Stage 1

By completing this Award, with or without floatation equipment or support, you will be able to:

1. Enter the water safely.
2. Move forward for a distance of 5 metres, feet may be on or off the floor.
3. Move backwards for a distance of 5 metres, feet may be on or off the floor.
4. Move sideways for a distance of 5 metres, feet may be on or off the floor.
5. Scoop the water and wash the face.
6. Be comfortable with water showered from overhead.
7. Move from a flat floating position on the back and return to standing.
8. Move from a flat floating position on the front and return to standing.
9. Push and glide in a flat position on the front from a wall.
10. Push and glide in a flat position on the back from a wall.
11. Give examples of two pool rules.
12. Exit the water safely.

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Stage 2

By completing this Award, with or without floatation equipment or support, you will be able to:

1. Jump in from poolside safely to a minimum depth of 1.0 metre.
2. Blow bubbles a minimum of three times rhythmically, with nose and mouth submerged.
3. Move from a flat floating position on the back and return to standing without support.
4. Move from a flat floating position on the front and return to standing without support.
5. Push from a wall and glide on the back – arms can be by the side or above the head.
6. Push from a wall and glide on the front with arms extended.
7. Travel using a recognised leg action with feet off the pool floor on the back for 5 metres, without the use of floatation equipment.
8. Travel using a recognised leg action with feet off the pool floor on the front for 5 metres, without the use of floatation equipment.
9. Perform a tuck to rotate from a flat floating position on the front, to a back floating position, then return to standing.
10. Perform a tuck to rotate from a flat floating position on the back, to a front floating position, then return to standing.
11. Perform a log roll from the back to the front.
12. Perform a log roll from the front to the back.
13. Exit the water without support.

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Stage 3

By completing this Award, without floatation equipment or support, you will be able to:

1. Jump in from poolside and submerge to a minimum depth of 1.0 metre.
2. Sink, push away from wall and maintain a streamlined position.
3. Push and glide on the front with arms extended and log roll onto the back.
4. Push and glide on the back with arms extended and log roll onto the front.
5. Travel 5 metres on the front, perform a tuck to rotate onto the back and return on the back.
6. Fully submerge to pick up an object.
7. Correctly identify three of the four key water safety messages.
8. Push and glide and travel 10 metres on the back.
9. Push and glide and travel 10 metres on the front.
10. Perform a tuck float and hold for three seconds.
11. Exit the water without using steps.

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Stage 4

By completing this Award, without floatation equipment or support, you will be able to:

1. Perform a sequence of changing shapes (minimum of three) whilst floating on the surface and demonstrate an understanding of floating.
2. Push and glide from the wall towards the pool floor.
3. Kick 10 metres backstroke (one item of equipment optional).
4. Kick 10 metres front crawl (one item of equipment optional).
5. Kick 10 metres butterfly on the front or on the back.
6. Kick 10 metres breaststroke on the front (one item of equipment optional).
7. Perform a head first sculling action for 5 metres in a flat position on the back.
8. Travel on back and log roll in one continuous movement onto front.
9. Travel on front and log roll in one continuous movement onto back.
10. Push and glide and swim 10 metres, choice of stroke is optional.

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Stage 5

By completing this Award you will be able to:

1. Perform a flat stationary scull on the back.
2. Perform a feet first sculling action for 5 metres in a flat position on the back.
3. Perform a sculling sequence with a partner for 30-45 seconds to include a rotation.
4. Tread water for 30 seconds.
5. Perform three different shaped jumps into deep water.
6. Push and glide and swim 10 metres backstroke (performed to Swim England expected standards).
7. Push and glide and swim 10 metres front crawl (performed to Swim England expected standards).
8. Push and glide and swim 10 metres breaststroke (performed to Swim England expected standards).
9. Push and glide and swim 10 metres butterfly (performed to Swim England expected standards).
10. Perform a handstand and hold for a minimum of three seconds.
11. Perform a forward somersault.
12. Demonstrate an action for getting help.

