Introduction to Water Skills

• Enter and exit the water using the ramp, ladder, or side
• Blowing bubbles through the mouth and nose and putting the face in the water
• Bobbing five times, opening eyes underwater, and retrieving submerged objects, two times (in shallow water)
• Front and back glide two body lengths. 
• Roll from front to back and back to front
• Simultaneous leg action on the front, two body lengths
• Combined arm and leg actions on the front, two body lengths
• Combined arm and leg action on the back with support, two body lengths. 
• Glide on front at least two body lengths, and roll to a back float for three seconds with support.
  

Fundamental Aquatic Skills

Build on the skills introduced in Level 1, with participants improving these skills and learning more advanced skills.The child must successfully complete and demonstrate level 1 skills.

• Fully submerged underwater, blowing bubbles while underwater. Front float, five seconds
• Tuck float, five seconds
• Front glide, two body lengths
• Recover from a front float to glide to a vertical position
• Recover from a back float or glide to a vertical position
• Back float, ten to fifteen seconds
• Treading using arm and leg actions, fifteen seconds (in shoulder-deep water)
• Combined arm and leg actions on the front, five body lengths
• Combined arm and leg actions on the back, five body lengths
• Finning arm action on back, five body lengths

Stroke Development

The child must successfully complete and demonstrate level 2 skills.

• Enter water by jumping from the side (into deep water)
• Headfirst entry from the side in a sitting position (in the deep end) 
• Bobbing while moving toward safety five times (in chest-deep water)
• Rotary breathing 
• Survival float on the front, thirty seconds (in deep water)
• Back float, thirty seconds (in deep water)
• Change from vertical to horizontal position on the front (in deep water) 
• Change from vertical to horizontal position on the back (in deep water)
• Tread water for thirty seconds (in deep water)
• Push off in a streamlined position on the front, then begin dolphin kicking five body lengths
• Front crawl (we teach alternative breathing techniques) 
• Elementary backstroke, fifteen yards

Stroke Improvement

The child must successfully complete and demonstrate level 3 skills.

• Headfirst entry from the side in a compact position (deep end)
• Headfirst entry from the side in a stride position (deep end)
• Swim under water, fifteen yards
• Feet first surface dive, submerging completely
• Survival swimming, thirty seconds 
• Front crawl open turn
• Backstroke open turn
• Treat water using two different kicks (modified scissors, modified breaststroke, or rotary) for two minutes
• Front crawl, twenty-five yards 
• Breaststroke, fifteen yards
• Butterfly, fifteen yards
• Push off in a streamlined position on back and begin flutter kicking, fifteen yards
• Push off in a streamlined position on back and begin dolphin kick, fifteen yards
• Elementary backstroke, twenty-five yards
• Backstroke, twenty-five yards
• Sidestroke, fifteen yards