Diver Dan's Swim School
Swim Curriculum
Levels of Training

Training Record Files
All students have a training record file to track their progress and highlight the skills your child has learned as they progress through our swimming programs. A copy of this training record file may be obtained at anytime.


Level 1 – Basic Water Safety Skills
Our primary goal is to provide students with a foundation of basic water safety that is designed to increase their skills, comfort, and confidence in the water. We focus on objectives that promote “Water Safety First!” At the first level students learn to:

1. Safely enter/exit water using steps and edge of pool
2. “Monkey walks” along pool edge
3. Blow bubbles / Face in water
4. Float on back
5. Beginning Tread Water
6. Elementary Backstroke
7. Beginning Flutter Kick on front and back
8. Hold breath while in the water (Front Float)
9. Streamline exercise with bubbles and holding instructor
10. “Swim to wall first” skill / Confidently jumps into pool and returns to wall


Level 2 – Beginning Swimmer
At Level 2, our primary goal is to continue to develop and strengthen the foundation of water skills that the students learned in Level 1. These skills are designed to increase their safety, comfort, and confidence in the water. We continue our focus on skill development that promotes “Water Safety First!” At the second level students learn to:

1. Back Float (60 Seconds)
2. Tread Water (20 Seconds)
3. Streamline exercise with full face in water and without instructor assistance
4. Elementary Backstroke for one length of pool (30 feet)
5. Flutter Kick using kick board to a distance of 15 feet and with streamlined arms
6. Breaststroke Kick using kick board to a distance of 15 feet
7. Beginning Freestyle
8. Back-to-Front and Front-to-Back Roll-overs
9. Safety skills / Comfortable swimming in deep end of pool
10. Water games


Level 3 – Intermediate Swimmer
At Level 3, our primary goal is to continue the development of the student’s water skills which are designed to increase their safety, comfort and confidence in the water. We focus on skill development that promotes “Water Safety First!” At the third level students learn:

1. Tread Water (1 min)
2. Deep water jump & return to side
3. Flutter Kick using kick board for one length of the pool (30 Feet)
4. Breaststroke Kick using kick board for one length of the pool (30 Feet)
5. Freestyle / Beginning Side Breathing
6. Beginning Breaststroke—arms and legs
7. Beginning Backstroke—arms and legs
8. Beginning Sidestroke—arms and legs
9. Jump in water fully clothed with sweat pants, sweatshirt (or light jacket), and swim to the side of the pool. This is a water safety skill and builds confidence that if the student should fall into the pool they can comfortably get to the side of the pool with their clothes on.
10. Water games


Level 4 – Swimmer
At Level 4, our primary goal is to continue the development of the student’s water skills which are designed to increase their safety, comfort and confidence in the water. We focus on skill development that promotes “Water Safety First!” At the fourth level students learn:

1. Tread Water (5 minutes)
2. Beginning Pool Edge Diving skills
3. Beginning Surface Dive Skills
4. Flutter Kick with side breathing using kick board for two lengths of the pool (80 Feet)
5. Freestyle with full side breathing 2 laps (80 feet)
6. Breaststroke combining arms, legs, and breathing 2 laps (80 feet)
7. Backstroke 2 laps (80 feet)
8. Sidestroke 2 laps (80 feet)
9. Long distance non-stop using all strokes – 5 laps (200 feet)
10. Water games


Level 5 – Advanced Swimmer
At Level 5, our primary goal is to continue the development of the student’s water skills which are designed to increase their safety, comfort and confidence in the water. We focus on skill development that promotes “Water Safety First!” At the fifth level students learn:

1. Tread Water (10 minutes)
2. Pool Edge Diving skills
3. Surface Dive Skills
4. Underwater Swim 1 lap (40 feet)
5. Introduction to Butterfly w/dolphin kick 2 laps (80 feet)
6. Competitive Freestyle with flip turns 5 laps (200 Feet)
7. Breaststroke 5 laps (200 feet)
8. Backstroke 5 laps (200 feet)
9. Sidestroke 5 laps (200 feet)
10. Long distance non-stop using all strokes 10 laps (400 feet)