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.
