Swimming
Swimming lessons (The Red Cross Swim Kids program)
Day: Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday (2 times per week). NOTE! Saturday and Sunday lesson times are also set aside for children with weekday time constraints.
Coaches: To be announced.
Dates, times and locations of meets and competitions are listed on this page when they become available. The practice times will be outlined in the pool schedule.
About…
Valleycrest follows the Red Cross Swim Kids program, which is ideal for swimmers of all levels, even those who have little or no previous experience.
Children typically start at age six, and continue through the 10 levels of the program. Your child can seamlessly move from one level to the next, based on his or her own development as a swimmer. Every child progresses at a different rate, and it is not uncommon for children to repeat a level in order to strengthen a particular skill.
Through drills and distance swimming kids learn all six strokes and develop proper breathing and swimming techniques while building endurance and embracing a healthy lifestyle.
Water safety is important for all age groups. We teach skills ranging from self-rescue and preventing injuries to boating safety and diving.
Red Cross Swim is also about fun!
Not sure which level of swim lessons to sign up for? Not to worry, one of Valleycrest’s certified instructors will evaluate your son or daughter to determine their skill level.
Here’s a brief overview of what is covered at each level (levels do overlap on occasion, through out the program).
Level 1 – Orientation to the water and the pool area with an introduction to floats and glides with kicks. Endurance is built by improving distance.
Level 2 – Builds skills in front and back swims, introduces deep water activities and proper use of a Personal Flotation Device (PFD). Endurance is built through flutter kicking with assisted glides.
Level 3 — Introduces front crawl and making wise choices on where and when to swim. Diving is introduced and endurance is achieved by a 15 metre swim.
Level 4 – Front crawl, back glide and shoulder roll for back crawl are developed. Children work on kneeling dives, surface support and endurance is built to a 25 metre swim.
Level 5 — Back crawl and safe boating skills are introduced, along with sculling and whip kick on the back. Children try stride dives and endurance is developed through dolphin kick and a 50 metre swim.
Level 6 — Front and back crawl are refined and elementary back stroke is introduced. Ice safety, throwing assists, treading water and the front dive are introduced. Endurance is built to a 75 metre swim.
Level 7 — Continues to build skills in front crawl, back crawl and elementary back stroke and introduces whip kick on the front. Children learn about airway and breathing obstructions and treading water. Endurance is built to a 150 metre swim.
Level 8 – Breaststroke, foot first surface dives and rescue entries are introduced. Children learn the dangers of open water, hypothermia and rescue breathing on children and adults. Endurance is built to a 300 metre swim.
Level 9 – Front and back crawl, elementary backstroke and breaststroke continue to be refined. Children also work on head-first shallow dives, standing dives and learn about wise choices and self-rescue from ice. Endurance is built to a 400 metre swim.
Level 10 – Refines all of the strokes, with an introduction to butterfly and scissor kick. Children learn about sun safety and ice rescue of others. Endurance is built to a 500 metre swim.
Beyond 10 – Kids may choose to continue on to lifesaving (Lifesaving Society) courses.
