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PROGRESSION MILESTONES

At Swim Scoil, progression is based on the development and consistent demonstration of defined swimming and water-safety skills. Each level has clear learning criteria, and swimmers progress once these outcomes are reliably observed during lessons.

BEGINNERS 1

Foundational Aquatic Skills

Focus: Water orientation, basic safety awareness, and assisted skill development

  • Demonstrates independent orientation in the water without direct assistance

  • Willingly submerges face and blows bubbles

  • Performs assisted front and back floats with correct body position

  • Follows simple instructions and shows awareness of pool safety

​Progress when, during lessons, the swimmer consistently demonstrates the listed skills and follows instructions independently.

BEGINNERS 2

Independent Water Motion

Focus: Independent body control, balance, and movement awareness

  • Independently floats on front and back

  • Pushes off and glides with control

  • Demonstrates basic kick technique and arm movement

  • Demonstrates awareness of body position and maintains controlled movement through the water

​Progress when, during lessons, the swimmer consistently demonstrates controlled independent movement and swims short distances unaided.

INTERMEDIATE 1

Skill Refinement and Technique Introduction

Focus: Stroke technique, breathing coordination, and control

  • Coordinates arm and leg actions for front crawl and backstroke

  • Begins breaststroke kick and timing

  • Practices breathing techniques

  • Demonstrates awareness of pacing, rest, and exertion during swimming activities

​Progress when, during lessons, the swimmer consistently demonstrates coordinated strokes over short distances with appropriate breathing and control.

INTERMEDIATE 2

Enhanced Stroke Coordination & Endurance

Focus: Stroke refinement, endurance development, and technical consistency

  • Refines front crawl, backstroke, and breaststroke

  • Introduces butterfly kick and coordination

  • Builds endurance while maintaining technique

  • Maintains focus during lessons and applies technical feedback during practice

​Progress when, during lessons, the swimmer consistently demonstrates correct form across multiple strokes while swimming longer distances.

ADVANCED 1

Four-Stroke Development and Butterfly Progression

Focus: Stroke precision, efficiency, and technical self-correction

  • Refines stroke techniques in front crawl, backstroke, and breaststroke

  • Demonstrates coordinated arms, legs, and breathing in butterfly

  • Practices tumble turns and push-offs

  • Applies technical self-correction during swimming practice

​Progress when, during lessons, the swimmer consistently demonstrates efficient, rhythmical movement across strokes and applies technique adjustments independently.

ADVANCED 2

Comprehensive Aquatic Proficiency

Focus: Endurance, technical precision, and independent performance

  • Demonstrates mastery of all four strokes with smooth transitions and controlled breathing

  • Swims continuous laps with sustained endurance and controlled technique

  • Applies technical knowledge of starts, turns, and underwater phases within pool operating guidelines

  • Demonstrates independence, control, and awareness in all aspects of swimming

​Graduates when, during lessons, the swimmer consistently demonstrates technically correct performance across all strokes and independently applies personal water-safety awareness.

Progression decisions are made by instructors based on observed performance over time and are not determined by age or time spent at a level.

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