CLASS DESCRIPTIONS - GROUP LESSONS

Parent/Tot (6-42 months) - 30 minutes, 10 parent/tot pairs/class

This class provides the opportunity for your child to become confident in a pool environment while in the arms of a trusted parent.  An instructor will be present to assist you in ways to make this first water experience a pleasant one for both parent & child.  This class is not intended to teach your child to swim, but to provide a relaxed, fun atmosphere for you and your child to develop a lifelong love of swimming.  This class is designed for children 6 months to 3 years of age.  An adult must accompany the child in the pool and all children are required to wear swim diapers (unless they are toilet trained.)

Tiny Splasher (3 year olds only) - 30 minutes, 4 students/class

This class is only for 3 year old children, toilet trained. and able to be separated from parents/guardians for 30 minutes.  This level introduces children to the water.  Students will develop a sense of confidence and independence and be introduced to water safety skills while having fun.  There is no advancement from this class until the child turns four.  Swimmers are welcomed to take this class more than once.

The following skills will be developed in Tiny Splashers:

• Safely entering/exiting the pool
• Putting the face in the water and blowing bubbles
• Jumping in and climbing out of the water (w/ instructor help
• Flutter kick on front, with or without floatation belt/noodle
• Flutter kick on back, with instructor help
• Instructor supported back float with ears in the water
• Introduction to reaching/scooping w/ arms
• Water safety skills will be discussed

SCHOOL AGE LESSONS

Note: Long hair must be tied back or in a cap. Goggles are recommended.

Level 1 (4-12 year olds) - 30 minutes, 5 students/class

Children must be able to pay attention for 30 minutes at a time. This class is designed for children ages 4 and older.  Swimmers will learn correct body position and how to breathe efficiently.  Water safety skills will be taught. For students ages 9-12, there is a new class on Sundays at 11:30 am geared just towards this age group.

Successful completion of Level 1 requires:

• Putting face in the water & blowing bubbles
• Bobbing under water with correct breathing
• Jumping in with instructor support
• Straight leg flutter kick on front & back
• Rolling over from front to back and back to front
• Streamline on front with face in
• Streamline on back with good body position
• Front & back float without instructor support (10 sec.)
• Front arm pull (reaching/scooping)
• Proper side-breathing mechanics
• Water safety skills will be taught

Level 2 (4-12 year olds) - 30 minutes, 5 students/class, Pre-requisite: Level 1 skills

By Level 2, the emphasis is on continued development of confidence and feel of the water.  Students will remain in this level under they are swimming both freestyle and backstroke independently with good form for 25 yards.

Successful completion of Level 2 requires:

• Unsupported front & back float with correct body position (10 sec.)
• Front & back streamline push-offs from the wall
• Introduction to treading water
• Retrieving an object from the bottom of the pool
• Kicking on back while sculling with arms
• Kicking on front with face using side breathing (w/ board or noodle)
• Kicking on back with noodle held at hips, head back
• Independent freestyle for 25 yards using a front streamline push-off, reaching arms, rotary breathing and straight leg flutter kick
• Independent backstroke for 25 yards using a back streamline push-off, keeping head back with straight leg kicking.
• Jumping in & fully submerging without instructor support
• Water safety skills

Level 3 (6-13 year olds) - 30 minutes, 6 students/class, Pre-requisite: Level 2 skills

In Level 3, children will continue to build on their endurance in freestyle and backstroke.  They will also be introduced to the mechanics of breaststroke as well as two different diving skills.

Successful completion of Level 3 requires:

• 25 yards freestyle with proper body position, strong kick and proper side breathing
• 25 yards backstroke with proper body position and strong kick
• 10 yards underwater swimming
• 30 seconds treading water
• Elementary backstroke
• Breaststroke basics
• Standing dive & kneeling dive into the pool
• Water safety skills including survival float and back float in deep water

Level 4 (6-14 year olds) - 30 minutes, 8 students/class, Pre-requisite: Level 3 skills

Level 4 builds on the freestyle and backstroke skills learned in Level 3.  Swimmers will increase their endurance and begin to learn breaststroke and butterfly.

Successful completion of Level 4 requires: 

• 50 yards freestyle with proper body position, breathing, and kick
• 50 yards backstroke with proper body position and kick
• 25 yards breaststroke with proper whip kick
• 25 yards butterfly with proper body position and kick
• 25 yards elementary backstroke
• 15 yards underwater swimming
• 100 yards Individual Medley (25 fly, 25 back, 25 breast, 25 free)
• Dolphin kick on front with arms at sides
• 60 seconds of treading water
• Freestyle & backstroke open turns
• Standing/kneeling dives
• Water safety skills including reaching assists

Level 5 (6-14 year olds) - 45 minutes, 10 students/class, Pre-requisite: Consistent demonstration of Level 4 skills

Level 5 is a 45 minute class. This level includes the successful coordination of the breaststroke, butterfly, and mastery of flip-turns.  Many swimmers will repeat this level to learn proper technique.  Level 5 continues to build on endurance, diving and turns.

Successful completion of Level 5 requires:

• 50 yards freestyle with flip-turn
• 50 yards backstroke with steady kick and streamlined underwater kick
• 50 yards breaststroke with proper head position and timing
• 50 yards butterfly with proper timing and breath pattern
• Open backstroke & breaststroke turns
• 2 minutes treading water
• Water safety skills including stride entry (lifesaving jump)

Level 6 (11-15 year olds) - 1 hour, 12 students/class, Pre-requisite: Consistent demonstration of Level 5 skills and recommendation of instructor

Level 6 is one hour in length.  Swimmers should demonstrate the proper mechanics for each of the four competitive strokes.  A large focus of this group will be to build endurance and strength.

Successful completion of Level 6 requires:

• 100 yards freestyle (proper catch position, pull pattern, rotation and flip-turns)
• 100 yards backstroke (proper start, pull pattern and rotation)
• 50 yards breaststroke (proper turns and underwater pull-outs)
• 50 yards butterfly (proper timing, breath patterns)
• Backstroke flip-turn
• Butterfly open turn
• 200 yards Individual Medley (50 fly, 50 back, 50 breast, 50 free)
• 3 minutes treading water (1 minute w/ hand above the water)

Blue Sharks (9-14 years old), 1 hour/2 days/week, Pre-requisite: Evaluation

Please note that Blue Sharks is not offered during our summer sessions since many of our students swim on summer swim teams. Blue Sharks students may register for Peddie's Technique Swim Camp if you are interested in a full day, week long swimming program.

This level offers 2 days of training each week and provides the swimmer an opportunity for fitness, preparation for swim team try-outs or warm-up for summer swimming.

To move on to our Blue Sharks group, swimmers must be between 9-14 years of age and must attend an evaluation by the Lesson Supervisor.  All four competitive strokes must be mastered to be considered.

High School Warm-up (14-18 years old), 1.5 hrs/3 days/week for 8 weeks

This program is designed to give High School swimmers the opportunity to train, and prepare for their high school season. It is strictly a training program for the competitive High School season. It is designed for those swimmers who do not wish to participate in Club Swimming year round. No competition will be required or offered on the Peddie Aquatics Club team. Swimmers will get technique training as well as endurance training, in the water and out...in order to prepare them for High School Swim Season. Please state the name of your High School Swim Team in the "Medical Info/Notes" section when registering.

Questions: Contact Wendy MacCarthy: swimlessons@peddie.org