Starfish Swim School

Ages: 6-Adult

Students work toward the development of the five core swimming competencies and receive color stage awards for each achievement. The color stages are used to divide students into broad ability groups. Students progress at individual rates with the opportunity to learn the core swimming skills and progress to advanced strokes. Learning is self-paced but challenging.

For Youth. Students work toward the development of functional swimming focused on the ability to self-rescue using appropriate learning activities. Learning is self-paced but challenging.
For Teens and Adults. This course is designed to improve comfort and skill in the water, regardless of past swimming experience. Students work toward the development of functional swimming focused on the ability to self-rescue using principles of adult learning.

Starfish Swim School® Benchmarks

A benchmark is a specific skill that, when performed, demonstrates that the student has achieved a goal for that level. The competency and benchmark approach is similar to achieving belts in martial arts. The Swim School program levels each have a safety and swim benchmark. Levels are represented by a color.

White: Readiness, Trust, and Submersion

Benchmark/Skill	Description	Success Goal
Safety Benchmark	Always ask permission before getting in the water.*	Consistent
Skill Step	Safely enter and exit the water.	Voluntary Assisted or unassisted using site-specific means available
Skill Step	Pour water over the head and face.	Student initiates With or without goggles Water flows down the front of the face
Skill Step	Tuck and stand from the front.	From supported position on front Bring knees to chest, life head so the hips drop Extend legs Place feet on bottom into a balanced stand
Skill Step	Breath-hold and look underwater.	Voluntary face submersion Maintain breath control at least 3 seconds With or without goggles
Swim Benchmark	Relaxed submersion.	Water covers body and face Head in any position Hold at least 3 seconds (preschoolers) or 5 seconds (youth/adult)

*Why is it important to ask permission to get in the water? Our goal is to save lives. During swim lessons, we teach students to always ask permission before getting in the water regardless if it is a swimming pool, lake, pond, river, ocean, or even the bathtub. Too many drownings occur because an adult had no idea a child was in the water, despite being nearby. By teaching your students (of all ages) to always ask permission before getting in the water to start the lesson, you are reinforcing the concept that asking permission is important - for everyone, everywhere!

Red: Body Position and Air Exchange

Benchmark/Skill	Description	Success Goal
Safety Benchmark	Put on a lifejacket, jump in, kick 3 meters/10 feet on the back.	Minimum chest-deep water Correct size, buckles/zippers secured Voluntary jump in, roll onto the back Any combination of arm/leg actions
Skill Step	Starfish float on the front and back.	Arms and legs extended like a starfish Head is in line with the body Float unassisted for at least 3 seconds
Skill Step	Bobbing 5 times.	Standing on the bottom in chest-deep water Relaxed and slow Visible exhale under the water With or without holding flotation
Skill Step	Tuck and stand from the back.	From supported on the back Bring knees to chest. Life head sp hips drop Extend legs Place feet on bottom into balanced stand
Skill Step	Kicking on the front and back 3 meters/10 feet.	Head in line with body Any leg action to move 3 meters/10 feet With or without flotation
Swim Benchmark	Jump/roll in, onto the back to breathe for 3-5 seconds.	Minimum chest-deep water Any arm and leg action Head in line with the body Mouth and nose out of the water to breathe

Yellow: Forward Movement and Direction Change

Benchmark/Skill	Description	Success Goal
Safety Benchmark	Tread water (surface support) 10 seconds.	Continuous arm and leg action Arm action is under the water Mouth and nose stay out of the water Meet time goal
Skill Step	Beginner stroke on the front (face in).	Prone on the surface Face in water Any arm and leg action under the water Leg action near the surface Move forward without flotation
Skill Step	Beginner stroke on the back.	Supine on the surface Head in line with the body Any arm and leg action under teh water Move forward without flotation
Skill Step	Roll to the back from front beginner stroke.	From beginner stroke with face in Roll to the back without assistance Able to breathe on the back Without flotation
Skill Step	Beginner stroke with direction change.	From beginner stroke on the front, face in Move forward, then any arm/leg action to turn around and return to the starting point Without flotation
Swim Benchmark	Swim-roll-swim 10 meters/30 feet.	From beginner stroke on the front, face in Roll to the back and breathe Roll to the front and swim Repeat for 10 meters/30 feet with or without fins

Blue: Streamlines and Rotary Movement

Benchmark/Skill	Description	Success Goal
Safety Benchmark	Reach and throw assist with flotation.	Know to “See, Yell, Tell” Choose appropriate flotation object Practice in a scenario Know local EMS number and when to call
Skill Step	Front and back streamline with kick.	Arms straight, against the ears Fingers together, one hand on top of the other Head in line, straight, tight body Legs straight, together, toes pointed unless kicking
Skill Step	Swim underwater 1 meter/3 feet.	Body submerged at least 0.5 meters/20 inches Any combination of arm/leg action
Skill Step	Side breathing position with kick.	Arm extended at the water’s surface Head in line with body. Ear resting on arm Mouth is out of the water Legs parallel to the water surface Flutter kick
Skill Step	Side-roll-side with kick.	Start in side breathing position Roll to the front for about 3 seconds, exhale Roll to the side for about 3 seconds, inhale Continuous kick, with or without flotation
Swim Benchmark	Side-roll-side with kick 5 meters/15 feet.	Start in side breathing position Roll to the front for about 3 seconds, exhale Roll to the side for about 3 seconds, inhale Continuous kick, without flotation

Green: Water Competency

Benchmark/Skill	Description	Success Goal
Safety Benchmark	Disorienting entries and recover.	Into water over the head Surface without taking in any water Maintain surface support to take a breath Find and return to starting point
Skill Step	3 strokes - STOP drill.	Start in side breathing position Perform 3 freestyle strokes Arms recover over the water (straight or bent) Tuck and stand or roll to teh back and STOP
Skill Step	3 strokes - ROLL drill.	Start in side breathing position 3 arm strokes, last stroke keep arm extended, exhale ROLL into side breathing position Breathe for about 5 seconds, then STOP
Skill Step	3x3x3 drill.	Start in side breathing position 3 arm strokes, last stroke keep arm extended, exhale ROLL into side breathing position When ready roll to 3 arm strokes Repeat to complete 3 sets
Skill Step	Tread water 40 seconds.	Slow, relaxed arm and leg action Arm action is under the water Mouth and nose stay out of the water Meet time goal
Swim Benchmark	Starfish SaferSwimmer Award™	Ask permission, complete without stopping: Jump or roll into water over the head Resurface and tread for 1 minute 50 meters/yards any arm/leg action, front or back

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The Starfish Swimming® skills included are proprietary information of SAI and cannot be copied or reproduced.