Class Placement Guidelines

 These descriptions are here to help you enroll your child

into our swimming classes. 

Please note that your child must be able to do the following to join the class. 

If you are unsure about any classes or class placement,

please give us a call at 612-8519

Preschool and Parent/Child Swim Lessons:  (3-5 year olds)

An instructional swimming program for children ages five and younger.  Based on the YMCA of the USA Swim Lesson design, the program introduces aquatic safety, water enrichment, and basic swimming skills. 

Shrimp - ages 6 to 36 months (3 years):  Parent/Child Class

Pike - If Child is 3 to 5 years and:  

Has little or no experience in the water

Is not comfortable floating with a lifejacket or assistance.

Eel-Child is 3-5 years, passed Pike or can do the following:

Alternating paddle stroke w/kick front/back/side, 10yds 

       each, w/flotation, 5 ft without.

Float on front and back, 20sec each, with flotation.

Submerge face and blow bubbles

With PFD, paddle on front/kick on back 5yds each.

Ray-Child is 3 to 5 years, passed Eel or can do the following:

Alternating paddle stroke w/kick, front/back/side, 25yds

      each w/flotation, 15ft w/out.

Float on front and back, 20sec each, without flotation.

Jump into deep water, return to side without assistance or

      flotation.

Jump in with PFD, paddle on front/kick on back, 10yds each.

Starfish - If Child is 3 to 5 years, has passed Ray or can do

      the following:

Alternating paddle stroke w/kick, front/back/side, 25yds

      each w/flotation, 20ft w/out.

Symmetrical paddle stroke w/kick front & back, 15yds each

       w/flotation, 20ft w/out.

Front paddle stroke w/rhythmic breathing, 15yds w/

       flotation, 20ft w/out flotation.

Float on front and back, 30sec each, without flotation.

Jump in deep water and return to side w/out flotation.

Jump off diving board, swim to side, with or w/out flotation.

Tread water 25sec with flotation.

With flotation, jump in deep water, paddle 5ft, back float

    10sec, and return to side.

Pre-School Stroke   - If Child is 3 to 5 years of age and has passed the Starfish class or can do the following:

Alternating paddle stroke w/kick, front/back/side, 40ft

     each w/out flotation, using rhythmic breathing.

Symmetrical paddle stroke w/kick front & back, 40ft each

     w/out flotation.

Float on front and back, 1 minute each, without flotation.

Jump in deep water, paddle 15ft, back float 10 sec & return 

    w/out flotation.

Tread water 30 sec without flotation .

School-Aged Youth Swim Lessons (6 - 12 years old)

Also based on the YMCA Swim Lesson Program, the school-age instructional program is designed for swimmers ages 6-12 years of age.  Each class level is divided up into five components: personal safety, stroke development, water sports & games, personal growth, and rescue.

Class Placement Guidelines

Polliwog A - If Child is 6 to 12 years or:

Has little or no experience in the water

Is not comfortable floating with a lifejacket or assistance.

Polliwog B – If Child is 6 to 12 years or:

If child has turned 6 years of age, has had previous lessons.

Child has taken Polliwog A and/or is comfortable in the

     water

Is comfortable floating with a lifejacket or assistance and

     can do paddle stroke with flotation

Guppy - If Child is 6 to 12 years, has passed Polliwog or can do the following:

Float on front and back, 30sec each.

Jump into deep water and return to side without flotation.

With PFD, jump in, paddle on front/kick on back 10yds each.

Alternating paddle stroke, front/back/side, 25yds each, w/

    flotation.

Minnow - If Child is 6 to 12 years, has passed Guppy or can

   do the following:

Float on front and back, 1min each.

Tread water 25sec with or without flotation.

Without flotation, jump in deep water, paddle 15ft, back

     float 10sec, and return to side.

Alternating paddle stroke on back & side, 25yds each.

Alternating paddle stroke on front, 25yds, with rhythmic

    breathing.

Symmetrical paddle stroke on front & back, 25yds each.

Jump off diving board and return to side.

Kneeling dive with assistance.

Stroke Classes –Freestyle, Backstroke, Breaststroke.

      Elementary Backstroke or Butterfly

If Child is 6 or older, has passed Minnow or can do the following:

Tread water for 1 minute.

With PFD, swim on front and back, 25yds each.

Front over-arm stroke 25yds with rotary breathing.

Back crawl 25yds.

Rudimentary breaststroke and sidestroke, 25yds each.

Standing dive from side.

Jump from board with arm swing.