YOUTH 2: WATER MOVEMENT (AGES 6 – 12)

In stage 2, students focus on body position and control, directional change, and forward movement in the water while also continuing to practice how to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water.

To QUALIFY for this stage, students must have completed YOUTH 1: WATER ACCLIMATION. 

To pass this stage, a student should be able to complete the following skills INDEPENDENTLY:

• Submerge and look at an object on the bottom of the pool (3.5 feet)
• Front crawl to an instructor 10 feet.
• Front float for 20 seconds.
• Back float for 20 seconds
• Back glide (push off of the wall onto their back) for 10 feet.
• Exit the water independently
• Roll from a front float onto their back to a back float
• Tread water for 10 seconds

YOUTH 3: WATER STAMINA (AGES 6-12)

In stage 3, students work on swimming full lengths of the pool of front crawl and begin working on rotary breathing (freestyle). This level also focuses heavily on back glides, back crawl, and refining back stroke.

To QUALIFY for stage 3, participants must have passed Youth 2: Water Movement.

To PASS stage 3, Water Stamina, participants should be able to complete the following skills:

• Submerge and retrieve an object in chest-deep water
• Swim freestyle 25 yards (a whole length of the pool) without stopping
• Swim on their back 25 yards (a whole length of the pool) without stopping
• Begin building rotary breathing skills
• Exit the water independently
• Roll from their front float onto their back to a back float
• Tread water in the deep end for 1 minute

YOUTH 4: STROKE INTRODUCTION (AGES 6-12)

Students in stage 4 refine their freestyle (also known as front crawl) and backstroke (also known as back crawl) technique. They will learn the butterfly and breast stroke kicks in this level, different styles of treading water, and begin working on diving head first into the deep end of Niebur Pool 1.

To QUALIFY for stage 4, students must complete YOUTH 3: WATER STAMINA.

To PASS stage 4, participants should be able to complete the following skills:

• Freestyle demonstrating a basic understanding of rotary breathing, 25 yards (the length of the pool) without stopping
• Breast stroke kick, preformed with a kick board, 25 yards (the length of the pool) without stopping
• Butterfly kick, preformed with a kick board 25 yards (the length of the pool) without stopping
• Backstroke 25 yards (the length of the pool)
• Dive into the pool in a sitting position
• Tread water using both the scissor and whip kick styles for 1 minute
• Should be able to swim a full length of the pool without stopping

YOUTH 5: STROKE DEVELOPMENT (AGES 6-12)

Students in stage 5 work on stroke technique and learn all major competitive strokes. The emphasis on water safety continues through treading water for longer periods of time and sidestroke.

To QUALIFY for stage 5, students need to have passed YOUTH 4: STROKE INTRODUCTION.

To PASS stage 5, participants should be able to preform the following skills:

• Freestyle with full rotary breathing for 25 yards, without stopping
• Breast stroke swim for 25 yards, without stopping
• Butterfly (simultaneous arm action and kick) for 25 yards without stopping
• Backstroke swim for 25 yards, without stopping
• Dive into the pool in a kneeling position
• Tread water using both the scissor and whip kicks for 2 minutes