Instructional Swim Lessons
Private Swim Lessons:
These classes are for individuals with special needs that require individualized swim instruction and/or adaptive equipment in order to be successful.
Skills are tailored and modified for each student, with the ultimate goal of progressing through American Red Cross Learn to Swim levels and smoothly transitioning into typical aquatic programming. Students will receive progress notes at the completion of each session, as well as, a recommendation regarding continued classes.
When a student is demonstrating an appropriate acquisition of skills and the ability to learn in a group setting, we will recommend either a small group class or supported participation in a typical group lesson. For additional information or any questions concerning appropriate placements or adapted aquatics, please contact Stephanie Stancil at 807-5400.
For all students new to this program, please enroll in private lessons for an initial assessment.
Supported Group Lessons:
These classes are designed to be the inclusive answer for swimmers with disabilities who need a little additional support.
These are typical group lessons, taught by a certified Water Safety Instructor and aided by a trained Specialized Recreation swim instructor. This is a great way to benefit from group lessons and still get some extra support. This is the final step before transitioning to typical group aquatic programming.
Benefits of participating in group lessons include: opportunity to socialize with peers and an increased opportunity to learn turn taking and cooperative learning skills. This group setting will provide a fun environment in which to learn new skills and help transition swimmers towards typical aquatic programming.
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Level 1: Introduction to Water Skills
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The purpose of this course is to help students become comfortable in the water.
Level 1 participants learn to:
- Enter and exit water safely
- Submerge mouth, nose and eyes
- Exhale underwater through mouth and nose
- Open eyes underwater, pick up submerged object
- Change direction while walking or paddling
- Roll over from front to back and back to front with support
- Explore floating on front and back with support
- Explore swimming on front and back using arm and leg actions with support
- Use a life jacket
Level 1 participants receive a Raffy Learns to Swim full-color booklet that reinforces learning and provides parents with additional information about their child's progress.
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Level 2: Fundamental Aquatic Skills
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The purpose of this course is to give students success with fundamental skills.
Level 2 participants learn to:
- Enter water by stepping or jumping from the side
- Exit water safely using ladder or side
- Submerge entire head
- Blow bubbles submerging head in a rhythmic pattern (bobbing)
- Open eyes underwater, pick up a submerged object in shallow water
- Float on front and back
- Perform front and back glide
- Change direction of travel paddling on front or back
- Roll over from front to back, back to front
- Tread water using arm and leg motions (chest-deep water)
- Swim on front, back, and side using combined arm and leg actions
- Move in the water while wearing a life jacket
Level 2 participants receive a Raffy Learns to Swim full-color booklet that reinforces learning and provides parents with additional information about their child's progress.
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Level 3: Stroke Development
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The purpose of this course is to build on the skills learned in Level 2 through additional guided practice.
Level 3 participants learn to:
- Jump into deep water from the side
- Dive from kneeling or standing position
- Submerge and retrieve an object in chest deep water
- Bob with the head fully submerged
- Rotary breathing in horizontal position
- Perform front and back glide using two different kicks
- Float on front and back in deep water
- Change from horizontal to vertical position on front and back
- Tread water using hand and leg movements
- Perform front and back crawl
- Butterfly-kick and body motion
- Perform the HELP and Huddle position
Level 3 participants receive a Waddles in the Deep full-color booklet that reinforces class instruction to help swimmers develop confidence in their strokes and improve other aquatic skills.
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Level 4: Stroke Improvement
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The purpose of this course is to develop confidence in the skills learned and improve other aquatic skills.
Level 4 participants learn to:
- Perform a dive from a standing or stride position
- Swim underwater
- Perform feet-first surface dive
- Perform open turns on front and back
- Tread water using sculling arm motions and with different kicks
- Perform the following:
- Front and back crawl
- Breaststroke
- Butterfly
- Elementary backstroke
- Swim on side using scissors-like kick
- Perform compact jump into water from a height while wearing a life jacket
Level 4 participants receive a Waddles in the Deep full-color booklet that reinforces class instruction to help swimmers develop confidence in their strokes and improve other aquatic skills.
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Level 5: Stroke Refinement
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The purpose of this course is to provide further coordination and refinement of strokes.
Level 5 participants learn to perform the following:
- Standing dive
- Shallow dive, glide two body lengths and begin any front stroke
- Tuck and Pike surface dive
- Front flip turn and Backstroke flip turn
- Front and back crawl
- Butterfly
- Breaststroke
- Elementary backstroke
- Sidestroke
- Survival swimming
- Tread water with two different kicks
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Level 6 Classes
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American Red Cross Level 6 classes are offered in the following specializations:
- Fundamentals of Diving
- Fitness Swimmer
- Lifeguard Readiness
- Personal Water Safety
In addition to learning about the particular specialization, participants increase endurance while performing front crawl, back crawl, butterfly, elementary backstroke, breaststroke, and sidestroke. Participants demonstrate the front crawl open turn, backstroke open turn, sidestroke open turn, front flip turn, backstroke flip turn, and butterfly and breaststroke turns.
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For More Information Contact:
Stephanie Stancil
Adapted Aquatics Specialist
Parks and Recreation Department
2401 Wade Ave
Raleigh, NC 27607
919-807-5400
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