Youth Swim Program

Summer 08 lessons offered through Farmington Recreation Dept.

Fall 08 lessons offered through FRC.

Our program teaches youth 6 months old and up to swim and helps them to be safe when they are in, on or around water. The program cover skills and knowledge in a logical progression for aquatic skill development.  As participants develop these skills, they will become safer and better swimmers. 

The Youth Swim Program is based on American Red Cross Learn to Swim Program curriculum.  All instructors are certified American Red Cross Water Safety Instructors.  At all times during lessons there is an American Red Cross lifeguard on duty.

Six to Eight participants per instructor.

Spring 2008 Lessons Times and Registration Form

Participants must be able to demonstrate the skills from the pervious level. Below is the listing of all the skills required for a participant to progress to the next level. To ensure your child gains the most out of each lesson, ensure that they at the appropriate level.

Level 1* Introduction to Water Skills

Children 5 and older (4 yrs. old if participated in Toddler/parent program) will begin development of good attitudes and safe practices around water. 

Participants will learn to demonstrate following skills:

-Enter and exit the water safety using ladders, and ramp independently
-Submerge mouth, nose and eyes under water
-Exhale underwater for 3 seconds
-Open eyes underwater, pick up a submerged object held at arms length away
-Show comfort maintaining a front & back float position (face in or out of water)
-Recover from a front & back float to a standing position
-Change direction for travel when walking or paddling
-Roll from front to back and back to front
-Explore arm and hand movements
-Alternating and simultaneous arm and leg action
-Combined Stroke on front
-Water safety rules
-How to wear a lifejacket
-How to recognize a swimmer in distress and how to get help

 Level 2* Fundamental Aquatic Skills

Students entering this level must demonstrate competency in level 1 skills.  This level begins the locomotion of swimming.

 Participants will learn to demonstrate following skills:
-Enter water by stepping or jumping from the side
-Exit water safely using ladder or side
-Submerge entire head
-Blow Bubbles, submerging head in a rhythmic pattern (bobs)
-Open eyes under water, pick up a submerged object
-Show comfort maintaining a front float with face in water
-Recover from a back float to a standing position
-Back glide
-Using arm and leg motions
-Combined arm and leg actions on front, using any combination of alternating and simultaneous arm -and leg action on front and back
-Finning arm action
-Sculling arm action
-Alternating and simultaneous leg action on side
-Water safety rules
-Moving in  the water while wearing a life jacket
-How to recognize a swimmer in distress and how to get help
 

Level 3A* Stroke Development

Students entering this level must demonstrate competency in level 2 skills. This level is a stepping stone into level 3B.  Students will have guided practice into the elements of all strokes. 

Participants will learn to demonstrate following skills:
-Jumping into deep water from the side
-Head-first entry from the side in a sitting or kneeling position (diving)
-Submerge and retrieve an object
-Bobs with the head fully submerged
-Rotary breathing with the body in a horizontal position
-Front and back glide using two different kicks
-Survival float
-Back float
-Change from a vertical to horizontal position on front and back
-Tread water
-Front and back Crawl
-Butterfly- kick and body motion
-Water safety rules
-Safe diving rules
-HELP position
-Huddle position

Level 3B* Stroke Development

Students entering this level must demonstrate competency in level 2 skills. This level will continue to work on endurance in the water and stroke development.

 Participants will learn to demonstrate following skills:
-Jumping into deep water from the side
-Head-first entry from the side in a sitting or kneeling position (diving)
-Submerge and retrieve an object
-Bobs with the head fully submerged- 5 times
-Rotary breathing with the body in a horizontal position- 5 times
-Front and back glide using two different kicks- 2 body lengths
-Survival float- 30 seconds
-Back float- 30 seconds
-Change from a vertical to horizontal position on front and back- in deep water
-Tread water- 30 seconds
-Front and back Crawl- 15 yards
-Butterfly- kick and body motion- 15 yards
-Water safety rules
-Safe diving rules
-HELP position- 1 minute
-Huddle position- 1 minute

Level 4* Stroke Improvement

Students entering this level must demonstrate competency in level 3 skills.  This level will develop endurance, confidence in the strokes learned thus far and improve other aquatic skills.

 Participants will learn to demonstrate following skills:
-Dive from side in the compact or stride position
-Swim underwater
-Feet-first surface dive
-Survival float- at least one minute
-Back float- at least one minute
-Open turn using stroke on front and back and push off in streamlined position- 2 body lengths
-Tread water using modified scissors, breaststroke or rotary kick and sculling arm motions- 1 minute
-Front crawl- 25 yards
-Breaststroke- 15 yards
-Butterfly- 15 yards
-Back crawl- 25 yards
-Elementary Backstroke- 15 yards
-Swim on side with scissors kick- 15 yards
-Diving rules
-Compact jump from lifeguard chair wearing a life jacket
-Throwing assist
-Care for conscious choking victim 

Level 5/6* Swimming & Skill Endurance

Students entering this level must demonstrate competence in level 4 skills.  Participants will refine their strokes to swim with more ease, efficiency, power and smoothness over distances. Skills below are demonstrated on the front crawl, back crawl, breaststroke, elementary backstroke, sidestroke, and butterfly.

 Participants will learn to demonstrate following skills:
-Endurance Skills
-Turns: open and flip
-Basic stretching exercised for diving
-Diving form side from a stride and standing position
-How to use a pull buoy
-Using a pace clock
-Describe the principals of setting up a fitness workout