Swim Lessons

AQSP- Semi-Private Lessons

Students learn skills and strokes in smaller groups. Classes typically have just one or two students per instructor (and have a maximum of three students per instructor). Once a participant’s “level” has been determined, they will work towards earning a passing certificate. Participants 14 years and older should call the pool office at (651) 460-1515 to make arrangements for lessons.

Note: if your child has taken lessons with us and "passed" a level, please tell/remind us on the first day so that we do not inadvertently repeat those previously passed skills and strokes.

AQL6- Level 6: Fitness Swimming

This course is ideal for participants that might be preparing for a competitive team or perhaps have completed Level-5 but are not able to take a lifeguarding course yet.

Skills Include: HELP & Huddle positions 2 minutes each; back float and survival float 5 minutes each; survival swimming; sculling feet-first and head-first; surface dives; race starts; open turns and flip turns; circle swimming; using a pace clock; swimming using equipment; and more. Swimming Requirements: front crawl, elementary backstroke, breaststroke, and back crawl 100 yards each; sidestroke 50 yards; and butterfly 25 yards.

Exit Skills Assessments:

1. Swim 500 yards continuously using any three strokes - swimming at least 50 yards of each stroke.

2. Perform the Cooper 10-minute swim test and compare results with the pre-assessment results.

Prerequisites: Successfully demonstrate Level-5 skills.

Please bring goggles.

AQL5- Level 5: Stroke Refinement

Skills Include: long shallow-angle dive from the side of the pool; head-first surface dives and retrieve object; front and back crawl flip turns; tread water 5 minutes; sculling 30 seconds; and more. Swimming Requirements: front crawl, elementary backstroke, breaststroke, and back crawl 50 yards each; sidestroke 25 yards; and butterfly 15-20 yards.

Exit Skills Assessments:

1. Perform a shallow-angle dive into deep water; surface and swim front crawl 50 yards and then swim elementary backstroke 50 yards - changing position & direction and using appropriate and efficient turns throughout.

2. Swim breaststroke 50 yards and then swim back crawl 50 yards - changing position & direction and using appropriate and efficient turns throughout.

Prerequisites: Successfully demonstrate Level-4 skills

Please bring goggles.

AQL4- Level 4: Stroke Improvement

Skills Include: compact and stride dives from the side of the pool; swim under water; feet-first surface dive and retrieve an object; open turns on front and back; tread water 2 minutes; survival swimming; reaching and throwing assists; and more. Strokes include: front crawl, back crawl, elementary backstroke, breaststroke, and sidestroke; and butterfly kick for 20 yards.

Exit Skills Assessments:

1. Perform a feet-first entry into deep water; surface and swim front crawl 25 yards and then swim elementary backstroke 25 yards - changing position and direction as necessary.

2. Swim breaststroke 15 yards and then swim back crawl 25 yards - changing position and direction as necessary.

3. Submerge and swim 3-5 body lengths underwater (from the middle of the pool towards a wall) without hyperventilating and return to the surface; then exit the water.

Prerequisites: Successfully demonstrate Level-3 skills.

Please bring goggles.

AQL3- Level 3: Stroke Development

Skills Include: treading water and back float for 60 seconds each; survival float; swim on front & back and recover to a standing position; while vertical- rotate one full turn; pick up submerged objects in 6 feet of water; front crawl with rotary breathing and big arm circles; back crawl with big arm circles; breaststroke, sidestroke & dolphin kicks; kneeling & compact dives from the deep-end wall of the pool; and more.

Strokes include: front crawl, elementary backstroke, and back crawl.

Exit Skills Assessments:

1. Jump into deep water from the side and recover to the surface; tread or float for 60 seconds; level off and swim front crawl and/or elementary backstroke 25 yards; then exit the water.

2. Push off in a streamlined position and swim front crawl 15 yards; change position and direction as necessary and swim elementary backstroke 15 yards; then exit the water.

Prerequisites: Successfully demonstrate Level 2.5 skills.

Please bring goggles.

AQL2.5- Level 2.5: Independent Endurance

This is an in-house-developed class between Level-2 and Level-3

Skills Include: treading water and float on back for 45 seconds each; exit the water at the side of the pool; glides and swim and recover to standing position; add rotary breathing and big arm circles to front crawl; add big arm circles to back crawl; pick up submerged objects in 4 feet of water; breaststroke, sidestroke & dolphin kicks; a kneeling dive from the deep-end wall of the pool; and more.

