Red Cross Levels
Level 1: Introduction to Water Skills
Level 1 Guidelines (pdf)
There are no prerequisites for this class. The objective of level 1 is to help students feel comfortable in the water and to enjoy the water safely. In level 1 we teach elementary aquatic skills which students build on as they progress through the 6 Learn-to-Swim levels. At this level students also start to develop good attitudes and safe practices around the water. Students who have some experience with the water may begin the program at a higher level. Students who have had pleasant water experiences complete this level quickly. However, fear of the water may be a major issue for some students regardless of age.
Before students enter the water for the first time, we acquaint them with the swimming area and explain the safety rules for our facility. We explain the buddy system and pair off students for added safety. If students are old enough, we explain and demonstrate how buoyancy helps keep them at the surface. We impress on all students, and especially younger ones, that they can and will learn to swim if they follow our directions, as long as they are willing to try out new things even skills they consider scary at first. We encourage students to explore movements in the water and observe what comes naturally to them in order to build on those strengths. Students are encouraged to ask questions so we can address any fears. Parents are also encouraged to ask questions to also help address questions their children may have as the course progresses. Throughout the course, we provide a wide variety of experiences to meet the course objectives that provide a fun and safe environment.
Level 2: Fundamental Aquatic Skills
Level 2 Guidelines (pdf)
Students entering this course must have a level 1 certificate or must be able to demonstrate all the completion requirements in level 1. The objective of level 2 is to give students success with fundamental skills. Students learn to float without support and to recover to a vertical position. This level marks the beginning of true locomotive skills; where students explore alternating arm and leg actions on the front and back which lays the foundation for future strokes. Level 2 adds to the self-help and basic rescue skills began in level 1.
Level 3: Stroke Development
Level 3 Guidelines (pdf)
Students entering this course must have a level 2 certificate or must be able to demonstrate all the completion requirements in level 2. The objective of level 3 is to build on the skills in level 2 by providing additional guided practice. We will teach students to coordinate the front crawl and back crawl and introduce elements of the butterfly and the fundamentals of treading water. Students should also learn rules for head first entries into the water from the side of the pool (9' or deeper). As with all skills levels there will be additional safety skills presented.
Level 4: Stroke Improvement
Level 4 Guidelines (pdf)
Students entering this course must have a level 3 certificate or must be able to demonstrate all the completion requirements. The objective of level 4 is to develop confidence in the strokes learned thus far and to improve other aquatic skills. We will help students improve these skills and increase their endurance by swimming familiar strokes (Front/Back crawl) for greater distances. We will help student's continue to build on the butterfly and introduce the elementary backstroke, breaststroke and elements of the sidestroke. Basics of turning are also introduced during this level.
Level 5: Stroke Refinement
Level 5 Guidelines (pdf)
Students entering this course must have a level 4 certificate or be able to demonstrate the course requirements for level 4. The objective of level 5 is coordination and refinement of strokes. Participants refine their performance of all the strokes (Front crawl, back crawl, butterfly, breast stroke, elementary backstroke, and sidestroke) and increase their distances. Flip turns on the front and back crawl are introduced.
Level 6: Swimming and Skill Proficiency (Fitness Swimmer)
Level 6 Guidelines (pdf)
Students entering this course must have a level 5 certificate or must be able to demonstrate all the skills required to complete level 5. The objective of level 6 is to refine strokes so students swim with them with more ease, efficiency, power, and smoothness over greater distances. Swim conditioning and its principles will be emphasized during this course. We will help students set up a fitness program, demonstrate a variety of training techniques, and demonstrate how to correctly use pool equipment such as fins, pace clock, pull buoys and paddles.