American Red Cross Swim Levels
American Red Cross Swim Levels
Level 1: Introduction to Water Skills
Purpose: Helps students feel comfortable in the water. Level 1 participants learn to:
Enter and exit water safely
Submerge mouth (head) independently
Exhale underwater through mouth and nose
Open eyes underwater, pick up submerged object, at least 2 times
Float on front and back with support
Swim on front and back using arm/leg actions
Rollover front to back, back to front w/support
Treading – explore arm and hand movements in chest-deep water
Follow basic water safety rules, helping others
Use a life jacket
Level 1 Exit Skills Assessment: 1) enter unassisted, move 5 yds, bob 5 times to chin level, safety exit water; 2) Float on front w/support for 3 seconds, assisted roll to back, assisted float on back for at least 3 seconds.
Level 2: Fundamental Aquatic Skills
Purpose: Gives students independent success with fundamental skills. Level 2 participants learn to:
Enter water independently, jumping from the side, in chest deep water
Exit water safely using ladder or side
Swim on side
Submerge entire head, at least 5 seconds
Rhythmic pattern of exhaling while head is submerged (bobs)
Open eyes underwater, pick up a submerged object, at least 3 times in shallow water
Float on front and back unsupported
Perform front and back glide, unsupported
Roll over from front to back, back to front
Swim on front and back using combined strokes, at least 15 feet unsupported
Treading using arms and legs unsupported in chest-deep water
Water safety rules, helping others, swim while wearing a life jacket
Level 2 Exit Skills Assessment: 1) Without assistance, step from side into chest-deep water, move into front float for 5 seconds, roll over to a back float, return standing position, then move to back float for 5 seconds and return to a standing position; 2) Push off & swim using a combination of arm and leg actions for 15 feet on the front; push off and swim using a combination of arm and leg actions for 15 feet on the back.
Level 3: Stroke Development
Purpose: Builds on skills from Level 2 & develops strokes through additional guided practice. Level 3 participants learn:
Jump into deep water from the side
Dive from kneeling or standing position, in water at least 9 feet deep
Perform front & back float at least 30 seconds
Submerge and retrieve an object
Bob with the head fully submerged, chest deep
Perform front & back glide w/2 different kicks
Use rotary breathing in horizontal position
Perform front and back crawl, 15 yards
Butterfly - kick and body motion, 15 feet
Perform the HELP and Huddle position
Change from horizontal to vertical position on front and back
Water safety rules, perform a reaching assist
Level 3 Exit Skills Assessment: 1) Jump into chest-deep water from the side, swim front crawl for 15 yards w/ face in the water & rhythmic breathing (to front or side), maintain position by treading or floating for 30 seconds, swim back crawl for 15 yards.
Level 4: Stroke Improvement
Purpose: Develops confidence and strength to improve skills learned and introduces new aquatic skills. Level 4 participants learn to:
Shallow dive or dive from stride position, in at least 9 feet of water
Swim underwater, 3 body lengths
Front and back float, survival float, 1 minute
Perform feet-first surface dive
Perform open turn on front/back using any stroke
Tread water using sculling arm motions and various kick, 1 minute
Use safe diving rules, water safety rules, perform a throwing assist
Care for conscious choking victim
Perform compact jump a height while wearing a life jacket
Perform the following:
*Front and back crawl, 25 yards
*Breaststroke & Elementary backstroke, 15 yds
*Butterfly, 15 yards
*Swim on side w/scissors kick, 15 yards
Level 4 Exit Skills Assessment: 1) Perform a feet-first entry into chest-deep water, swim front crawl for 25 yards, maintain position on back 1 minute in deep water (float or sculling) and swim elementary backstroke for 15 yards. 2) Swim breaststroke for 15 yards, tread water for 1 minute and swim back crawl for 25 yards.
Level 5: Stroke Refinement
Purpose: Provides further coordination and refinement of strokes, swimming further distances. Level 5 participants learn to:
Tread water w/ two different kicks, 2 minutes
Learn survival swimming, 2 minutes
Survival floating, 2 minutes
Water safety, helping others, rescue breathing
Perform the following:
*Standing dive, Shallow dive, glide two body l lengths and begin any front stroke
*Sidestroke, elementary backstroke 25 yds
*Tuck & pike surface dive
*Front and back flip turns
*Front and back crawl, 50 yards
*Butterfly, breaststroke 25 yards
Level 5 Exit Skills Assessment: 1) Perform a shallow dive into deep water, swim front crawl for 50 yards, maintain position on back for 2 minutes in deep water (float or scull), and swim elementary backstroke for 25 yards; 2) Swim breaststroke for 25 yards, tread water for 2 minutes and swim back crawl for 50
Level 6: Swimming and Skill Proficiency
Purpose: Refines the strokes so students swim them with ease, efficiency, power and smoothness over greater distances. Level 6 is broken into two different classes each designed to focus on preparing students to participate in more advanced courses, including the Water Safety Instructor and Lifeguard Training courses. These options include:
Level 6 A - Personal Water Safety
Level 6 B - Lifeguard Readiness
Both classes include these endurance skills & turns:
Front and back crawl, 100 yards
Breaststroke, 50 yards
Sidestroke and butterfly, 50 yards
Elementary backstroke, 50 yards
All open turns and flip turns while using swimming strokes
Level 6 Exit Skills Assessment: For each class, a specific set of exit skill assessments are given, but both of the options will require a continuous, 500 yard swim.