Stage 1 Water Acclimation

Water Acclimation is designed to be taught in eight 30-minute lessons for preschoolers.  Students develop comfort with underwater exploration and learn to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water in stage 1. This stage lays the foundation that allows for a student’s future progress in swimming. Students in this stage focus on the following:

  • Exploring the aquatic environment and personal skills with instructor help
  • Developing basic skills to propel and glide through the water with instructor help
  • Learning basic aquatic safety and accepting some of the responsibility for safe practices

Stage 2 Water Stamina

Water Stamina is designed to be taught in eight 30-minute lessons for preschoolers. In this stage, students learn how to swim to safety from a longer distance than in previous stages in the event of falling into a body of water. This stage also introduces rhythmic breathing and integrated arm and leg action. Students in this stage focus on the following:

  • Integrating arm action, leg action, and rhythmic breathing in back and front glides
  • Developing forward movement on the front and back
  • Practicing skills and safety techniques in deep water

Stage 3 Water Acclimation

Water Acclimation is designed to be taught in eight 30-minute lessons for preschoolers.  Students develop comfort with underwater exploration and learn to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water in stage 1. This stage lays the foundation that allows for a student’s future progress in swimming. Students in this stage focus on the following:

  • Exploring the aquatic environment and personal skills with instructor help
  • Developing basic skills to propel and glide through the water with instructor help
  • Learning basic aquatic safety and accepting some of the responsibility for safe practices

Stage 4 Stroke Introduction

Stroke Introduction is designed to be taught in eight 30-minute lessons for preschoolers. Students in this stage develop stroke technique in front crawl and back crawl and learn the breaststroke kick and butterfly kick. Water safety is reinforced through treading water and elementary backstroke. Students in this stage focus on the following:

  • Developing the front crawl and back crawl
  • Introducing components of the breaststroke and butterfly
  • Practicing safety techniques in deep water