Waterbabies
Waterbabies classes are 30 minute lessons that are for children who are 6 months to 3 years old and one parent, there are two levels for waterbabies. First level is for 6mths to 2 years followed by Advanced waterbabies for 2 years to 3 years old. The classes are conducted in the hydro pool or learners pool with a maximum of 8 per class.
The aim of Waterbaby classes is to have fun whilst gaining water familiarity, water confidence and independence. Your child will be introduced gently to the aquatic environment and will be encouraged to explore and move about whilst learning some basic water skills. In advanced waterbabies your child is encouraged to become more independent from you the parent in preparation for the next class level. Learning skills such as blowing bubbles, face in, kicking and floating as well as the introduction of equipment (boards, noodles and rings). In addition, the parent will be in the water with the child to learn how to help and assist.
Basis survival skills are taught if a baby/toddler falls into the pool. The child will also be taught the importance of the edge of the pool, how to hold onto the edge and also how to climb out unassisted.
Parents are asked to wear a t-shirt over their bathers, as this gives the child something to grasp in activities when they are encouraged to swim to parents. Also, children must wear "Little Swimmers", which are available at reception or any local supermarket/chemist, or non-disposable swim nappies.
Children automatically graduate to Advanced class when they turn 2 years old.
To graduate from Waterbabies your child must be able to:
• Place face in water
• Float on back with board
• Communicate satisfactory
• Blowing Bubbles
• Understand instructions
• Kicking
Tadpole lessons
Tadpole classes are 30 minute lessons that are for children at least 3 years old. They are conducted in the learners pool with a maximum of 4 students per class.
The aim of Tadpole lessons is to increase water confidence and familiarity while introducing your child to their first independent lesson.
New water skills are learnt through play, and safety rules are also introduced. Movement through the water is encouraged, with emphasis on your child enjoying themselves, whilst gaining new skills, confidence and a respect for safety.
Basis survival skills such as dog paddle, monkey crawl, introduction to floats, safe entry and climbing out of pool unassisted are also integrated in Tadpole classes.
To graduate from Tadpole classes your child must be able to:
• Front star float
• Front torpedo 6 metres
• Teddy Bear with board
• Start, stop and stand unassisted from front or back position
• Dog Paddle
• Bob underwater
• Exhale underwater
• Monkey crawl
• Show confidence in water.
Sea Horse lessons
Sea Horse classes are 30 minute lessons that are for children who have graduated from Tadpoles or of similar experience. They are conducted in the learners pool with a maximum of 4 per class.
The aim of Sea horse classes are to introduce arms on the front and kicking on the back without a board. This class is a natural progression from Tadpoles. Basic skills are introduced and/or reinforced and water confidence is continually increased. The basic mechanics of catchup without breathing and freestyle and backstroke kick without a board is also learnt.
Survival skills include being introduced to deep water, instructing children to roll onto their back, sculling, float, roll over onto front and swim back to the edge of the pool.
To graduate from Sea Horse classes your child must be able to:
• Swim 6 metres freestyle catchup (without breathing)
• Kick on back unaided for 6 metres
• Front star floats
• Pick up objects off bottom pool 0.85 metres deep
• Back star float
• Back torpedo glide for 6 metres.
Penguin lessons
Penguin classes are 30 minute lessons that are for children who have graduated from Sea Horse classes or of similar experience. They are conducted in the learners pool with a maximum of 4 per class.
The aim of Penguin lessons are to introduce correct timing and mechanics of breathing for both freestyle and backstroke. Improvements for stroke technique is also emphasized.
This is one of the most important classes. At this level children learn to coordinate their breathing with their arms enabling them to swim for longer distances. Various drills are introduced to facilitate the coordination of breathing and stroke. Stroke correction is also given for both freestyle and backstroke. Survival skills include being introduced to deep water, instructing children to roll onto their back, sculling, float, roll over onto front and swim back to the edge of the pool.
