Swim Lessons – Detailed Descriptions of Levels – View Ridge Swim and Tennis Club

GROUP SWIM LESSONS - LEVEL DESCRIPTIONS

GROUP SWIM LESSONS – DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF LEVELS

This page displays detailed information of the class description, registration requirements, student to teacher ratio, and skills focus for each course level. For general information on our swim lesson program (including dates and how to register) please see our Swim Lessons page.

If you have any questions about our program or what level might be the right one for your child, please contact our swim lesson coordinator (Brianne Hartung Pan).

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MINNOW I (for ages 4 – 5)

For Ages: 4 – 5
Teacher-to-Student Ratio (Max): 1-to-5
Description: This class recognizes the developmental stage of children this age. They are designed to move the young swimmer from comfort and enjoyment of the water to basic strokes. Patience and fun are emphasized.
Registration Criteria: This class is for the first-time lesson taker.

Minnow I – Skills focus:

The following skills will be taught. Prior to moving to Minnow II the swimmer must be able to perform all the following skills or receive a passing report card from their instructor.

Comfortable in water
Face in water – 5 count
Face float – assisted
Back float – assisted
Assisted kick on front
Assisted kick on back
Stand on bottom of pool in shallow end and duck head completely
Deep water exposure
Safety Rules

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MINNOW II (for ages 4 – 5)

For Ages: 4 – 5
Teacher-to-Student Ratio (Max): 1-to-5
Description: This class recognizes the developmental stage of children this age. They are designed to move the young swimmer from comfort and enjoyment of the water to basic strokes. Patience and fun are emphasized.
Registration Criteria: To register for this class your child must be able to perform all skills taught in Minnow I.

Minnow II – Skills Focus:

The following skills will be taught in Minnow II, prior to moving to Minnow III the swimmer must be able to perform the following skills or receive a passing report card from their instructor.

Pick up ring from bottom step
Face float – unassisted – 10 seconds
Back float – unassisted
Kick on front – unassisted – 10 feet
Bob to bottom of 4 feet
Jump off wall
Introduction to sitting dives
Rhythmic breathing with kick
Safety Rules

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MINNOW III (for ages 4 – 5)

For Ages: 4 – 5
Teacher-to-Student Ratio (Max): 1-to-5
Description: This class is for little ones who are very comfortable in the water and can easily float anywhere in the pool. While they may be comfortable playing in the water, they are ready to learn the basic coordination required for traditional strokes.
Registration Criteria: To register for this class your child must be able to perform all skills taught in Minnow II.

Minnow III – Skills Focus:

The following skills will be taught in Minnow III, prior to moving to Beginner I the swimmer must be able to perform the following skills or receive a passing report card from their instructor.

Crawl stroke, with side breathing, across pool
Flat on front, 10 seconds; turn to back and float 10 seconds; turn to front and float 10 seconds
Backstroke
Kick with kickboard alone, halfway across the pool
Jump off side into deep water
Introduction to sitting and kneeling dives
Retrieve ring from bottom of pool at shallow end
Tread water
Safety Rules

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PRE-FLOATER (ages 5 & up)

For Ages: 5 & up
Teacher-to-Student Ratio (Max): 1-to-5
Description: This class is for older children who need to become comfortable in the water. They will work toward putting their face in the water and ultimately floating. These children usually have some real fear of the water, so patience will be emphasized.
Registration Criteria: This class is for older swimmers who are first time lesson takers.

Pre-Floater – Skills Focus:

The following skills will be taught in Pre-Floater, prior to moving to Floater the swimmer must be able to perform the following skills or receive a passing report card from their instructor.

Comfortable in water
Duck head underwater
Face in water – 10 count
Pick up ring from bottom step
Kick with kickboard
Front float – 10 count
Back float
Introduction to crawl stroke
Introduction to backstroke
Jump off wall
Bobbing
Safety Rules

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FLOATER (ages 5 & up)

For Ages: 5 & up
Teacher-to-Student Ratio (Max): 1-to-5
Description: This class is for older children who are somewhat comfortable in the water, can put their face in the water for a period of time, and are floating well. We will work on many prerequisites to swimming, like kicking and using their arms.
Registration Criteria: To register for this class your child must be and older swimmer and able to perform all skills taught in Pre-Floater.

Floater – Skills Focus:

The following skills will be taught in Floater, prior to moving to Beginner I the swimmer must be able to perform the following skills or receive a passing report card from their instructor.

Float and kick – 10 feet
Crawl stroke
Back float
Backstroke – assisted
Kick with kickboard alone across 3 lines
Jump from wall in deep end
Rhythmic breathing
Safety Rules

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BEGINNER I

Teacher-to-Student Ratio (Max): 1-to-6
Description: These swimmers are ready for the complicated coordination required of the crawl stroke. Students will also spend a great deal of time on their back and doing other activities to increase their confidence in deeper water. Correct technique will come before distance, and safety will be stressed.
Registration Criteria: To register for this class your child must be able to perform all skills taught in Minnow III (5yo and under) or Floater (6yo and over).

Beginner I – Skills Focus:

The following skills will be taught in Beginner I, prior to moving to Beginner II the swimmer must be able to perform the following skills or receive a passing report card from their instructor.