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Stage 6

By completing this Award you will be able to:

1. Give two examples of how to prepare for exercise and understand why it is important.
2. Sink, push off on side from the wall, glide, kick and rotate into backstroke.
3. Sink, push off on side from the wall, glide, kick and rotate into front crawl.
4. Swim 10 metres wearing clothes.
5. Push and glide and swim front crawl to include at least six rhythmical breaths.
6. Push and glide and swim breaststroke to include at least six rhythmical breaths.
7. Push and glide and swim butterfly to include at least three rhythmical breaths.
8. Push and glide and swim backstroke to include at least six regular breaths.
9. Push and glide and swim 25 metres, choice of stroke is optional (performed to Swim England expected standards).
10. Perform a ‘shout and signal’ rescue.
11. Perform a surface dive.

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Stage 7

By completing this Award you will be able to:

1. Push and glide and swim 25 metres backstroke (performed to Swim England expected standards).
2. Push and glide and swim 25 metres front crawl (performed to Swim England expected standards).
3. Push and glide and swim 25 metres breaststroke (performed to Swim England expected standards).
4. Push and glide and swim 25 metres butterfly (performed to Swim England expected standards).
5. Perform a movement sequence (linking skills with strokes and sculls) of one minute duration, in a group of three or more, incorporating a number of the following skills:Sculling: head first, feet first
   Rotation: forward or backward somersault, log roll
   Floating: star on the front or on the back, tuck float, create own
   Eggbeater: Moving, lifting one or both arms out of the water
6. Perform a sitting dive or dive.
7. Push and glide and swim 50 metres continuously using one stroke (performed to Swim England expected standards).
8. Push and glide and swim 100 metres, using a minimum of three different strokes (performed to Swim England expected standards).
9. Tread water using eggbeater action for 30 seconds.
10. Complete an obstacle course (using minimum of four objects) with feet off the pool floor throughout.

Find out more about the Swim England Learn to Swim framework.

Stage 1 (Non-swimmer)

Before progressing to stage 2, the swimmer should be able to consistently:

1. Understand why floating is important and where possible minimise aids used.
2. Continuous rhythmical breathing (at least 2 times) demonstrating blowing air out fast when face is in the water and breathing in slow when face is out of the water.
3. Demonstrate correct floatation in streamlined & tucked body position - hold for 5 seconds (head position critical) and where possible minimise aids used.
4. Hold a streamlined push and glide on front and back, and where possible minimise aids used.
5. Demonstrate introduction to simultaneous breaststroke kick by making circular pattern with the legs, can be with aids.
6. Demonstrate alternate & simultaneous arm action, emphasising stretching forward then pulling with forearm keeping a high elbow (with woggles).
7. Demonstrate a safe, correct jump from deck into water (bend and extend) and a streamlined entry. Can be assisted.
8. Safety skills
   • Knowledge on how to get to a side from the middle of a pool
   • Gaining confidence with underwater skills
   • Safe entry and exits from the water

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Stage 2 (Non-swimmer)

Before progressing to stage 3, the swimmer should be able to consistently:

1. Understand why floating is important, without aids used.
2. Continuous rhythmical breathing (at least 4 times) demonstrating blowing air out fast when face is in the water and breathing in slow when face is out of the water.
3. Demonstrate correct floatation in streamlined & tucked body position - hold for 5:10 seconds (head position critical).
4. Hold a streamlined push and glide on front and back with correct head position.
5. Begin on front/back to regain an upright standing position.
6. Understand and attempt kicking from hips with long legs and minimal knee movement (front & back with arms by side/with a float). Maintain streamlined body position most of the time.
7. Demonstrate introduction to simultaneous breaststroke kick by making circular pattern with the legs (emphasise the lower part of the leg moving).
8. Demonstrate introduction to simultaneous dolphin kick by performing feet up and down beat kick with arms by the side (emphasis on smooth fast ‘wiggles’ from the hips).
9. Demonstrate alternate & simultaneous arm action, emphasising stretching forward then pulling with forearm keeping a high elbow.
10. Demonstrate a safe, correct jump from deck into water (bend and extend) with full submersion and a streamlined entry.
11. Safety skills
    • Knowledge on how to get to a side from the middle of a pool
    • Gaining confidence with underwater skills
    • Safe entry and exits from the water

