SWIM CLASSES - LEVELS

Madison Levels
Fitchburg Levels

MADISON LEVELS
We offer group lessons beginning with infants six months of age and continue all the way up to adults. For kids with special needs or for those students who want extra attention with a friend or sibling, SwimWest also offers Private lessons.

Below are the descriptions of our classes for you to explore which level would be best for your child. Our classes are taught on an individual basis, so if you would like to join us mid-session we can certainly accommodate your child’s current skill level and prorate your lesson fees. If you need assistance in selecting the appropriate level, please contact SwimWest at 831-6829.

Clam – Aquatots 1 (5 – 15 Months)

• One or both parents with baby in the water
• Assisted jumps
• Back floating with parent and instructor
• Going underwater
• Instructor-child swims
• Singing with water actions
• Climbing out of the pool with assistance

Starfish – Aquatots 2 (16 – 24 Months)

• Assisted standing jumps
• Back floating with instructor
• Instructor-child swims
• Breath control
• Rollovers with assistance

Little Snapper (With parent in water; Ages 20 to 36 months)

• Ideal class for nervous beginners
• Parent will gradually transition out of the class
• Assisted front kick with bubbles
• Become comfortable underwater for 3 seconds
• Assisted back float for 10 seconds
• Assisted rollovers (back to front) with face out of water
• Assisted jump-ins to instructor
• Climbing out of pool with assistance

Angelfish (Can begin at Age 2)

• Assisted front kick with bubbles
• Become comfortable underwater for 3 seconds
• Assisted back float for 10 seconds
• Assisted rollovers (back to front) with face out of water
• Assisted jump-ins to instructor
• Climbing out of pool with assistance

Blowfish

• Front float for 3 seconds
• Back float for 5 seconds
• 5 second breath control
• Become completely comfortable under water
• Assisted rollover (front to back)
• Assisted flutter kicks on back
• Streamline arms with kick (“Alligator arms”)
• Jump in and return to the wall (Safety Jump)
• Unassisted rollover (back to front)
• Introduce FUNdamental front crawl arms (“Ice cream scoops”)

Clownfish

• Unassisted back float for 10 seconds
• Front float comfortably
• Unassisted kicks on back with straight legs
• FUNdamental front crawl arms with face in the water
• FUNdamental backstroke arms
• Rollovers
• Streamline arms
• Back float to vertical position
• Jump in and return to the wall (Safety Jump)
• Jump in, rollover, and float

Jellyfish

• Front crawl arms with rollover (count of 3 on back)
• FUNdamental alternating arms on back with kick
• Back float to standing position / swim back to wall (Horizontal to Vertical)
• Standing position to back float / swim back to wall (Vertical to Horizontal)
• Introduction to FUNdamental Breaststroke arms
• Introduction to FUNdamental Breaststroke kick
• Safety Jumps

Seal

• FUNdamental alternating arms with shoulder roll and breath
• FUNdamental Backstroke with flutter kick
• FUNdamental Breaststroke arms with pop-up breathing
• FUNdamental Breaststroke whip kick
• FUNdamental dolphin kick (Butterfly)
• Elementary backstroke kick with kickboard
• Sit dives

Seahorse

• Freestyle with side breathing
• Backstroke with shoulder roll
• Breaststroke arms with pop-up breathing
• Breaststroke kick with glide
• Streamline arms with dolphin kick (Butterfly)
• FUNdamental Butterfly with arms
• FUNdamental Elementary backstroke arms
• Kneeling dives

Octopus

• USS Freestyle half length of pool
• Backstroke with arm pull half length of pool
• Breaststroke glides with timing (putting arms and kicks together)
• Butterfly with keyhole arms quarter length
• 2 beat Butterfly kick
• Elementary backstroke half length
• Sidestroke with kickboard quarter length
• Treading water techniques
• Kneeling dives
• Somersaults

Manatee

• USS Freestyle full length
• USS Backstroke full length
• USS Breaststroke half length
• Butterfly with breathing half length
• Sidestroke half length
• Standing dives
• Treading water for 1 minute
• Flip turns / Open turns

Whale

• USS Freestyle two full lengths with flip turn
• USS Backstroke two full lengths with flip turn
• USS Breaststroke two full lengths with open turn
• USS Butterfly one full length
• Elementary backstroke two full lengths
• Sidestroke one full length
• Standing dives
• Tread water for 3 minutes
• Continuous swim for 3 minutes
• Surface dives

Dolphin

• 4 lengths of all competitive strokes
• Starts on all competitive strokes
• Sidestroke 4 lengths
• Elementary backstroke 4 lengths
• Tread water for 5 minutes
• Continuous swim for 5 minutes
• Circle swims
• Block dives

Stingray (One Hour)

• This class will focus on stroke refinement
• 200 yard swims using all competitive strokes
• We use team drills to focus on all four race strokes
• Flip turns
• Relay races
• Individual Medley races

Swordfish (One Hour)

• This class will focus on endurance
• 500 yard continuous swims using all 4 competitive strokes
• We will use a pace clock, timing, and drills
• Become prepared for a positive team experience

Shark (One Hour)

• Ideal for students who have mastered all 4 strokes, starts, and turns
• Works on individual goals in a competitive atmosphere
• We will use sprints, drills, and relays to decrease time and increase endurance

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FITCHBURG LEVELS
We offer group lessons beginning with infants six months of age and continue all the way up to adults. For kids with special needs or for those students who want extra attention with a friend or sibling, SwimWest also offers Private lessons.

