• Multi disciplinary and multi stroke approach
• To develops high reliability through revision and consolidation
• Identification of the correct standard of skill performance
• Progression based upon achievement
• Direct link to the ASA Awards Scheme
• A National standard of performance
   

NON-SWIMMER LEVELS - National Swim Awards 1 & 2.

The initial process of introducing those with no previous experience of swimming to the water environment, developing confidence and being at ease in the water. This is achieved to a great extent through informal play. The main outcomes involve moving around quite freely, submerging and opening the eyes, floating, and using the arms and legs to achieve a simple form of travelling through the water. It is because individual pupil response and progress within this category will vary greatly that it is identified separately. Once these critical familiarisation aspects have been negotiated and the learners are able to travel around 5 metres, without support, they are ready to move on, still within this first Level but as a Beginner.

To move to a Beginner class children must show they are capable of swimming in deeper water due to the depth of water where this class takes place – preferably a length of the pool on their back and front.

BEGINNERS - National Swim Awards 3 & 4.

At this stage, the emphasis moves to building a sound foundation in those aspects of "watermanship" which later on will underpin the performance of sound swimming technique. As well as becoming completely "at home" on and under the water, skills include developing control in water of breathing and beginning to experiment with the different methods of using the limbs for propulsion.

IMPROVERS 1 - National Swim Awards 5 & 6.

The focus is now on building competence in the basic elements of propulsion, using the main swimming strokes with a continuing emphasis on the importance of good streamlining and breathing control. This is accompanied by the introduction of a range of aquatic skills such as sculling, treading water and swimming underwater. These are useful for water safety, personal survival and also underpin the related aquatic activities of synchronised swimming and water polo.

IMPROVERS 2 - National Swim Awards 7 & 8

Here we consolidate the aquatic skills and develop kicking and pulling abilities. Together with this we teach controlled breathing, so that pupils can swim competently, using correct basic techniques on three of the main strokes over the standard distance of 25 metres and on butterfly over 10 metres. In addition, turns and essential safe foundation practices for diving are introduced.

ADVANCED 1 - National Swim Awards 9 & 10.

Once an acceptable degree of basic competence is achieved in the fundamental skills at Improver 2, it is time to progress to the development of more efficient swimming in this category. This level also consolidates the wider range of associated aquatic disciplines, synchronised swimming, water polo and diving as well as providing for the development of a greater awareness and expertise in personal water safety and survival swimming. From this stage, pupils with the interest and enthusiasm will be ready to move on to participation across the range of swimming and aquatic sports with a solid foundation.

ADVANCED 2 - National Swim Awards 11 & 12

Further development of the main swimming strokes is taught. This category acts as a gentle introduction to the early stages of training in competitive swimming & provides pupils with more advanced water skill activities.

The development of both basic aerobic swimming endurance and of swimming speed is integrated within the programme.