College of Education and Human Development

Department of Physical Education & Human Performance

American Red Cross Learn to Swim Program

Parent and Child A	For children who are 6 months to 2 years old and have either no water experience or one previous session of water adjustment lessons.
Parent and Child B	Are 18 months to 6 years old and have had two or more previous sessions of water adjustments lessons, submerge only reluctantly (or not at all) or require flotation support at all times.
Level 1	Intro to Water Skills: Helps students feel comfortable in the water and enjoy the water safely. Must be at least 4 years old.
Level 2	Fundamental Aquatic Skills: Gives students success with fundamental skills.
Level 3	Stroke Development: Builds on the skills in Level 2 by providing guided practice
Level 4	Stroke Improvement: Develops confidence in strokes learned and to improve in other aquatic skills.
Level 5	Stroke Refinement: Provide further coordination and refinement of strokes.
Level 6	Swimming and Skill Proficiency: Refines the strokes so students swim them with ease. Level 6 is designed with “menu” options. Each of these options focus on preparing students to participate in more advanced courses, such as Water Safety Instructor and Lifeguard Training. These options include: Personal Water Safety Fundamentals of Diving Lifeguard Readiness Fitness Swimmer

American Red Cross Swim Levels

Skill	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3	Level 4	Level 5
Water Entry and Exit	Enter and exit water safely using ladder, steps or side	Enter water by stepping or jumping from the side Exit water safely using ladder or side – chest deep water	Jump into deep water from the side Head-first entry from the side in a sitting or kneeling position-9 ft. deep	Dive from side in a compact or stride position in 9 ft. deep water	Shallow dive from the side - 9 feet deep Shallow dive, glide two body lengths and begin any front stroke – at least 9 feet deep
Breath Control & Underwater Swimming	Submerge mouth, nose and eyes Exhale underwater (blow bubbles) through mouth and nose – 3 seconds Open eyes underwater, pick up a submerged object held at arms length – 2 times	Submerge entire head – 5 sec Blow bubbles, submerging head in a rhythmic pattern (bobs) – 5 times Open eyes underwater, pick up a submerged object – 3 times in shallow water	Submerge and retrieve an object-3 sec. chest deep water Bobs with the head fully submerged-5 times chest deep water Rotary breathing with the body in a horizontal position-5 times	Swim underwater (no hyperventilation) – 3 body lengths Feet-first surface dive – submerge completely	Swim underwater - (no hyperventilation) 15 yards Tuck and pike surface dives – submerge completely
Buoyancy on Front	Show comfort maintaining a front float position; face may be in or out of the water. – 5 seconds Recover from a front float to a standing position.	Show comfort maintaining a front float position with face in water – 5 sec. Recover from a front float to a standing position Front glide – 2 body lengths Float in a face-down position (jellyfish float) – 5 seconds	Front glide using two different kicks-2 body lengths Survival float-30 sec in deep water	Survival float – 1 minute in deep water	Survival float – 2 min.
Buoyancy on Back	Show comfort maintaining a back float position – 5 sec. Recover from a back float to a standing position	Show comfort maintaining a back float position – 5 sec Recover from a back float to a standing position Back glide – 2 body lengths	Back glide using two different kicks-2 body lengths Back float-30 sec. deep water	Back float – 1 minute in deep water	Back float – 2 min.
Changing Direction and Position	Change direction of travel while walking or paddling Roll over front to back Roll over back to front	Change direction of travel paddling on front or back Roll over front to back Roll over back to front	Change from vertical to horizontal position on front-deep water Change from vertical to horizontal position on back-deep water	Open turn using any stroke on front and push off in streamlined position-2 body lengths before stroking Open turn using any stroke on back and push off in streamlined position -2 body lengths before stroking	Flip turn while swimming on front Flip turn while swimming on back
Treading	Explore arm and hand movements	Using arm and leg motions – chest deep water	Tread water 30 sec in deep water	Tread water using modified scissors, breaststroke or rotary kick and sculling arm motions – At least 1 minute	Tread water using two different kicks (scissors, breaststroke or rotary) – 2 minutes
Swim on Front	Alternating arm action Simultaneous arm action Alternating leg action Simultaneous leg action Combined stroke on front, using any type of arm and leg action – 5 feet	Combined arm and leg actions on front, using any combination of alternating and simultaneous arm and leg actions – 15 feet	Front crawl – 15 yards Butterfly – kick and body motion – 15 yards	Front crawl – 25 yards Breaststroke – 15 yards Butterfly – 15 yards	Front Crawl – 50 yards Butterfly – 25 yards Breaststroke – 25 yards
Swim on Back	Alternating arm action Simultaneous arm action Alternating leg action Simultaneous leg action Combined stroke on back, using any type of arm and leg action – 5 feet	Finning arm action-10 ft. Sculling arm action-10 ft. Combined arm and leg actions on back, using any combination of alternating and simultaneous arm and leg actions-15 ft.	Back crawl – 15 yards	Back crawl – 25 yards Elementary backstroke – 15 yards	Back Crawl – 50 yards Elementary backstroke – 25 yards
Swim on Side		Alternating leg action-5 ft Simultaneous leg action-5 ft.		Swim on side with scissors kick – at least 15 yards	Sidestroke – 25 yards
General & Personal Water Safety	Water Safety Rules	Water Safety Rules	Water Safety Rules	Water Safety Rules	Survival Swimming
Helping Others	Helping Others	Helping Others	Helping Others	Helping Others	Rescue Breathing

