Minnows 1: Fundamentals of Water Safety and Intro to Basic Swim Skills

• Enters Water Unassisted using Wall (Sit ins)
• Blows Bubbles (3 seconds)
• Puts Eyes in Water Unassisted
• Puts Ears in Water Assisted
• Floats on Back Assisted
• Flutter Kicks on Front Assisted (with instructor and with kickboard)
• Freestyle Arms Assisted
• Submerges Head and Holds Breath Assisted (3 seconds)
• Turns and Grabs Wall after Submersion Assisted

Minnows 2: Developing Water Safety and Intermediate Swim Skills

• Turns and Grabs Wall after Submersion Unassisted
• Submerges Head Unassisted on Wall (Bobs)
• Flutter Kicks with Kickboard Unassisted 10 yds
• Freestyle Arms with Eyes in Water Unassisted
• Floats on Back Unassisted
• Swims Freestyle to Wall Assisted
• Glides Unassisted
• Rolls from Back Float to Grab Wall Unassisted
• Kicks on Back Assisted

Minnows 3: Advanced Water Safety and Stroke Development

• Jumps in Water and Fully Submerges Unassisted
• Jump, Roll, and Float Unassisted
• Swims Freestyle Unassisted 5 yds
• Kicks on Side Assisted
• Backstroke Arms and Kicks Assisted
• Side Breathing Assisted
• Kneeling Dives Unassisted
• Backstroke Unassisted (1 width)
• Side Breathing Unassisted (1 width)
• Breastroke Kicks on Wall Assisted
• Swim Test option to enter Sharks 3 or 4 Lessons if more advanced stroke development is needed
• Note: If passed Minnows 3 by age 4, should enter Shark 3 when 5.

Shark 1: Developing Water Safety Skills and Intro to Basic Swim Skills

• Enters Water Unassisted using Wall (Sit ins)
• Blows Bubbles (5 seconds)
• Puts Eyes in Water Unassisted
• Floats on Back Unassisted
• Flutter Kicks on Front Assisted (with kickboard)
• Freestyle Arms Assisted
• Submerges Head and Holds Breath Assisted (3 seconds)
• Turns and Grabs Wall after Submersion Unassisted
• Submerges Head Unassisted on Wall (Bobs)

Shark 2: Advanced Water Safety and Intermediate Swim Skills

• Flutter Kicks with Kickboard Unassisted 10 yds
• Freestyle Arms with Eyes in Water Unassisted
• Glides Unassisted with Proper Streamline
• Rolls from Back Float to Grab Wall Unassisted
• Kicks on Back Assisted
• Jumps in Water and Fully Submerges Unassisted
• Jump, Roll, and Float Unassisted
• Swims Freestyle to Wall Unassisted 10 yds
• Kicks on Side Assisted
• Kneeling Dives Unassisted

Pass Swim Test to Skip these 2 Levels

Shark 3: Stroke Development

• Backstroke Arms and Kicks Assisted
• Side Breathing Assisted
• Backstroke Unassisted (1 width)
• Side Breathing Unassisted (1 width)
• Breastroke Kicks on Wall Assisted
• Standing Dives Unassisted
• Somersaults
• Streamline Kicking on Front

Shark 4: Advanced Stroke Development and Swim Team Prep

• Breastroke Assisted
• Dolphin Kicks with Kickboard
• Beginning Butterfly Unassisted
• Advanced Freestyle with Side Breathing
• Advanced Backstroke
• Breastroke Unassisted
• Flip Turns
• Dives off Block or Bench
• Open Turns

Race Class Topics & Key Activities

• Dives & Starts
• Dive progression drills, track/grab start techniques, reaction time drills

Turns (Freestyle & Backstroke)

• Flip turn techniques, transition drills, push-off timing

Turns (Breaststroke & Butterfly)

• Open turns, underwater push-offs, turn speed drills

Finishes & Short Sprints

• Stroke-specific finishing drills, sprint technique, breathing patterns

Visualization & Mental Preparation

• Guided visualization, goal setting, pre-race anxiety strategies

Relay Strategies

• Relay start timing, swimmer order planning, smooth transitions

Individual Medley (IM) Strategies

• Stroke transitions, pacing techniques, full IM practice

Race Simulation

• • Simulated races, dive/turn/finish focus, video analysis (if available)