Class Descriptions and Guideline

Class Levels

Waterbabies(WB): age requirement 6 to 36 months; 1:6 ratio
One adult (over 18 years of age) must be in the water with the child. It is never too soon to expose your child to the water. Children learn through play, and this class supports social, emotional, physical, and intellectual development. This is a fun class and a perfect opportunity to bond with your child (without phones TV, etc.). Double-diaper policy is enforced.

Aquatots(AQ): age requirement 3 years; 1:4 ratio
Prerequisite: None

Advanced Aquatots (AAQ): age requirement 3 years; 1:4 ratio
Prerequisite: Swim 10 ft. through the water unassisted with face in the water

Super Aquatots (SAQ): age requirement 3 years; 1:4 ratio
Prerequisite: Swim 18 ft. through the water unassisted with basic freestyle and face in the water

New Preschool Beginners (NPB): age requirement 4-6 years; 1:4 ratio
Prerequisite: None

Preschool Beginners (PB): age requirement 4-6 years; 1:4 ratio
Prerequisite: Swim 10 ft. through the water unassisted with basic freestyle and face in the water

Beginners (B) : age requirement 6-8 years group or 9 years and up group; 1:4 ratio
Prerequisite: None

New Advanced Beginner I (NAB1): age requirement 4 years and up; 1:4
Prerequisites: Swim 18 ft. through the water unassisted with basic freestyle and face in the water

Curriculum: This level refines the basics of body position, streamline and balance in the water for freestyle and backstroke. The child will continue to learn to perform relaxed, comfortable front and back floats unassisted. Child must have the basic ability to attempt freestyle and back stroke. The NAB1 level is the methodical segway from beginner classes to the AB1 level. The skills of this class are a requirement to enter AB1.

Advanced Beginner I (AB1): age requirement 4 years and up; 1:4 ratio
Prerequisites: Skills learned in NAB1. Must swim 18 ft. through the water unassisted with basic freestyle and face in the water

Curriculum: The child will continue working on front breathing in freestyle and continue work from NAB1. This class will begin the use of circle swimming which is also done in competitive swimming.

Advanced Beginner II (AB2): age requirement 4 years and up; 1:4 ratio
Prerequisites: Swim 6 widths of the pool each for freestyle with front breathing and for backstroke while circle swimming.

Curriculum: Children will begin to learn side breathing and build endurance in this level. The child will continue to refine fine motor skills of freestyle and backstroke.

Intermediate Swimmers 1 (IS1): age requirement 4 years and up; 1:4 ratio
Prerequisites: Skills learned in AB2. Must swim 6 widths of the pool each for freestyle with side breathing and for backstroke while circle swimming.

Curriculum: Drills in this level will begin to include specific drills for backstroke to promote backstroke survival float, freestyle drills and dolphin kicking for butterfly. This class aids in learning correct, fine motor techniques.

Intermediate Swimmers 2 (IS2) : age requirement 4 years and up; 1:4 ratio
Prerequisites: Skills learned in IS1.

Curriculum: This class refines freestyle and backstroke through the addition of more difficult swimming drills to aid in body positions, breathing and balance. It will aid in learning correct, fine motor techniques.

Advanced Swimmers (AS): age requirement 5 years and up; 1:6
Prerequisites: Skills learned in IS2. Must swim correct freestyle and backstroke, each one length of the pool. The child will also be tested on drills from prior levels.

Curriculum: This class will begin to add the arms to the previously learned butterfly kick.

Developmental Swim Team (DST): age requirement 5 years and up; 1:6 ratio; 1 HR
Prerequisites: Swim correct freestyle and backstroke for 3 lengths of the pool of each stroke.

Curriculum: In this 60 min. class, students are working to improve endurance and prepare for competitive swim teams. This level will continue instruction on butterfly and breaststroke techniques. DST does not participate in swim meets; it is a level that promotes additional learning of proper stroke techniques and endurance, especially for swimmers who do not want to commit to the 3-6 day a week year round competitive swim team schedules.

PSS Pool Dimensions: 1 Width = 18 feet, 1 Length = 46 feet

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CLASSES

Class Descriptions and Guidelines

These descriptions and guidelines are for parents in order to provide a broad description of the prerequisites and skills for each level. There are more skills involved in each level, which cannot be listed. All placements are made after an in-water evaluation of swimmers 4 and up, unless the parent knows the child is fearful of water or cannot put his/her face in the water. If the child is fearful, then he/she is placed in an appropriate beginner class based on his/her age.

Please always remember that swim lessons are not "drown proofing". There should always be adult supervision when children are near water - even bathtubs. All "beginner" and even experienced swimmers have the potential to panic. Swim lessons are one important aspect of promoting water safety and learning competitive strokes for your children.

All classes meet once per week for 30 minutes unless otherwise noted. Please contact us, 703-726-2500, or stop by for class times and availability. We offer a wide variety of times Monday thru Thursday and Saturday mornings.