Teaching the science of swimming since 2003!


Advanced Stroke

Why should my child do stroke classes?

Most students at this level are recreational swimmers or beginner competitive swimmers who desire to improve their skills and swim for fun, social interaction, exercise, and/or competitive success.  They may be interested in participating on a swim team for the first time or may have a year or two of competitive experience on an amateur team.  Fun activities are still incorporated, although this is a more technique-focused class designed for children with the attention span and interest level appropriate for learning advanced swimming technique.  Many families use these classes as a substitute for swim team participation if they do not have the schedule flexibility or desire to participate in multiple swim team practices per week.

Can my child start your program in this class?
We will accept a new student only if they can demonstrate that they can swim 15 meters of freestyle and backstroke on the first day of class.

What age is this appropriate for?
4 years and up.  Generally children participating in this level are between age five and age eight.

Why do you recommend semi-private lessons?  Can we do private lessons?
This is a technically-focused class, and as such students can greatly benefit from watching someone of similar age and ability attempt the skills.  We also incorporate partner work where students help each other practice and/or critique the skills being learned.  Sharing a lesson with a friend also allows for social interaction which is especially important for our students who swim primarily for fun and fitness.  We will accept private students in this level but highly encourage semi-private. 

What are the skills-specific goals of this level?
-- Continue to reinforce the goals of beginning stroke classes 
-- Perfect execution, timing, and coordination of freestyle and backstroke arm movement, as well as freestyle breathing
-- Introduce technically proper advanced details of long axis strokes if developmentally appropriate
-- Diving, flip turns, and racing skills
-- Short axis stroke development (breaststroke and butterfly)
Students who are finished with this level will generally be able to swim 15-25 meters of all four competitive strokes and be well-prepared for the Penguins Swim Team, or any local amateur swim team. 

Advanced StrokeFACTS:

For students who are ready to learn formal competitive strokes

Semi-private class typically paired with another student of similar age and ability

Thirty minute class, once per week

Teaches all four competitive strokes

Advanced Stroke

This class is for children who are strong swimmers and ready to learn formal competitive strokes.  The purpose of this class is to learn competitive freestyle and backstroke, as well as breaststroke and butterfly once the long axis strokes are mastered.  Students will learn advanced technical details of long axis strokes including pull and follow through stroke phases, starts and turns, and advanced body positions.  Short axis strokes are taught after mastery of both backstroke and freestyle.