Swim Lessons
ONE on ONE LESSONS
One-on-one lessons are ideal for the person who has very specific expectations from their lessons and desires individual attention and engagement. Participants get one-on-one time with their instructor!
YOUTH GROUP LESSONS
Our American Red Cross swimming classes for kids are tailored to the needs of each child, so that he or she can progress at a comfortable pace. And although some children may advance more quickly or slowly, our instructors ensure that everyone receives the instruction they need.
The Learn-to-Swim program focuses on building skills one step at a time. By giving them the opportunity to master one element before moving on to the next, our kids' swim classes make it easy to build confidence in the water.
We offer the below levels.
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Parent/Child Levels 1 & 2 Descriptions
Level 1
Purpose
To familiarize young children (from ages 6 months to about 3 years) with the water and prepare them to learn to swim in the American Red Cross Preschool Aquatics or Learn-to-Swim courses. It is not designed to teach
children to become good swimmers or to survive in the water on their own.
Prerequisites- No skill prerequisites
- Child must be at least 6 months old to enroll
- Parent or other caregiver must accompany each child into the water and participate in each class
Learning Objectives- Learn to ask for permission before entering the water
- Learn how to enter and exit the water in a safe manner
- Feel comfortable in the water
- Explore submerging to the mouth, nose and eyes completely
- Explore buoyancy on the front and back position
- Change body position in the water with support
- Learn basic water safety rules and how to avoid water hazards around the home
- Learn about the importance of wearing a life jacket and experience wearing one
- Learn how to stay safe in, on and around the water, including knowing how to stay safe in the sun and how to avoid recreational water illnesses
- Learn how to call for help and the importance of knowing first aid and CPR
Level 2
Purpose
To familiarize young children (from ages 6 months to about 3 years) to the water and prepare them to learn to swim in the American Red Cross Preschool Aquatics or Learn-to-Swim courses. It is not designed to teach
children to become good swimmers or to survive in the water on their own.
Prerequisites- No skill prerequisites
- Child must be at least 6 months old to enroll
- Parent or other caregiver must accompany each child into the water and participate in each class
Learning Objectives- Learn to expect adult supervision when near water
- Learn more ways to enter and exit the water in a safe manner
- Explore submerging in a rhythmic pattern completely
- Glide on the front and back with assistance
- Perform combined stroke on front and back with assistance
- Change body position in the water
- Learn about the importance of wearing a life jacket and experience wearing one
- Learn how to stay safe in and around various aquatic environments
- Learn how to recognize an emergency, call for help and perform simple non-swimming assists
- Learn steps to take to avoid overexposure to direct sunlight
- Learn to look carefully before entering the water
- Learn what to think about and do when exhausted or caught in a dangerous situation
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Preschool Levels 1 to 3 Descriptions
Preschool Level 1
Purpose
To orient preschool-age children to the aquatic environment and to help them acquire rudimentary levels of basic aquatic skills.
Prerequisites
There are no skill prerequisites for Preschool Aquatics Level 1. Participants start at about 4 and 5 years old.
Learning Objectives- Enter and exit water using ladder, steps or side
- Blow bubbles through mouth and nose
- Submerge mouth, nose and eyes
- Open eyes under water and retrieve submerged objects
- Front and back glides and recover to a vertical position
- Back float and recover to a vertical position
- Roll from front to back and back to front
- Tread with arm and hand actions
- Alternating and simultaneous leg actions on front and back
- Alternating and simultaneous arm actions on front and back
- Experience wearing a life jacket in the water
- Learn how to stay safe, including recognizing an emergency and knowing how to call for help
- Learn how to stay safe in, on and around the water, including the use of a life jacket, recognizing lifeguards and sun safety
Preschool Level 2
Purpose
To build on the basic aquatic skills learned in Level 1.
Prerequisites
Successfully demonstrate the exit skills assessments from Preschool Aquatics Level 1.
Learning Objectives- Enter water by stepping in
- Exit water using ladder, steps or side
- Bobbing
- Open eyes under water and retrieve submerged objects
- Front and back floats and glides
- Recover from a front or back float or glide to a vertical position
- Roll from front to back and back to front
- Tread water using arm and leg actions
- Combined arm and leg actions on front and back or back
- Finning arm action on back
- Learn how to stay safe, including recognizing an emergency and knowing how to call for help
- Learn how to stay safe in, on and around the water, including the use of a life jacket, recognizing lifeguards and sun safety
Preschool Level 3
Purpose
To increase proficiency and build on the basic aquatic skills learned in Levels 1 and 2 by providing additional guided practice with increased distances and times.
Prerequisites
Successfully demonstrate the exit skills assessments of Preschool Aquatics Level 2.
Learning Objectives- Enter water by jumping in
- Fully submerge and hold breath
- Bobbing
- Front, jellyfish and tuck floats
- Recover from a front or back float or glide to a vertical position
- Back float and glide
- Change direction of travel while swimming on front and back
- Combined arm and leg actions on front and back
- Tread water using arm and leg actions
- Combined arm and leg actions on front and back
- Learn how to stay safe, including recognizing an emergency and knowing how to call for help
- Learn how to stay safe in, on and around the water, including the use of a life jacket, recognizing lifeguards and sun safety
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Learn to Swim Levels 1 to 6 Descriptions
Level 1-Introduction to Water Skills
Purpose
To begin developing positive attitudes, good swimming habits and safe practices in and around the water.
Prerequisites
None - Participants start at about 6 years of age.
