Learn to Swim Class Levels
- Written by: Adam Gatt Ripples NSW (02) 9833 3000 (02) 9833 3311 ripples@ripplesnsw.com.au https://www.ripplesnsw.com.au Charles Hackett Drive St Marys NSW 2760 Australia
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Babies & Toddlers
Our babies and toddler levels are designed to develop water awareness and confidence for you and your child through a variety of fun interactive games, songs and activities. This provides a positive and encouraging environment where you and your and child can strengthen your bond whilst learning vital water skills.
Emphasis is placed on teaching safe entries and exits, floating, recoveries, breathing, kicking and eventually submersion.
Research shows that infants that have participated in swimming demonstrate an increased physical and psychological development, improved concentration, movement, independence and social skills and it aids their muscle growth.
Aquababies 1
Age Group: 4 – 12 months
Class Duration: 30 Minutes
Class Size: Maximum 8 students per class, plus parents in the water
Aquababies 2
Age Group: 12 – 24 months
Class Duration: 30 Minutes
Class Size: Maximum 8 students per class, plus parents in the water
Starfish
Age Group: 2-3 years
Class Duration: 30 Minutes
Class Size: Maximum 8 students per class, plus parents in the water
Children
For children 3 years or older, our program offers levels from beginner to advanced, with a progression from basic water skills through to preparing for competitive swimming. Class levels are set by skill level with ongoing lessons rather than terms, to allow children to progress at their individual pace.
Turtles / Jellyfish
This level is designed for beginners who may have a fear of the water and are not confident to submerge, or have graduated from Starfish. This level develops water confidence and teaches basic swimming and water safety skills.
Age Group: 3-5 years Turtles, 5 years + Jellyfish
Class Duration: 30 Minutes
Class Size: Maximum 4 students per Turtles class, maximum 5 students per Jellyfish class
Penguin / Seahorse
For students who have developed water safety, fundamental swimming skills and basic water confidence. This level teaches students to learn how to swim unaided in preparation to learn freestyle and backstroke.
Age Group: 3-5 years Penguin, 5 years + Seahorse
Class Duration: 30 Minutes
Class Size: Maximum 5 students per Penguin class, maximum 5 students per Seahorse class
Eels / Goldfish
This level is the start of the development of swimming strokes and form, including freestyle and backstroke. Students master the ability to rotate in the water from front to back and water safety skills are reinforced.
Age Group: 3-5 years Eels, 5 years + Goldfish
Class Duration: 30 Minutes
Class Size: Maximum 5 students per Eels class, maximum 5 students per Goldfish class
Platypus
Once students have mastered the basics of freestyle and backstroke, the platypus class introduces bilateral breating and works on building distance. Intermediate water safety skills are introduced, including diving and sustained survival backstroke.
Age Group: 5 years+
Class Duration: 30 Minutes
Class Size: Maximum 6 students per class
Dolphin
The dolphin class consildates the skills of backstroke and freestyle to increase swimming distance to 25m, and breaststroke kick is introduced. Advanced water safety skills are developed, including compact jumps and rescues.
Age Group: 5 years+
Class Duration: 45 Minutes
Class Size: Maximum 8 students per class
Swordfish
Breaststroke kick is refined in the swordfishclass, with the remainder of the stroke added and refined. Butterfly kick, tumble turns and standing dives are introduced in preparation for the final level.
Age Group: 5 years+
Class Duration: 45 Minutes
Class Size: Maximum 8 students per class
Advance
The Advance class is the final level for the swim school program and develops distance and intensity. Swimming strokes are corrected and students are prepared for movement into the Squad program. Students in the Advance class are able to attend multiple lessons per week for the price of a single lesson.
Age Group: 5 years+
Class Duration: 60 Minutes
Class Size: Maximum 10 students per class
Teenagers
The Teen program introduces teenagers to swimming in a social, friendly environment. The classes are suitable for 9 to 17 year olds and develops fitness, water skills and basic strokes.
Teen Beginner
The teen beginner class is designed for beginners who may have a fear of the water and are not confident to submerge. This class develops water confidence and teaches basic swimming and water safety skills, including introducing freestyle and backstroke.
Age Group: 9-17 years
Class Duration: 45 Minutes
Class Size: Maximum 6 students per class
Teen Intermediate
Once students have developed basic water skills and are confident in the water, the teen intermediate class develops freestyle, backstroke and breastroke. Starts, turns and intermediate water safety skills are introduced.
Age Group: 9-17 years
Class Duration: 45 Minutes
Class Size: Maximum 8 students per class
Swordfish
Breaststroke kick is refined in the swordfish class, with the remainder of the stroke added and refined. Butterfly kick, tumble turns and standing dives are introduced in preparation for the final level.
Age Group: 9-17 years
Class Duration: 45 Minutes
Class Size: Maximum 8 students per class
Advance
The Advance class develops distance and intensity. Swimming strokes are corrected and students are prepared for movement into the Squad program. Students in the Advance class are able to attend multiple lessons per week for the price of a single lesson.
Age Group: 9-17 years
Class Duration: 60 Minutes
Class Size: Maximum 10 students per class