To graduate from Penguin classes the student must be:
• Technically correct freestyle for 12 metres
• Able to swim competent backstroke for 12 metres
• Back glide for 6 metres
• Dog paddle for 12 meters
• Swim underwater
• Kick with board for 24 metres.
Platypus lessons
Platypus classes are 30 minute lessons that are for children who have graduated from Penguin classes or of similar experience. They are conducted in the hydro pool during the week and in the main pool during weekends with a maximum of 6 students per class.
Platypus classes aim to polish up freestyle and backstroke. New skills are incorporated to prepare for the introduction of breaststroke and tumble turns. Bilateral breathing in freestyle is also introduced.
Freestyle and Backstroke techniques are further refined in this class to ensure students get maximum efficiency for their efforts. Bilateral breathing is introduced in freestyle, and breaststroke kick is taught. Somersaults are practiced in anticipation of the tumble turn.
Survival skills include life saving backstroke, sculling, entries and treading water is also done at the deep end of the main pool.
To graduate from Platypus classes your child must be able to demonstrate:
• Freestyle with bilateral breathing without catchup.
• Backstroke using correct stroke.
• Breaststroke kick
• 3 freestyle arms with somersaults
• Freestyle kick with fins for 50 metres
• Freestyle kick without fins for 25 metres.
Seal lessons
Seal classes are 45 minute lessons that are for children who have graduated from Platypus classes or of similar experience. They are conducted in the main pool with a maximum of 6 per class.
Seal classes aim to reinforce techniques for freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke kick. The distance the student swims is further to increase fitness and endurance levels.
Seals class concentrates on a number of advanced swimming skills, whilst continuing to consolidate those already learnt. Butterfly kick, racing dives and Freestyle tumble turns are introduced.
Flippers are reinforced for dolphin kick.
In addition, due to the lesson being held in the main pool, important safety skills are taught to increase your child’s confidence in deep water.
Survival skills include treading water ,entries, and sculling. Also, once a month swimming in clothes for approximately 10 minutes, treading water in the deep end and removing clothing are also practiced.
To graduate the student must be able to achieve the following using correct techniques:
• Freestyle 100 metres
• Backstroke 100 metres
• Butterfly kick 25 metres
• Breaststroke 25 metres
• Freestyle racing dive
• Freestyle tumble turn
• Confidence in deep water
Students are encouraged to tie back shoulder length hair so it does not inhibit their lesson instruction or wear swim caps.
Dolphin lessons
Dolphin classes are 45 minute lessons that are for children who have graduated from Seal classes or of similar experience. They are conducted in the main pool with a maximum of 8 per class.
Dolphin classes are aimed to coordinate the facets of all strokes. Backstroke, Breaststroke and Butterfly dives and turns with Freestyle racing starts are taught. Freestyle and Backstroke techniques are enhanced, flippers and buoys are introduced and reinforced in swimming drills.
This class involves drills, drills and more drills. There is a constant correction to stroke techniques whilst building up your child’s endurance and fitness levels.
Children are encouraged to wear appropriate swim wear in this class in preparation for the next levels.
Students are encouraged to tie back shoulder lenght hair or wear swim cap so that their hair does not inhibit their lesson instruction.
Survival skills include entries, treading water and sculling. Also, once a month swimming in clothes for approximately 10 minutes, treading water and removing clothing are also practiced.
To graduate the student must be able to achieve the following using correct techniques:
• Freestyle 100 metres
• Backstroke 100 metres
• Breaststroke 50 metres
• Butterfly 25 metres
• Tumble turns in all strokes
• Racing dives in all strokes
Shark Squad
Shark Squad classes are 60 minute lessons that are for children who have graduated from Dolphin classes or of similar experience. They are conducted in the main pool with a maximum of 10 per class.
Sharks training aims to improve technique on the four competitive strokes. It continues to reinforce swimming drills and introduces more complex tasks whilst improving the fitness of the swimmer. In order to gain the most from this group it is highly recommended to attend two times a week (the 2nd session is half price). This class not only involves even more drills to keep improving your child’s fitness and endurance, but introduces a stop watch to them so speeds can be worked on.
