Stage Awards Overview:
The journey of learning to swim is not just about becoming safe in the water but also about setting milestones, recognising achievements, and preparing for future challenges. The Stepping Stones stage awards serve as key benchmarks in this process.
These awards, which move from fundamental skills like the first comfortable submersion to mastering complex techniques, play a pivotal role in building confidence, charting progress, and motivating swimmers to hone their skills further.
The Stepping Stones stage awards are specially designed to recognise every significant milestone a swimmer achieves, from the foundational skills in the Little Splasher classes to the advanced techniques in the Stroke Development achievement awards. They reward the dedication, effort, and resilience swimmers demonstrate as they advance in their swimming journey.
Note to Teacher:
We wholeheartedly encourage you to challenge your swimmers to achieve their best. However, it's vital to remain aware requirements at each stage. Striking the right balance between aiming too high and setting the bar too low is essential.
As you assess, project the swimmer's skill progression over the next year. For instance, if a swimmer showcases a particular skill but struggles to maintain consistency or stamina, think about the next again step, would it be a stretch too far the following year?
Would they be realistically prepared to advance to a higher stage next year, or might it be wise to position them at their current stage, ensuring they can confidently progress to the next level in the subsequent year? Your discernment is essential in shaping each swimmers path, guaranteeing continued progress and success.
Stage 1
Stage 1 - Building confidence and coordination in the pool. This stage will focus on developing the foundations of the learn to swim programme.
Sit poolside, follow instructions and demonstrate an understanding of pool rules.
Developing water confidence
Ability to travel forward using a swim noodle with teacher support
On front - demonstrate a stretched position with the support of a teacher using floats and noodles
Attempt a blowing action into the water from mouth
Gaining confidence to float with the support of a teacher on back e.g. Star Float
Ability to travel backwards using a swim noodle with the support of a teacher
On back - demonstrate a stretched position with the support of a teacher using floats and noodles
Enter and exit the water safely (with support)
Attempt an assisted jump from poolside with the support of a teacher.
Stage 2
Stage 2 - Developing confidence and coordination in the pool. This stage will focus on further developing the foundations of the learn to swim programme.
Confident, happy, and settled within the pool environment
Ability to travel forward using a swim noodle without teacher support
Demonstrate confidently a blowing action into the water from mouth
On front - demonstrate a stretched position without teacher support using floats and noodles
Floating on back with teacher support
Ability to travel backwards using swim noodle without teacher support
On Back - demonstrate a stretched position without teacher support using floats and noodles
Enter and exit the water safely
Attempt to submerge face in the water for short periods
Attempt an unassisted jump from poolside
Stage 3
Stage 3 - Building on water confidence and introducing basic swim skills. This stage will focus on introducing and developing the basic swim skills to start swimming independently.
Submerge face & eyes with teacher encouragement
Introduce push & glide (Rocket) on front and back with the support of a teacher
Demonstrate confidently a basic alternating leg kick on front and back
Ability to travel confidently forward and backwards using pool noodle independently
Attempt short independent swims with teacher support
Demonstrate confidently a basic simultaneous leg kick on front
Demonstrate an understanding of the key teaching points and teacher feedback
Demonstrate basic breath control e.g. not holding breath underwater
Demonstrate basic understanding of arm movements on all stokes
Jump in from poolside and submerging with the support of a teacher
Stage 4
Stage 4 - Developing basic swim skills. This stage will focus on developing the basic swim skills and encourage short independent swims.
Submerge face & eyes confidently
Demonstrate basic push & glide (Rocket) on front and back
Demonstrate good body position with eyes submerged and toes at surface
Travel with a kickboard, demonstrating an alternating kick without teacher support
Travel a short distance with eyes submerged confidently
Travel with a kickboard, demonstrating simultaneous kick without teacher support
Demonstrate an understanding of the key teaching points and teacher feedback
Demonstrate regular breath control
Demonstrate an understanding of arm movements on all stokes
Fully submerge to pick up an object with support
Stage 5
Stage 5 - Developing the basic swim strokes. This Stage will focus on linking strokes with regular breathing to encourage independent swim without teacher support.
Demonstrate a good understanding of the keywords associated with each stroke
Demonstrate an effective push & glide on front and back
Understand the correct hand entry for front crawl
Understand the correct hand entry for back crawl
Swim front crawl demonstrating a recognisable stroke
Swim back crawl demonstrating a recognisable stroke
Demonstrate basic breaststroke movements with the use of a kickboard
Understanding the basics of bilateral breathing when swimming front crawl
The ability to link strokes together with a basic breath
Understand the correct movements required for sculling
Stage 6
Stage 6 - Developing the basic swim strokes. This stage will continue to enhance stroke technique whilst improving breathing practises.
