Stage 3 Water Acclimation

Water Stamina is designed to be taught in eight 45-minute lessons. 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 4 Stroke Introductions

Stroke Introduction is designed to be taught in eight 45-minute lessons.  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

Stage 5 Stroke Development

Stroke Development is designed to be taught in eight 45-minute lessons.   Students in this stage work on stroke technique and learn all major competitive strokes. The emphasis on water safety continues through treading water and sidestroke. Students in this stage focus on the following:

  • Developing stamina in the front crawl and back crawl
  • Developing the breaststroke and butterfly
  • Building endurance techniques for deep- water safety

Stage 6 Stroke Mechanics

In this stage, students refine stroke technique on all major competitive strokes, learn about competitive swimming, and discover how to incorporate swimming into a healthy lifestyle. Students in this stage focus on the following:

  • Developing endurance in the competitive strokes
  • Developing skills related to competitive swimming like flip turns
  • Enhancing skills and building endurance in deep water