Level 6 Skills

Endurance Skills and Turns requirements are the same for all Level 6 Courses:

Personal Water Safety
Fundamentals of Diving
Lifeguard Readiness
Fitness Swimmer

Endurance Skills:	Requirement
Front Crawl	At least 100 yards
Back Crawl	At least 100 yards
Breaststroke	At least 50 yards
Elementary backstroke	At least 50 yards
Sidestroke	At least 50 yards
Butterfly	At least 50 yards

Turns	Requirement
Front crawl open turn Sidestroke open turn Backstroke open turn Front flip turn Breaststroke turn Butterfly turn Backstroke flip turn	Demonstrate all while swimming

Turns

Requirement

Front crawl open turn

Sidestroke open turn

Backstroke open turn

Front flip turn

Breaststroke turn

Butterfly turn

Backstroke flip turn

Demonstrate all while swimming

Additional Skills for Level 6 - Personal Water Safety

Review Skills and Information	Requirement
HELP position	2 minutes – deep water
Huddle position	2 minutes – deep water
Feet-first surface dive	Water at least 7 ft. deep
Pike surface dive	Water at least 7 ft. deep
Tuck surface dive	Water at least 7 ft. deep

New Skills and Information	Requirement
Tread water	5 minutes – deep water
Tread water, kicking only	2 minutes – deep water
Surface dive and retrieve an object from the bottom	Water 7-10 ft deep
Survival float	5 minutes – deep water
Back float	5 minutes -- deep water
Self-rescue techniques while clothed	10 minutes
Swimming while clothed	Demonstrate
Basic safety rules for open water	50 yards/any stroke Discuss
Basic safety rules for boating	Discuss

Additional Skills for Level 6 - Fundamentals of Diving

Skills and Information	Requirement
Basic stretching exercises for diving Dive from side from kneeling and compact positions Dive from side from stride and standing positions Forward dive fall in from diving board Approach and hurdle Forward jump, tuck position Forward dive, tuck position Forward dive, pike position	Demonstrate each skill

Skills and Information

Requirement

Basic stretching exercises for diving

Dive from side from kneeling and compact positions

Dive from side from stride and standing positions

Forward dive fall in from diving board

Approach and hurdle

Forward jump, tuck position

Forward dive, tuck position

Forward dive, pike position

Demonstrate each skill

Additional Skills for Level 6 - Lifeguard Readiness

Review Skills and Information		Requirement
Feet first surface dive		Demonstrate in 7 ft. water
Pike surface dive		Demonstrate in 7 ft. water
Tuck surface dive		Demonstrate in 7 ft. water
Check-Call-Care Call for emergency help Care for conscious choking victim Reaching assist Throwing assist Rescue breathing		Demonstrate all

New Skills and Information	Requirement
Tread water	5 minutes, deep water
Tread water, kicking only	2 minutes, deep water
Compact jump into the water from a height with rescue tube	5 feet deep water
Front crawl with rescue tube trailing
Breaststroke with rescue tube trailing	25 yards
Swim on back holding object and keeping face out of water
Surface dive and retrieve object and keeping face out of water	7-10 foot water
Wading assist with equipment
Walking assist	25 yards
Beach Drag
Hip & shoulder support Head splint Using a backboard Two-personal removal from water	Demonstrate all

