Progressive Swim Class Descriptions

Class Descriptions � Progressive Swimming Lessons

Ages 3-5

• Pike � Beginner The Pike class embodies an introduction to swimming and getting children comfortable in the water.

• Eels � Beginner The Eels class entails basic stroke technique and the instructors start taking the bubbles off of the children. A child must be comfortable (i.e. no crying, puts face in the water) in the water in order to take this class.

• Rays � Intermediate The Rays class introduces more advance stroke technique and the children are further encouraged to swim without a bubble. The child must have be able to demonstrate a basic understanding of the front and back crawl.

• Starfish � Advanced The Starfish class is a refinement of the strokes that the children learned in the Pikes through Rays level and the children should be able to swim without a bubble at this point. To enter this class the student should be able to demonstrate freestyle, backstroke, and rudimentary breast stroke.

Ages 6 and Up

• Polliwog � Beginner Polliwog's are expected to be comfortable in the water and be able to perform basic freestyle by the end of the class.

• Guppy � Beginner The children begin to swim laps for the entire class time and the focus begins to lean more toward stroke technique. Children must be able to swim one lap (25 yards) to enter this class.

• Minnow � Beginner/Intermediate The Minnows will be swimming laps the entire class period and are expected to know how to perform freestyle and backstroke. Stroke refinement, breast stroke, and elementary backstroke are the main focuses of this class. To enter this class the student must be able to demonstrate basic freestyle with rudimentary rotary breathing and backstroke.

• Fish � Intermediate/Beginner Freestyle, backstroke, and breast stroke are expected to be known. Stroke refinement and an introduction to dolphin kick/butterfly are explored in this class. To enter this class the student must be able to demonstrate freestyle with rotary breathing, backstroke, and basic breastroke.

• Flying Fish � Intermediate/Advanced Freestyle, backstroke, breast stroke, and dolphin kick are expected to be performed. Further stroke refinement is worked and flip turns are introduced. To enter this class the student must be able to demonstrate freestyle, backstroke, breast stroke, and dolphin kick/butterfly.

• Shark � Advanced This is the advanced swimming class. This class focuses on endurance and stroke refinement. To enter this class the student must be able to demonstrate advanced knowledge the four main strokes (freestyle, backstroke, breast stroke, butterfly) and also be capable of swimming a 200 yards (8 laps) non-stop.

• Porpoise � Highly Advanced This is the most advanced swimming class. It is designed to fous on endurance and stroke refinement as well as youth leadership. To enter this class the student must have successfully completed Shark or have written permission from the instructor

�2006 Metuchen-Edison-Woodbridge YMCA