STAGES OUTCOME

OUR LEARN TO SWIM STAGES

At Harrow Swimming Club, we provide children, young people, and adults with the opportunity to learn, improve, and master swimming skills in a safe and supportive environment.

Please note: Enrolling in a term once does not guarantee stage completion. Most swimmers will repeat stages to gain confidence and fully develop the required skills. Every child progresses at their own pace—there is no fixed timeframe. Patience, practice, and repetition are key to building both confidence and competence.

We also encourage parents to actively support their child’s learning by practising skills outside of lessons whenever possible. From our experience, children whose parents reinforce their swimming outside the pool sessions tend to progress more quickly and with greater confidence.

Stage 1 – Water Confidence & Body Control

🕒 30-minute class

Purpose
Build confident, relaxed swimmers with independent movement and breathing.

Outcomes (must demonstrate ALL):

• Enter and exit the water independently

• Fully submerge face and head without hesitation

• Front float and back float (5 seconds each), unaided

• Push & glide on front (minimum 3m, correct body line)

• Push & glide on back (minimum 3m)

• Continuous bubbling with face in the water

• Understand 2 basic pool safety rules

Coach focus

• Emotional confidence and calm behaviour

• Horizontal body position (hips up, relaxed head)

• Independence from wall, floor, or adult support

• Gentle, unforced breathing control

• Positive reinforcement and consistency

Progression signal
Child is calm, independent, and coachable.

Stage 2 – Streamline & Propulsion Basics

🕒 30-minute class

Purpose
Introduce effective movement patterns and leg propulsion.

Outcomes:

• Push & glide on front and back to 5m

• Maintain streamlined body position (ears between arms)

• Front kick with face in water (5m)

• Back kick with correct body alignment (5m)

• Jump in safely and return to wall independently

• Rotate from front to back without touching the floor

• Demonstrate controlled breathing (no panic lifts)

Coach focus

• Streamline discipline (arms locked, head neutral)

• Straight legs and narrow kick from the hips

• Preventing bicycle or excessive knee bend

• Confidence travelling away from the wall

• Breath control without urgency or panic

Progression signal
Swimmer can travel independently with purpose.

Stage 3 – Stroke Introduction & Rotation

🕒 30-minute class

Purpose
Introduce arm actions and rotational skills.

Outcomes:

• Front crawl arms with side breathing (minimum 5m)

• Backstroke arms with continuous kick (5m)

• Log roll front ↔ back without stopping

• Push–glide–swim sequence (no standing)

• Retrieve object from pool floor (chest deep)

• Kick on side (both sides) with correct alignment

• Breaststroke leg action (10m using float or arms)

Coach focus

• Body rotation rather than flat swimming

• Timing arms with body roll

• Early breathing control to the side

• Separation of kick vs arm learning

• Introducing breaststroke kick shape (heels up, sweep, close)

Progression signal
Early stroke coordination emerging.

Stage 4 – Stroke Development

🕒 30-minute class

Purpose
Establish recognisable strokes with control and consistency.

Outcomes:

• Front crawl: 10m with bilateral breathing (or attempted)

• Backstroke: 10m with straight arms and body rotation

• Breaststroke: 10m with correct leg action and glide phase

• Butterfly leg kick (dolphin): 10m with board

• Streamlined push-off and glide to surface

• Maintain stroke without stopping or touching the floor

• Demonstrate simple sculling movement

Coach focus

• Clear stroke shapes over distance

• Breaststroke timing: kick → glide → recover

• Encouraging patience in the glide phase

• Consistent head position across strokes

• Reinforcing rules without over-correcting

Progression signal
Swimmer shows discipline, control, and learning capacity.

Stage 5 – Stroke Competency

🕒 30-minute class

Purpose
Build technically acceptable strokes across all four disciplines.

Outcomes:

• Front crawl: 15m continuous with rhythmic breathing

• Backstroke: 15m continuous with legal arm action

• Breaststroke: 10m with correct kick timing

• Butterfly: 10m body-driven dolphin kick

• Tread water for 30 seconds

• Streamlined push-off with rotation into stroke

• Forward somersault in water

Coach focus

• Stroke legality foundations

• Rhythm and continuity (no stop–start swimming)

• Reducing excess movements and splash

• Introduction to stroke counting awareness

• Reinforcing confidence in deeper water

Progression signal
Ready for endurance and structured training.

Stage 6 – Endurance & Discipline

🕒 30-minute class

Purpose
Prepare swimmers for squad training demands.

Outcomes:

• Front crawl: 25m continuous with breathing control

• Backstroke: 25m continuous

• Breaststroke: 25m continuous (timing priority)

• Butterfly: 15m continuous

• Individual Medley: 4 × 10m

• Tread water 45 seconds (hands out for final 10s)

• Submerged push-off + streamline to 5m

• Understand lane discipline and basic set structure

Coach focus

• Consistency under mild fatigue

• Listening and responding to instructions

• Lane awareness and spacing

• Repetition without loss of technique

• Encouraging responsibility and self-correction

Progression signal
Swimmer can train, not just swim.

Stage 7 – Pre-Competitive Readiness

🕒 30-minute class

Purpose
Direct feeder into Junior / Development Squad.

Outcomes:

• 50m Front Crawl (legal, continuous)

• 50m Backstroke

• 25m Breaststroke

• 25m Butterfly

• 100m Individual Medley

• Dive entry (sitting or standing, safe and controlled)

• Tumble turn attempt (front crawl or backstroke)

• Maintain technique under mild fatigue

• Follow a structured set independently

Coach focus

• Trainability over raw speed

• Technique retention when tired

• Turn and start confidence

• Focus, effort, and attitude

• Readiness for higher expectations

Progression signal
Squad-ready swimmer.

ADULT CLASSES

🕒 60-minute class

👥 Instructor-to-swimmer ratio: 1:7

Our adult classes are tailored to each learner’s pace and goals. Whether you’re just starting or refining technique, our expert instructors ensure every participant makes progress in a supportive environment.

Class Levels:

• Beginners 1 (Teaching Pool) – For adults with little or no swim experience
• Beginners 2 (Teaching Pool) – For those who can swim but lack confidence in deeper water
• Intermediate 1 (Main Pool) – For confident swimmers transitioning to advanced techniques
• Intermediate 2 (Main Pool) – For adults who can swim full lengths and want to improve technique