Guidelines for Placement in Classes

Help us get you into the right class:
Park Authority’s swim class prerequisites are designed to assist in finding the appropriate level. Please note that in the American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim program, diving board skills are introduced at Level V. Those individuals who wish to focus on developing diving board skills rather than swimming proficiency should consider taking Springboard Diving-beginning. Finding the right match is the best way to guarantee your progress, safety and enjoyment.

Repetition can be the key to learning
Each student progresses at a different speed in learning aquatic skills. This is dependent on a number of factors including class attendance, coordination development, water familiarity and outside practice. A child’s stage of development may influence his or her ability to learn aquatic skills. Students often repeat a level several times before mastering the skills required for advancement. It is important to understand that repeating a level does not constitute failure. Mastering skills takes time, practice and patience.

Combining course levels
When enrollment is low, course levels may be combined to avoid class cancellations. If you have any questions about your progress or your child’s, please ask the instructor.

Find the class that is right for you or your child!

To enroll in:

If participants can:

Course objectives:

Baby & Me Swim

Check Availability:
(6-18 mths)

Student must meet the age requirement

One (or two) adult(s) must participate in the water with the Student

Babies must wear tight fitting plastic pants under their bathing suit

Baby should not eat or drink anything at least 30 minutes prior to getting into the water

Learn water adjustment and water safety skills in a fun environment

Learn how to enter and exit the water in a safe manner

Focus on comfort in the water, explore submerging the face, floating on front and back with assistance

Toddler & Me Swim

Check Availability:
(19 mths-3 yrs)

Student must meet the age requirement

One (or two) adult(s) must participate in the water with the Student

Student must wear tight fitting plastic pants under their bathing suit

Student should not eat or drink anything for at least 30 minutes prior to class

Learn water adjustment and water safety skills in a fun environment

Learn how to enter and exit the water in a safe manner

Focus on comfort in the water, explore submerging the face, floating on front and back with assistance

Also learn arm and leg action for swimming on front and back, changing body position, use of lifejacket

Preschooler & Me Swim

Check Availability:
(3-5 yrs)

Student must meet the age requirement

One (or two) adult(s) must participate in the water with the Student

Student who are not toilet trained or who are subject to having "accidents" should wear tight fitting plastic pants under their bathing suit

Student should not eat or drink anything for at least 30 minutes prior to class

Learn water adjustment and water safety skills in a fun environment

Learn how to enter and exit the water in a safe manner

Focus on comfort in the water, explore submerging the face, floating on front and back with assistance

Also learn arm and leg action for swimming on front and back, changing body position, use of lifejacket

To enroll in:

If participants can:

Course objectives:

Pee Wee Paddler I

Check Availability:
(3-5 yrs)

Student must meet the age requirement

Student must leave parent willingly, be comfortable in the water , follow directions of the instructor and function well in a group

Student who are not toilet trained or who are subject to having "accidents" should wear tight fitting plastic pants under their bathing suits

Student should not eat or drink anything at least 30 minutes prior to the class

Help student gain basic aquatic skills to include:

Entering and exiting the water safely, blowing bubbles through mouth and nose, submerging mouth, nose and eyes under water, with assistance - floating and gliding on front and back, rolling from front to back and back to front, treading water, swimming with assistance using arms and legs on front and back

 NOTE: Floatation devices may be used in the class to help provide assistance and encourage independent movement, however, emphasis will be on transitioning the student to perform skills independently without the support of floatation devices or assistance

Pee Wee Paddler II

Check Availability:
(3-5 yrs)

Student must meet the age requirement

Student must leave parent willingly, be comfortable in the water , follow directions of the instructor and function well in a group

Student must be able to blow bubbles with face submerged in the water (at least 3 seconds); submerge face under water; swim on front and back (with assistance) at least two body lengths; must be able to maintain a front and back float position for at least 3 seconds

Student who are not toilet trained or who are subject to having "accidents" should wear tight fitting plastic pants under their bathing suits

Student should not eat or drink anything at least 30 minutes prior to the class

Help student gain greater independence so that they demonstrate skills without assistance and become more comfortable in the water

Water Safety and basic swimming skills

Swimming skills include:
Submerging face and breath holding or rhythmic breathing
Front and back float and glides (with and without assistance)
Swimming at least three body lengths on front and back (with and without assistance)

NOTE: Floatation devices may be used in the class to help provide assistance and encourage independent movement, however, emphasis will be on transitioning the student to perform skills independently without the support of floatation devices or assistance

To enroll in:

If participants can:

Course objectives:

Pee Wee Paddler III

Check Availability:
(4-6 yrs)

Student must meet the age requirement

Students must be able to swim at least three (3) body lengths on front and back without assistance, and hold breath with mouth and nose under water at least three (3) seconds. 

