Youth Swimming

Crab (Ages 6 Months – 2 Years)

This class is an introduction to swimming geared for parent and child interactions. This program gives parents information and techniques to help orient their children to the water and to supervise water activities in a safe manner. Skills will be supported by a parent and include:

• Building trust and comfort in the water
• Safe water entry and exit
• Safe holding positions of your child in the water
• Perform supported front and back floats
• Cueing jumps into the pool and safely exiting

Duck (Age 2-3)

This class is a continuation of Crab aimed at toddlers and your pre-school children focusing on increasing their skills in relation to their more developed gross motor movements. Skills will be supported by a parent or flotation aid and include:

• Vertical and horizontal submersion
• Front and back floats in a relaxed position
• Water entry and exit
• Rolling back to front/front to back

Frog (Age 3-4)

This class is for the 3-4-year-olds who are new to swimming. Participants who are more hesitant will have a parent in the water, but the focus will be on transitioning the child to an instructor led format. Skills will be supported by the parent or flotation aid and include:

• Trust and comfort in the water
• Safe water entry and exit
• Perform an assisted submersion, recover for air and roll onto back
• Perform unassisted submersion, recover for air and roll onto back
• Perform a relaxed front, back, vertical, and side position for at least 5 seconds each – with and without support
• Move 10 feet through the water with or without flotation support

Manatee (Ages 3-4)

This class requires the child be able to listen and learn introductory water fundamentals with no parent in the water. Skills will be supported by the instructor or flotation aid and include:

• Water entry and exit
• Assisted front and back floats
• Go under water and hold breath
• Relaxed submersion for 3 seconds and surface to breathe

Narwhal (Ages 3-4)

This class will focus on independent unassisted forward movement and direction change. Skills will be supported by the instructor or flotation aid and include:

• Unassisted front and back positions
• Kicking on front and back for 10’
• Jump in, submerge, recover for air, roll onto back to breathe for 3 seconds.
• Bobbing

Octopus (Ages 4-5)

This class will focus on direction change and beginner strokes. Skills will be supported by the instructor or flotation aid and include:

• Beginner stroke on back
• Beginner stroke on front with face in the water
• Roll from front to back
• Elementary Backstroke arms and legs
• Treading water 10 seconds
• Swim – roll over – swim for 30’

Pufferfish (Ages 4-5)

This class will focus on unassisted rotary movement and the Elementary Backstroke. Skills will include:

• Front and back streamline with kick
• Side breathing position with kick
• Swim underwater
• Elementary Backstroke 15’
• Side – roll over – side with kick for 15’

Seahorse (Ages 4-5)

This class will focus on integrated movement. All skills must be done unassisted and independently. Skills will include:

• Disorienting entries and recovery
• 3 strokes swim – roll over – swim
• 3 strokes side – roll over – side
• Treading water 40 seconds
• Elementary Backstroke 30’
• Jump into water over the head, surface, tread water for 1 minute, swim 50 meters any arm/leg action

Level 1 – Swim School (Ages 6 & up)

This class is for the first-time school age swimmer and will focus on relaxed body positions on front and back and building confidence in the water. Skills will be supported by the instructor or flotation aid and include:

• Independent water entry and exit
• Submersion and object retrieval
• Assisted front and back floats and glides
• Rolling over
• Basic propulsion techniques with arms and legs
• Assisted Elementary Backstroke arms
• Assisted Elementary Backstroke kick
• Bobbing

Level 2 – Swim School (Ages 6 & up)

This class will focus on forward movement, rotary movement, and direction change. Skills will include:

• Elementary Backstroke 30’ – assisted
• Assisted and unassisted front and back floats/glides/streamline positions
• Assisted and unassisted kicking and pulling on front and back
• Flutter kick
• Assisted side glide position
• Rotary breathing
• Treading water for 10 seconds
• Underwater swim 10’

Level 3 – Swim School (Ages 6 & up)

This class will focus on integrated movement, development of self-rescue techniques, and stroke work on Elementary Backstroke and Sidestroke. Skills will include:

