Group Overview: Lion Cubs will introduce athletes to the pool and help them build confidence in the water. This group is designed for young children who are new to swimming or have minimal water experience.
Skills Learned:
- Water Comfort:
- Floating on their front and back
- Rolling from front to back and back to front
- Basic Movements:
- Gliding off the wall
- Retrieving underwater objects
- Jumping into water above their heads
- Introduction to Strokes:
- Freestyle arms and kicks
- Backstroke arms and kicks
Goals for Progression:
- Develop a sense of comfort and safety in the water.
- Master the basic skills necessary to move confidently in the water.
- Gain a fundamental understanding of Freestyle and Backstroke techniques.
- Prepare to advance to the next group, focusing on more refined stroke development and increased swimming endurance.
Group Overview: Pumas is the next level in the Learn to Swim program, designed for athletes who have mastered all the Lion Cub skills. This group focuses on advancing swimming techniques and building endurance in the water.
Skills Learned:
- Advanced Movements:
- Kicking on their side
- Treading water
- Jumping into deep water
- Stroke Development:
- Introductory Freestyle with proper breathing techniques
- Introductory Backstroke with coordinated arm and leg movements
Goals for Progression:
- Enhance water safety and confidence through advanced skills.
- Improve coordination and stamina with more complex movements.
- Develop a stronger foundation in Freestyle and Backstroke techniques.
- Prepare to advance to the next group, focusing on refining stroke techniques and increasing swimming endurance.
Group Overview: Cheetahs is the third level in the Learn to Swim program, designed for athletes who have refined the skills learned in the Lion Cubs and Pumas groups. This group focuses on further stroke development, advanced techniques, and introduction to competitive swimming skills.
Skills Learned:
- Stroke Refinement:
- Continued improvement in Freestyle and Backstroke
- Introduction to Freestyle Rotary Breathing
- Basics of Breaststroke
- Introduction to Dolphin kicking
- Advanced Techniques:
- USA Swimming’s Dive Progression
- Enhanced treading water skills
- Advanced jumping and diving into deep water
Goals for Progression:
- Master advanced breathing techniques and improve stroke efficiency.
- Develop a solid foundation in Breaststroke and Dolphin kicking.
- Gain familiarity with competitive swimming starts through dive progression.
- Prepare to advance to the next group, focusing on comprehensive stroke mastery and competitive swimming readiness.
Group Overview: Tigers is the fourth level in the Learn to Swim program, designed for athletes who have mastered the skills from the Cheetahs group. This group focuses on advanced stroke techniques, competitive swimming skills, and prepares athletes for potential entry into the competitive team.
Skills Learned:
- Stroke Development:
- Advanced Freestyle Rotary Breathing
- Further development of Breaststroke
- Introduction and refinement of Butterfly stroke
- Competitive Techniques:
- Introduction to Flipturns for Freestyle and Backstroke
- Continued refinement of Racing Starts
- Mock Meet Preparation:
- Practice race simulations
- Understanding meet procedures and protocols
- Evaluation for joining the competitive team
Goals for Progression:
- Achieve proficiency in all four competitive strokes (Freestyle, Backstroke, Breaststroke, and Butterfly).
- Master Flipturns and racing starts.
- Gain experience and confidence in a mock meet setting.
- Prepare for potential transition to the competitive swim team based on evaluation.
