City
of Columbia's Learn to Swim Program
The Learn to Swim classes provide instruction to
help swimmers of all ages and abilities develop their swimming and water
safety skills. Classes are designed to give students a positive learning
experience starting with the most basic of swimming skills and advancing
through six levels with water safety being the number
one priority.
The Learn to Swim program was developed by the American Red
Cross. Satisfactory completion of each course will result in
the issuance of a Red Cross certificate. Our objective
is to teach people to swim and to be safe in, on and around the water.
Skills are categorized in the following way:
- Water Entry and Exit
- Breath Control and Underwater Swimming
- Buoyancy
- Changing Direction and Position
- Treading
- Swimming on Front, Back and Side
- General and Personal Water Safety
- Helping Others
Level 1: Water Exploration
Introduction to Water Skills: helps students feel comfortable in the water
and to enjoy the water safely. At this level, students begin to develop positive attitudes
and safe practices around the water.
Level 2: Fundamental Aquatic Skills
The objective of Level 2 is to give students success with fundamental
skills. This level marks the beginning of true locomotion skills
and adds to the self-help and basic rescue skills introduced in
Level 1.
Level 3: Stroke Development
The objective of Level 3 is to build on the skills in Level 2 by providing
additional guided practice. Students receive instruction on coordinating the
front and back crawl, treading water and the fundamentals of the
butterfly.
Level 4: Stroke Improvement
The objective of Level 4 is to develop confidence in the strokes and to
improve other aquatic skills. Students must possess a Level 3 certificate. Endurance
training in front and back crawl are emphasized while building
on the butterfly. At this level, students are introduced to the
elements of the backstroke, breaststroke, and sidestroke.
Level 5: Stroke Refinement
Students entering this course must have a Level 4 certificate or
be able to demonstrate the course requirements for Level 4. Participants
refine performance of all strokes and increase distances. Flip
turns on front and back are introduced.
Level 6
Students entering this course must have a Level 5 certificate or must
be able to demonstrate all the skills required for Level 5. The
objective of Level 6 is to refine strokes so students swim with more
ease, efficiency, power and smoothness over distances.
Individuals and families can register for Learn to Swim classes at one
of three pools managed by the City of Columbia Department of
Parks and Recreation: the Charles R. Drew Wellness Center Indoor
Pool, Maxcy Gregg Pool, and Greenview
Pool. | 