Swim Placement Guide

The Central York School District Community Aquatics Learn-to-Swim Program follows American Red Cross guidelines to help participants learn to swim skillfully and safely.

Not sure which swim lesson is right for your child? Use the guidelines below to help determine the appropriate level when registering for swim lessons.

Parent-Child Lessons

Ages 6 months–3 years

These classes are not designed to teach children to become independent swimmers. The goal is to orient children to the water and educate parents or guardians about safe water activities.

Parent-Child

Enroll in this level if:
No previous swimming ability is required. The child must be accompanied in the water by one adult.

Course Objective:
Comfort, water acclimation skills and water safety skills.

Preschool Lessons

Ages 3–5

Preschool Level 1

Enroll in this level if:
One adult is required to be in the water with the child. The child can follow directions in a small-group setting.

Course Objective:
Comfort and safety in the water, elementary swimming skills and adjustment to the water.

Preschool Level 2

Enroll in this level if:
The child can front float with their face in the water for three seconds and back float with support for three seconds.

Course Objective:
Independent swimming skills are taught and improved upon.

Preschool Level 3

Enroll in this level if:
The child can fully submerge their head and swim five yards on their back and front without support.

Course Objective:
Master the ability to jump into the water and swim 15 yards with their face in the water, and swim 15 yards on their back.

School-Age Swim Lessons

Ages 6 and older

Level 1

Enroll in this level if:
The child can leave their parent willingly, is comfortable in the water and can follow directions in a small-group setting.

Course Objective:
Beginner swimming skills are introduced; comfort and safety in the water; elementary swimming skills; respect for and adjustment to the water.

Level 2

Enroll in this level if:
The child can front float with their face in the water for three seconds and back float with support for three seconds.

Course Objective:
Learn rotary breathing, front and back floating without support, and comfort with alternating leg and arm motions.

Level 3

Enroll in this level if:
The child can swim five yards on their back and front without support, is able to use alternating leg and arm motions, and demonstrates rotary breathing.

Course Objective:
Refine strokes, dive from the side of the pool, tread water and develop deep-water safety skills.

Level 4

Enroll in this level if:
The child can swim freestyle and backstroke for one full length of the pool.

Course Objective:
Develop swimming endurance and learn a variety of strokes, kicks and feet-first surface dives.

Level 5

Enroll in this level if:
The child can swim multiple lengths of freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke with proper breathing technique and can swim sidestroke and butterfly.

Course Objective:
Coordinate and refine learned strokes; introduce and develop flip turns and pike and tuck surface dives.

Level 6

Enroll in this level if:
The child can swim multiple lengths of all strokes and can perform flip turns and surface dives.

Course Objective:
Increase swimming endurance and efficiency of all strokes, turns and diving techniques.