Student must be able to swim front crawl and back stroke at least 13  yards without floatation devices while using good arm stroke, kick and breathing techniques

Help children gain basic swimming propulsive skills and increase endurance and distance swimming without floatation devices

Skills include:
Entering the water by jumping in (chest deep water), submerging and holding breath underwater at least five (5) seconds, floating 5-15 seconds, treading water 15 seconds, swimming on front and back five body lengths

NOTE: to move to the Pee Wee Paddler IV class students must be able to swim at least 13 yards.  Students unable to swim 13 yards yet, should stay enrolled in the Pee Wee Paddler III class until they meet that requirement

Pee Wee Paddler IV

Check Availability:
(4-6 yrs)

Student must meet the age requirement

Student must be able to swim front crawl and back stroke at least 13  yards without floatation devices while using good arm stroke, kick and breathing techniques

This class focuses on increasing the endurance of the students with the goal of swimming at least 25 yards of front crawl (free style) and back stroke

Class also introduces basic competitive skills for starts and turns

Pee Wee Paddler V

Check Availability:
(4-6 yrs)

Student must meet the age requirement.

Student must be able to swim front crawl and back stroke at least 25 yards and tread water at least 30 seconds without support

This class is designed to help the experienced swimmer increase endurance to swim laps and improve their competitive skills by refining free style, backstroke, breathing techniques, starts, turns and finishes.

Students will be introduced to the butterfly and breaststrokes

NOTE TO PARENTS:
Children who are too old to continue taking the Pee Wee Paddler classes should transition into the 6-12 year old Learn To Swim classes by enrolling  in the class appropriate for their skill level - so for example, if your child has completed Pee Wee Paddler III a good starting Learn To Swim class might be the Learn to Swim Level III, students who have completed Pee Wee IV and V students could transition into Level IV or Stroke Mechanics I.  If this chart does not help you find the appropriate class to take, please contact the aquatic staff at any of our RECenters for assistance.

To enroll in:

If participants can:

Course objectives:

Level I-Intro to Water Skills

Check Availability:
(6-12 yrs) (13-adult)

Students must meet the age requirement

Student must leave parent willingly and be able follow directions of the instructor and function well in a group

 

To help the student gain basic aquatic skills

Skills include:
Entering and exiting water, submerging face and blowing bubbles through mouth and nose at least three (3) seconds; with assistance - floating on front and back for at least three (3) seconds, gliding on front and back at least two (2) body lengths, rolling from front to back and back to front, treading water using arm and hands in chest deep water, swimming at least 2 body lengths on front and back using arms and legs

 

Level II-Fund Aquatic Skills

Check Availability:
(6-12 yrs) (13-adult)

Student must meet the age requirement

Student must leave parent willingly and be able follow directions of the instructor and function well in a group

Student must be able to demonstrate proficiency in Level I skills:
Enter and exit the water
Submerge face under water and blow bubbles for at least three seconds

With assistance -
Float on front and back at least three seconds
Glide on front and back at least two body lengths
Roll from front to back and back to front
Tread water in chest deep water
Swim on front and back using arms and legs at least two body lengths

To increase student"s confidence and ability to perform skills with and without assistance.

To help students learn water safety and basic swimming skills, and increase endurance and skill proficiency.

Swimming skills include:
Enter water by jumping into shoulder deep water.
Submerge face under water and hold breath at least five seconds
Float on front at least fifteen seconds
Glide on front and back at least two body lengths
Roll from front to back and back to front
Tread water at least fifteen seconds
Swim on front and back using arms and legs at least five body lengths

To enroll in:

If participants can:

Course objectives:

Level III-Stroke Development
Stroke Improvement

Check Availability:
(6-12 yrs) (13-adult)

Student must meet the age requirement

Student must be able to demonstrate proficiency in Level II skills:
Submerge and hold beath nder water at least five seconds, swim unassisted on front and back at least five body lengths, tread water at least 15 seconds

