Swimmers must be able to pass the following criteria for each level.
PRE-K - For children ages 3-5 taking lessons for the first time. Kids learn water adjustment skills, become comfortable with putting their face in the water, and float with support on their front and back. Must be able to stand comfortably in 3 feet of water. No swim skills necessary.
LEVEL 1 - Know pool & rules; enter and exit water safely; submerge mouth, nose and eyes/blow bubbles; front float with support; back float with support; swim with lifejacket; change direction while walking or paddling; roll over from front to back; roll over from back to front; intro to flutter kick with noodle or kickboard; flutter kick on back with assistance; flutter kick on front with assistance; front float and then stand up; jump into water in the deep end; know when to yell for help.
LEVEL 2 - Enter water jumping from side/exit with ladder; submerge entire body, 15 bobs; open eyes - pickup object from shallow water; front glide with kick; back glide with kick; front glide with kick and front crawl arms; back glide with kick and elementary back arms; intro to rhythmic breathing; combine crawls arms and flutter kick; jump in deep water, flutter kick on back to side; introduction to treading water; floating on back for 10 sec./floating on front for 10 sec.; safety issues/911 calls/reaching assists; kneeling dives in deep end with assistance.
LEVEL 3 - Retrieve object from bottom; jump into deep water from side and tread 30 seconds; back crawl/front crawl - 15 yards each; intro to whip kick -15 yards with kickboard; intro to scissors kick - 15 yards with kickboard; intro to Dolphin, underwater or at surface; tread water with effective kick for 1 minute; front crawl with rhythmic breathing - 15 yards; help position, huddle position, reaching assist; check-call-care, swimming considerations at lakes; coordination of breaststroke; coordination of sidestroke; coordination of elementary back stroke; go over water emergencies in open water and ocean.
LEVEL 4 - Jump in deep water, swim 25 yards front crawl; learn Dive Safety and shallow water enteries; elementary backstroke 50 yards with an open turn; combination front crawl, sidestroke, backcrawl 50 yards; refine rhythmic breathing and head position; intro to butterfly coordination- arms and kick; elementary backstroke 50 yards; sculling and how to move in all directions; standing dive with arm swing; change from front crawl to back crawl over 25 yards; go over accident prevention and emergency preparedness; do a throwing assist with a target; first aid for cuts, burns, choking and A.R.; head first and feet first surface dives 6-8 ft. down.
LEVEL 5 - Tread water for 3 minutes w/3 different kicks; know what to do if boat capsizes; crawl stroke 100 yards, refine technique and turn; breast stroke 100 yards, refine whip kick and glide; elementary backstroke with glide, 100 yards & open turn; back crawl 100 yards, refine arm position and pull; sidestroke 100 yards with glide; butterfly 25 yards - with or without fins; swim underwater 3 or 4 body lengths; intro to freestyle flip turns, back and front; reaching and throwing assist - tuck/pike surface dives; perform rescue breathing/know EAP; Discuss personal ground rules for risk; lifesaving stroke 50 yards.
LEVEL 6: Learn about rafting/tubing safety; learn about open water safety; learn about rough water boating/swimming; crawl stroke 100 yards w/front start, front flip turn; breast stroke 100 yards with front pull out; inverted breaststroke 25 yards, tread water for 4 minutes; intro to over-arm sidestroke, backfloat 2 minutes; trudgen crawl 50 yards - go over triathlon safety; butterfly stroke 25 yards, survival swimming 3 minutes; learn to take heart rate and discussion perceived exertion; know heat/cold conditions/prevention & first aid; know shock symptons and treatments; rescue breathing, retrieve 10 lb. object; 500 yard swim - all strokes included.