Wally's Pool School Group Lessons

Class Descriptions & Levels

Before registering your child, please read the following information regarding class levels, age requirements, and prerequisites. These are strictly enforced and are in the best interest of your child. The first day of each session is an evaluation day. If for any reason a student needs to be moved, the instructor will notify the parent, and staff will try to move your child into the appropriate level class (space pending). Because space is limited, it is important to try to make sure your child is in the right level when originally registering. Class maximums are used as guidelines. Management reserves the right to add or subtract students, as needed, in order to increase efficiency and effectiveness of the class.

Remember: More often than not, a student will need to repeat a level several times before advancing.

 Prerequisite: One adult per child

Tadpole – Level 2 (Ages 2–3, Tot Without Parent)

In the Tadpole class, children will work on water entry and adjustment without the assistance of the parent. Students will learn prone and supine swimming positions, breath control, basic arm movement, and kicking.

 Class size guideline: 3 students

 Prerequisite: Starfish class or age appropriate

Penguin – Level 3 (Ages 3–4, Beginner)

In the Penguin class, students will work on holding breath, fully submerging head for 3 seconds, retrieving objects in chest-deep water, supported prone and supine floats and recovery, breathing, stepping from side into chest-deep water and recovering to vertical position, getting out at side of pool, basic arm motions, and kicking.

 Class size guideline: 4 students

 Prerequisite: Age requirement enforced and/or graduate of Tadpole class; must be comfortable with water.

Sea Lion – Level 4 (Ages 3–4, Intermediate)

In the Sea Lion class, students will work on enhancing the skills learned in the Penguin class by gaining confidence to do the skills on their own (without assistance). Other skills taught include arm motions for both freestyle and backstroke, prone and supine glides, elementary backstroke/breaststroke kick, diving for underwater objects, and knee dives.

 Class size guideline: 4 students

 Prerequisite: Graduate of Penguin class; must be able to demonstrate basic swimming motions and be comfortable putting face in the water.

Clownfish – Level 5 (Ages 3–4, Advanced)

The Clownfish class is the most advanced level for younger swimmers. This class will focus on endurance and stroke readiness. Skills taught include rotary breathing, prone and supine glides into stroke, freestyle and backstroke corrections, elementary backstroke arms and kick, breaststroke kick, butterfly kick, and diving.

Class size guideline: 5 students

Prerequisite: Graduate of Sea Lion class; must be able to swim unassisted for 10 yards

 Dolphin – Level 1 (Ages 5 & Up, Beginner)

Dolphin is the beginner class for students ages 5 and up who have not taken swim lessons before, who have some fear of the water, or who have no swimming skills whatsoever. Skills taught include getting comfortable with the water, breathing, retrieving objects from bottom of pool, prone and supine glides, freestyle and backstroke kicks, elementary backstroke kick, and introduction to the deep end.

Class size guideline: 5 students

Prerequisite: Age requirement strictly enforced

Eel – Level 2 (Ages 5 & Up, Advanced Beginner)

Skills presented in the Eel class will be submerging head and body for 4–10 seconds, retrieving objects in waist-deep water, unsupported floats and glides, unassisted freestyle and backstroke. Strokes don’t have to be perfect, but swimmer must understand technique and have endurance to complete at least 12.5 yards (half length of pool). Other skills include knee dives in deep end, introduction to elementary backstroke/breaststroke kick, elementary backstroke arms, and rotary breathing.

Class size guideline: 5 students

Prerequisite: Graduate of Sea Lion class (age appropriate) or Dolphin class; must be able to demonstrate basic swimming skills with face in the water

Marlin – Level 3 (Ages 5 & Up, Intermediate)

The Marlin class enhances the skills learned in the Eel class by building swimmers’ confidence to do the skills on their own (without assistance) for longer distances. Additional skills learned are retrieving objects with eyes open, jumping in water slightly over head and traveling to safe area, jumping into deep water from side of pool, standing dives, prone and supine glides with push-off, backstroke and freestyle endurance, rotary breathing, elementary backstroke and breaststroke kicks, breaststroke arms, and introduction to butterfly kick and arms.

 Class size guideline: 6 students

 Prerequisite: Graduate of Eel or Sea Lion class (age appropriate); must be able to swim comfortably on own without assistance for a minimum of 12.5 yards with recognizable freestyle and backstroke motions and technique.