"Swim For Life" Skills

 The following tables are designed to provide you with an overview of what your swimmer is required to do in Lifesaving Society's "Swim For Life" swimming lesson program. 

Parent & Tot (4 months-3 years)

Parent & Tot 1 (4-12 months)

Entries and

Exits

Underwater

Skills

Swim to Survive Skills

Movement/

Swimming Skills

Water Smart

Education

Enter and exit the water safely with tot

Readiness for submersion

Hold tot on front, eye contact

Hold tot on back, head and back support

Front float (face out & assisted)

Back float (assisted)

Float wearing PFD (assisted)

Arms: splashing, reaching, paddling, on front and back

Legs: tickling, splashing, kicking, on front and back

Water smart messages: within arms' reach, wear a lifejacket, swim to survive 

Parent & Tot 2 (12-24 months)

Entries and Exits

Underwater

Skills

Swim to Survive Skills

Movement/

Swimming Skills

Water Smart

Education

Entry from sitting position (assisted)

Exit the water (assisted)

Blow bubbles on and in water

Face wet and in water

Attempt to recover object below surface

 

Entry from sitting position wearing PFD and return (assisted)

 

Front float (face in & assisted)

Back float (assisted)

Kicking on front and back (assisted)

Surface passes with continuous contact

Water smart message: within arms' reach, wear a lifejacket, swim to survive

Parent & Tot 3 (2-3 years)

Entries and Exits

Underwater

Skills

Swim to Survive Skills

Movement/

Swimming Skills

Water Smart

Education

Jump entry (assisted)

Entry and submerge from sitting position (assisted)

Exit the water (unassisted)

Hold breath underwater (assisted)

Attempt to open eyes underwater

Attempt to recover object from bottom

Standing jump entry, return to edge (assisted)

Jump entry and float wearing PFD (assisted)

Front and back "starfish” floats (assisted)

Front and back "pencil” floats (assisted)

Kicking on front and back (assisted)

Underwater passes

Water smart message: within arms' reach, wear a lifejacket, swim to survive

Preschool (3-5 years)

Preschool 1

Entries and Exits

Underwater

Skills

Swim to Survive Skills

Movement/

Swimming Skills

Water Smart

Education

Enter and exit shallow water (assisted)

Jump into chest-deep water (assisted)

Face in water

Blow bubbles in water

Float on front and back (3 sec. each) assisted

Safe movement in shallow water wearing PFD

Glide on front and back (3 m each) assisted

Water smart messages: within arms’ reach, wear a lifejacket

Preschool 2

Entries and Exits

Underwater

Skills

Swim to Survive Skills

Movement/

Swimming Skills

Water Smart

Education

Enter and exit shallow water wearing PFD

Jump into chest-deep water

Submerge

Submerge and exhale 3 times

Float on front and back (3 sec. each) wearing PFD or with buoyant aid

Roll laterally front to back and back to front, wearing PFD

Glide on front and back (3m each) wearing PFD or with buoyant aid

Flutter kick on back with buoyant aid 5 m

Water smart messages: within arms’ reach, wear a lifejacket 

Preschool 3

Entries and Exits

Underwater

Skills

Swim to Survive Skills

Movement/

Swimming Skills

Water Smart Education

Jump into deep water wearing PFD, return and exit

Sideways entry wearing PFD

Hold breath underwater 3 sec.

Submerge and exhale 5 times

Recover object from bottom in waist-deep water

Back float, roll to front, swim 3m

Float on front and back 5 sec. each

Roll laterally front to back and back to front

Glide on front and back 3m each

Flutter kick on back 5m

Flutter kick on front 5m 

Water smart messages: within arms’ reach, wear a lifejacket

Preschool 4

Entries and Exits

Surface Support

Underwater

Skills

Swim to Survive Skills

Movement/

Swimming Skills

Fitness

Water Smart Education

Jump into deep water, return and exit

Sideways entry 

Tread water 10 sec, wearing PFD

Open eye underwater

Recover object from bottom in chest-deep water

Wearing PFD, sideways entry into deep water, tread 15 sec., swim/kick 5m

Front float, roll to back, swim 5m

Glide on side 3m 

Flutter kick on front 7m, on back 7m, on side 5m

Front crawl 5m wearing PFD

Water smart messages: within arms’ reach, wear a lifejacket

Preschool 5

Entries and Exits

Surface Support

Underwater

Skills

Swim to Survive Skills

Movement/

Swimming Skills

Fitness

Water Smart Education

Forward roll entry wearing PFD

Tread water 10 sec.

Submerge and hold breath 5 sec.

