Swim Academy (Pre-competitive)

Swim Academy 1 is for beginner swimmers, working on basic skills including breath control, kicking, gliding (streamlining) and basic movement through the water. 

Children are ready for Swim Academy 1 when they can:

• Submerge comfortably (face in the water & blow bubbles)
• Float (unassisted) on their front, with face in the water, for 5 - 10 seconds
• Float (unassisted) on their back, for 5-10 seconds
• Are confident in the water with a coach, while parents observe from off of the pool deck
• Swimmers who have completed Swim For Life's Preschool 3 / Swimmer 1 are ready for Swim Academy 1

Not sure if your swimmer is ready? Please contact Coach Cara to arrange for a free skill assessment before registering. 

If your swimmer is not quite ready, we encourage you to contact the Town of High River to enroll in their Learn to Swim program. 

Swim Academy 2 is for developing swimmers, growing their skills in front & back crawl, introducing breaststroke, and building endurance. 

Children are ready for Swim Academy 2 when they can:

• Submerge and open eyes underwater
• Roll from front to back / back to front while floating, without assistance
• Glide & kick for 5 metres on front & back, without assistance
• Are confident in the water with a coach, while parents observe from off of the pool deck
• Swimmers who have completed Swim For Life's Preschool 4 or are working on Swimmer 2 skills (not completed) are ready for Swim Academy 2

Not sure if your swimmer is ready? Please contact Coach Cara to arrange for a free skill assessment before registering. 

Swim Academy 3 is for confident swimmers, working on developing skills in all 4 strokes, diving, and endurance. 

Children are ready for Swim Academy 3 when they can:

• Kick 15 metres on front (with a kickboard) / 10 metres on back with arms at sides or in streamline
• Swim 10 metres of front crawl, breathing to the side
• Swim 10 metres of back crawl, with over the water arm recovery and steady kick
• Swim 15 metres (any stroke) continuously
• Demonstrate a kneeling dive into deep water
• Swim 3 metres under water
• Swimmers who have completed Swim For Life's Preschool 5 / Swimmer 2 (working on Swimmer 3) are ready for Swim Academy 3

Not sure if your swimmer is ready? Please contact Coach Cara to arrange for a free skill assessment before registering. 

If your swimmer is not quite ready, we encourage you to contact the Town of High River to enroll in their Learn to Swim program.