TAC Aquatics Swimmer Levels
TAC Aquatics will be switching to the Lifesaving Society’s Swim for Life Curriculum from the Red Cross’s Learn to Swim Curriculum as of the 2023 Winter Break Camp (Dec 28th). There are differences between the skills and requirements to the assigned levels. For a better understanding please refer to our Equivalency Chart.
Check out the Lifesaving Society’s: Preschool Levels & Canadian Swim Patrol
Swimmer 1:
Prerequisites: 7 years of age and/or Completion of Preschool 4
Swimmer 1 students will learn entries and exits. These include, entering and exiting shallow water, jumping into chest deep water, and jumping into deep water wearing a PFD. They will learn surface support methods. In this level that is treading water for 30 seconds wearing a PFD. They will learn the underwater skills such as holding their breath under the water for 5 seconds, submerging and exhaling 5 times, and opening their eyes underwater. Movement/swimming skills for level 1 include floating on their front and back for 5 seconds each; rolling laterally front to back and back to front; gliding on front/back/side; flutter kicking on front and back for 5 meters each; and front crawling with a PFD for 5 meters. Finally they will cover water smart messages as well.
Swimmer 2:
Prerequisites: 7 years of age amd/or Successful completion of Swimmer 1 or Preschool 5
In Swimmer 2 swimmers learn; new entry and exit skills include jumping into deep water, returning to safety and exiting, as well as sideways entries wearing a PFD. They will learn to tread water for 15 seconds as well. They will learn the underwater skill of recovering an object from the bottom of chest-deep water. Level 2 introduces swim to survive skills, for this level it is wearing a PFD, jumping into deep water, treading for 30 seconds, and swimming/kicking for 15 meters. Movement/swimming skills include, flutter kick on back and side for 10 meters each, whip kick in a vertical position for 30 seconds with aid, and front crawl and back crawl for 10 meters each. This level also introduces fitness requirements, which is interval training of 5 meter flutter kicks with 20 second rests, 4 times. Finally they will continue to cover water smart messages
Swimmer 3:
Prerequisites: Successful completion of Swimmer 2
In Swimmer 3 swimmers learn; new entry and exit skills include kneeling dives into deep water, and forward roll entries into deep water. They will learn to tread water for 30 seconds. They will learn the underwater skills such as handstands in shallow water, and front somersaults. For this level, swim to survive skills are jumping into deep water, treading for 30 seconds, and swimming/kicking for 25 meters. Movement/swimming skills include, flutter kicking on front for 5 meters then reversing direction and flutter kicking on back for 5 meters, whip kicking on back for 10 meters, and front and back crawling for 15 meters each. Fitness interval training for level 3 is 15 meter flutter kicks with 20 second rests, 4 times. Finally they will continue to cover water smart messages.
Swimmer 4:
Prerequisites: Successful completion of Swimmer 3
Swimmer 4 swimmers learn; new entry and exit skill is completing a standing dive into deep water. They will learn to tread water for 1 minute. They will learn the underwater skills of swimming underwater for 5 meters. For this level, swim to survive skills are a rolling entry into deep water, treading for 1 minute, and proceeding to swim 50 meters. Movement/swimming skills include, whip kicking on front for 15 meters, and breaststroke arm drills for 15 meters. Fitness interval training for level 4 is flutter kicking for 25 meters with 20 second rests, 4 times. Finally they will continue to cover water smart messages.
Swimmer 5:
Prerequisites: Successful completion of lSwimmer 4
Swimmer 5 swimmers learn; new entry and exit skills are shallow dives into deep water, and tuck jumps into deep water. They will learn to complete a jump entry into deep water and tread for 2 minutes, as well as holding the stationary eggbeater kick for 30 seconds. They will learn the underwater skill of back somersaulting. For this level, swim to survive skills are a rolling entry into deep water and treading for 90 seconds, then proceeding with swimming for 75 meters. Movement/swimming skills include breaststroke for 25 meters, front and back crawling for 50 meters each, and a head-up front crawl for 10 meters. Fitness for level 5 is sprint front and back crawling for 25 meters each; interval training of front or back crawl for 50 meters with 30 second rests, 4 times; and interval training of breaststroke for 15 meters with 30 second rests, 4 times. Finally they will continue to cover water smart messages.
Swimmer 6:
Prerequisites: Successful completion Swimmer 5
Swimmer 6 swimmers learn; the new entry and exit skills are stride entries into deep water, and compact jumps into deep water. They will learn to hold a legs-only surface support for 45 seconds. The underwater skill of swimming underwater 10 meters to recover an object is taught. Swim to survive skills for this level are completing a rolling entry into deep water, treading for 90 seconds, and proceeding to swim 75 meters. Movement/swimming skills include the eggbeater kick on back for 15 meters, scissor kicking on front for 15 meters, breaststroke for 50 meters, front and back crawl for 100 meters each, and head-up swim for 25 meters. Fitness for level 6 is completing a sprint breaststroke for 25 meters; interval training of breaststroke for 25 meters with 30 second rests, 4 times; and a 300 meter workout which is made up of a 50 meter warm up (choice of stroke), 25 meter front and crawls with 15 second rests, 4 times each; and a 50 meter cool-down (choice of stroke). Finally they will continue to cover water smart messages.
Once Swimmers Complete Swimmer 6 their next levels of swimming would continue into the Canadian Swim Patrol Curriculum.
