Swimming Skills for Beginners

Swimming Skills Chart

Beginner Level

• Comfortably putting face in water for 2+ seconds requires getting in and out safely, nose in water, eyes in water, trickling water over face, and pouring water over face for 2+ seconds.
• To comfortably submerge and retrieve a toy, one needs to have a relaxed front float with help, be comfortable underwater for 1 second, and walk comfortably in the water.
• To glide out, stand, and glide into steps, one needs to have a relaxed front float on the step, glide into steps, and comfortably glide with support.
• Creating movement with arms and legs for 3 yards requires determining when the water is too deep and returning to safety, comfortably kicking through water, standing up, and pushing off and swimming underwater to retrieve a ring.
• To swim 3-5 yards and roll twice for breath, one needs to comfortably roll with help, swim with relaxed armstrokes, and recover to a standing position from a front float.

Preschool Safety Level

• To wall walk with hands to safety, one needs to reach, grab, and climb out, submerge, turn, grab the wall, and climb out, and fall in, turn, grab the wall, and climb out.

Big Circle Goal Level

• To achieve 10 yards of freestyle, one needs to have fast kicks, out-of-water arm recovery, and relaxed continuous air breathing with side swimming and side breathing 2 times independently.
• To achieve 10 yards of backstroke, one needs to have a relaxed back kick, kick and roll to back with help, and relaxed arms and kicks on back.
• To achieve 10 yards of breaststroke, one needs to have a relaxed back glide for 5 seconds, and up, around, squeeze, and leg movement.
• To achieve 10 yards of butterfly, one needs to have simultaneous out-of-water arm recovery 3 times, with stretch and glide, and body dolphin separation drill.
• To achieve AP2 safety, one needs to tread and backfloat for 5 seconds and return to the wall, and fall in, tread 5 seconds, and return to the wall.

Intermediate Level

• To create movement with legs for 3 yards, one needs to comfortably kick through water, stand up, comfortably roll, back to tummy with help, swim with relaxed armstrokes, and rollover with help.
• To swim 3-5 yards and get 2 breaths, one needs to swim with relaxed armstrokes, comfortably roll, tummy to back with help, swim with relaxed arms and rollover with help 2 times, and have stationary armstroke with side breath.
• To achieve independence, one needs to independently kick and side breathe.

A comprehensive chart outlining beginner swimming skills, including comfort levels with water submersion, floating, and face-in-water exercises.