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Level 1 lessons begin developing positive attitudes, good swimming habits, and safe practices in and around the water. These lessons introduce basic aquatic skills, which participants continue to build on as they progress through the Learn-to-Swim program..

Prerequisites: There are no skill prerequisites for Level 1.

Level 1 Schedules

Level 2 lessons mark the beginning of true locomotion skills. Swimmers learn to glide and float without support and recover to a vertical position. They further develop simultaneous and alternating arm and leg actions on the front and back, begin working on rotary breathing, and lay the foundation for future strokes.

Prerequisites: Successfully complete the following Level 1 exit skills assessment:

1. Enter independently, using either the ladder, steps, or side, travel at least 5 yards, bob 3 times then safely exit the water. (Participants can walk, move along the gutter, or swim.)
2. Glide on front at least 2 body lengths, roll to a back float for 3 seconds, and recover to a vertical position. (This part of the assessment can be performed with support.)

Level 3 lessons build on the skills in Level 2 by focusing on stroke develop.m.ent, water safety skills, survival skills, and providing additional guided practice in deeper water.

Prerequisites: Successfully complete the following Level 2 exit skills assessment:

1. Step from side into chest-deep water, move into a front float for 5 seconds, roll to back, float for 5 seconds then return to a vertical position.
2. Move into a back float for 5 seconds, roll to front then recover to a vertical position.
3. Push off and swim using combined arm and leg actions on front for 5 body lengths, roll to back, float for 15 seconds, roll to the front then continue swimming for 5 body lengths. (You can assist the participant when taking a breath.)

Level 4 lessons develop participants’ confidence in the strokes learned in Level 3 and to improve other aquatic skills such as water safety, survival skills, and other swimming concepts.

Prerequisites: Successfully complete the following Level 3 exit skills assessment:

1. Jump into deep water from the side, swim front crawl for 15 yards, maintain position by treading or floating for 30 seconds and swim elementary backstroke for 15 yards.

Level 5/6 lessons focus on fitness and further teach swimmers how to coordinate and refine strokes, so participants swim with more ease, efficiency, power, and smoothness and over greater distances.

Prerequisites: Successfully complete the following Level 4 exit skills assessment:

1. Perform a feet-first entry into deep water, swim front crawl for 25 yards, change direction and position as necessary and swim elementary backstroke for 25 yards.
2. Swim breaststroke for 15 yards, change direction and position as necessary, and swim back crawl for 15 yards.