Levels of Swim Lessons

Kids and adults of all ages can learn to swim. As a student becomes more proficient, the level of the skills taught in their lessons should increase. Although swimming lessons and level qualifications can differ from one swimming facility to another, the six main levels are a relatively standard way to differentiate between swim lessons.

  1. Levels for Young Children

    • Most swim facilities have at least one (and often several) swim lesson levels for young children. Some may offer swimming lessons for children as young as six months old. Up until age three, all swim lessons should include a parent in the water, holding the child and working one on one. Especially at the youngest levels, these swim lessons primarily work on helping the child become comfortable in the water.

    Level 1 - Introduction to Water Skills

    • Students learn how to submerge their faces, open their eyes underwater and blow bubbles underwater. They also learn basic swim safety and how to propel themselves forward by kicking and alternating arm strokes on both their fronts and their backs.

    Level 2 - Fundamental Aquatic Skills

    • Students learn how to breathe correctly while swimming, jump into the water, tread water and swim on their fronts, backs and sides. Students who have mastered this level have the fundamental skills they will need in order to swim well and safely.

    Level 3 - Stroke Development

    • Students learn several additional strokes, such as the butterfly or the elementary backstroke. They also begin to become comfortable in deep water, and may even start to practice basic diving by learning how to do a "kneel" or "compact" dive, rather than a standing dive. They build their endurance by treading in the deep water, and learn the survival float as well.

    Level 4 - Stroke Improvement

    • Students learn the breaststroke and will learn a more complex version of the sidestroke. They learn how to complete open turns using any stroke, from both their fronts and their backs. They will also begin to learn basic swimming first aid skills, such as how to care for a conscious choking victim.

    Level 5 - Stroke Refinement

    • Students refine their skills in all of the strokes they have learned, including the breaststroke, the backstroke, the elementary backstroke and the butterfly. They may also learn how to accomplish flip turns. They also practice several versions of diving including the standing dive, the pike surface dive, the tuck surface dive and the shallow dive. They also learn rescue breathing and survival swimming.

    Level 6 - Swimming & Skill Proficiency

    • This level allows students to become even more proficient in their swimming skills. Instructors work with students to help them refine their strokes so that they swim with greater ease. They may practice various types of dives or prepare students for lifeguarding classes by teaching them basic lifeguarding skills..