Swim Lesson Details |
Swim Lessons FAQ
Q: I am not sure what level to put my child in. How do I decide?
A. Read through the skills descriptions to help decide. If you still aren’t sure, please call or email Lynette Raether (608) 842-6855, lraether@deforestschools.org for help. If you are unsure about two levels, go with the LOWER one.
Q. Will my child pass the class at the end of the session?
A. Maybe, but maybe not. It’s best to plan on one year per swim level to make sure they have the required skills to pass. Moving through levels too quickly won’t help your child.
Q. My child spent the entire first class holding the wall or sitting on the edge and refused to do anything. What should I do?
A. You can talk to your child about participating in the class, however, the first class is a lot for a child. They have a new instructor, new classmates, and some skills are HARD! It will get better. Your child’s instructor WILL NOT force them to enter the water.
Q. I have suggestions for my child’s teacher. Can I tell him/her the suggestions during class?
A. Please don’t. The children in the class should be the most important thing for the instructor during class. If you interrupt class, that takes attention off the children, and that can be scary in the pool. If you need to talk to an instructor, you can try to talk to them after class, or you can email Lynette Raether, lraether@deforestschools.org.
Q. I’d like to put my child in a swim class for every session. Can I do that?
A. PLEASE only sign up for one class for the summer. The reason is that our lessons are REALLY popular and for safety reasons we can’t have very many students per class. Having that few students per class really limits the number of kids that can sign up. We want as many kids as possible to be able to participate. BUT if there are openings in a later session, we will post something on our Facebook page, and then by all means, please sign up for an additional class.
Q. Should my child wear goggles?
A. YES! Goggles take some getting used to, but it really helps the swimmer to have them on. Everything in the pool is so much clearer! You can purchase goggles locally at Target and/or Walmart. They can be ordered from swimoutlet.com. PLEASE fit the goggles before you get to the pool for class:)
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Lesson Levels
We would like to accommodate the largest number of families as possible, therefore, please only sign up for 1 class per swimmer. Please do not put your swimmer in multiple classes or on wait lists for multiple classes. If there are open spots in classes, we will post on the Facebook page and then will open up registration so your swimmer may sign up for an additional class.
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Pre-School Lessons: ages 3-5 years old
Preschool (formally Skippers):
The purpose of this class is to familiarize children to the aquatic environment and help them acquire rudimentary basic aquatic skills including but not limited to submerging the face in water, retrieving submerged objects in shallow water, swimming on their front and back, and water safety practices. We will work on developing positive attitudes and safe practices in and around water!
This class is swam without a parent, and looks like a lot of playing in the water, but they are learning important skills. Swimmers will wear float belts in the water to help them to float in the water. Tot decks will be used whenever possible. Recommended for 3 to 5 year olds
Prerequisites: Swimmers will be supported in the water by an instructor, however, swimming with someone who is not “their” trusted adult from home can be difficult for some swimmers. Please use the age as a guide. Our instructors will not force a swimmer to get into the water.
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School Age: Ages 6-12 years old
Level 1, Introduction to Water Skills
Purpose: Orient participants to the aquatic environment and help them gain basic aquatic skills. Help participants begin to develop positive attitudes and safe practices around water
Prerequisites:
- No skill prerequisites
- Must be 6 years old to be in level 1 (American Red Cross Standard)
Level 2, Fundamental Aquatic Skills
Purpose: Build on the basic aquatic skills and water safety skills and concepts learned in Level 1.
Prerequisites: Successful demonstration of Level 1 exit skills.
- Enter independently, using either the ramp, steps or side, travel at least 5 yards, bob 5 times, then safely exit the water. (Participants can walk, move along the gutter or “swim.”)
- Glide on front at least 2 body lengths, roll to a back float for 5 seconds, then recover to a vertical position. (This part of the assessment can be performed with assistance.)
Level 3, Stroke Development
Purpose: Build on the skills learned in Levels 1 and 2 to help participants achieve basic water competency in a pool environment.
Prerequisites: Successful demonstration of Level 2 exit skills.
- Step from the side into chest-deep water, push off the bottom, move into a treading or floating position for at least 15 seconds, swim on front and/or back for 5 body lengths, then exit the water.
- Move into a back float for 15 seconds, roll to front, then recover to a vertical position.
- 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 at least 5 body lengths.
Level 3, Stroke Development
Purpose: Build on the skills learned in Levels 1 and 2 to help participants achieve basic water competency in a pool environment.
Prerequisites: Successful demonstration of Level 2 exit skills.
- Step from the side into chest-deep water, push off the bottom, move into a treading or floating position for at least 15 seconds, swim on front and/or back for 5 body lengths, then exit the water.
- Move into a back float for 15 seconds, roll to front, then recover to a vertical position.
- 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 at least 5 body lengths.
Level 4, Stroke Improvement
Purpose: Improve participants’ proficiency in performing the swimming strokes that were introduced in Level 3
Prerequisites: Successful demonstration of Level 3 exit skills.
- Jump into deep water from the side, recover to the surface, maintain position by treading or floating for 1 minute, rotate one full turn, then turn as necessary to orient to the exit point, level off, swim front crawl and/or elementary backstroke for 25 yards, then exit the water.
- Push off in a streamlined position, then swim front crawl for 15 yards, change position and direction as necessary, swim elementary backstroke for 15 yards, then exit the water.
Level 5, Stroke Refinement
Purpose: Help participants refine their performance of all six swimming strokes (i.e., front crawl, back crawl, butterfly, breaststroke, elementary backstroke and sidestroke)
Prerequisites: Successful demonstration of Level 4 exit skills.
- 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.
- Swim breaststroke for 15 yards, change direction and position as necessary and swim back crawl for 15 yards.
- Submerge and swim a distance of 3 to 5 body lengths underwater without hyperventilating, return to the surface, then exit the water.
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Adult Beginner
Purpose: Help adults become comfortable in the water, and to become proficient in swimming skills.
Adult beginner is a class for adults that may not have any swimming skills, and wish to develop them. Swimming skills are so important, even if we aren’t planning on going to the Olympics. If you are able to swim laps, this isn’t the class for you, BUT if you don’t know any strokes or can’t do a certain stroke, this class is for you! We will work on floating, gliding, arm and leg motions for freestyle and backstroke, and treading water. If time allows, we will work on elementary backstroke and breaststroke as well.
Prerequisites:
- Come ready to learn and swim!
- Please bring goggles.
Adult Stroke Work
Purpose: Help adults who would like to improve their swim strokes.
This class is for anyone who can swim laps, but would like some help improving strokes. The instructor/coach will have workouts for you, and you will work on all 4 strokes.
Prerequisites:
- Able to swim laps repeatedly
- Should be proficient in all 4 competitive strokes
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