Levels

Five levels, five cap colors

Swimmers wear a cap in their level's color, so everyone at the pools can see where a class is. Ages are a guide; the placement visit decides the level.

01
Getting started
Yellow cap, ages 3 to 5
Skills
- Entering and leaving by the steps
- Blowing bubbles
- Getting the face wet, one step at a time
- Moving through the water holding the instructor's hands
Moving up
When bubbles and a calm entry by the steps are steady, the instructor suggests Floating and kicking.
02
Floating and kicking
Orange cap, ages 4 to 6
Skills
- Floating on the front and back with support
- Putting the face in and blowing bubbles
- Kicking with a kickboard
- Reaching for the wall
Moving up
When floating with support and kicking with a board are steady, the instructor suggests Gliding.
03
Gliding
Green cap, ages 5 to 8
Skills
- Gliding from the wall on the front and back
- Kicking with the face in the water
- Arm pulls with a kickboard
- Turning the head to breathe
Moving up
When glides from the wall and steady kicking on both sides are in place, the instructor suggests Freestyle and back crawl.
04
Freestyle and back crawl
Blue cap, ages 6 to 10
Skills
- Freestyle arms with breathing to the side
- Back crawl arms
- Swimming across the width of the pool
- Treading water with the instructor close
Moving up
When both strokes cross the width of the pool, the instructor suggests Four strokes.
05
Four strokes
Purple cap, ages 8 to 12
Skills
- Breaststroke kick and arms
- Butterfly kick and the four strokes
- Swimming a length of the pool
- Turns at the wall
Moving up
There is no level after this one. Swimmers who finish it can ask the front desk about joining a team.

Where to startStart with a placement visit

Sample levels.

In every level

What happens in a class

Getting started and Floating and kicking classes last half an hour; the other three levels last forty-five minutes.

01
Step 1: Arrive and rinse
Swimmers sign in at the front desk, rinse at the showers and wait on the bench for their instructor.
02
Step 2: Warm up at the wall
Class begins on the steps or at the wall with a song or a game, so everyone gets used to the water together.
03
Step 3: One or two skills
Swimmers practice what their level asks for, with the instructor close and a turn for each swimmer.
04
Step 4: Play with a purpose
A game with rings, noodles or kickboards puts the skills to use.
05
Step 5: Towel and a word
Swimmers wrap up in a towel, and the instructor tells the parent what the class worked on.

In the water

An instructor close, at every level

Swimmers float, kick and blow bubbles with an instructor beside them. The younger levels hold the instructor's hands or a kickboard; the older ones swim a width and then a length with the instructor walking along the side.

An instructor in shallow water demonstrating a freestyle arm stroke to a row of children seen from behind

What a swimmer needs

A cap, a towel and goggles if you like

Every swimmer wears a cap in their level's color. Everything else comes from home.

A cap in your level's color
A towel
Goggles, if your swimmer likes them
A swim shirt, if you like

A row of plain silicone swim caps in different colors laid on a wooden bench

Not sure which level?

That is what the placement visit is for. Book a time and an instructor will get in the water with your swimmer.

Book a placement visit Meet the instructors

Getting started

Floating and kicking

Gliding

Freestyle and back crawl

Four strokes

Step 1: Arrive and rinse

Step 2: Warm up at the wall

Step 3: One or two skills

Step 4: Play with a purpose

Step 5: Towel and a word