Learn to Swim the Australian Way
The format and lesson plans of the program focus on areas of water familiarisation, water safety, correct stroke technique, basic rescue skills and personal development within a safe and enjoyable environment. Progression through the program is achieved by meeting the assessment criteria clearly defined for each level and not based upon age.
The australian way learn-to-swim program can be summarised in 3 stages;
Parent & Baby (3 Levels)
Pre-School (3 Levels)
School (5 Levels)
The structure of each stage is defined in more detail below.
Parent & Baby
Awareness (6-18 months)
Beginner (12-36 months)
Advanced (18-36 months)
Pre-School
Crabette (2-3 years)
Crab (3-5 years)
Lobster (5-7 years -old crabs)
School
Turtle (Excel at Freestyle and Backstroke)
Frog (Excel at Bilateral Breathing)
Snapper (Excel at Breastroke)
Barramundi (Excel at Dolphin Kicks)
Barracuda (Excel at Butterfly)
PARENT AND BABY PROGRAM
WATER AWARENESS
Class Duration: 30min
Ratio: 7:1
The objective of this level is to educate the parent with safe water practices and allow them to have confidence to take their children into the water.
Showing correct hold
Entries & Exits
Blowing Bubbles
Breathing and Submerging
Mat time
Back floats
Songs
PARENT AND BABY
BEGINNER – ADVANCED
Class Duration: 30 min
Ratio: 7:1
Repetition is key to learning at beginner level. I continually reassure and encourage parent and baby at this level. The Parent and Baby advanced class is for babies who have completed prior lessons and show confidence and are able to move away from the parent either with the instructor or a floatation aid with ease. They can also participate in more activities unassisted
Torpedoes and Rockets
Humpty Dumpty
Back Floats
Mat time
Paddling for toys
Standing on table
Songs
PRE-SCHOOL PROGRAM
CRABETTE
Age: 2 – 3 years
Class Duration: 30 min
Ratio: 3:1
To enter the class, the parent and child must have come trough the Parent and Baby program. Must be happy to go under the water. They must be paddling and kicking with a bubble on and must be confident. Parent is in water to supervise child on step. Aim is to prepare these children for Crabs and to slowly progress the parent out of the water.
Kicking
Sinking Toys
Torpedoes and Rockets
Breathe Control
Humpty Dumpty
Back Floating
Paddle and Kick Swims
Standing on Table
Games
CRAB – LOBSTER
Age: Crab 3-5 years // Lobster 5-7 years
Class Duration: 30 min
Ratio: 3:1
This level is to develop a child’s survival skills in still water by increasing water awareness and actual swimming skills. This is the first class that children have moved away from their parents. In these lessons we will use using aids for water survival that contribute to a child being able to dog paddle.
Kicking
Breathe Control
Torpedo
Dog Paddling
Back Floats
Entry and Exits
Learning Basic Freestyle and Backstroke Arms
SCHOOL PROGRAM
TURTLE
Age: School Age
Class Duration: 30 min
Ratio: 4:1
Distance: Up to 5m
This level is the beginner freestyle and backstroke.
Kicking
Kick on Board
Torpedoes
Breathe Control
Back Floats
Freestyle Bubble Arm, Breathing Arm
Back Floats
Backstroke
Activities:
Assisted Dives off the Platform
Kicking drills/races
FROGS
Age: School Age
Class Duration: 30 min
Ratio: 4:1
Distance: Up to 8m
At this level the children should now have developed the skill to move comfortably through the water demonstrating basic freestyle and backstroke.
Kicking
Breathing
Torpedoes
Freestyle
Kicking on Back
Backstroke
Activities:
Assisted dives off the platform
Kicking drills/races
SNAPPER
Age: School Age
Class Duration: 30 min
Ratio: 5:1
Distance: Up to 12m
All students by now should be swimming up and back and kept on the move throughout the class.
Torpedoes
Breathing and Blowing Bubbles
Bilateral Breathing
Backstroke Kicking and Arm Action
Breaststroke
Activities:
Sculling with kick
Freestyle and Breaststroke Drills
Races
BARRAMUNDI
Age: School Age
Class Duration: 30 min
Ratio: 6:1
Distance: Up to 25m
At this level, the children strengthen freestyle and backstroke through skill and drill development. Full breaststroke and butterfly kick and develop rhythm. Flippers are introduced in this level.
Kicking
Sculling
Torpedoes
Bilateral Breathing
Backstroke
Breaststroke
Butterfly Kick
Activities:
Sculling with kick
Freestyle and Breaststroke Drills
Butterfly Kick Drills
Races
BARRACUDA
Age: School Age
Class Duration: 30 min
Ratio 7:1
Distance: Up to 25m
At this level, children strengthen freestyle and backstroke through skill and drill development. Full stroke Breaststroke and full stroke butterfly with use of flippers and start to introduce tumble turns.
Kicking
Sculling
Breathing
Breaststroke
Butterfly
Tumble Turns
Activities:
Freestyle, Backstroke, Breaststroke and Butterfly Drills
Races
Please refer to the Price List for fees of various types of swim classes.
Mehmet Vefa - Learn to Swim the Australian Way 