Classes

Sharks follow the Learn to Swim plan for Teaching Swimming, below are details of each class together with the standard a swimmer has to reach in order to move on to the next class and a timetable of classes.

Learn to Swim Stage 1 – Minnow

This class does widths in the learner pool between 18:00 and 18:30 on a Friday.

By completing this Award, with or without flotation equipment or support, you will be able to:

Minnow 1 Enter the water safely.
2 Move forward for a distance of 5 metres, feet may be on or off the floor.
3 Move backwards for a distance of 5 metres, feet may be on or off the floor.
4 Move sideways for a distance of 5 metres, feet may be on or off the floor.
5 Scoop the water and wash the face.
6 Be comfortable with water showered from overhead.
7 Move from a flat floating position on the back and return to standing.
8 Move from a flat floating position on the front and return to standing.
9 Push and glide in a flat position on the front from a wall.
10 Push and glide in a flat position on the back from a wall.
11 Give examples of two pool rules.
12 Exit the water safely.

Stage 2 – Catfish

This class does widths in the learner pool between 17:30 and 18:00 on a Friday.

By completing this Award, with or without floatation equipment or support, you will be able to:

Catfish 1 Jump in from poolside safely to a minimum depth of 1.0 metre.
2 Blow bubbles a minimum of three times rhythmically, with nose and mouth submerged.
3 Move from a flat floating position on the back and return to standing without support.
4 Move from a flat floating position on the front and return to standing without support.
5 Push from a wall and glide on the back – arms can be by the side or above the head.
6 Push from a wall and glide on the front with arms extended.
7 Travel using a recognised leg action with feet off the pool floor on the back for 5 metres.
8 Travel using a recognised leg action with feet off the pool floor on the front for 5 metres.
9 Perform a tuck to rotate from a flat floating position on the front, to a back floating position,
then return to standing.
10 Perform a tuck to rotate from a flat floating position on the back, to a front floating position,
then return to standing.
11 Perform a log roll from the back to the front.
12 Perform a log roll from the front to the back.
13 Exit the water without support.

Stage 3 – Elfin

This class does lengths in the learner pool between 18:30 and 19:00 on a Friday.

By completing this Award, without floatation equipment or support, you will be able to:

Elfin 1 Jump in from poolside and submerge to a minimum depth of 1.0 metre.
2 Sink, push away from wall and maintain a streamlined position.
3 Push and glide on the front with arms extended and log roll onto the back.
4 Push and glide on the back with arms extended and log roll onto the front.
5 Travel 5 metres on the front, perform a tuck to rotate onto the back and return on the back
6 Fully submerge to pick up an object.
7 Answer correctly three questions on the Water Safety Code.
8 Push and glide and travel 10 metres on the back.
9 Push and glide and travel 10 metres on the front.
10 Perform a tuck float and hold for three seconds.
11 Exit the water without using steps.

Stage 4 – Hammerhead

This class does lengths between 18:30 and 19:30 on a Friday.

By completing this Award, without floatation equipment or support, you will be able to:

Hammerhead
  1. Demonstrate an understanding of buoyancy (Use of different equipment can be used to explain sinking and floating (this can be a wet or dry activity) ).
  2. Perform a tuck float for 5 seconds (Mushroom float).
  3. Perform a sequence of changing shapes (minimum of 3) whilst floating at the surface.
  4. Push and glide from the wall to the pool floor (Consider Safety requirements regarding depth).
  5. Kick 10 metres Backstroke (one item of equipment can be used to assist buoyancy).
  6. Kick 10 metres Front crawl (one item of equipment can be used to assist buoyancy).
  7. Kick 10 metres Butterfly on the front or on the back (one item of equipment can be used to assist buoyancy).
  8. Kick 10 metres Breaststroke on the back (equipment can be used to assist buoyancy).
  9. Kick 10 metres Breaststroke on the front (equipment can be used to assist buoyancy).
  10. Perform on the back a head first sculling action for 5 metres in a horizontal position.
  11. Travel on back and roll in one continuous movement onto front.
  12. Travel on front and roll in one continuous movement onto back.
  13. Swim 10 metres, choice of stroke is optional.

Stage 5 – Marlin

This class does lengths between 18:30 and 19:30 on a Friday and may also train on a Sunday 16:30 to 18:00.

