Swim Class Descriptions

Swimmers in Water Tots will experience a gentle introduction to water confidence, buoyancy, and balance through songs and games. Swimmers learn the basics of body orientation, breath control, and basic propulsion, while building their love for swimming. This is a parent-assisted class. Key development objectives include:

• optimal body orientation for buoyancy and balance

• submerging, surfacing, and breath control (when appropriate)

• changing directional movement on the surface and underwater

Swimmers in Beginner Swim are lacking confidence in the water or are new to swimming, but can follow teacher instructions and are willing to participate in the water without a parent’s help. Swimmers learn the basics of water safety, breath control, and forward propulsion, as well as increase their comfort in the water with controlled, calm movements. Key development objectives include:

• optimal body orientation for buoyancy and balance

• submerging, surfacing, and breath control

• changing directional movement on the surface and underwater

Swimmers in Building Swimming Foundations are confident in the water, but still developing the foundations of strong swimming technique. Swimmers that can independently move on their front and back, and roll over to breathe with ease will be enrolled in BSF2. Other swimmers will start in BSF1. Key development objectives include:

• optimal body orientation for buoyancy and balance

• breath control and rolling to breathe

• controlled, propulsive arm strokes and kick for basic freestyle and backstroke

In Early Stroke Development, swimmers master the basics of optimal buoyancy and balance necessary for freestyle, backstroke, and breaststroke. In combination with an easy, controlled roll to breathe, swimmers are working to sustain their freestyle stroke and kick for 25m or more. Key development objectives include:

• continuous, propulsive freestyle arm strokes that clear the water

• breathing to the side by rolling to the back (no forward head lift)

• stable head, body, and leg positions for freestyle and backstroke

In Intermediate Stroke Development, swimmers master freestyle and backstroke. They’ll also continue to build the basic foundations for breaststroke. Key development objectives include:

• increasing endurance, speed, and efficiency in freestyle

• stable head, body position, and arm strokes/kick in backstroke over 25m+

• basic arm pulls and leg movement for breaststroke

Swimmers in Advanced Stroke Development work toward swimming 50m freestyle, backstroke, and legal breaststroke with the correct body position, propulsive movements, and rhythm for continuous forward movement. Key development objectives include:

• breaststroke with legal arm pull, kick, and stroke timing

• increasing stroke power and speed in freestyle and backstroke

• mastery of underwater technique off of walls/diving blocks

In Stroke Correction, swimmers work toward swimming 400m+ continuously, while using a combination of all four swimming strokes (including a legal butterfly stroke). Key development objectives include:

• develop a legal butterfly stroke

• make adjustments to body orientation and stroke technique to reduce drag and increase propulsion

• introduction of competitive starts, turns, and underwater technique off of walls/diving blocks

In Swim Fitness, swimmers focus on increasing their strength, speed, and efficiency across all four strokes in order to improve physical stamina and/or race competitiveness. Key development objectives include:

• employ swimming techniques that will conserve energy without loss of speed

• establish muscle memory for optimal technique

• mastery of competitive starts, turns, and underwater technique off of walls/diving blocks

Only swimmers that are selected through a qualifying time trial may enroll in the squad program. Swimmers in both the Development and Competitive Squads will train more frequently, with a focus on race preparation for local and international meets. Key development objectives include:

• develop fast-twitch muscles for sprints and starts

• experience with racing in highly-competitive age group meets

• master elite training strategies to increase endurance, power, and speed while maintaining efficient stroke technique