary breathing for the Freestyle stroke.  Also taught is the Breaststroke kick, Scissors kick, Elementary Backstroke and Diving.  This class is taught in water over 6 ft deep.

Level 4 – Stroke Improvement

This class develops confidence and competency in aquatic locomotion.  Child must have passed level 3 and be able to Dive into the pool and swim under water.  Must also be able to swim 25 yds. of Freestyle and Backstroke without stopping.  Participants will learn Sidestroke, Breaststroke, and Butterfly. Also, they will learn open turns on both front and back.

Level 5 – Stroke Refinement

Refinement: This class coordinates and refines strokes presented in previous levels and enables students to use them with greater ease, efficiency, power and smoothness over greater distances.  Must be able to perform Sidestroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly, Backstroke, Elementary backstroke, and Freestyle.  Participants will learn Flip turns and rescue skills.