Learn To Swim (6 years - 14 years)

Red Cross Learn-to-Swim consists of six comprehensive levels that teach people of varying ages and abilities how to swim skillfully and safely. Each level includes training in basic water safety. All aquatic and safety skills are taught in a logical progression. The objective is to teach people to swim and to be safe in, on and around the water. *PLEASE NOTE THAT DIVING AND HEADFIRST ENTRIES WILL NOT BE TAUGHT AT THE ROMEOVILLE AQUATIC CENTER.  OUR FACILITY DOES NOT HAVE AN AREA OF WATER THAT IS DEEP ENOUGH TO SAFELY TEACH SWIMMERS THESE SKILLS.

To determine the appropriate level for your child, use the checklists under each level.  Your child should be able to CONSISTENTLY demonstrate the skills listed and be COMFORTABLE doing so.  If you do not check ALL the skills under a level, please register your child for that level.  If you checked ALL the skills, please continue to the next level.  Swimmers may be moved to a different level as deemed necessary by the swim instructor staff.

The six levels include:

LEVEL 1: Introduction to Water Skills - designed to orient participants to the aquatic environment and to help them gain basic aquatic skills.  In addition, participants start learning how to be safe around water.

LEVEL 1 SKILLS:

✔ Swimmer can willingly enter the water independently using a ramp, steps, or side and walk at least 5 yards where they can touch.

✔  Swimmer can move at least 5 yards in the water, bob underwater 5 times and then safely exit the water.

✔  Swimmer can open their eyes underwater and retrieve a submerged object.

✔  Swimmer can glide on their front with assistance.

✔  Swimmer can roll onto their back and float for 5 seconds with assistance.

✔  Swimmer can swim with arm and leg action on their front and back with assistance.


LEVEL 2: Fundamental Aquatic Skills - builds on the basic aquatic skills and water safety skills and concepts learned in level 1.  Participants begin to perform skills at a slightly more advanced level and begin gaining rudimentary propulsive skills on both the front and the back.  This level marks the beginning of independent aquatic locomotion skills.

LEVEL 2 SKILLS :

✔  Swimmer can step into chest-deep water from the pool side.

✔  Swimmer can fully submerge and hold their breath.

✔  Swimmer can push off the bottom, float or tread for 15 seconds, then swim on their front and/or back for 5 body lengths and exit the pool.

✔  Swimmer can float on their back for 15 seconds then roll to their front and stand up.

✔  Swimmer can push off and swim using arm and leg action for 5 body lengths, roll to their back and float for 15 seconds, then roll to their front and swim another 5 body lengths.


LEVEL 3: Stroke Development -  builds on the skills learned in levels 1 and 2.   Participants learn to swim the front crawl/freestyle and elementary backstroke at rudimentary proficiency levels, and are introduced to the scissors and dolphin kicks.  Participants learn the survival float and increase the time duration for treading water.  On successful completion of level 3, participants have achieved basic water competency in a pool environment.

LEVEL 3 SKILLS :

✔  Swimmer can jump into the water, recover to the surface and trad or float for 1 minute

✔  Swimmer can swim front crawl/freestyle using side-breathing for 25 yards.

✔  Swimmer can swim elementary backstroke for 25 yards.


LEVEL 4: Stroke Improvement -  seeks to improve participants’ proficiency in performing the swimming strokes introduced in level 3.  Participants perform these strokes with increased proficiency and are able to swim them for greater distances.  In addition, participants learn the arm actions that accompany the scissors kick and breaststroke kick in order to begin performing the sidestroke and breaststroke at rudimentary proficiency levels.   Participants also learn back crawl/backstroke and butterfly at rudimentary proficiency levels, in addition to the basics of performing a simple open turn at a wall.

LEVEL 4 SKILLS :

✔  Swimmer can swim front crawl/freestyle for 25 yards.

✔  Swimmer can swim elementary backstroke for 25 yards.

✔  Swimmer can swim breaststroke for 15 yards.

✔  Swimmer can swim butterfly for 15 yards.

✔  Swimmer can swim back crawl/backstroke for 15 yards.

✔  Swimmer can swim sidestroke for 15 yards.

✔  Swimmer can perform open turns on the front and back.


LEVEL 5: Stroke Refinement - focuses on helping participants refine their performance of all six swimming strokes (front crawl/freestyle, back crawl/backstroke, butterfly, breaststroke, elementary backstroke and side stroke).   Participants perform these strokes with increased proficiency and are able to  swim them for greater distances.  Participants also learn to perform flip turns on the front and back.

LEVEL 5 SKILLS :

✔  Swimmer can swim front crawl/freestyle for 50 yards.

✔  Swimmer can swim elementary backstroke for 50 yards.

✔  Swimmer can swim breaststroke for 25 yards.

✔  Swimmer can swim butterfly for 25 yards.

✔  Swimmer can swim sidestroke for 25 yards.

✔  Swimmer can swim back crawl/backstroke for 25 yards.

✔  Swimmer can perform front and back flip turns.


LEVEL 6:  Fitness Swimmer -  focuses on refining strokes and turns and building endurance.

LEVEL 6 SKILLS :

✔  Swimmer can swim 500 yards continuously using 3 strokes of choice, swimming at least 50 yards of each stroke.

✔  Swimmer can demonstrate turns while swimming.

✔  Swimmer can demonstrate circle swimming.

✔  Swimmer can calculate their target heart rate.

✔  Swimmer can demonstrate the principles of setting up a fitness program.


If you are still struggling to determine your child’s appropriate swim lesson level, don’t panic!  

We offer free placement assessments for swimmers that are new to our program.  This swim skill evaluation takes approximately 10-15 minutes and can help you determine what level is right for your child.  

Please contact the Front Desk at 815-886-6296 to schedule your child's swim level placement assessment!