Our Class Levels

Preschool Program Admission Requirements

For swimmers ages 5

Preschool 1

Age: Student must be 5 years old.

Preschool 2

Water Entry:

Student can safely enter and exit the water using ladders.

Blowing Bubbles:

Student can submerge entire face in the water while blowing air out.

Prone and Back Float (with assistance):

Student must perform a prone and back float with instructor assistance and place ears in the water upon request.

Prone and Back Kick (with assistance):

Student must place ears in the water upon request and demonstrate a basic flutter kick (toes pointed; knees may bend).

Push and Glide (with assistance):

Student must place face in the water upon request, blow bubbles, and demonstrate basic flutter kicking.

Preschool 3

Prone and Back Float with Recovery:

Instructor may assist into floating position; student must hold each float independently for five seconds and demonstrate beginning recovery.

Bobbing:

Student must submerge head, blow air out, and resurface while holding the wall five times.

Prone and Back Kick (with kickboard):

Student must hold kickboard in proper position (without lying on top) and demonstrate propulsion for 8–10 feet without instructor assistance.

Crawl Stroke Arm Drills:

Student must perform arm drills without hesitation placing face in the water; instructor may assist.

Sculling:

Student must demonstrate proper sculling technique for 8–10 feet; instructor may assist into floating position.

Beginner Program Admission Requirements

For individuals ages 6–18 years old

Beginner 1

Age: Must be 6–18 years old
If advancing from Preschool 3, students must additionally demonstrate the following skills:

Prone and back float with recovery:
Student must maintain a floating position for 8 seconds independently, followed by a proper recovery.
Beginning finning:
Student must demonstrate basic finning for 15 feet, with propulsion clearly provided by the finning—not flutter kicking.
Prone and back kick (with kickboard):
Student must push off the wall in streamline position and kick 15 feet using a kickboard, without instructor assistance.
Crawl stroke:
Student must swim 15 feet using a basic crawl stroke (clear flutter kick), with the face in most of the time and lifting to breathe; limited dog-paddle may assist; no instructor help.
Sculling:
Student must demonstrate proper sculling for 8–10 feet. Instructor may assist the student to reach a floating position.

Beginner 2

Prone and back float with recovery:
Student must maintain the floating position for 8 seconds independently, with proper recovery.
Beginning finning:
Student must demonstrate basic finning for 15 feet, with propulsion clearly the result of finning, not a flutter kick.
Back crawl arm drills:
Student must demonstrate proper arm movements (on deck and in the water). Instructor may assist while in the water.
Crawl stroke with rhythmic breathing:
Student must swim 15 feet using basic crawl stroke (clear flutter kick), with consistent face immersion and basic rhythmic breathing; limited dog-paddle may assist; no instructor help.
Sculling:
Student must demonstrate proper sculling technique for 15 feet, with propulsion resulting from the sculling—not kicking.
Introduction to deep water:
Student must enter 5 feet or deeper using a safe, feet-first entry; student may exit using the ladder.

Beginner 3

Rhythmic breathing:
Must demonstrate rhythmic breathing without hesitation during the crawl stroke.
Prone and back streamline kicking:
Student must perform streamline kicking in both prone and supine positions across the width of the pool.
Sculling/finning:
Student must demonstrate sculling and finning techniques across the width of the pool with visible propulsion from the stroke, not just the kick (any kick type allowed).
Crawl stroke:
Student must swim the full width of the pool without stopping.
Backstroke:
Student must swim half the width of the pool, demonstrating basic shoulder rotation and a strong flutter kick.
Changing direction:
Student must swim 15 feet, then change direction and return to the starting point.

Advanced Beginner Admission Requirements

Advanced Beginner 2

Age: For ages 6-18 years old.

All AB1 skills, as well as:

Proper side breathing must be used in all crawl-stroke drills as well as during the final skill assessment.
Streamline kicking with side breathing the majority of the time. Student must maintain a strong flutter kick and streamline body position while demonstrating proper stroke and breathing technique.
Streamline kicking on the back: Student must extend arms fully with hands in the water while traveling across the width of the pool.
Student must swim 25 yards of crawl stroke using only side breathing. A high-elbow recovery should be present most of the time, along with a quality body position, strong flutter kick, and full-arm stroke.
Introduction to whip kick: Student must be able to demonstrate whip kick; low propulsion is acceptable.
Elementary Backstroke: Student must swim the width of the pool using whip kick and a winging arm stroke; low propulsion from kick is acceptable.
Student must tread water for a minimum of 1 minute and 30 seconds.
Student must demonstrate a survival stroke (sculling, winging, or elementary backstroke) for 1 minute nonstop with a long glide evident in each stroke.
Standing deep-water dive.
Student must swim underwater for a short distance while blowing bubbles.
Safety skills: same requirements as Advanced Beginner 1.

ASAP (Auburn Swimming & Polo Prep) Admission Requirements

Intermediate 1

For individuals ages 6–18 years old

Student must be able to:

Swim 25 yards crawl stroke using side breathing only
- Must demonstrate high-elbow recovery present most of the time
- Must demonstrate quality body position and flutter kick
- Full arm stroke required
- Human stroke or head-high breathing are not acceptable
Swim 25 yards backstroke demonstrating:
- Shoulder–thumb–pinky technique
- Evident propulsion
- Clear body roll
- Consistent flutter kick
- Proper stroke technique throughout
Demonstrate whip kick with propulsion produced by the kick alone
Swim 25 yards elementary backstroke
- Clear whip kick and winging arm stroke
- Strong propulsion from the kick
Tread water for at least 3 minutes
Perform a survival stroke (sculling, winging, or elementary backstroke) for 3 continuous minutes including a long glide
Perform a:
- Standing deep dive, and
- Falling straight dive from the diving board
Swim underwater across the width of the pool (student must not hold their breath)
Swim for 3 minutes using crawl stroke or backstroke
Safety skills: same as AB2

Intermediate 2