The Saint Paul Parks and Recreation swimming lesson program is designed to teach the core swimming skills to all ages. A logical and consistent progression of swim skills will be taught, beginning with the fundamentals, and concluding with endurance training of strokes. Students will progress from level to level as the necessary skills are learned and completed.
- A swimming ability test will be completed during the first and/or last class session to determine the swim level for the participants
- Each class has 8 (45 minute) sessions.
Swim Tots (Ages 6 months-3 years)
This class is designed to help children adjust to the pool with light submersion and back floats. Prerequisites: Child must be able to hold their head up independently.
Swimmers will learn the following (depending on the age of the child):
- Bubble blowing
- Body position
- Kicking
- Underwater submersion
- Back float – assisted
- Roll over technique
- Water safety
- Reaching
- Independence
Swim Preschool (Ages 3-4)
Swimmers will learn basic swim skills including body position, blowing bubbles, floating, kicking, deep water adjustment, and independent swimming in a safe and positive environment. Caregivers are not in the water with the participants.
Prerequisites: Ability to actively listen and participate in a class setting without a caregiver.
Swimmers will learn the following:
- Water adjustment
- Assisted flutter kicking
- Assisted front and back glides
- Submersion
- Breath control with bobs and bubbles
- Front float
- Back float
Swim Level 1 (Ages 5-12 years)
Swimmers will learn basic exploration that will lead to independent swimming. The goal of level 1 is to allow swimmers to gain confidence in the water and be able to swim freestyle independently.
Prerequisites: None
Swimmers will learn the following:
- Front and back floats for 10 seconds, unassisted
- Front and back glides, unassisted
- Flutter kicking with support of a dumbbell
- Freestyle for 4 arm strokes, unassisted
- 4 Elementary backstrokes, unassisted
- Introduction to water over the head
- Submersion
Swim Level 2 (Ages 5-12)
Swimmers will continue development of freestyle and elementary backstroke while developing their backstroke and streamlining.
Prerequisites: Pass level 1, face in the water, 10 comfortable bobs unassisted, 4 freestyle arm strokes unassisted, 10 second front and back floats unassisted, 4 elementary backstroke strokes unassisted.
Swimmers will learn the following:
- Comfort jumping into 10 feet of water
- Front and back glides with flutter kick
- Freestyle with rhythmic breathing for 15 yards
- Elementary backstroke for 15 yards
- Whip kick on back
- Backstroke 10 yards
Swim Level 3 (Ages 5-12)
Swimmers will continue development of freestyle and backstroke while increasing endurance.
Prerequisites: Pass level 2, 15 yards freestyle with rhythmic breathing, and 15 yards backstroke.
Swimmers will learn the following:
- Breaststroke kick
- Whip kick on front glide
- Sitting/Kneeling dives
- Scissor Kick
- Freestyle 25 yards
- Backstroke 25 yards
- Treading water
Swim Level 4 (Ages 5-12)
Swimmers continue to develop freestyle and backstroke technique and endurance. It is common for participants to retake Level 4 to ensure readiness for Level 5.
Prerequisites: Pass level 3, 25 yards freestyle with rhythmic breathing, 25 yards backstroke, 10 yards breaststroke kick, and 30 seconds of treading water.
Swimmers will learn the following:
- Standing dives
- Breaststroke 12 yards
- Sidestroke 12 yards
- Dolphin Kick 25 yards
- Freestyle 50 yards
- Backstroke 50 yards
- Treading water
Swim Level 5 (Ages 5-12)
Swimmers will focus on building their technique and endurance in all strokes.
Prerequisites: Pass level 4, 50 yards freestyle, 50 yards backstroke, 12 yards breaststroke, 12 yards butterfly kick, and 1 minute of treading water.
Swimmers will learn the following:
- Freestyle 100 yards
- Backstroke 100 yards
- Breaststroke 25 yards
- Butterfly 12 yards
- Sidestroke 25 yards
- Touch Turns
- Flip Turns
- Intro to an Individual Medley
Adult Introductory Level
This class is for adults and teens that have little to no experience in the water. The objective is to introduce fundamental skills essential for safe swimming, including front and back floats, front and back crawls, the elementary back stroke, the ability to recover submerged objects, and basic first aid and safety skills.
Adult Intermediate Level
This intermediate level class, for adults and teens, is intended for those who have passed the Introductory Level course or those who have prior experience in water but are still uncomfortable with their swimming ability. Participants will increase their endurance, refine basic strokes such as the front crawl, back crawl, and elementary back stroke, and be introduce to the sidestroke and side stroke. Participants will also learn how to tread water.