Recover object from bottom in chest-deep water

Wearing PFD, sideways entry into deep water, tread 20 sec., swim/kick 10m

Whip kick in vertical position 20 sec., with a PFD or buoyant aid 

Front crawl 5m 

Back crawl 5m 

Interval training: 4 x 5m flutter kick on back with 30 sec. rests

Water smart messages: within arms’ reach, wear a lifejacket

Swimmer (5+ years)

Swimmer 1

Entries and Exits

Surface Support

Underwater

Skills

Swim to Survive Skills

Movement/

Swimming Skills

Fitness

Water Smart Education

Enter and exit shallow water

Jump into chest-deep water

Jump into deep water wearing PFD 

Tread water 30 sec., wearing PFD

Hold breath underwater 5 sec.

Submerge and exhale 5 times

Open eye underwater

Float on front and back 5 sec. each

Roll laterally front to back and back to front

Glide on front, back and side 3m each

Flutter kick on front and back 5m each

Front crawl 5m wearing PDF

Water smart messages: swim with a buddy, wear a lifejacket, check the ice, swim to survive

Swimmer 2

Entries and Exits

Surface Support

Underwater

Skills

Swim to Survive Skills

Movement/

Swimming Skills

Fitness

Water Smart Education

Jump into deep water, return and exit

Sideways entry wearing PFD

Tread water 15 sec.

Recover object from bottom in chest-deep water

Wearing PFD, jump into deep water, tread 30 sec., and swim/kick 15m

Flutter kick on front, back, and side 10m each 

Whip kick in vertical position 30 sec., with aid

Front crawl and back crawl 10m each

Interval training: 4 x 5m flutter kick with 20 sec. rests

Water smart messages: swim with a buddy, wear a lifejacket, check the ice, swim to survive

Swimmer 3

Entries and Exits

Surface Support

Underwater

Skills

Swim to Survive Skills

Movement/

Swimming Skills

Fitness

Water Smart Education

Kneeling dive into deep water

Forward roll entry into deep water

Tread water 30 sec.

Handstand in shallow water

Front somersault (in water)

Jump into deep water, tread 30 sec., and swim/kick 25m

Flutter kick on back 5m, reverse direction and flutter kick on front 5m

Flutter kick on front 5m, reverse direction and flutter kick on back 5m

Whip kick on back 10m

Front crawl and back crawl 15m each

Interval training: 4 x 15m flutter kick with 20 sec. rests

Water smart messages: swim with a buddy, wear a lifejacket, check the ice, swim to survive

Swimmer 4

Entries and Exits

Surface Support

Underwater

Skills

Swim to Survive Skills

Movement/

Swimming Skills

Fitness

Water Smart Education

Standing dive into deep water

Tread water 1 min.

Swim underwater 5m 

Canada swim to survive standard: roll entry into deep water, tread 1 min., and swim 50m

Whip kick on front 15m

Breaststroke arms drill 15m

Front crawl and back crawl 25m each

Interval training: 4 x 25m front or back crawl with 20 sec. rests

Sprint front crawl 25m

Water smart messages: swim with a buddy, wear a lifejacket, check the ice, swim to survive

Swimmer 5

Entries and Exits

Surface Support

Underwater

Skills

Swim to Survive Skills

Movement/

Swimming Skills

Fitness

Water Smart Education

Shallow dive into deep water

Tuck jump (cannonball) into deep water

Jump entry into deep water and tread 2 min.

Stationary eggbeater kick 30 sec. 

Back somersault (in water)

Roll entry into deep water, tread 90 sec., and swim 75m

Breaststroke 25m

Front crawl and back crawl 50m each

Head-up front crawl 10m

Interval training: 4 x 50m front or back crawl with 30 sec. rests

Interval training: 4 x 15m breast- stroke with 30 sec. rests

Sprint front crawl and back crawl 25m each

Water smart messages: swim with a buddy, wear a lifejacket, check the ice, swim to survive

Swimmer 6

Entries and Exits

Surface Support

Underwater

Skills

Swim to Survive Skills

Movement/

Swimming Skills

Fitness

Water Smart Education

Stride entry into deep water

Compact jump into deep water

Legs-only surface support 45 sec. 

Swim underwater 10m to recover object

Eggbeater kick on back 15m 

Scissor kick 15m

Breaststroke 50m

Front crawl and back crawl 100m each

Head-up swim 25m

Interval training: 4 x 25m breast- stroke with 30 sec. rests

Sprint breast- stroke 25m

Workout 300m: 50m warm-up (choice of stroke), 4 x 25m front crawl with 15 sec. rests, 4 x 25m back crawl with 15 sec. rests, 50m cool- down (choice of strokes) 

Water smart messages: swim with a buddy, wear a lifejacket, check the ice, swim to survive

After completion of Swimmer 6, swimmer can continue with Canadian Swim Patrol*, Bronze Star*, and once 13 years old Bronze Medallion and Cross.