Swim Level Explanation
Here at the Alpena Plaza Pool we use the American Red Cross swim level criteria to ensure the best training and tips on how to be safe in, on, and around the water!
Swimming

Nearly 2 million people learn to swim each year with American Red Cross programs.Lifeguarding
The American Red Cross trains more than 170,000 lifeguards each year. Lifeguard training and first aid certificates are valid for three years (CPR certificates for one year) from completion date. If more time has passed or you cannot obtain your training records from the local chapter, it is best to take another class to get recertified.The new American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim classes provide instruction to help swimmers of all ages and abilities develop their swimming and water safety skills. It is designed to give students a positive learning experience.
Learn-to-Swim teaches aquatic and safety skills in a logical progression. The objective is to teach people to swim and to be safe in, on and around the water.Skills are categorized in the following way:
- Water Entry and Exit
- Breath Control and Underwater Swimming
- Buoyancy
- Changing Direction and Position
- Treading
- Swimming on Front, Back and Side
- General and Personal Water Safety
- Helping Others
The eight learn-to-swim levels and the objectives for each level include:
NOTE: Click the title link for more specific information about each description. The files which will open are large PDF files only appropriate for downloading if you have a high speed connection or a lot of time.Infant Aquatics
Introduction to Water Skills: skills are developmentally appropriate for infants and young children. Teaches adults how to correctly support child in the water to further develop swimming skills.NOTE: Parent is in the water with their infant.
Preschool
Introduction to Water Skills: skills are developmentally appropriate for young children. Teaches adults how to correctly support child in the water to further develop swimming skills.NOTE: For Level 1, children must be at least 5 years of age.
NOTE: Parent is in the water with their infant.
Level 1: Introduction to Water Skills
Helps students feel comfortable in the water and to enjoy the water safely. Children must be 5 years of age to enroll.Level 2: Fundamental Aquatic Skills
Gives students success with fundamental skills.Level 3: Stroke Development
Builds on the skills in Level 2 by providing additional guided practice.Level 4: Stroke Improvement
Develops confidence in the strokes learned and to improve other aquatic skills.Level 5: Stroke Refinement
provides further coordination and refinement of strokes.Level 6: Swimming and Skill Proficiency
Refines the strokes so students swim them with ease, efficiency, power and smoothness over greater distances.If registering for swim level classes 2-6 the participant must be able to complete all of the class content from the previous level
(please review the earlier class content prior to registration by clicking on the levels above). To register your child click [here].