Crawl stroke, with side breathing, across pool
Flat on front, 10 seconds; turn to back and float 10 seconds; turn to front and float 10 seconds
Backstroke
Kick with kickboard alone, halfway across the pool
Jump off side into deep water
Introduction to sitting and kneeling dives
Retrieve ring from bottom of pool at shallow end
Tread water
Safety Rules

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BEGINNER II

Teacher-to-Student Ratio (Max): 1-to-6
Description: The crawl stroke will be improved (an emphasis placed on side breathing), more time spent on their back. Other skills are introduced such as treading water, underwater swimming, and diving from the side of the pool.
Registration Criteria: To register for this class your child must be able to perform all skills taught in Beginner I.

Beginner II – Skills Focus:

The following skills will be taught in Beginner II, prior to moving to Advanced Beginner the swimmer must be able to perform the following skills or receive a passing report card from their instructor.

Crawl stroke the length of the pool with good form
Backstroke width of the pool
Unassisted kick on the back 15 feet
Kick with kickboard a length of the pool
Swim underwater from the wall across 2 lines
Tread water in deep end for 20 seconds
Introduction to standing dives
Retrieve ring from bottom of pool at middle depth
Comfortable switching from back to front
Safety Rules

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ADVANCED BEGINNER

Teacher-to-Student Ratio (Max): 1-to-8
Description: This class will continue the progression towards a relaxed and efficient crawl stroke and backstroke. The breaststroke kick will be introduced. There will also be an increase in drills to help with continued skill development.
Registration Criteria: To register for this class your child must be able to perform all skills taught in Beginner II.

Advanced Beginner – Skills Focus:

The following skills will be taught in Advanced Beginner, prior to moving to Beginner Intermediate the swimmer must be able to perform the following skills or receive a passing report card from their instructor.

Crawl stroke the 2 lengths of the pool with good form
Kick 2 lengths of the pool with kickboard
Tread water for 1 minute
Dive off side at deep end and retrieve ring from bottom
Standing dive and swim 15 feet underwater
Swim backstroke 1 length of the pool
Introduction to breaststroke kick
Introduction to breaststroke arms
Safety Rules; assisting others

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BEGINNER INTERMEDIATE

Teacher-to-Student Ratio (Max): 1-to-8
Description: This class offers continued stroke development through increased distances. Breaststroke will be introduced.
Registration Criteria: To register for this class your child must be able to perform all skills taught in Advanced Beginner.

Beginner Intermediate – Skills Focus:

The following skills will be taught in Beginner Intermediate, prior to moving to Intermediate the swimmer must be able to perform the following skills or receive a passing report card from their instructor.

Swim crawl stroke 4 lengths of the pool with correct form
Unassisted kick on back half way across the pool
Kick with kickboard 3 lengths of the pool
Tread water for 1.5 minutes in deep end
Surface dive and retrieve ring from the bottom of the pool at deep end
Backstroke 2 lengths of the pool
Breaststroke with reasonable form
Introduction to butterfly kick
Introduction to racing dives from blocks
Safety Rules; assisting others

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INTERMEDIATE

Teacher-to-Student Ratio (Max): 1-to-8
Description: Strokes will continue to be improved with a great deal of emphasis on the breaststroke, a difficult yet valuable stroke. This class is often repeated by a swimmer because the skills take time to perfect.
Registration Criteria: To register for this class your child must be able to perform all skills taught in Beginner Intermediate.

Intermediate – Skills Focus:

The following skills will be taught in Intermediate, prior to moving to Racing the swimmer must be able to perform the following skills or receive a passing report card from their instructor.

Swim crawl stroke 5 lengths of the pool with correct form
Unassisted kick on back 1 length of the pool
Swim width of pool underwater, with 1 breath
Kick with kickboard 4 lengths of the pool
Swim backstroke 2 lengths of the pool
Breaststroke 1 length of the pool with proper coordination
Tread water in deep end for 2 minutes
Introduction to butterfly stroke
Surface dive and retrieve ring from the bottom of the pool at deep end
Safety Rules; assisting others

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RACING

Teacher-to-Student Ratio (Max): 1-to-8
Description: This class offers an emphasis on competitive strokes and turns, and designed to help a swim team member. Swim team workouts are not always the best place to makes sure strokes are efficient and correct, Racing is an opportunity for focused time on getting the right technique.
Registration Criteria: To register for this class your child must be able to perform all skills taught in Intermediate.

Racing – Skills Focus:

The following skills will be taught in Racing (the top level offered in our swim lesson program). Not all of these skills are taught every session and the skills taught are dependent upon the age and skills of the class. An option for continued focus would potentially be private lessons, but students often take Racing a number of times to focus and refine their skills.

Focus on refining technique for all competitive strokes
Streamlining dive and breakout off blocks
Introduction and improvement of freestyle flip turn
Introduction and improvement of backstroke stroke count and turns
Introduction and improvement of open breaststroke and butterfly turns
Introduction and improvement of IM turns
Legal finish instruction
Introduction of relay starts
Swim freestyle 4 lengths of pool with efficient stroke and flip turns
Swim backstroke 2 lengths of pool with efficient stroke and flip turn
Swim breaststroke 2 lengths of pool with legal efficient stroke, underwater pull and open turn
Swim butterfly 1 length of the pool of legal efficient stroke and finish.
Swim 100 IM
Safety Rules; assisting others

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