To increase endurance, swimming distance and proficiency

Skills include:
Without assistance or floatation support - entering water by jumping in deep water, entering head first from side in deep water, survival floating on front 30 seconds, treading water 30 seconds, pushing off in streamlined position on front then use flutter kick and dolphin kick three to five body lengths, front crawl 15 yards, elementary backstroke 15 yards, scissors kick 15 yards

Level IV-Stroke Improvement

Check Availability:
(6-12 yrs) (13-adult)

Student must meet the age requirement

Student must be able to demonstrate proficiency in Level III skills:
Enter water by jumping in deep water (over the students head)
Bobbing to safety in chest deep water
Head first entry from side (taught in at least 9 feet depth)
Survival float on front for thirty seconds
Tread water for thirty seconds
Puch off in streamlined position on front then use flutter (and dolphin kick) three to five body lengths
Front Crawl fifteen yards
Elementary Backstroke 15 yards
Scissors kick fifteen yards

To teach water safety and swimming skills and increase endurance and swimming skills. 

Focuses on stroke mechanics for the improving the Front Crawl and Elementary Back Stroke; and introduces Back Crawl, Breaststroke, Sidestroke and Butterfly 

Swimming skilling include:
Headfirst entry from side in compact and stride positions
Swim under water at least three to five body lengths
Feet first surface dive submerging completely
Front crawl and Backstroke open turns
Tread water using two different kicks two minutes
Front crawl twenty five yards
Breaststroke fifteen yards
Butterfly 15 yards
Elementary backstroke twenty five yards
Back crawl fifteen yards
Sidestroke fifteen yards

To enroll in:

If participants can:

Course objectives:

Level V-Stroke Refinement

Check Availability:
(6-12 yrs) (13-adult)

Student must meet the age requirement

Student must be able to demonstrate proficiency in Level IV skills:
Students must be able to swim at least 25 yards - front crawl, back crawl, elementary back stroke; and swim at least 15 yards - breaststroke, butterfly, back crawl and side stroke

To help students refine their performance, skill proficiency and distance for all swim strokes (50 yards - front crawl, back crawl, butterfly; and 25 - yards breaststroke, elementary backstroke and side stroke)

Flip turns on front and back are also introduced

 

Level VI-Adv Swim & Intro to Diving (8-18 yrs)

Student must meet the age requirement

Student must be able to swim at least 50 yards (each) of front crawl and back crawl, and 25 yards of butterfly, elementary backstroke, breaststroke and sidestroke.

This class is for the advanced swimmer who wants to continue to refine and improve their swimming strokes and increase endurance and distance.  This class will also introduce spring board diving techniques.

Skills include:
Front crawl at least 100 yards
Elementary backstroke at least 100  yards
Back crawl at least 50 yards
Breaststroke at least 50 yards
Sidestroke at least 50 yards
Butterfly at least 50 yards
Turns
Swim 500 yards continuously using any three strokes of your choice (at least 50 yards of each stroke)
Diving from side - progression
Diving from Diving Board - progression
Takeoff from diving board
Tuck Position
Pike Position
Forward Dive
Water Safety Skills

To enroll in:

If participants can:

Course objectives:

Level VI-Advanced Fitness Swimming

Check Availability:
(8-18 yrs)

Student must meet the age requirement

Student must be able to swim at least 50 yards (each) of front crawl and back crawl, and 25 yards of butterfly, elementary backstroke, breaststroke and sidestroke.

This class is for the advanced swimmer who wants to continue to refine and improve their swimming strokes and increase endurance and distance. 

This class will also introduce using swimming to build a fitness workout, demonstrates swimming etiquette and training techniques and applies water exercise principles

Skills include:
Front crawl at least 100 yards
Elementary backstroke at least 100  yards
Back crawl at least 50 yards
Breaststroke at least 50 yards
Sidestroke at least 50 yards
Butterfly at least 50 yards
Turns
Swim 500 yards continuously using any three strokes of your choice (at least 50 yards of each stroke)
Competitive Starts and Turns
Water Safety Skills

For safety reasons and to ensure that customers get the maximum benefits from aquatic programs, the Park Authority reserves the right to remove students from an inappropriate class and place them, when possible, in a class that better matches their ability level. If you have questions on which class is right for you or your child, PLEASE check with the aquatic staff at any RECenter.

 

 

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[ 12055 Government Center Pkwy. Suite 927, Fairfax, VA 22035 ]  [ 703-222-4664 ]
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