TADPOLE
Level 1 - Introduction to Water Skills
Objective: Designed to orient Swimmers to the aquatic environment and to help them gain basic aquatic
skills.
Fear level- High to Moderate
Lesson Learning Objectives:
• Enter and exit water using ladder, steps or side
• Blow bubbles through mouth and nose
• Bobbing
• Open eyes under water and retrieve submerged objects
• Front and back assisted streamline glides and floats, front and back
• Roll from front to
back and back to front
• Tread water using arm and hand actions
• Alternating and simultaneous leg actions on front and back
• Alternating and
simultaneous arm actions on front and back
• Combined arm and leg actions on
front and back
GOLDFISH
Level 2 - Basic Stroke Development and Aquatic Skills
Objective: Builds on basic aquatic skills and water safety skills and concepts learned in Level 1.
This level marks the beginning of independent aquatic locomotion skills. Introduction to deeper
water.
Fear Level: Low to None
Lesson Learning Objectives:
• Enter and exit water by stepping or jumping from the side
• Fully submerge and hold breath
• Bobbing
• Rotary breathing
• Open eyes under water and retrieve submerged objects
• Front, jellyfish and tuck floats
• Front and back assisted streamline glides and floats, front and back
• Roll from front to
back and back to front
• Beginning to kick in deeper water with kickboard
• Tread water using arm and leg actions
• Introduction to Stroke Kicks: Frog Kick, Dolphin, and Flutter
FLIPPER
Level 3 - Fundamental Stroke Development and Advanced Aquatic Skills Objective: Builds on the
skills in Level 2 through additional guided practice in deeper water. Basic Stroke development, and
swimming proficiency.
Fear Level: Low to None
Lesson Learning Objectives:
• Enter water by jumping from the side, fully submerging and recovery
• Headfirst entries
from the side in sitting and kneeling positions, diving fundamentals
• Independent Streamlines
• Kicking proficiently
• Change from vertical to horizontal position on front and back
• Tread water in
Deep Water
• Flutter and dolphin kicks on front and back
• Proficient breaststroke kicks
• Front Freestyle Proficiency
• Front Breast and Backstroke fundamentals
SHARK
Level 4 - Proficient Stroke Development
Objective: Seeks to improve participants’ proficiency in performing the strokes that were introduced
in Level 3. Participants perform these strokes with increased proficiency and are able to swim them for
greater distances. Fear Level: None
Lesson Learning Objectives:
• Confident Entries into deep water, feet first and head first
• Swim under
water
• Proficient surface diving
• Front Freestyle and backstroke open turns
• Tread water using 2 different kicks
• Front Freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly
• Flutter and dolphin kicks on back
• Swimming at longer distances, up to and beyond 25 yards