At-a-glance
The Lifesaving Society's 6-level
Swimmer program makes sure your children learn how to swim before
they get in too deep. Swimmer progressions accommodate children 5
years and older including absolute beginners as well as swimmers
who want to build on the basics.
We stress lots of in-water practice to develop solid swimming
strokes and skills. We incorporate Water Smart® education in all levels.
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We've organized the content of each
level like this:
- Entries and exits
- Surface support
- Underwater skills
- Swim to Survive® skills
- Movement / Swimming skills
- Fitness
As an integral part of the Swim for Life® program, Water Smart education provides
information and experiences that helps participants make smart
decisions when in, on and around water and ice.
Swimmer 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Swimmer 1: These beginners will become
comfortable jumping into water with and without a Personal
Flotation Device. They'll learn to open their eyes, exhale and hold
their breath underwater. They'll work on floats, glides and kicking
through the water on their front and back.
Swimmer 2: These advanced beginners will jump
into deeper water, and learn to be comfortable falling sideways
into the water wearing a Personal Flotation Device. They'll be able
to support themselves at the surface without an aid, learn whip
kick, swim 10-15 m on their front and back, and be introduced to
flutter kick interval training
(4 x 9-12 m).
Swimmer 3: These junior swimmers will dive and
do in-water front somersaults. Their new bag of tricks includes
handstands and completion of the Canadian Swim to Survive Standard.
They'll work on 10-15m of front crawl, back crawl and whip kick.
Flutter kick interval training increases to
4 x 25 m.
Swimmer 4: These intermediate swimmers will
swim 5 m underwater and lengths of front, back crawl, whip kick,
and breaststroke arms with breathing. They'll cap it all off with
front crawl sprints over 25 m and 4 x 25 m front or back crawl
interval training.
Swimmer 5: These swimmers will master shallow
dives, cannonball entries, eggbeater kicks, and in-water backward
somersaults. Surface dives will take them down to underwater swims.
They'll refine their front and back crawl over 50 m swims of each,
and breaststroke over 15-25 m. Then they'll pick up the pace in 25
m sprints and two interval training bouts: 4 x 50 m front or back
crawl; and 4 x 10-15 m breaststroke.
Swimmer 6: These advanced swimmers will rise to
the challenge of sophisticated aquatic skills including stride
entries, compact jumps and lifesaving kicks like eggbeater and
scissor kick. They'll develop strength and power in head-up
breaststroke sprints over 25 m. They'll easily swim lengths of
front crawl, back crawl, and breaststroke, and they'll complain
about the
300 m workout.