Below are the descriptions of our classes for you to explore which level would be best for your child. Our classes are taught on an individual basis, so if you would like to join us mid-session we can certainly accommodate your child’s current skill level and prorate your lesson fees. If you need assistance in selecting the appropriate level, please contact SwimWest at 276-SWIM.

Clam – Aquatots (5 – 24 Months)

• One or both parents with baby in the water
• Assisted jumps
• Back floating with parent and instructor
• Going underwater
• Instructor-child swims
• Singing with water actions
• Breath control
• Rollovers with assistance
• Climbing out of the pool with assistance

Little Snapper (With parent in water; Ages 20 to 36 months)

• Ideal class for nervous beginners
• Parent will gradually transition out of the class
• Assisted front kick with bubbles
• Become comfortable underwater for 3 seconds
• Assisted back float for 10 seconds
• Assisted rollovers (back to front) with face out of water
• Assisted jump-ins to instructor
• Climbing out of pool with assistance

Angelfish (Can begin at Age 2)

• Assisted front kick with bubbles
• Become comfortable underwater for 3 seconds
• Assisted back float for 10 seconds
• Assisted rollovers (back to front) with face out of water
• Assisted jump-ins to instructor
• Climbing out of pool with assistance

Blowfish

• Front float for 3 seconds
• Back float for 5 seconds
• 5 second breath control
• Become completely comfortable under water
• Assisted rollover (front to back)
• Assisted flutter kicks on back
• Streamline arms with kick (“Alligator Arms”)
• Jump in and return to the wall (Safety Jump)
• Unassisted rollover (back to front)
• Introduce FUNdamental front crawl arms (“Ice cream scoops”)

Clownfish

• Unassisted back float for 10 seconds
• Front float comfortably
• Unassisted kicks on back with straight legs
• FUNdamental front crawl arms with face in the water
• FUNdamental backstroke arms
• Rollovers
• Streamline arms
• Back float to vertical position
• Jump in and return to the wall (Safety Jump)
• Jump in, rollover, and float

Jellyfish

• Front crawl arms with rollover (count of 3 on back)
• FUNdamental alternating arms on back with kick
• Back float to standing position / swim back to wall (Horizontal to Vertical)
• Standing position to back float / swim back to wall (Vertical to Horizontal)
• Introduction to FUNdamental Breaststroke arms
• Introduction to FUNdamental Breaststroke kick
• Safety Jumps

Seal

• FUNdamental alternating arms with shoulder roll and breath
• FUNdamental Backstroke with flutter kick
• FUNdamental Breaststroke arms with pop-up breathing
• FUNdamental Breaststroke whip kick
• FUNdamental dolphin kick (Butterfly)
• Elementary backstroke kick with kickboard
• Sit dives

Seahorse

• Freestyle with side breathing
• Backstroke with shoulder roll
• Breaststroke arms with pop-up breathing
• Breaststroke kick with glide
• Streamline dolphin kick
• FUNdamental Butterfly with arms
• FUNdamental Elementary backstroke arms
• Kneeling dives

Octopus

• USS Freestyle half length of pool
• Backstroke with arm pull half length of pool
• Breaststroke glides with timing (putting arms and kicks together)
• Butterfly with keyhole arms quarter length
• 2 beat Butterfly kick
• Elementary backstroke half length
• Sidestroke with kickboard quarter length
• Treading water techniques
• Kneeling dives
• Somersaults

Manatee

• USS Freestyle full length
• USS Backstroke full length
• USS Breaststroke half length
• Butterfly with breathing half length
• Sidestroke half length
• Kneeling dives
• Treading water for 1 minute
• Flip turns / Open turns

Whale

• USS Freestyle two full lengths with flip turn
• USS Backstroke two full lengths with flip turn
• USS Breaststroke two full lengths with open turn
• USS Butterfly one full length
• Elementary backstroke two full lengths
• Sidestroke one full length
• Kneeling dives
• Tread water for 3 minutes
• Continuous swim for 3 minutes
• Surface dives

Dolphin

• 4 lengths of all competitive strokes
• Starts on all competitive strokes
• Sidestroke 4 lengths
• Elementary backstroke 4 lengths
• Tread water for 5 minutes
• Continuous swim for 5 minutes
• Circle swims

Stingray (One Hour: Limited to 5 Swimmers)

• This class will focus on stroke refinement
• 200 yard swims using all competitive strokes
• We use team drills to focus on all four race strokes
• Flip turns
• Relay races
• Individual Medley races

Swordfish (One Hour: Limited to 5 Swimmers)

• This class will focus on endurance
• 500 yard continuous swims using all 4 competitive strokes
• We will use a pace clock, timing, and drills
• Become prepared for a positive team experience

Semi-private
Designed for two swimmers; SwimWest offers semi-private lessons that bridge private and group interaction. In this class, the swimmers are taught at their individual level, taking into consideration their physical, emotional, mental, and social development. This program is for children whose parents feel they need more individual attention before they can succeed in a group setting.

Private
Designed for individual swimmers; SwimWest offers private lessons for swimmers who need individual attention to achieve success. These lessons are used to develop a strong competency in the water.

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