Bristol Henleaze Swimming Club

A few people have asked about the criteria used in Swim School to group the swimmers. We have to admit that to some extent it is dictated by the group sizes and available places - there is a limit to how many swimmers we can fit in the pool, and how many under one teacher. However, we do have an overall strategy provided by the ASA and reproduced below. Swim School aims to cover ASA stages 4 to 7, but the colours are our own invention, and though these are the targets for each group, the teachers also exercise their own judgment and we often feel that waiting for a swimmer to get 100% coverage would be detrimental to their progress. In addition, to prepare them for Junior squad, we also expect black and red  hats to have very good front crawl, backstroke and breaststroke technique, plus tumble turns and competitive dives.

Stage 4 - WHITE

1.       Demonstrate an understanding of buoyancy

2.       Perform a tuck float for 5 seconds

3.       Perform a sequence of changing shapes (minimum of 3) whilst floating at the surface

4.       Push & glide from the wall to the pool floor

5.       Kick 10 metres Backstroke

6.       Kick 10 metres Front Crawl

7.       Kick 10 metres Butterfly on the front or on the back

8.       Kick 10 metres Breaststroke on the back

9.       Kick 10 metres Breaststroke on the front

10.   Perform on the back a head first sculling action for  5 metres in a horizontal position

11.   Travel on the back and roll in one continuous movement onto front

12.   Travel on the front and roll in one continuous movement onto back

13.   Swim 10 metres, choice of stroke is optional

Stage 5 - GREEN

1.       Perform a horizontal stationary scull on the back

2.       Perform a feet first sculling action for 5 metres whilst horizontal 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 3 different shaped jumps into deep water

6.       Swim 10 metres Backstroke

7.       Swim 10 metres Front Crawl face in the water

8.       Swim 10 metres Breaststroke

9.       Swim 10 metres Butterfly

10.   Perform a handstand and hold for a minimum of 3 seconds

11.   Perform a forward somersault, tucked, in the water

12.   Demonstrate an action for getting help

          Stage 6 - BLUE

1.       Demonstrate an understanding of preparation for exercise

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 with clothes on

5.       Swim Front Crawl to include at least six rhythmical breaths

6.       Swim Breaststroke to include at least six rhythmical breaths

7.       Swim Butterfly to include at least three rhythmical breaths

8.       Swim 25 metres, choice of stroke is optional

9.       Perform a ‘shout & signal’ rescue

10.   Perform a surface dive.

11.   Exit the water without using steps

      Stage 7 - BLACK

1.       Swim 25 metres Backstroke

2.       Swim 25 metres Front Crawl

3.       Swim 25 metres Breaststroke

4.       Swim 25 metres Butterfly

5.       Perform a movement sequence of 1 minute duration, in a group of 3 or more, incorporating a number of the following skills: Sculling, Rotation, Floating, Eggbeater

6.       Perform a sitting dive

7.       Swim 50 metres continuously using one stroke

8.       Swim 100 metres, using a minimum three different strokes

9.       Tread water using egg beater action for 30 seconds

10.   Complete an obstacle course (using minimum of 4 objects) with feet off the bottom throughout