RED CROSS SWIM KIDS PROGRAM

redcross_swimkids_logoThe Red Cross Swim Kids program is designed to provide swimmers with solid and manageable skill progressions from one level to the next. Swimming skills and water safety are incorporated into each level with a focus on making safe decisions in, on, and around the water. Swimmers learn strokes and improve their distance and speed, using solid, proven progressions with a focus on drills and distance. Each lesson is designed to keep swimmers active and in the water. The specific standards of each level are available for viewing by following the Performance Criteria link below each level description while highlights of each level are outlined below.

Sea_Turtle_icon   Sea Turtle

This program is for children 3 years +

Participants work on rhythmic breathing, submersion, front and back floats and glides, jumping into chest-deep water with assistance, kicking on front and front swim. All skills are performed with assistance.

Performance Criteria

Sea_Otter_icon   Sea Otter

Prerequisite: Completed Sea Turtle

Swimmers work on front and back floats and glides, kicking on front with a buoyant object. They will be able to swim 1 metre upon completion of this level.

Performance Criteria

Salamander_icon   Salamander

Prerequisite: Completed Sea Otter

Swimmers work on improving their front and back floats and jumping into chest-deep water unassisted. Kicking is added to the front and back glide and swimmers will be able to swim 2 metres upon completion.

Performance Criteria

badge1    Swim Kids 1

Prerequisite: Completed Salamander or equivalent

Swimmers develop front and back float, front and back glide, flutter kick (assisted), shallow water entries and exits, and swim 5 metres.

Performance Criteria

badge2    Swim Kids 2

Prerequisite: Completed SK1 or equivalent

Swimmers learn front and back glide with flutter kick, develop front swim, complete deep-water activities (assisted) and swim 10 metres continuously.

Performance Criteria

badge3    Swim Kids 3

Prerequisite: Completed SK2 or equivalent

Swimmers increase their distance on front and back glide with flutter kick, perform flutter kick unassisted, wear a PFD in deep water, float in deep water, and swim 15 metres.

Performance Criteria

badge4    Swim Kids 4

Prerequisite: Completed SK3 or equivalent

Swimmers learn back swim with shoulder roll and front crawl (10m), work on flutter kick on back, perform kneeling dive, introduction to sculling and swim 25 metres continuously.

Performance Criteria

badge5    Swim Kids 5

Prerequisite: Completed SK4 or equivalent

Swimmers develop front crawl (15m), learn back crawl (15m) and whip kick on back, learn stride dive and treading water, perform head-first sculling on back, and swim 50 metres continuously.

Performance Criteria

badge6    Swim Kids 6

Prerequisite: Completed SK5 or equivalent

Swimmers increase their distance on front and back crawl (25m), learn elementary backstroke (15m), learn dolphin kick, tread water in deep water, perform front dive, and swim 75 metres continuously.

Performance Criteria

badge7    Swim Kids 7

Prerequisite: Completed SK6 or equivalent

Swimmers increase their distance on front and back crawl (50m) and elementary backstroke (25m), learn front scull, perform whip kick on front and dolphin kick, learn stride entry and swim 150 metres continuously.

Performance Criteria

badge8    Swim Kids 8

Prerequisite: Completed SK7 or equivalent

Swimmers increase their distance on front and back crawl (75m) and elementary backstroke (25m), learn breaststroke (15m), learn eggbeater/tread water, perform feet-first surface dive and standing shallow dive, and swim 300 metres continuously.

Performance Criteria

badge9    Swim Kids 9

Prerequisite: Completed SK8 or equivalent

Swimmers increase their distance on front and back crawl (100m), elementary backstroke (50m) and breaststroke (25m), learn sidestroke kick, perform head-first surface dive, and swim 400 metres continuously.

Performance Criteria

badge10     Swim Kids 10

Prerequisite: Completed SK9 or equivalent

Swimmers increase their distance on front and back crawl (100m), elementary backstroke (50m) and breaststroke (50m), learn sidestroke (25m), perform dolphin kick (vertical), learn feet-first and head-first surface dives with underwater swim, and swims 500 metres continuously.

Performance Criteria