Levels

What each level practices

Swimmers wear a cap in their level's color, so everyone at the pool can see where a class is. Ages are a guide; the placement visit decides the level.

Bubbles and steps
Yellow cap, ages 3 to 5
Skills
- Walking in by the steps, holding the rail
- Blowing bubbles at the surface
- Letting the face get a little wetter each class
- Moving along the wall with the instructor's hands close
Moving up
When the walk in and the bubbles are calm, the instructor suggests Floats.
Floats
Orange cap, ages 4 to 6
Skills
- Floating on the back with the instructor's hands for support
- Floating on the front with a kickboard
- Kicking from the wall and back again
- Reaching for the wall to rest
Moving up
When floats and kicks hold steady with support, the instructor suggests Kicking and gliding.
Kicking and gliding
Green cap, ages 5 to 8
Skills
- Kicking on the front and on the back
- Pushing off the wall into a glide
- Pulling with the arms while holding a board
- Turning the head to take a breath
Moving up
When the glide and the kick carry a swimmer a few body lengths, the instructor suggests Arms and breathing.
Arms and breathing
Blue cap, ages 6 to 10
Skills
- Freestyle arms with a breath to the side
- Back crawl arms
- A width of the pool, then another
- Treading water with the instructor close
Moving up
When freestyle and back crawl carry a swimmer across the width, the instructor suggests Distance and technique.
Distance and technique
Purple cap, ages 8 to 12
Skills
- Freestyle and back crawl in one swim
- Breaststroke kick
- A length of the pool without stopping
- Turns at the wall and streamlined pushes
Moving up
There is no level after this one; the instructor sets new goals with each swimmer every session.

Where to startBook your placement visit

Sample levels.

Every swimmer moves at their own pace.

In every level

What happens in a class

Bubbles and steps and Floats last half an hour; the other three levels last forty-five minutes.

01
Step 1: Rinse, then the bench
Swimmers rinse at the showers, hang their coats on the hooks and wait on the bench until the instructor calls their cap color.
02
Step 2: Walk in and warm up
Class begins on the steps or at the wall with a song or a game, so the whole group settles into the water together.
03
Step 3: Two skills and a game
Each level works on one or two skills from its list, such as bubbles, floating with support, kicking or a stroke. Then a game with rings or noodles puts them to use.
04
Step 4: Towel, hat, a word
Swimmers wrap up, the hat goes on before the lobby door, and the instructor tells the parent what the class worked on.

In the water

An instructor close, at every level

Swimmers practice with an instructor beside them. The younger levels hold the instructor's hands or a kickboard; the older ones swim a width and then a length with the instructor walking along the side.

Two swimmers in caps at the pool wall, seen from behind, with their instructor on the deck beside them

What a swimmer needs

A cap, a towel and goggles if you like

Every swimmer wears a cap in their level's color. The rest comes from home.

A cap in your level's color
A big towel
Goggles, if your swimmer likes them
A swim shirt, which is welcome in every class

A row of plain silicone swim caps in different colors laid on a wooden bench

Which cap color is yours?

Book a placement visit and an instructor will suggest a level.

Book a placement visit Contact us

Bubbles and steps

Floats

Kicking and gliding

Arms and breathing

Distance and technique

Step 1: Rinse, then the bench

Step 2: Walk in and warm up

Step 3: Two skills and a game

Step 4: Towel, hat, a word