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Stages 3 & 4 (Beginner)

Before progressing to stage 5 and 6, the swimmer should be able to consistently:

1. Perform correct slow sculling action (thumbs point down to push out and up to push in). Emphasise flat hands and strong wrists.
2. Perform correct simultaneous kick on deck and then in the water. Emphasise plantar (pointed) into dorsi (flat) flexed feet (push against a float for dorsi-flexion).
3. Perform a push & glide in the water with improved streamlining and demonstrate an understanding of sitting dives.
4. Demonstrate a kick in '2' positions from front to side, side to back & front to back.
5. Hold a mushroom float for 15-20 seconds and progress into attempting a forward roll (normally best performed after sculling emphasis).
6. Perform effective streamlined side kick for 10-15m (high shoulder / head on shoulder 'pillow').
7. Demonstrate alternating kick at varying speeds on front and back from the hips (streamline the arms).
8. Co-ordinate slow movement of arms with fast alternating kick.
9. Demonstrate rhythmical breathing to the side with or without a float (on deck and in the water - best performed after side kick emphasis).
10. Demonstrate confidence in submersion (down a pole) and progress to hand stands into correct surface dives.
11. Safety skills
    • Treading water
    • Confident with underwater skills
    • Safe entry and exits from the water

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Stages 5 & 6 (Improver)

Before progressing to stage 7, the swimmer should be able to consistently:

1. Perform dolphin kick demonstrating movement from the hips (correct undulation).
2. Perform streamlined push and glides of at least 5m into strong powerful kick, both on front / back and simultaneous / alternating.
3. Demonstrate sculling on front and back with alternating kick at varying speeds.
4. Perform front crawl/backstroke with a heavy emphasis on leg kick, ensuring legs faster than arms (Increase repetitions and rhythmic breathing).
5. Perform at least 3 forward rolls in succession, progress to placing balls of feet at the centre of the wall after one forward roll.
6. Continue with simultaneous development without arms and simply the legs and a small natural scull. Develop further into breaststroke arm pull with rhythmic breathing.
7. Demonstrate to kick in '3' positions (front-side-back or back-side -front).
8. Breath to the side consistently with repetitions alternating kick - drill - swim.
9. Demonstrate early stages of underwater kick with correct streamlining (control depth for 2-3 dolphin kicks).
10. Perform seated then kneeling dive demonstrating good streamlined entry with body extended.
11. Safety skills
    • Width/lane awareness with other swimmers e.g stop look before a backstroke push off
    • Underwater depth confidence
    • Knowledge of correct depth for safe diving

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Stages 7 (Advanced)

Before an invite to Squad, the swimmer should be able to consistently:

1. Swim a minimum of 25m of each stroke without loss of technique or stopping (see below for standard of strokes required).
2. Swim a minimum of 6 lengths continuously without loss of technique or stopping.
3. Hold a streamlined push and glide on front and back with correct head position.
4. Begin on front/back to regain an upright standing position.
5. Understand and attempt kicking from hips with long legs and minimal knee movement (front & back with arms by side/with a float). Maintain streamlined body position most of the time.
6. Demonstrate introduction to simultaneous breaststroke kick by making circular pattern with the legs (emphasise the lower part of the leg moving).
7. Demonstrate introduction to simultaneous dolphin kick by performing feet up and down beat kick with arms by the side (emphasis on smooth fast ‘wiggles’ from the hips).
8. Demonstrate alternate & simultaneous arm action, emphasising stretching forward then pulling with forearm keeping a high elbow (with woggles).
9. Demonstrate a safe, correct jump from deck into water (bend and extend) with full submersion and a streamlined entry.
10. Safety skills
    • Knowledge on how to get to a side from the middle of a pool.
    • Gaining confidence with underwater skills
    • Safe entry and exits from the water.