RED CROSS SWIM KIDS PROGRAM
The Red Cross Swim Kids program will help swimmers develop all six swimming strokes (front crawl, back crawl, elementary back stroke, breaststroke, butterfly, sidestroke), actively learn how to be safe around the water, and increase their fitness and endurance through fun activities. Children will be challenged to achieve personal bests in distance and time, which will be a strong motivator through all 10 levels. While the specific standards of each new level are on the Zodiac web site, some highlights of each level are outlined below;
Sea Turtle
This level develops skills in swimming, glides, and float-ing as well as builds awareness of deep water and safe entries. The student is expected to submerge his/her entire face in the water for 3 seconds in a relaxed man-ner. All skills are performed with assistance.
Salamander
Students actively learn new swimming skills including unassisted front and back floats and front glides. Students continue to improve their skills with assistance in areas such as back glides, front and back glides with kicks and roll overs. Endurance is built by challenging the student to a 2-metre unassisted swim.
Red Cross Swim Kids Level 1
This level provides an orientation to the water and the pool area and introduces unassisted floats and glides with kicks. Students concentrate on rhythmic breathing, opening eyes under water and work on performing a front swim with face in and arms recovering above the water. Endurance is achieved by building strength in flutter kick and a 5-metre swim.
Red Cross Swim Kids Level 2
A second orientation level, which helps the child build skills in front and back swims, concentrating on side glides and flutter kicking. Students are introduced to deep water activities and proper use of Personal Floatation Device (PFD). Endurance is achieved by building strength in flutter kick and a 10-metre swim.
Red Cross Swim Kids Level 3
This level provides an introduction to front crawl as well the foundation for making wise choices where and when to swim. Diving is introduced and students will master a front and side glide combination (used for front crawl) as well as learning how to change direction in deep water. Endurance is achieved by building strength in flutter kick and a 15-metre swim.
Red Cross Swim Kids Level 4
The front crawl, back glide and shoulder roll for back crawl are further developed. Students work on kneeling dives, surface support and developing a greater sense of self-safety by understanding their own limits. Endurance is built through a 25-metre swim.
Red Cross Swim Kids Level 5
Back crawl is introduced, along with sculling skills and whip kick on the back. Students try stride dives and receive an introduction to safe boating skills. Endurance is developed through dolphin kick and a 50-metre swim.
Red Cross Swim Kids Level 6
Front and back crawl continue to be refined as the ele-mentary backstroke is newly introduced. Students are also introduced to safety on ice, elementary rescue of oth-ers with throwing assists, treading water and the front dive. Endurance is built through a 75-metre swim.
Red Cross Swim Kids Level 7
Level 7 continues to build skills and endurance for front crawl, back crawl and elementary backstroke and intro-duces whip kick on the front. Students learn about airway and breathing obstructions. Endurance is built through timed treading water and 150-metre swim.
Red Cross Swim Kids Level 8
Level 8 provides an introduction to the breaststroke, foot first surface dives and rescue entries. Students learn about the dangers of open water, hypothermia and the performance of rescue breathing on children and adults. Endurance is built on the dolphin kick and 300-metre swim.
Red Cross Swim Kids Level 9
Front crawl, back crawl and elementary backstroke and breaststroke continue to be refined. In this level students are encouraged to try combining different strokes and kicks for fitness. They also work on head-first surface dives and standing dives and learn about wise choices, peer influences and self-rescue from ice. Endurance is built through a 400 metre swim.
Red Cross Swim Kids Level 10
Further refinement of strokes, with an introduction to but-terfly and scissor kick as a warm-up/cool down stroke for fitness. Students learn about sun safety, rescue of others from the ice and head first and feet-first surface dives. Endurance is built using dolphin kick and butterfly drills and a 500-metre swim.