• Elementary Backstroke 30’ – unassisted
• Treading water for 40 seconds
• 3 strokes swim – roll over – swim
• 3 strokes side – roll over – side
• Front Crawl 30’ – rudimentary technique
• Enter water, tread for 1 minute, swim 50 meters any arm/leg action

Level 4 – Stroke School (Ages 6 & up)

This class will focus on the Front Crawl, Back Crawl, and Elementary Backstroke. Skills will take place in the lap pool. Skills will include:

• Front Crawl 25 meters with consistently correct form
• Putting on a lifejacket in the water
• Back Crawl 25 meters with consistently correct form
• Elementary Backstroke 25 meters with consistently correct form

Level 5 – Stroke School (Ages 6 & up)

This class will focus on Butterfly and Breaststroke, and Sidestroke. There will be minor refinement of the Front Crawl, Back Crawl, and Elementary Backstroke – these strokes should be accomplished with consistent and correct technique. Skills will occur in the lap pool. Skills include:

• Butterfly 25 meters with consistently correct form
• Breaststroke 25 meters with consistently correct form
• Front Crawl 25 meters with consistently correct form
• Back Crawl 25 meters with consistently correct form
• Elementary Backstroke 25 meters with consistently correct form
• Sidestroke 25 meters with consistently correct form
• Survival float 2 minutes

Level 6 – Endurance (Ages 6 & up)

This class will focus on building endurance and use of various swim equipment like a pace clock, hand paddles, pull buoys, etc. Students must have successfully completed level 5 or been tested out as there will be limited stroke development in this level, but rather a focus on the endurance aspect of swimming. Class will be taught in the lap pool. Skills will include:

• Survival Float 5 minutes
• Tread water 5 minutes
• Open turns
• Flip turns
• Front Crawl 50 meters
• Back Crawl 50 meters
• Elementary Backstroke 50 meters
• Breaststroke 50 meters
• Sidestroke 50 meters
• Butterfly 25 meters
• Swim a continuous 300 meters using 4 strokes

Stroke Focus (Level 3 & higher)

This class will focus on a different stroke each week offering great refinement in a more consolidated format. There will be no safety topics or self-rescue techniques taught. This class is for any student level 3 and higher. You can be enrolled in group lessons concurrently and take this class or as a refresher for anyone who has successfully completed level 3 or higher. Class will be primarily taught in the lap pool. Skills will include:

• Front Crawl
• Back Crawl
• Breaststroke
• Butterfly
• Elementary Backstroke
• Breaststroke

These last three strokes will be rotated through during the session. The first three strokes will be the primary focus.

Lifeguard Training Class (Ages 15 & up)

Purpose: To train 15 year olds and up on the skills needed to become a certified lifeguard.

Prerequisites include:

• Students need to be 16 or have prior permission if 15 to enroll in the class.
• Student must demonstrate ability to swim 50 yards/meters non-stop.
• Swim 50 yards/meters with rescue tube non-stop.
• Retrieve a 10 lb brick off the bottom of the pool.

Final skill evaluations will include CPR and First Aid training, all water skills needed to lifeguard, and a written exam.

• Class on Sunday, April 21 will occur at the Recreation Center for deep water certification.

Contact Whitney Benedetti at (507) 287-9314 for more information.

Members are able to arrange private or semi-private lessons. Private lessons for children or adults can be arranged with an instructor. Lessons are based on instructor availability and are not guaranteed. For more information contact Whitney Benedetti at (507) 287-9314.

1/2 Hour Private: $40
1 Hour Private: $80
Semi-Private: $50/half hour

Cancellation Policy: Cancellations must be made with the instructor 24 hours prior to the lesson. Last minute cancellations and no-shows will be charged ½ the price of the lesson.

Featured Coach

Steve Varney Swimming Private Lessons 

Coach Steve Varney has been teaching, training and motivating swimmers of all ages and abilities for over 25 years. He is one of the premier age group coaches in the Upper Midwest. Private lessons are available for swimmers age 6 and up. Email Coach Steve Varney for reservations.