Foundation

Primarily building water confidence skills accompanied by parent or carer leading to basic travelling techniques.
Duckling Awards 1-5 or an Adult Award is achievable.

Stage 1

Developing basic safety awareness, the ‘class’ scenario, basic movement skills and water confidence skills. Swimmers may use aids, eg arm bands, floats etc ASA Stage 1 Award achievable.

Stage 2

Developing safe entries into the water including jumping, basic floating, travel and rotation unaided to regain upright positions.  Swimmers may use aids i.e. armbands floats etc
ASA Stage2 Award achievable.

Stage 3

Developing safe entries including submersion, travel up to 10 metres on front and back, progress rotation skills and water safety knowledge
ASA Stage 3 Award achievable.

Stage 4

Developing the understanding of buoyancy through a range of skills, refining kicking technique for all strokes, and swimming 10 metres to a given standard as directed by the ASA
ASA Stage 4 Award achievable.

Stage 5

Developing ‘watermanship’ through sculling and treading water skills, and complete rotation, also performing all strokes to the given standard as directed by the ASA
ASA Stage 5 Award achievable.

Stage 6

Developing effective swimming skills including coordinated breathing; developing the water safety aspects and understanding of preparation for exercise
ASA Stage6 Award achievable.

Stage 7

Developing quality strokes technique up to 100 metres, incorporating skills learnt and combining them to develop a linked routine and successfully complete an obstacle course that combines a variety of skills accomplished throughout stages 1 – 7
ASA Stage 7 Award achievable.
Once the swimmer has developed the core range of skills required to be confident, competent and safe in the water through stages 1-7, the swimmer may then have the choice to take part in different Aquatic disciplines.

Fundamental Sport Skills, Stages 8-10

Stages 8 to 10 of the national plan for teaching swimming are available in competitive swimming to include Stroke Improvement, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Honors awards, Diving, Synchronized Swimming, Water Polo, Aqua Fitness and Rookie Lifeguard. Dependant on the facility some or all of the mentioned disciplines will be offered. Please check with your Swimming coordinator for details.