Stage 2
Swim England Learn to Swim Stage 2 sees swimmers develop streamlining to their strokes and travel without their feet on the floor, using a recognised leg kick.
Swimmers are also introduced to aquatic breathing and taught to make safe entries into the water, including jumping.
They will develop basic floating and learn how to rotate to regain an upright position without support. All travel must be achieved without the use of flotation equipment, though buoyancy aids may be used when swimmers aren't travelling.
By completing the Learn to Swim Stage 2 Award, swimmers will be able to:
- Jump in from the poolside safely.
- Blow bubbles a minimum of three times rhythmically, with nose and mouth submerged.
- Move from a flat floating position on the back and return to standing without support.
- Move from a flat floating position on the front and return to standing without support.
- Push from a wall and glide on the back - arms can be by the side or above the head.
- Push from a wall and glide on the front with arms extended.
- Travel using a recognised leg action with feet off the pool floor on the back for 5 metres, without the use of floatation equipment.
- Travel using a recognised leg action with feet off the pool floor on the front for 5 metres, without the use of floatation equipment.
- Perform a tuck to rotate from a flat floating position on the front to a back floating position, then return to standing.
- Perform a tuck to rotate from a flat floating position on the back to a front floating position, then return to standing.
- Perform a log roll from the back to the front.
- Perform a log roll from the front to the back.
- Exit the water without support.
Stage 2 further develops water confidence and teaches swimmers to breathe confidently while in the water.
Being confident with the face in the water, or having water on the face, is crucial to stroke development. Learning to be happy in the water at an early stage will allow swimmers to develop other skills more quickly later on.
This stage also introduces various safety skills, such as being able to float, while also developing a swimmer’s kicking ability, leading to independent travel in water.