Has a good understanding of the keywords associated with each stroke
Demonstrate an effective push & glide and correct starting position
Demonstrate correct hand entry for front crawl
Demonstrate correct hand entry for back crawl
Confidently swim front crawl demonstrating a recognisable stroke
Confidently swim back crawl demonstrating a recognisable stroke
Demonstrate a recognisable breaststroke swim using full stroke
Demonstrate bilateral breathing during a front crawl swim with the use of a kickboard
The ability to link strokes together whilst attempting correct breathing technique
Demonstrate the correct movements required for sculling
Stage 7
Stage 7 - Improving the basic stroke technique. This stage is aimed at swimmers that have a good understanding of stroke technique but still require support to develop breathing practises.
Understand basic lane discipline including an introduction of self-regulation e.g. setting off at set intervals
Demonstrate an effective push & glide with correct starting position and transition into full stroke
Demonstrate a front crawl swim with rhythmic arm movements and regular breathing over a single length
Demonstrate a back crawl swim with rhythmic arm movements, good body position, bent arm pull and continuous leg kick over a single length
Demonstrate a continuous swim over multiple lengths demonstrating a mixture of front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke
Demonstrate an effective front crawl swim including bilateral breathing over a single length
Demonstrate an effective breaststroke swim including good timing and regular breath control over a single length
Demonstrate a basic understanding of timed swims using a pace clock / stopwatch
The ability to identify basic faults within a single stroke and can offer corrections when prompted by the class teacher
Demonstrate a basic understanding of the butterfly kick and introduction to butterfly arms
Stage 8
Stage 8 - Improving the breathing practises and refining strokes. This stage is aimed at competent swimmers who are developing breathing practises to increase distance and stamina.
Good understanding of lane discipline and self-regulation e.g. setting off at set intervals
Demonstrate a submerged push & glide with correct starting position and transition into full stroke
Demonstrate a front crawl swim with rhythmic arm movements and regular breathing over multiple lengths
Demonstrate a back crawl swim with rhythmic arm movements, good body position, bent arm pull and continuous leg kick over multiple lengths
Demonstrate a continuous swim using good technique over multiple lengths demonstrating a mixture of front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke
Demonstrate a refined front crawl swim including bilateral breathing over multiple lengths
Demonstrate a refined breaststroke swim including good timing and regular breath control over multiple lengths
Demonstrate good understanding of timed swims using a pace clock / stopwatch
The ability to identify faults within multiple strokes and can offer corrections when prompted by the class teacher
Demonstrate a recognisable butterfly kick and effective butterfly arms
Stage 9
Stage 9 - Confidently swimming multiple lengths of the pool. This stage is aimed at refining all strokes building speed and stamina with a focus on the finishing touches.
Demonstrate a good technical understanding of all four strokes
Demonstrate an ability to identify faults within multiple strokes and offer corrections
Demonstrate an understanding of personal performance using pace clock / stopwatch
Demonstrate a continuous front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke swim over multiple lengths
The ability to complete a set covering a distance of 200m+ using multiple strokes
Demonstrate an understanding of the turn techniques for all four strokes
Demonstrate a continuous front crawl swim over multiple lengths incorporating correct start, transition and turn
Demonstrate a continuous back crawl swim over multiple lengths incorporating correct start, transition and turn
Demonstrate a continuous breaststroke swim over multiple lengths incorporating correct start, transition and turn
Basic understanding of lifesaving skills e.g. reach rescue, tow's and safe entries
Stage 10
Stage 10 - Confidently swimming multiple lengths of the pool. This stage is the bridge between the learn to swim programme and competitive swimming. Swimmers will also be encouraged to understand the theory behind developing effective swim strokes.
Demonstrate an advanced technical understanding of all four strokes
The ability to identify faults within multiple strokes and can implement corrections
Understand how to improve performance using pace clock / stopwatch
Demonstrate an effective continuous front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke swim over multiple lengths
The ability to complete a set covering a distance of 500m+ using multiple strokes
Demonstrate an effective turn technique for all four strokes
Understanding pool setup and equipment e.g. lane ropes, flags and distance markers
Introduction to team swims e.g. relay and medley swims
Competent in advanced swim skills. eg. treading water, sculling, submersion
Good understanding of lifesaving skills e.g. reach rescue, tow's and safe entries