Diaper Dolphins/Auqua Tots Mom & Me Classes The Diaper Dolphins, 12-24 months and Aqua Tots level if for children ages 24 months up to 36 months of age.This is a great time for parent (or grandparent) and the young child to learn fun and safe ways to acclimate to an aquatic setting in a warm water pool. Parents are taught "safe holds" and fun play activities that start the young child in the right direction for enrollment in the Starfish Swimming Academy learn to swim levels. At Starfish Swimming Academy, we do not believe in forced submersion. Students are required to wear a quality swim diaper and plastic pants under their swim suit for everyone's protection.
Student/Parent to Teacher Ratio 6:1
Tiny Guppy (Pre-Level 2.5-3 yrs) / Guppy (Pre-Level 4-5 yr olds) The Guppy Level is for those students ages 2.5-5 yr that are ready to move towards more independence and learn without a parent on site. Student teacher ratio is still kept very small to assure success, fun and safety. Basic skills to acclimate to an aquatic setting are taught as well as the first steps of relaxing in the water and learning locomotion in the water. Students must be completely potty trained for a minimum of three months for this level. Those not potty trained completely need to enroll in the Aqua Tots with their Mom.
Those students that are 4-5 years of age enrolling in the Guppy Pre-Level need to know that we have two different groups to this level. One is for those that are new to our programor have taken only one summer with us. The other level is for those that started at age 2.5 yrs or 3 yrs and have taken at least two summers with us. If you are unsureabout what class group you need to be in, please call our office at 580-256-3262 for assistance prior to enrolling in a class.
Student/Teacher Ratio 6:1 and 8:1 depending on class group and level
Learn To Swim Levels
Level I Sea Monkeys (Ages 5 yr and up) Sea Monkeys is the first level of our Learn To Swim Program. There are many skills to accomplish and it may take a couple of sessions to pass this level. Although an entry level for all student swimmers, those students who have came through our pre-level programs will most likely advance faster. Skills learned at this level are to help the student to start developing a sense of accomplishment in the water by learning about breath control, relaxation and floating, safe water entries and more.
There is no prerequisite for this level beyond age Student/Teacher Ratio 8:1
Level II Seahorse The Seahorse Level continues to build on skills and develop more locomotion and control in the water.More safety skills are added to start learning to make smart choice in and around water. Students will continue to work on bobbing and floating skills in the prone (tummy) and supine (back) positions to achieve a more relaxed body position as well as add locomotion by gliding, kicking and fining assisted and non-assisted. Entry into this level requires passing the Sea Monkey level by participation in a session or by booking a screening date with one of our teachers.
Prerequisite for enrollment into this class level: Pass the Sea monkey Level or Works with the teacher with very little fear Submerges head willingly Performs a prone float and glide with assistance (teacher, noodle, kick board) Performs back float with assistance(teacher,noodle,kick board) Water entry to back float position Jellyfish float
Student/Teacher Ratio 8:1 Level III Jellyfish The Jellyfish level teaches the student to become more mobile in the water while continuing to build physical confidence in the swimmer. More time is spent exploring different ways of spotting "safe" and "unsafe" water situations.Front crawl and back crawl elements are introduced.
Prerequisites for registration in this level: Back float with little assistance Back Glide from side of pool to teacher Prone glide from side of pool to teacher Prone glide with kick board with face in water and little assistance from teacher Jump entry to teacher and recover to floating position with little assistance Fining on back with little assistance
Student/Teacher Ratio 8:1
Level IV Bluefish Bluefish level continues with the locomotionskills needed for good stroke patterns movement through the water. Underwater swimming safety is added to this level as well as stroke completion. Students will work on their front crawl, back crawl and elementary backstroke as well as learning to relax and float for longer periods of time and recovering objects from underwater.
Prerequisites for this level: Pass the Jellyfish level Flutter kick with kick board no assistance Prone glide with exhale with no assistance Front crawl with exhale Bobbing fully submerged
Student/Teacher Ratio 8:1
Level V Swordfish Swordfish level works to improve breath control as well as leveling off and changing directions. More work is also spent on survival in and around the water skills. Front crawl, back crawl and elementary backstroke skills are improved upon and breast stroke is introduced.
Prerequisites for this level: Pass Bluefish level Knowledge of Front Crawl, Back Crawl and Elementary Backstroke
Student/Teacher Ratio 8:1
Level VI Stingray Stingray level brings the student to a higher level of accomplishment in our learn to swim levels. Turns, dives, treading water, dolphin kick and scissor kick are introduced. Personal safety skills are also expanded upon.
Prerequisites for this level: Pass the Swordfish Level Front Crawl combined with rotary breathing Back Crawl combined Elementry Backstroke combined Breast stroke arms and kick Treading water Retreiving items from underwater in depth of 4-5 feet
Student/Teacher Ratio 8:1
*Completion of our Learn To Swim Program prepares students for our Specialty Levels and for most lifeguarding programs.
Specialty Levels
Dolphin Stroke Schools Our stroke school is what takes the student a level above those who participate in Learn To Swim. The program focuses on the mechanics and timeing of each stroke from start to finish. Time is spent on cleaning up the strokes to make the best possible swimmerof our students. Stoke school is offered for the following groups: 101 Stroke School Front Crawl/Back Crawl/Elementary Backstroke Prerequisite: Pass or taken one session of Level IV Bluefish 102 Stroke School Breast Stroke/ Side Stroke/ Butterfly Prerequisite: Pass or taken one session of Level VI Stingray 103 Stoke School Inverted Breast Stroke/ Trudgeon/ Free Style Prerequisite: Passed up to level VI and taken no less than one session each of Stroke School 101 and 102
Electric Eel Snorkeling School Learn good basics that make snorkeling a safer activity. Students will learn how to surface dive, select equipment, clear a snorkel and mask of water and many safety issues. Dry drowning will be covered as well as how to find a safe place to snorkel. This is a pool only class and is limited to ages 9 yrs and up.
Sparkel Starfish Synchronized Swimming Where ballet and swimming meet! This fun class is for those who have achied no lower than level V swimming levels and requires the ability to surface dive and great breath control. Fun swimming routines set to music and choreography.
Fearful Adult Class This class is for adults that never learned to swim or are uncomfortable in the water due to fear. It is a specialty class and you will not find it on our schedule until we have enough interest for the class. If you have an interest, please call our office at 580-256-3262 to be placed on the waiting list. We will be in touch with you for more details and when the class session will start.
