Arlington Boys & Girls Club

TOT SWIM CLASS DESCRIPTIONS

Water Babies I: Ages 6 - 18 months. This is designed to introduce your child into the aquatic atmosphere at a very early age. It will teach the parent/guardian skills that will help the child build a foundation for a lifetime of fun in the water. Some of the skills that will be taught will be blowing bubbles, kicking on stomach and back, paddling arms/splashing,sliding/jumping in and going underwater. Every class includes group skills, free play, games and song time.

Water Babies II: Ages 19 to 42 months. This class is designed for the older infant. It will teach the parent/guardian specific skills to practice with their child. The skills will include blowing bubbles, kicking on stomach and back, paddling arms, jumping, gliding, going underwater and eventually free floating with a barbell. Every class includes group skills, free play, games and song time.

3 - 4.6 with parent: This class is great for the child who is uncertain and needs extra encouragement to feel more confident in the water. The instructor will guide the parent/guardian through the skill, then the parent/ guardian will instruct the child. Skills to be taught are blowing bubbles, kicking on stomach and back, jumping, gliding, going underwater and using barbells, noodles and kickboards to float with. The main focus is building confidence. Every class includes group skills, free play, games and song time.

3 - 4.6 without parent: Ratio of 6 children per instructor. The child must meet the height requirement of 34” to chin level. Skills taught at this level include: learning to balance and maneuver in water, kicking on stomach and back, paddling arms, floating, use of barbells, noodles and kickboards, jumping, blowing bubbles going underwater and confidence building techniques. Every class includes water games and songs. Safety rules that appy to the water will also be taught. This class is taught in the shallow end of the pool.

To register for the following classes, child must be approved by aquatic staff:

Turtle	basic water adjustment
Penguin	ready to swim, swims slightly by themselves
Dolphin	swims on own for 10 yards
Walrus	needs to build confidence in deep water; needs to build endurance	deep-end class; advanced 4 & 5 year old classes will include front crawl with rotary breathing, back crawl, diving and water safety.
Seal	needs a challenge	deep-end class; advanced 4 & 5 year old classes will include front crawl with rotary breathing, back crawl, diving and water safety.

**All classes will be using equipment such as barbells, noodles and kickboards to practice skills and drills. Instructors will do their best to challenge each child according to his/her ability.

Swim Levels- ages 6-17 (American Red Cross)

Please review individual levels before registering your child for a class, if you are unsure, request a swim placement test before registering for a higher level - you must pass the previous level.

Level I: Introduction to Water Skills

Purpose: Comfort in Water

Basic water safety rules

Using a life jacket

Submerging mouth, nose and eyes

Opening eyes underwater, locating submerged object

Swimming on front and back using arms and legs

Recognizing a swimmer in distress and getting help

Exhaling underwater

Floating on back and front

Introduction to deep water

Level 2: Fundamental Aquatic Skills Purpose: Success with Fundamental Skills

Moving in the water while wearing a life jacket

Submerging entire head

Front and back glide

Treading water using arm and leg motions

Recognizing a swimmer in distress and getting help

Bobbing in water

Jellyfish float

Swimming using combined stroke on front and back

Class includes time in shallow-end and deep-end

Level 3: Stroke Development

Purpose: Build on Level 2 Skills with guided practice

Reaching assist

Submerging and retrieving an object

Front and back glide

Front and back crawl

Kneeling or standing dive (shallow dive progression)

Rotary breathing in horizontal position

Survival float, back float

Butterfly-kick and body motion

Deep-end class

Level 4: Stroke Development

Purpose: Develop confidence in strokes and aquatic skills

Safe Diving rules

Dive from stride position or shallow dive

Survival float, back float

Elementary backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly

Throwing assist

Feet-first surface dive

Front and back crawl

Open turn on front and back

Level 5: Stroke Refinement

Purpose: Provide coordination and refine stroke

Survival swimming

Standing dive (diving progression)

Front and back crawl

Perform rescue breathing

Tuck and pike surface dive

Front flip and backstroke flip turns

Elementary backstroke, butterfly, breaststroke, sidestroke

Level 6: Swimming and Skill Proficiency

Purpose: Ease, Efficiency, Power, Smoothness

Offered in three separate classes.All Classes continue to work on strokes and include an endurance swim (500 yards/20 lengths).

A child can register for any of the three options. No specific order required to pass.

Personal Water Safety- how to help yourself or others in dangerous situations involving water

Lifeguard Readiness- basics of how to save someone

Fitness Swimmer-different ways to exercise in water besides swimming

No masks allowed in swim lessons, goggles ONLY!