Strokes include: front crawl, elementary backstroke, and back crawl.

Exit Skills Assessments:

1. Jump into deep water from the side and recover to the surface; tread water for 45 seconds; level off and swim front crawl and/or elementary backstroke 15 yards; then exit the water.

2. Push off in a streamlined position and swim front crawl 10 yards; change position and direction as necessary and swim elementary backstroke 10 yards; then exit the water.

Prerequisites: Successfully demonstrate Level-2 skills.

Please bring goggles.

AQL2- Level 2: Fundamental Aquatic Skills

Your child will increase their comfort and movement in the water and work on moving through the water with less support.

Skills Include: jump into shoulder-deep water; submerge entire head and hold breath 5-10 seconds; front floats 10 seconds; back float 15 seconds; front and back glides; recover from floats and glides to a vertical position; change direction while swimming; rotary breathing; tread water 15 seconds; and more. Strokes include: combined stroke on front and back.

Exit Skills Assessments:

1. Step from side into chest-deep water; tread water for 15 seconds; swim on back for 5 body lengths; then exit the water.

2. Move into a back float for 15 seconds; roll to front; then recover to a vertical position.

3. Push off and swim using combined arm and leg actions on front for 5 body lengths; roll to back; float for 15 seconds; roll to front, then continue swimming for 5 more body lengths.

Prerequisites: Successfully demonstrate Level-1 skills.

AQL1- Level 1: Introduction to Water Skills

Orients students to the aquatic environment and helps them gain basic aquatic skills. It helps students begin to develop positive attitudes, effective swimming habits, and safe practices in and around the water. This class is similar to Bobbers but is intended for children 5 and older. Most skills are done with some support from either the instructor or some equipment.

Skills Include: Enter and exit the water; blow bubbles; underwater bobs with eyes open, open eyes underwater and retrieve objects; front and back float 5 seconds; front and back glides; recover from glides to a vertical position; roll over from front to back and back to front; combined stroke (arms & legs) on front and back 3-5 yards each; and more.

Exit Skills Assessments:

1. Enter independently using the steps or side; travel 5 yards; bob 5 times; then safely exit the water.

2. Glide on front 2-3 body lengths; roll to a back float for 15 seconds; then recover to a vertical position.

3. Glide on back 2-3 body lengths; roll to front; then recover to a vertical position.

4. Swim using combined arm and leg actions on front for 3+ body lengths; roll onto back and float for 15 seconds; roll back onto front and continue swimming on front for 3+ body lengths.

Prerequisites: Age 5 or older and comfortable in the water without assistance from an adult.

AQAK- Aqua Kids (parent & child)

Our Aqua Kids is intended for 2, 3, and 4 year-olds that are new to swim lessons AND need to have an adult in the water with them. This class does not teach the children how to swim on their own. Its purpose is to familiarize participants with the water and and teach some swimming readiness skills. It is intended to get the children comfortable in a swimming pool atmosphere and get them interested and excited about coming to lessons on their own.

Parents will learn some holding and support techniques and learn how and when to use cueing techniques. Other skills range from water adjustment to movement in the water with support to some independent movement. Guided sessions help students (parent & child) learn some elementary skills including: water entry and exit; bubble blowing; bobbing; opening eyes under water; front and back floats; front and back glides; rolling over with assistance from the parent; arm & leg actions on their front; arm & leg actions on their back; life jackets; and more. An adult must be in the water with each student.

AQBP- Bobbers/Preschool

If your 2,3, or 4 year old preschooler is new to swim lessons, this class is for you! It is similar to Aqua Kids but is for children that are able to participate without assistance from an adult.

Skills include: water entry and exit; bubble blowing; front and back glides; kicking on front and back; rolling over with assistance; arm strokes; life jackets; and more.

Exit Skills Assessments:

1. Enter independently using the steps or side; travel 5 yards; submerge to mouth and blow bubbles for 3-5 seconds; then safely exit the water.

2. While in shallow water, glide on front 2-3 body lengths; roll onto back and float on back for 3-5 seconds; then recover to a vertical position.

Prerequisites: Ages 2, 3 or 4 and comfortable in the water without assistance from an adult.