Skill Progression
- Level 1: Cubs- The Cubs class is for somewhat nervous students or very beginners. This class includes introduction to the basic skills necessary for swimming. We work on gradual water adaptation, movement in the water, breath holding and release, submersions of the face, opening eyes underwater, blowing bubbles, bobbing with bubbles and air exchange. Swimmers gain water confidence, master submerging their face in the water and taking a relaxed breath. Swimmers advance when they achieve 10 relaxed bobs. We also introduce back floats and kicking.
- Level 2: Koala Bear- The Koala class is appropriate for swimmers who are comfortable holding their breath under the water and doing 10 relaxed bobs with air exchange. Swimmers will be taught to front float and recover, front glide and recover, back float and recover, and back glide and recover. Additionally, students will learn to jump in the water, rollover, and float as a safety skill. Swimmers advance when they can front glide and recover for 5 seconds and back glide and recover for 5 seconds.
- Level 3: Sun Bear- The Sun Bear class is appropriate for swimmers that know how to comfortably hold their breath and float on their stomach and back independently. Swimmers will be taught porpoising, dolphin kick and will master kicking skills with front/back glide. Swimmers advance when they can kick 5 meters on their front and 5 meters on their back.
- Level 4: Panda Bear- The Panda Bear class is appropriate for swimmers who can kick 5 meters on their front and on their back. Swimmers will be taught the foundation of the front crawl. Swimmers advance when they can side-glide & kick 6 meters on each side and when they can swim 6 meters of front crawl without breathing).
- Level 5: Black Bear- The Black Bear class is appropriate for swimmers who can swim on top of the water but stop when they need to take a breath. Swimmers will be taught crawl stroke with continuous breathing and the back crawl stroke and will master crawl stroke with side breathing. Swimmers advance by swimming crawl stroke a width of the pool (about 12 meters) with a minimum of 4 breaths.
- Level 6: Brown Bear- The Brown Bear class is appropriate for swimmers who have mastered Freestyle swimming with continuous side breathing for a short distance and can swim on their backs. Swimmers will be taught extended freestyle swimming, treading water, jump in and tread water and dives. Swimmers will master and advance when they can swim freestyle for 25 meters, swim backstroke 10 meters and jump in and tread water for 1 minute.
- Level 7: Grizzly Bear- The Grizzly class is appropriate for swimmers who have passed levels 1-6 and can swim Freestyle for 25 meters and backstroke for 10 meters. Swimmers will be taught the breaststroke kick, swim, butterfly arms and butterfly swim. Swimmers advance when they have mastered a 50 meters freestyle swim, 25 meter backstroke swim and can kick breaststroke for 6 meters.
- Level 8: Polar Bear- The Polar Bear class is appropriate for swimmers who have passed levels 1-7 and can swim a 50 meter freestyle swim, 25 meter backstroke swim and can kick breaststroke for 6 meters. Swimmers will be taught freestyle with bilateral breathing and turns for each stroke and IM. Swimmers will master and advance as they perform a 100 meter freestyle swim using bi-lateral breathing, swim breaststroke 25 meters and swim butterfly 10 meters.
- Levels 9: Sabres- The Sabre Stroke class is appropriate for swimmers who have passed levels 1-8 and can perform a 100 meter Freestyle Swim using bi-lateral breathing, swim Breaststroke for 25 meters and Butterfly stroke for 10 meters. Swimmers will be taught sidestroke kick and swim and elementary backstroke. Swimmers advance as they master a 200 meter freestyle swim with bi-lateral breathing for a continuous 50 meters, swim 25 meters butterfly, 50 meters breaststroke. Advanced Sabre swimmers will be taught extended swimming and technique refinement in all major strokes and turns. Swimmers will master and graduate as they swim 300 meters freestyle, 100 meters backstroke and a 100 meter Individual Medley.
