Levels

Six levels, six cap colors

Swimmers wear a cap in their level's color, so everyone at the pool can see where a class is. Ages are a guide; the placement visit decides the level.

01
Water comfort
Yellow cap, ages 3 to 5
Skills
- Entering and leaving by the steps
- Blowing bubbles
- Getting the face wet, one step at a time
- Moving through the water holding the instructor's hands
Moving up
When bubbles and a calm entry by the steps are steady, the instructor suggests Floating.
02
Floating
Orange cap, ages 4 to 6
Skills
- Floating on the front and back with support
- Putting the face in and blowing bubbles
- Kicking with a kickboard
- Reaching for the wall
Moving up
When floating with support and kicking with a board are steady, the instructor suggests Kicking.
03
Kicking
Green cap, ages 5 to 7
Skills
- Kicking on the front and back
- Gliding from the wall
- Arm pulls with a kickboard
- Turning the head to breathe
Moving up
When kicking and gliding are steady on the front and back, the instructor suggests Strokes.
04
Strokes
Blue cap, ages 6 to 8
Skills
- Freestyle arms with breathing to the side
- Back crawl arms
- Swimming across the width of the pool
- Treading water with the instructor close
Moving up
When freestyle and back crawl cross the width of the pool, the instructor suggests Stroke combinations.
05
Stroke combinations
Purple cap, ages 7 to 9
Skills
- Freestyle and back crawl linked together
- Breaststroke kick
- Swimming a length of the pool
- Sculling on the back and treading water
Moving up
When two strokes link and a length of the pool is swum, the instructor suggests Endurance and technique.
06
Endurance and technique
Navy cap, ages 8 to 10
Skills
- Longer swims at an even pace
- Butterfly kick and the four strokes
- Turns at the wall
- Streamlines off the wall
Moving up
There is no level after this one; the instructor sets new goals with each swimmer every session.

Where to startBook a placement visit

Sample levels.

Every swimmer moves at their own pace.

In every level

What happens in a class

Classes for Water comfort and Floating last half an hour; the other four levels last forty-five minutes.

01
Step 1: Arrive and rinse
Swimmers sign in at the front desk, rinse at the showers and wait on the bench for their instructor.
02
Step 2: Warm up at the wall
Class begins on the steps or at the wall with a song or a game, so everyone gets used to the water together.
03
Step 3: One or two skills
Swimmers practice what their level asks for: blowing bubbles, floating with support, kicking, a stroke. Each swimmer gets a turn with the instructor close.
04
Step 4: Play with a purpose
A game with rings, noodles or kickboards puts the skills to use.
05
Step 5: Towel and a word
Swimmers wrap up in a towel, and the instructor tells the parent what the class worked on.

In the water

An instructor close, at every level

Swimmers float, kick and blow bubbles with an instructor beside them. The younger levels hold the instructor's hands or a kickboard; the older ones swim a width and then a length with the instructor walking along the side.

A student smiling over a kickboard in the pool with the instructor beside them in the water

What a swimmer needs

A cap, a towel and goggles if you like

We ask every swimmer to wear a cap in their level's color. Everything else comes from home.

A cap in your level's color
A towel
Goggles, if your swimmer likes them
A swim shirt, if you like; it is welcome in every class

A folded towel, a pair of goggles, a swim cap and a small water bottle laid out on a pool bench

Not sure which level?

That is what the placement visit is for. Book a time and an instructor will get in the water with your swimmer.

Book a placement visit Meet the instructors

Water comfort

Floating

Kicking

Strokes

Stroke combinations

Endurance and technique

Step 1: Arrive and rinse

Step 2: Warm up at the wall

Step 3: One or two skills

Step 4: Play with a purpose

Step 5: Towel and a word