Learning Objectives- Enter and exit water using ladder, steps or side
- Blow bubbles through mouth and nose
- Bobbing
- Open eyes under water and retrieve submerged objects
- Front and back glides and floats
- Recover to vertical position
- Roll from front to back and back to front
- Tread water using arm and hand actions
- Alternating and simultaneous leg actions on front and back
- Alternating and simultaneous arm actions on front and back
- Combined arm and leg actions on front and back
- Learn how to stay safe, including recognizing an emergency and knowing how to call for help
- Learn how to stay safe in, on and around the water, including the use of a life jacket, recognizing lifeguards, and sun safety
Level 2- Fundamental Aquatic Skills
Purpose
To give participants success with fundamental skills, including learning how to float without support and to recover to a vertical position.
Prerequisites
Valid American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim Level 1: Introduction to Water Skills certificate
OR
Successful demonstration of all certification requirements from Level 1.
Learning Objectives- Enter and exit water by stepping or jumping from the side
- Fully submerge and hold breath
- Bobbing
- Open eyes under water and retrieve submerged objects
- Front, jellyfish and tuck floats
- Front and back glides and floats
- Recover to vertical position
- Roll from front to back and back to front
- Change direction of travel while swimming on front or back
- Tread water using arm and leg actions
- Combined arm and leg actions on front and back
- Finning arm action
- Learn how to stay safe, including recognizing an emergency, knowing how to call for help and perform
- Simple non-swimming assists
- Learn how to stay safe in, on and around the water, including the use of a life jacket, recognizing lifeguards, and sun safety
- Learn to look carefully before entering the water
- Learn what to think about and do when exhausted or caught in a dangerous situation
Level 3- Stroke Development
Purpose
To build on the skills in Level 2 by providing additional guided practice in deeper water.
Prerequisites
Valid American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim Level 2: Fundamental Aquatic Skills certificate
OR
Successful demonstration of all certification requirements from Level 2.
Learning Objectives- Enter water by jumping from the side
- Headfirst entries from the side in sitting and kneeling positions
- Bobbing while moving toward safety
- Rotary breathing
- Survival float
- Back float
- Change from vertical to horizontal position on front and back
- Tread water
- Flutter, scissor, dolphin and breaststroke kicks on front
- Front crawl and elementary backstroke
- Learn to look carefully before entering the water
- Learn to perform simple nonswimming assists
- Learn to recognize, prevent and respond to cold water emergencies
Level 4-Stroke Improvement
Purpose
To develop participants’ confidence in the strokes learned in Level 3 and to improve other aquatic skills.
Prerequisites
Valid American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim Level 3: Stroke Development certificate
OR
Successful demonstration of all completion requirements from Level 3.
Learning Objectives- Headfirst entries from the side in compact and stride positions
- Swim under water
- Feet first surface dive
- Survival swimming
- Front crawl and backstroke open turns
- Tread water using 2 different kicks
- Front and back crawl, elementary backstroke, breaststroke, sidestroke and butterfly
- Flutter and dolphin kicks on back
- Learn to look carefully before entering the water
- Learn what to think about and do when exhausted or caught in a dangerous situation
- Learn to perform simple non-swimming assists
- Learn about recreational water illnesses and how to prevent them
Level 5- Stroke Refinement
Purpose
To further learn how to coordinate and refine strokes.
Prerequisites
Valid American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim Level 4: Fundamental Aquatic Skills certificate
OR
Successful demonstration of all completion requirements from Level 4.
Learning Objectives- Shallow-angle dive from the side then glide and begin a front stroke
- Tuck and pike surface dives, submerge completely
- Front flip turn and backstroke flip turn while swimming
- Front and back crawl, elementary backstroke, breaststroke, sidestroke and butterfly
- Sculling
- Learn to look carefully before entering the water
- Learn what to think about and do when exhausted or caught in a dangerous situation
- Learn to perform simple non-swimming assists
- Learn about recreational water illnesses and how to prevent them
- Learn how to call for help and the importance of knowing first aid and CPR
- Learn basic safety guidelines for participating in aquatic activities at waterparks
Level 6- Fitness SwimmerPurpose
To refine strokes so participants swim them with more ease, efficiency, power and smoothness and over greater distances.
Prerequisites
Valid American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim Level 5: Stroke Refinement certificate
OR
Successful demonstration of all completion requirements from Level 5.
Learning Objectives- Increase endurance while swimming the following strokes:
- Front crawl–100 yards
- Back crawl–100 yards
- Butterfly–50 yards
- Elementary backstroke–50 yards
- Breaststroke–50 yards
- Sidestroke–50 yards
- Demonstrate the following turns while swimming:
- Front crawl open turn
- Backstroke open turn
- Sidestroke turn
- Front flip turn
- Backstroke flip turn
- Breaststroke turn
- Butterfly turn
- Demonstrate etiquette in fitness swimming
- Discuss and demonstrate how to use the following equipment while swimming:
- Pull buoy
- Fins
- Pace clock
- Paddles
- Describe the principles of setting up a fitness program
- Demonstrate various training techniques
- Calculate target heart rate
- Apply the principles of water exercise
ADULT GROUP LESSONS
Some Texas State Students may qualify for FREE lessons! Email recaquatics@txstate.edu to find out if you are eligible!
Beginning Adult:
This class is for the non-swimming adult that would like to learn how to swim for the first time! We will start with basic aquatic skills and build up your comfort in, on and around the water. We also teach you about water safety so that you will learn how to save yourself and/or others in an emergency situation.
Intermediate Adult:
This class is for the adult who can already swim, but would like to learn more about proper stroke technique and/or increase endurance in the water. We will cover all strokes, go over water safety topics and help improve your fitness and endurance level!
