WHY LEARN TO SWIM?
Learning to swim significantly reduces the risk of drowning. Drowning is the 2nd leading cause of unintentional injury death for children under 14, with the highest rates among children ages 1-4. Whether or not you plan to head to the pool, water is all around us - in rivers, lakes, drainage ditches, bathtubs, and even large puddles. By equipping your child with the lifesaving skill of swimming you'll be opening doors to a lifetime of fun and fitness.
SWIM SCHOOL
The FAST Swim School is a lesson-based swim program designed with the primary goal of teaching children how to swim safely with the secondary goal of getting children prepared to join FAST. Our dynamic approach to swim instruction will offer the opportunity for children ages 3 and older to learn safe, effective, and sustainable aquatic skills. Every swimmer will progress through the swim school based on the completion of specific skills.
The FAST Swim School consists of 5 Swim Lesson levels along with a Pre-Competitive Level. Scroll down for a detailed list of skills for each level.
Level 1: Water Awareness
FOCUS – to get children to feel comfortable in the water
Level 2: Water Exploration
FOCUS – to teach fundamental aquatic skills related to water safety
Level 3: Streamline Development
FOCUS – to help swimmers develop a proper body position for moving more efficiently through the water
Level 4: Freestyle Development
FOCUS – to begin to develop the freestyle stroke along with proper side breathing
Level 5: Diving and Advanced Skills
FOCUS – to teach proper diving technique from the side of the pool with continued emphasis on efficient swimming
Pre-Competitive (Must have achieved ALL of the skills for levels 1-5 to enroll in this group.)
FOCUS – to prepare swimmers for the FAST competitive team should they have an interest in joining
TIME & PLACE
All lessons take place at the Franklin Regional Middle School Pool on Saturday mornings. The year is broken into three sessions.....FALL, WINTER, SPRING....with each session consisting of seven lessons. Specific dates and times can be viewed during registration.
REGISTRATION AND FEES
The cost per session is listed during registration. Space is limited and classes fill on a first-come, first-served basis. Payment can be made with a debit card or a major credit card. Cash and checks are NOT accepted. Missed lessons are NOT refunded or prorated. If a lesson is cancelled for any reason, that lesson will either be re-scheduled OR credited to your account.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Swimmers must be at least age 3 and no older than age 12 to be enrolled in the Swim School. All lesson participants must be toilet trained. NO diapers are permitted in the pool. Parents/guardians are to remain in the balcony area during lessons and are NOT permitted to be on the pool deck at any time unless directed by the Swim School Coordinator or a Swim School Instructor.
Level 1: Water Awareness
| SKILLS CHECKLIST |
|---|
| - Enter and exit the pool safely |
| - Become comfortable in shallow water |
| - Blow bubbles through nose and mouth on the surface of the water |
| - Supported front and back floating |
| - Submerge entire head under the water |
| - Supported flutter kick with a board |
Level 2: Water Exploration
| SKILLS CHECKLIST |
|---|
| - Bobbing in shallow water |
| - Blow bubbles underwater for at least 5 seconds |
| - Independent front and back float |
| - Retrieve an object from the bottom of the pool in three feet of water |
| - Push off the wall in a streamline position for 5 yards |
| - Kick with a board independently for 10 yards |
| - Jump into shallow water with assistance |
| - Tread water with assistance |
Level 3: Streamline Development
| SKILLS CHECKLIST |
|---|
| - Streamline for 10 yards while exhaling through the nose |
| - Kick 25 yards with a board |
| - Kick independently on back to the middle of the pool |
| - Independently rolling over from front to back AND back to front |
| - Independent front crawl for at least 10 yards |
| - Jumping into shallow water, touch the bottom, streamline push to surface |
| - Tread water independently for at least :15 |
Level 4: Freestyle Development and Water Safety
| SKILLS CHECKLIST |
|---|
| - Jump into five feet of water and swim 15 yards unassisted |
| - Jump into the deep end and float on back for :30 |
| - Tread water for at least :30 |
| - Stationary side breathing at the wall |
| - Single arm gliding with proper side breathing |
| - Coordinated front crawl for 25 yards |
Level 5: Diving and Advanced Skills
| SKILLS CHECKLIST |
|---|
| - Tread water for :45 |
| - Compact dive from the side of the pool |
| - Swim 25 yards of backstroke |
| - Compact dive, streamline to flags, swim to the far wall |
| - Introduce diving off the block |
| - Introduce dolphin kicking |
| - Introduce breaststroke kicking |
REGISTRATION
FAST MASTERS
FAST Masters Single Monthly
FAST MASTERS
FAST Masters Family Monthly
FAST MASTERS
FAST Masters Single Up Front Payment