Infant aquatic programs are increasingly
popular primarily because children that participate in such
programs progress more rapidly through learn-to-swim programs
when they reach 4 or 5 years old. The purpose of these programs
is to help the infant become comfortable in and around the
water and to help parents make safe decisions for their little
ones. The key to success for these programs rests on a strong
emphasis to have fun and enjoy the experience of being in
the water. Swimming comes later on and will come more easily,
once the child reaches more maturity.
Baby Dolphins,
Level I (infants 8 months to 18 months)
Being
exposed to water
in the
water doing an activity
water
safety intro for the parents
Baby Dolphins,
Level II (18 months to 36 months)
more exposure
to water enjoyment
practicing
elementary forms of propulsive activities
observe
and practice safe and effective use of PFDs
water
safety skills
Baby Dolphins,
Level III (ages 3 1/2 – 4
1/2)
See Dolphins,
Level I, II, & III skills below
Introductory levels (Dolphin, Level
I & Dolphin, Level II) are crucial to success, and Dolphin,
Level I is the most important! Regardless of age (minimum age
of 5 for the Dolphin learn-to-swim program), every new swimmer
needs to learn the basics of water safety, water adjustment,
and water enjoyment.
Dolphins,
Level I (ages 5 – 13:
basic water adjustment and enjoyment)
pool
rules
basic
water safety intros (reaching assists & the personal
floatation device [PFD])
submerge
face for 3 seconds
bubble
blowing
bounce
up & down 10x in chest deep water
beginning
to have fun and enjoying the experience of being in
the pool
Dolphins,
Level II (advanced water adjustment)
bobbing
10x
submerge
and retrieve objects underwater
flutter
kick, front and back
front
and back float or glide, 5 seconds
turning
over (front to back)
finning
(a rudimentary backstroke)
combined
stroke on front (rudimentary freestyle [Australian
front crawl], breathing not necessarily coordinated)
basic
water safety (more in-depth teaching of level I safety
skills plus basic rescue breathing and release of leg
cramps)
Dolphins,
Level III (intermediate water adjustment and
beginning swimming with initial stroke development)
bobbing
20x
front
glide with push-off, 2 body lengths
back glide
with push-off, 2 body lengths
treading
water introduction
coordinate
parts of freestyle, 25 meters/yards
coordinate
parts of back crawl, 25 meters/yards
demonstrate
fundamentals of elementary back, kick only 25 meters/yards
jump in
deep water with PFD
knowledge
of basic rules for water safety, rescue breathing,
and is introduced to H.E.L.P. and huddle positions
Dolphins,
Level IV (stroke development as an advanced
beginner, continued stroke development and improvement)
bobbing
50x
rotary
breathing
freestyle,
25 meters/yards
backstroke
(back crawl), 25 meters/yards
elementary
backstroke, 10 meters/yards
sculling
on back, 5 meters/yards
knows
basics of breaststroke kick only, 10 meters/yards
sculling
on back, 5 meters/yards
knows
basics of breaststroke kick only, 10 meters/yards
knows
basics of sidestroke kick only, 10 meters/yards
treads
water for 2 minutes (any kick)
open turns
(front and back)
knows
rescue breathing techniques, is introduced to CPR
Dolphins,
Level V (continues to develop confidence in
the strokes learned and develops and improves on
other aquatic
skills):
sidestroke,
10 meters/yards
breaststroke,
10+ meters/yards
freestyle,
50 meters/yards
backstroke,
50 meters/yards
elementary
backstroke, 25 meters/yards
demonstrate
alternate breathing
dolphin
kick introduction, 10 meters/yards
treading
water for 2 minutes
underwater
swimming, 5 meters/yards
more developed
open turns, front & back
stride
entry
recognize
signs for spinal injury, demonstrate hip/shoulder support,
can teach others basic rescue skills
Dolphins,
Level VI (stroke and skill refinements, providing
further coordination and stroke proficiency):
sidestroke,
25 meters/yards
breaststroke,
25 meters/yards
freestyle,
200+ meters/yards
backstroke,
100 meters/yards
fly, 10
meters/yards
approach
stroke (safety skill), 25 meters/yards
treading
water for 3 minutes (1 minute no hands)
breaststroke
pull-out
open turns
for sidestroke
freestyle
flip turns (introduction)
huddle
(safety skill)
throwing
rescues, roll for spinal injury (victim face up)
Dolphins,
Level VII (swimming more proficiently, being
held to the highest standards and most current standards,
developing swimming prowess, power and smoothness
over greater and greater distances):
