For individuals ages 5.

Preschool 1 admission requirements:

• Age: must be 5 years old. 

Preschool 2 admission requirements:

• Water entry: Student can safely enter and exit the water using ladders

• Blowing bubbles: Student can submerge their whole face in the water while blowing air out

• Prone and back float (with assistance): Student must perform a prone and back float with instructor's assistance; student must put their ears in water upon request

• Prone and back kick (with assistance): Student must put ears in the water upon request and perform a basic flutter-kick (toes pointed; knees may be bent) 

• Push and glide (with assistance): Student must put face in the water upon request while doing a basic flutter-kick and blow bubbles 

Preschool 3 admission requirements:

• Prone and back float with recovery: After the instructor helps them reach the floating position, the student must maintain the float for five seconds independently; must demonstrate beginning recovery position.

• Bobbing: Student must submerge head, blow air out, then resurface while holding onto the wall 5 times.

• Prone and back kick (with kickboard): Student must hold board in the proper position (without placing body on top of board); propulsion must be evident for 8-10 feet with no assistance from instructor.

• Crawl stroke arm drills: Student must not hesitate to put their face in the water while doing arm drills; instructor may assist.

• Sculling: Student must demonstrate proper sculling technique for 8-10 feet; instructor may help them get to a floating position.

For individuals ages 6 - 18 years old.

Beginner 1 admission requirements:

• Age: must be 6 - 18 years old. 

• If skilling up from Preschool 3, 

  • Prone and back float with recovery: Student must get to and maintain the floating position for eight seconds independently with a proper recovery 

  • Beginning finning: Student must demonstrate basic finning skill for 15 feet; propulsion must clearly be a result of the finning, not a flutter kick 

  • Prone and back kick (with kickboard): Student must demonstrate the ability to push off the wall with the board in streamline position and kick a total of 15 feet with no assistance from the instructor 

  • Crawl stroke: Student must demonstrate basic crawl stroke for 15 feet (clear flutter kick); face must be in most of the time, lifting head to breathe; small distance may be supported with doggie paddle; no help from instructor 

  • Sculling: Student must demonstrate proper sculling technique for 8-10 feet; instructor may help them get to a floating position 

Beginner 2 admission requirements:

• Prone and back float with recovery: Student must get to and maintain the floating position for eight seconds independently with a proper recovery 

• Beginning finning: Student must demonstrate basic finning skill for 15 feet; propulsion must clearly be a result of the finning, not a flutter kick 

• Back crawl arm drills: Student must demonstrate proper arm movements both in the water and on deck; while in the water, the instructor may assist 

• Crawl stroke with rhythmic breathing: Student must demonstrate basic crawl stroke for 15 feet (clear flutter kick); face must be in most of the time, using basic rhythmic breathing; small distance may be supported with doggie paddle; no help from instructor 

• Sculling: Student must demonstrate proper sculling technique for 15 feet; propulsion must be clearly the result of the technique, not the kick 

• Introduction to deep water: Student must enter the pool at 5 feet or deeper using a safe feet-first entry; may use the ladder to exit 

Beginner 3 admission requirements:

• Rhythmic breathing: Must use rhythmic breathing without hesitation during crawl stroke 

• Prone and back streamline kicking: Student must demonstrate a streamline kick in both prone and supine positions for the width of the pool 

• Sculling/finning: Student must demonstrate finning and sculling techniques the width of the pool; propulsion must be evident from the stroke, not just the kick; any kick may be used for this skill 

• Crawl stroke: Student must swim the width of the pool without stopping 

• Backstroke: Student must swim half the width of the pool; must demonstrate a basic shoulder roll and a strong flutter kick 

• Changing direction: Student must swim 15 feet then change direction, returning to their starting point 

For individuals ages 6 - 18 years old

Advanced Beginner requirements:

• All AB1 skills, as w: 

  • Proper side breathing must be used in all crawl stroke drills as well as final test

  • Streamline kicking with side breathing the majority of the time; student must have a strong flutter kick and streamline position; must use proper stroke and breathing technique

  • Streamline kicking on their back: student must extend their arms fully with their hands in the water across the width of the pool

  • Student must swim crawl stroke 25 yards using nothing but side breathing; high elbow recovery must be present most of the time; student must demonstrate quality body position and flutter kick; full arm stroke required

  • Introduction to whip kick: student must be able to demonstrate whip kick; low propulsion is acceptable

  • Elementary backstroke: student must be able to swim width of pool using whip kick and winging arm stroke; low propulsion from kick is acceptable

  • Student must tread water for a minimum of 1 minute and 30 seconds

  • Student must demonstrate a survival stroke (sculling, winging, elementary backstroke) for 1 minute nonstop; a long glide must be evident within the stroke

  • Standing deep dive

  • Student must swim under water for a short distance while blowing bubbles

  • Safety skills: same as AB1 

For individuals ages 6 - 18 years old.

Intermediate 1 admission requirements:

• Student must swim crawl stroke 25 yards using nothing but side breathing; high elbow recovery must be present most of the time; student must demonstrate quality body position and flutter kick; full arm stroke required; human stroke and head-high breathing are not acceptable

• Student must swim backstroke 25 yards demonstrating shoulder, thumb, pinky technique; propulsion must be evident; body roll and flutter kick must be clear throughout the full distance; must demonstrate proper stroke technique

• Whip kick: propulsion must be demonstrated from the kick alone

• Student must swim 25 yards using elementary backstroke; whip kick and winging arm stroke must be clear; strong propulsion from kick must be present

• Student must tread water for at least 3 minutes

• Student must perform a survival stroke (sculling, winging, elementary backstroke) for 3 minutes nonstop; a long glide must be present

• Student must perform a standing deep dive as well as a falling straight dive from the diving board

• Student must swim underwater across the width of the pool; student must not hold breath

• Student must swim 3 minutes using crawl stroke or backstroke

• Safety skills: same as AB2

Intermediate 2 admission requirements:

• Student must perform crawl stroke 50 yards demonstrating all AB2 skills as well as s-shape pull, side breathing (no lateral breathing), straight arm pull not acceptable

• Student must perform backstroke for 50 yards demonstrating an s-shape pull and a source of propulsion

• Whip kick: Student must demonstrate propulsion from their whip kick (both front and back)

• Student must demonstrate breaststroke for 25 yards using basic arm stroke; must use whip kick most of the time

• Student must demonstrate 50 yards of elementary backstroke using whip kick only; glide must be long and relaxed with a strong kick; must demonstrate winging skills

• Open turns

• Treading water

• Survival stroke

• Standing deep dive, falling straight dive, and three-step approach

• Underwater swimming

• 5-minute swim using crawl or backstroke

• Safety skills: same as I1

For individuals ages 14+ years old.

Adult 1 admission requirements:

• Must be 14 years old

Adult 2 admission requirements:

• Prone and back float with recovery: Student must get to and maintain the floating position for eight seconds independently with a proper recovery 

• Beginning finning: Student must demonstrate basic finning skill for 15 feet; propulsion must clearly be a result of the finning, not a flutter kick 

• Back crawl arm drills: Student must demonstrate proper arm movements both in the water and on deck; while in the water, the instructor may assist 

• Crawl stroke with rhythmic breathing: Student must demonstrate basic crawl stroke for 15 feet (clear flutter kick); face must be in most of the time, using basic rhythmic breathing; small distance may be supported with doggie paddle; no help from instructor 

• Sculling: Student must demonstrate proper sculling technique for 15 feet; propulsion must be clearly the result of the technique, not the kick 

• Introduction to deep water: Student must enter the pool at 5 feet or deeper using a safe feet-first entry; may use the ladder to exit