Swimmer
The Swimmer module prepares children from 5 to 12 years of age for deep water, whether they are beginners or already know how to swim. Swimming skills and techniques progress through levels 1 to 6, with an emphasis on specific strokes, including front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke.
Six Levels to Develop Swimming Skills
An introduction to essential aquatic skills designed to build comfort and confidence in the water. Skills include entering the water with and without a personal flotation device (PFD), submerging, exhaling underwater, floating, gliding and kicking on the front and back.
Skills Taught
Jump into the water with or without a personal flotation device (PFD);
Open their eyes, exhale and hold their breath underwater;
Float and glide;
Use kicking skills to move through the water on their front and back.
Duration
8 to 10 lessons of 30 minutes
Number of Children per Instructor
6 to 8
Skills progress to entering deeper water, treading water and learning the whip kick. Swimmers begin swimming 10 metres on their front and back and are introduced to interval training.
Skills Taught
Jump into deeper water than in Level 1;
Become comfortable falling sideways into the water while wearing a PFD;
Tread water without assistance;
Swim 10 m on the front and back;
Perform the whip kick;
Perform flutter kick intervals (4 × 5 m).
Duration
8 to 10 lessons of 30 minutes
Number of Children per Instructor
6 to 8
This level introduces new skills such as diving, forward rolls and handstands. Swimmers also improve their front crawl and back crawl over 15 metres, develop their whip kick and build endurance through interval training.
Skills Taught
Perform dives, forward rolls into the water and handstands;
Swim front crawl and back crawl for 15 m;
Swim 10 m using the whip kick;
Perform flutter kick intervals (4 × 15 m).
Duration
8 to 10 lessons of 45 minutes
Number of Children per Instructor
8 to 10
Swimmers develop their ability to swim underwater and cover greater distances using front crawl and back crawl. This level also introduces the arm movements and breathing technique used in breaststroke while continuing to develop the whip kick.
The skills acquired also allow swimmers to complete the Canadian Swim to Survive Standard, which consists of a roll entry into deep water, treading water for one minute and swimming 50 metres.
Skills Taught
Swim 5 m underwater;
Swim lengths using front crawl and back crawl;
Perform the breaststroke whip kick, arm movements and breathing technique;
Complete a 25 m front crawl sprint;
Interval training;
Meet the Canadian Swim to Survive standard.
Duration
8 to 10 lessons of 45 minutes
Number of Children per Instructor
8 to 10
Skills become more advanced with shallow dives, tuck jumps, the eggbeater kick and backward somersaults. Distances increase to 50 metres for front crawl and back crawl and 25 metres for breaststroke, along with sprints and interval training.
Skills Taught
Master shallow dives, tuck jumps and backward somersaults into the water;
Perform the eggbeater kick;
Swim front crawl and back crawl for 50 m;
Swim breaststroke for 25 m;
Complete a 25 m sprint using front crawl or back crawl;
Interval training.
Duration
10 to 12 lessons of 45 minutes
Number of Children per Instructor
10 to 12
This final level consolidates swimming techniques while introducing lifesaving-related skills, including the stride jump, compact jump, eggbeater kick and scissor kick.
Swimmers further develop their strength, endurance and efficiency in front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke through training exercises that can include distances of up to 300 metres.
Skills Taught
Develop advanced aquatic skills, including:
Stride jumps;
Compact jumps;
Lifesaving kicks;
Train to develop strength and power.
Duration
10 to 12 lessons of 45 minutes
Number of Children per Instructor
10 to 12