Learn to swim

Waitaki Aquatic Centre has 7 levels of technique and water safety programmes ("Learn to swim") for children from 5 years upwards.

Please note you will not be able to book your children into swimming lessons until they have been assessed at the Waitaki Aquatic Centre.

Enrolment

Each child will be given a swim school passport during the enrolment time, which will take them through until Level 6.

If this is the first time to enrol your children to our programme, please contact us (phone: 03 433 0410 or email: aquaticcentre@waitaki.govt.nz ) to make an appointment to have your children assessed. 

If you've enrolled to our programmes before, you can make a class booking directly via our website:

 

Fees

Fees for all programme can be found at swim school fees page. 

Course Details

Level 1

Course description: The focus of Level 1 is to build water awareness, confidence and independence through safe water entry and exit, bubble blowing, underwater exploration and independent floating.

Lesson time: 25 mins

Proficiencies: 

  • Safe entry
  • Submerge and blow bubbles
  • Float on front
  • Submerge and retrieve objects

Water Safety

  • Pool safety rules
  • Enter and exit water safely
  • Independent movement

 

Level 2

Course description: The focus of Level 2 is correct body positioning for gliding, kicking and arm strokes.

Lesson time: 25 mins

Proficiencies: 

  • Streamline glide on front
  • Kicking on front
  • Freestyle arm strokes
  • Float on back

Water Safety

  • Buoyance and Flotation

 

Level 3A

Course description: The focus of Level 3A is the introduction to breathing skills for freestyle and developing backstroke skills.

Lesson time: 25 mins

Proficiencies: 

  • Kick on back
  • Freestyle breathing
  • Backstroke arms
  • Freestyle swim 12m

Water Safety

  • Body rotation and propulsion over distance
  • Introduction to deeper water

 

Level 3B

Course description: The focus of Level 3B is to build confidence, ability and skill in deep water. Swimmers start in the shallow end and progressively increase the distance as skills develop.

Lesson time: 25 mins

Proficiencies: 

  • Bilateral breathing
  • 25m Freestyle
  • 25m backstroke
  • Introduction to kick breaststroke

Water Safety

  • Entry and exit in deep water
  • Treading water

 

Level 4

Course description: The focus of Level 4 is to reinforce body positions for all 3 strokes and complete longer distances.

Lesson time: 25 mins

Proficiencies: 

  • 50m Freestyle
  • 50m Backstroke
  • 25m Sculling
  • 25m Breaststroke kick

Water Safety

  • Rope and stick rescues

 

Level 5

Course description: The focus of Level 5 is to increase swim distances working on endurance and stamina. Turn and dive skills are introduced.

Lesson time: 45 mins

Proficiencies: 

  • 100m Freestyle
  • 50m Breaststroke
  • 25m Butterfly
  • 100m Backstroke

Water Safety

  • High water entries
  • Tows and rescues
  • Assist others

 

Level 6

Course description: The focus of Level 6 is to consolidate all skills learnt for body positioning, stroke technique and timing.

Lesson time: 1 hour

Proficiencies: 

  • 100m Breaststroke
  • 200m Freestyle
  • 200m Backstroke
  • 25m Butterfly

Water Safety

  • Boat safety
  • Clothing swim

 

 

 

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