By completing this Award, you will be able to

Marlin 1 Perform a flat stationary scull on the back.
2 Perform a feet first sculling action for 5 metres in a flat position on the back.
3 Perform a sculling sequence with a partner for 30-45 seconds to include a rotation.
4 Tread water for 30 seconds.
5 Perform three different shaped jumps into deep water.
6 Push and glide and swim 10 metres backstroke
(performed to Swim England expected standards).
7 Push and glide and swim 10 metres front crawl
(performed to Swim England expected standards).
8 Push and glide and swim 10 metres breaststroke
(performed to Swim England expected standards).
9 Push and glide and swim 10 metres butterfly
(performed to Swim England expected standards).
10 Perform a handstand and hold for a minimum of three seconds.
11 Perform a forward somersault.
12 Demonstrate an action for getting help.

Stage 6 – Great White (currently combined with Marlin)

This class does lengths between 18:30 and 19:30 on a Friday and may also train on a Tuesday 18:00 to 19:30

By completing this Award, you will be able to:

Great White 1 Give two examples of how to prepare for exercise and understand why it is important.
2 Sink, push off on side from the wall, glide, kick and rotate into backstroke.
3 Sink, push off on side from the wall, glide, kick and rotate into front crawl.
4 Swim 10 metres wearing clothes.
5 Push and glide and swim front crawl to include at least six rhythmical breaths.
6 Push and glide and swim breaststroke to include at least six rhythmical breaths.
7 Push and glide and swim butterfly to include at least three rhythmical breaths.
8 Push and glide and swim backstroke to include at least six regular breaths.
9 Push and glide and swim 25 metres, choice of stroke is optional (performed to Swim England expected standards).
10 Perform a ‘shout and signal’ rescue.
11 Perform a surface dive.

Transition Squad

The transition squad train three days a week, see times below.

In order to move into junior squad the swimmer must be component in all four strokes and be able to swim 8 x 100 metres in 2 minute 15 seconds which means the swimmer must be able to swim 100 metres within the time of 2 minute 15 seconds and be able to achieve this on 8 repeats in a continuous set. Testing is done during squad training.

Junior Squad

The junior squad train five days a week, see times below.

In order for a swimmer to move up into the Senior Squad the swimmer must achieve the 200 metres freestyle time and one other time, as shown below:

Gender Stroke Time In Minutes
Boys 200m Freestyle 2.55
Girls 200m Freestyle 3.00
Boys 200m Backstroke 3.15
Girls 200m Backstroke 3.20
Boys 200m Breaststroke 3.40
Girls 200m Breaststroke 3.45
Boys 200m Butterfly 3.25
Girls 200m Butterfly 3.30

The swimmer must also be able to swim 15 x 100 metres in 1 minute 50 seconds which means the swimmer must be able to swim 100 metres within the time of 1 minute 50 seconds and be able to achieve this on 15 repeats in a continuous set.
Testing is done during squad training and the times can be achieved in competition or in time trials.

Senior Squad

The senior squad train five days a week, see times below.

Masters Squad

The club have a small masters club for over-18s who wish to continue swimming and help with the club, the masters squad train twice a week, see times below.

Timetable

Mondays – Squads 6.00 – 7.30 pm Junior / Senior / Masters Main Pool
Tuesdays – Squads 6.00 – 7.30 pm Great White / Transition / Junior / Senior Main Pool
Wednesdays – Squads 6.00 – 7.30 pm Junior / Senior / Masters Main Pool
Fridays – Minnow 6.00 – 6.30 pm Stage 1 Non-Swimmers Learner Pool
Fridays – Catfish 6.00 – 6.30 pm Stage 2 Beginners Learner Pool
Fridays – Elfin 6.30 – 7.00 pm Stage 3 Swimmers Learner Pool
Fridays – Hammerhead 6.30 – 7.30 pm Stage 4 Swimmers Main Pool
Fridays – Marlin 6.30 – 7.30 pm Stage 5 Swimmers Main Pool
Fridays – Great White 6.30 – 7.30 pm Stage 6 Swimmers Main Pool
Fridays – Squads 7.30 – 8.45 pm Transition / Junior / Senior / Masters Main Pool
Sunday – Squads 4.30 – 6.00 pm Marlin / Transition / Junior / Senior Main Pool