Determine Your Level

Use the information below to understand our lesson levels and where your child may fit within the program.  These guidelines are intended to help families understand the skills associated with each level and advancement.  Final placement will be determined by the SwimNOVA Lessons Office based on your child’s current skills and readiness.


Level 1

Your child is ready for Level 1 when they are at least 3 years old and fully potty trained.

In this introductory level, swimmers become comfortable in the water while learning foundational skills such as blowing bubbles, kicking, and floating. The focus is on building confidence and developing positive experiences in the water.

Skills required for advancement to Level 2

  • Gets face / eyes wet unassisted
  • Blows bubbles and does not hold nose
  • Submerges head completely and willingly underwater and blows bubbles without an instructor
  • Willingly and comfortably floats on back with ears in
  • Pushes on stomach from wall to instructor and instructor to wall
  • Willingly kicks on kickboard with instructor’s help
  • Willingly kicks on back, arms at sides, with instructor’s help
  • Jumps from the side/gutter of pool to instructor

Level 2

Your child is ready for Level 2 when they willingly submerge, blow bubbles, and float on their back (ears in) with comfort, and demonstrate basic forward movement with assistance.

In this level, swimmers develop independent floating, proper body position, controlled submersion, and propulsive kicking with proper technique. Swimmers continue to build confidence and independence in the water.

Skills required for advancement to Level 3

  • Repetitive bubble blowing 5 consecutive times with head entirely submerged
  • 25 yards of proper freestyle kicking on a kickboard unassisted
  • 25 yards of proper backstroke kick (arms at sides) unassisted
  • Streamlines to and from the wall using proper kick, unassisted, with face in and bubbles
  • Retrieves object 3 feet underwater with bubbles
  • Jumps from side, surfaces, and kicks on back to instructor the width of 2 lanes

Level 3

Your child is ready for Level 3 when they can float independently on both their front and back, kick with good body position, and travel independently through the water for a length of the pool.

In this level, swimmers learn the fundamentals of freestyle and backstroke, including proper arm movements, rhythmic breathing, and coordinated kicking. Swimmers also continue to build endurance and independence in the water.

Skills required for advancement to Level 4

  • 25 yards of unassisted rifle drill backstroke
  • 25 yards of each: kicking on left and right side with an extended arm in freestyle breathing position, unassisted
  • 25 yards L and R side extended arm kicking with rotational breathing
  • Retrieves object from bottom of pool
  • Proper breathing: inhaling through mouth, exhaling through nose
  • Jumps from starting block unassisted and kick on back to the instructor
  • Jumps from starting block unassisted and streamlines to instructor then back to the wall

Level 4

Your child is ready for Level 4 when they can swim freestyle and backstroke drill independently with proper body position and rotational breathing for a length of the pool.

In this level, swimmers refine freestyle and backstroke while learning the fundamentals of butterfly. They will also begin learning introductory diving skills and continue improving technique, coordination, and endurance.

Skills required for advancement to Level 5

  • Single arm catch up freestyle with rotary breathing
  • 2 arm catch up freestyle with rotary breathing
  • 3 count catch up freestyle with bi-rotary breathing
  • Flips in water
  • Dives from side
  • 25 yards butterfly tipping (no flutter/scissor kicking)
  • 25 yards streamline kicking on back
  • Continued proficiency in rifle drill backstroke

Level 5

Your child is ready for Level 5 when they can demonstrate proper freestyle and backstroke drill progressions, perform a basic dive, complete a flip in the water, and tip butterfly with correct body movement and timing.

In this level, swimmers transition from drill-based instruction to full stroke swimming while refining technique, efficiency, and endurance. Swimmers are introduced to legal breaststroke, flip turns, and competitive starts as they prepare for future swimming opportunities.

Skills required to pass Level 5

  • Transition to backstroke swim from rifle drill
  • Transition to freestyle swim from catch up
  • Execute proper stroke count for backstroke using flags
  • Flip turns (freestyle)
  • 25 yards legal breaststroke kick on a kickboard
  • 25 yards 1 pull – 2 kick breaststroke drill
  • 25 yards legal breaststroke swim with glide
  • 25 yards 2 tip butterfly with arms
  • Streamline diving from the block
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