The fundamental approach of swim school is maintained to consolidate correct stroke and technique. Reading training programs, stretching and nutrition are introduced. Students will prepare for the their career as a future member and representative of the Henley and Grange swimming club.
To graduate from Sharks the swimmer must:
• Possess correct technique in all four strokes.
• Be able to do turns correctly in all strokes
• Know how to do a racing start in freestyle and breaststroke
• Know how to do drills
• Know how to stretch
• Know why we stretch
• Be able to swim 2 kilometers
• Able to understand training programs
Children are encouraged to wear appropriate swim wear in this class in preparation for the next levels.
Students are encouraged to tie back shoulder lenght hair or wear swim cap so that their hair does not inhibit their lesson instruction.
Adult lessons
Adult classes at Thebarton Aquatic Centre are aimed to be not only great for technique, but good clean fun as well. They are 45 minute lessons conducted in the main pool with a maximum of 6 per class.
Adult classes are tailored to suit the swimmers needs. You get what you want out of this class, whether it’s looking to improve your freestyle technique, learning the basic principles of swimming, developing bilateral breathing, learning a new stroke, turns, dives and so on...
Instructor can teach in or out of pool depending on the ability of the adults participating.
Seals classes will need to bring short pants and a top with short sleeves for survival training.
Dolphin classes will need to bring long pants and a top with long sleeves for survival training.
Many people new to Thebarton Aquatic Centre may be wondering why once a month, we turn our school upside down for some organized chaos.
Our "Learn to Swim" program is based on Austswim guidelines. Stroke development is therefore our major focus. However, a large part of our program is survival based which is part of the Royal Life Saving Society Swim and Survive Program. We recognize the extreme need for water safety procedures to be enforced by swimming lessons. Our survival program is introduced at Waterbabies level. We do our best to simulate possible survival situations, from falling into deep water to swimming in clothes and shoes.
When children get to Seal and Dolphins classes, they need to bring clothes to wear for survival. Kids, the daggier the better! It’s easier to swim in thin, worn out clothed rather than new ones.
Those of you who spend your summer lives around water will realize how vital these skills are for everyone, not just children. We remind you that it is extremely important that you reinforce those values outside of swim school. Hundreds of Australians drown every year and we do not want our children to become a statistic.
Swim School bookings
We hope that the following information will assist you in regards to the administration of Swim School at Thebarton Aquatic Centre.
If you have any further questions please feel free to contact our Swim School Coordinator or reception.
Incentives
Thebarton Aquatic Centre offers an incentive for each member for attending 7 consecutive lessons , by giving the seventh lesson for free. If you cannot attend the seventh lesson you will be entitled to organize a "make up" lesson before your next lesson is due to qualify for the free lesson.
On most days a recreation lane is available free of charge for members of the swim school before or after their lessons. Any family member or friend is invited in the recreation lane with the normal entry fee applying.
Customers with three or more students attending lessons in the same week will receive lessons for the third and subsequent siblings at half price. Please note that to receive this bonus all the students must attend their lessons in the same week.
Private lessons
We realize that every student is an individual. If you think that you or your child may benefit more with a one-on-one lesson with our instructors please inquire about a private lesson. They are available for both children and adults.
Make up policy
If you notify the Centre that your child or yourself will be absent prior to the lesson time, they will be entitled to organize a "make up" lesson. It is then your responsibility to organize the make up lesson with reception. Alternative days and/or times can then be arranged to qualify for the seventh free lesson.
A holding fee of is applicable on all lessons missed where a "make up" lesson has not been carried out.
When a student has missed three lessons in a row you are asked to pay 3 holding fees (one per lesson). Plus any lessons missed after 3 you are required to pay the full lesson cost to continue to hold your class position.
Please talk to our Swim School Coordinator and let reception know of your intentions as automatic cancellation occurs after three weeks if there has been no communication.
Children are encouraged to tie back shoulder length hair so that it does not inhibit their lesson instruction. Alternatively a swimming cap can be worn
Aquanautics