Moving Up--Sea Star's Criteria for Advancing Levels
A common question we receive is "how do I know when my child is ready to move up to the next level?" We have specific skills that a child must achieve for advancement. To help parents to understand what skills we require to "move up", here is the criteria for each transition of class levels that our staff looks for as we teach your swimmer.
Your child must be able to do all the skills listed, or we will not consider moving them up to the next level. We want your swimmer's experience to be enjoyable, and placing the child in a class at an improper level not only frustrates the child, it slows down the pace of the class. Our teachers have the final word on whether a child can be moved to the next level. If your child is enrolled in the incorrect level, you will be given the option to either change classes or take a credit for the session.
Your child must be able to do all the skills listed, or we will not consider moving them up to the next level. We want your swimmer's experience to be enjoyable, and placing the child in a class at an improper level not only frustrates the child, it slows down the pace of the class. Our teachers have the final word on whether a child can be moved to the next level. If your child is enrolled in the incorrect level, you will be given the option to either change classes or take a credit for the session.
Parent/Child to Beginner Swim
- Emotional maturity of the child (will not run if sitting on the steps, comfortable working with and following directions from the teacher without parent intervention, closer to age 3. NOTE: Parents are NOT on deck or in the water after a child moves to the Beginner Swim level.
- Can back float (with or without assistance) without fighting or crying
- Can stand on edge, jump in, turn around and swim back to the wall, hold the wall and climb out safely.
Beginner Swim to Lap Swim
- Ability to swim 12 1/2 yards* of freestyle with proper side breath technique
- Ability to swim 12 1/2 yards* of backstroke, using proper technique
- Must be able to jump from starting block, swim freestyle to wall with 3 consecutive confident breaths and climb out unassisted.
Lap Swim to Little Flippers
- Can swim 25 yards of freestyle with side breath and legal backstroke
- Must be able to kick 25 yards of legal breaststroke; must begin to master breaststroke arms & legs with legal kick
- Consistently competent in side breaths
Little Flippers to Jr. Select:
- Able to be coached from the deck and swim with a large group
- Mastery of all 4 competitive strokes; ability to swim 100 free and back, 50 yards of legal breaststroke and 25 yards of butterfly
- Aerobic capacity to swim 50s
- Swimmer consistently performs correct dives/takeoffs as they are learned
- Must be able to execute a flip turn