Whether your child is learning to swim for the first time or wants to refine established strokes, our Chicago swimming program offers the right class for you! Our classes are broken into 5 different levels, ranging from very basic to more advanced water skills, based on our skills progression matrix. Swimmers are tested for their appropriate level on the first day of class.
**Level 1 and 2 are taught during the 5:30 pm class and Levels 3-5 are taught during the 6:30 pm class based on the swimmers’ current level
Helps participants feel comfortable in the water. Gives participants success with fundamental skills Goals: Enter and exit water using ladder, steps or side; fully submerge and hold breath; bobbing; blow bubbles through mouth and nose; bobbing; open eyes under water and retrieve submerged objects; front, jellyfish and tuck floats; front and back glides and floats; recover to vertical position; roll from front to back and back to front; tread water using arm and hand actions; alternating and simultaneous leg and arm actions on front and back; change direction of travel while swimming on front or back; tread water using arm and leg actions; combined arm and leg actions on front and back. This class only meets for the fall session.
Stroke Development – Builds on the skills in Level 2 through additional guided practice in deeper water. Goals: Enter water by jumping from the side; headfirst entries from the side and kneeling positions; bobbing while moving toward safety; rotary breathing; survival float; back float; change from vertical to horizontal position on front and back; tread water; flutter, scissor, dolphin and breaststroke kicks on front; front crawl and elementary backstroke.
Stroke Development – Develops confidence in the skills learned and improves other aquatic skills. Provides further coordination and refinement of strokes. Goals: Headfirst entries from side in compact and stride positions; swim under water; feet first surface dive; survival swimming; front crawl and backstroke open turns; tread water using 2 different kicks; front and back crawl, elementary backstroke, breaststroke, sidestroke and butterfly; flutter and dolphin kicks on back. Shallow-angle dive from the side then glide and begin a front stroke tuck and pick surface dives, submerge completely; front flip turn and backstroke flip turn while swimming; front and back crawl, elementary backstroke, breaststroke, sidestroke and butterfly, sculling.
Stroke Improvement and Refinement – Develops confidence in the skills learned and improves other aquatic skills. Provides further coordination and refinement of strokes. Goals: : Headfirst entries from side in compact and stride positions; swim under water; feet first surface dive; survival swimming; front crawl and backstroke open turns; tread water using 2 different kicks; front and back crawl, elementary backstroke, breaststroke, sidestroke and butterfly; flutter and dolphin kicks on back. Shallow-angle dive from the side then glide and begin a front stroke tuck and pick surface dives, submerge completely; front flip turn and backstroke flip turn while swimming; front and back crawl, elementary backstroke, breaststroke, sidestroke and butterfly, sculling.
Swimming & Skill Proficiency – Refines strokes so participants swim them with ease, efficiency, power and smoothness over greater distances. Level 5 is designed with “menu” options that focus on preparing participants for more advanced courses, including Water Safety Instructor, or other aquatic activities, such as competitive swimming and diving.