Additional Skills for Level 6 - Fitness Swimmer

New Skills and Information	Requirement
Demonstrate etiquette in fitness swimming Use a pace clock Use a pull buoy while swimming Use fins while swimming Use paddles while swimming Describe the principles of setting up a fitness program Demonstrate various training techniques Calculate target heart rate Apply principles of water exercise	Demonstrate All

New Skills and Information

Requirement

Demonstrate etiquette in fitness swimming

Use a pace clock

Use a pull buoy while swimming

Use fins while swimming

Use paddles while swimming

Describe the principles of setting up a fitness program

Demonstrate various training techniques

Calculate target heart rate

Apply principles of water exercise

Demonstrate All

EXIT SKILLS ASSESSMENT: Levels 1-6

Level 1 - Into to Water Skills	Enter unassisted, move 5 yards, bob 5 times to chin level and safely exit the water. (Participants can walk, travel along the gutter or “swim”.) Float on front with support for 3 seconds, roll to back (with assistance) and float on back with support for 3 seconds.
Level 2 - Fundamental Aquatic Skills	Step from side into chest-deep water, move into a front float for 5 seconds, roll over to a back float, return to standing position, then move back to a back float for 5 seconds and return to a standing position. Push off and swim using a combination of arm and leg actions for 15 feet on the front, push off and swim using a combination of arm and leg actions for 15 feet on the back.
Level 3 - Stroke Development	Jump into chest-deep water from the side, swim front crawl for 15 yards with face in the water and rhythmic breathing pattern (to front or side), maintain position by treading or floating for 30 seconds and swim back crawl for 15 yards.
Level 4 - Stroke Improvement	Perform a feet-first entry into chest-deep water, swim front crawl for 25 yards, maintain position on back 1 minute in deep water (float or sculling) and swim elementary backstroke for 15 yards. Swim breaststroke for 15 yards, tread water for 1 minute and swim back crawl for 25 yards.
Level 5 - Stroke Refinement	Perform a shallow dive into deep water, swim front crawl for 50 yards, maintain position on back for 2 minutes in deep water (float or scull) and swim elementary backstroke for 25 yards. Swim breaststroke for 25 yards, tread water for 2 minutes and swim back crawl for 50 yards.
Level 6 - Personal Water Safety	Swim 500 yards continuously using the strokes in the following order: front crawl, 100 yards; back crawl, 100 yards; breaststroke, 50 yards; elementary backstroke, 50 yards; sidestroke, 50 yards; butterfly, 50 yards; and choice of stroke, 100 yards. Jump into deep water, perform a survival float for 5 minutes, roll onto back and perform a back float for 5 minutes. Perform a feet-first surface dive, retrieve an object from the bottom of the pool at a minimum depth of 7 feet, return to surface and return to starting point.
Level 6 - Fundamentals of Diving	Swim 500 yards continuously using the strokes in the following order: front crawl, 100 yards; back crawl, 100 yards; breaststroke, 50 yards; elementary backstroke, 50 yards; sidestroke, 50 yards; butterfly, 50 yards; and choice of stroke, 100 yards Perform a front approach and hurdle with a feet-first entry from a 1-meter springboard. Perform a front approach and hurdle with a head-first entry from a 1-meter springboard.
Level 6 - Lifeguard Readiness	Swim 500 yards continuously using the strokes in the following order: front crawl, 100 yards; back crawl, 100 yards; breaststroke, 50 yards; elementary backstroke, 50 yards; sidestroke, 50 yards; butterfly, 50 yards; and choice of stroke, 100 yards Swim 20 yards using front crawl or breaststroke to a depth of 7 to 10 feet, retrieve a 10-pound object, return to the surface and swim 20 yards back on the back or side to the starting point with the object (student must hold object with both hands and keep his or her face out of the water).
Level 6 - Fitness Swimmer	Swim 500 yards continuously using the strokes in the following order: front crawl, 100 yards; back crawl, 100 yards; breaststroke, 50 yards; elementary backstroke, 50 yards; sidestroke, 50 yards; butterfly, 50 yards; and choice of stroke, 100 yards Perform the Cooper 12-minute swim test, and compare results with the pre-assessment results.

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