Every parent will know how important it is that their child learns how to swim and this page will provide parents with information and contacts on how they can introduce their children to the water what-ever their age or ability.

There are Learn to Swim Programmes available at most Aberdeen City Council (ACC) run swimming pools in the city.  These are run by either local swimming clubs or the City Council scheme called Aqua Aberdeen. These programmes cater from mothers and toddlers, through to the top end of learning how to swim with an introduction to swimming as a  Sport.

Information is available from pool staff or the Council Swimming Development Officer.

Parents should also be aware that at present children are not taught swimming in primary schools. This means that parents need to take matters into their own hands.

The options may be as follows :

    

Aqua Aberdeen Syllabus

 

 

Structure        Timetable        Progression        Pre School        Aqua 1 - 5    Transition

Brochures are available at all council run swimming pools - to view click here

Contact : 

Swimming Development Officer

Aberdeen City Council, Arts & Recreation Dept, Balgownie 1, Conference Way

Bridge of Don, Aberdeen 

AB23 8AQ

 

E-mail amasson@aberdeencity.gov.uk 

telephone number is 01224 814783

 

 

 

Structure

The backbone of the Aqua Aberdeen programme is the structured progression that is possible for every child. This leads every swimmer from the basic skills of water familiarisation, orientation and propulsion all the way through to water competence, specialisation and competitive techniques.

With any swimming programme children will sometimes progress at speed and at other times they make very little headway or even go back a few stages. However, as new activities are introduced and known ones reinforced, the development from one stage to another becomes smooth. It is therefore

essential that no stages are missed out of the learning process which will result in all children demonstrating the specific skills which will allow them to take swimming as far as they desire.

Note : the Aqua Aberdeen scheme operates on a block of lessons (usually 10 weeks). 

 

 

Timetable and Ratio Guidelines

Teacher/Swimmer ratio may change depending on size of teaching pool

Class Name	Age	Duration of Lesson	Max Teacher to Swimmer Ratio
Frogs	child up to 18 months	30 minutes	12:1
Tadpoles	child up to 36 months	30 minutes	12:1
Dolphins	child 3 - 5 years	30 minutes	12:1
Sharks	child age 3 - 5	30 minutes	6:1
Aqua 1/1A	child 5 years	30 minutes	10:1
Aqua 2/2A	child 5+ years	30 minutes	10:1
Aqua 3/3A	child 5+ years	30 minutes	10:1
Aqua 4	child 5+ years	45 minutes	12:1
Aqua 5	child 5+ years	45 minutes	12:1

(Swimmers in the sharks classes must have progressed from the Dolphin classes)

 The option of 2 sessions per week for Aqua 4/5 classes has been introduced.

 

Class Structure and Progression

Pre-School Classes

The Aqua Aberdeen programme provides adult with child classes from age 3 months. This gives the child the confidence necessary to embark on the Shark and Aqua 1-5 programme when appropriate with no problems.

Progression Through the Aqua Aberdeen Class Structure

Pre-School Aqua 1-2 Aqua 3-5 Optional Club

Pre-School	Aqua 1-2	Aqua 3-5	Optional Club
Tullos Teaching	Tullos Teaching	Tullos 25m	Linked Club Session
Linksfield	Linksfield	Bridge of Don	Linked Club Session
Woodlands	Cults	Cults	Linked Club Session
Dyce Primary	Dyce Primary	Dyce Academy	Linked Club Session
Hazlewood	Hazlewood	Aberdeen Grammar	Linked Club Session

*Additional Pools may be brought into the programme at a later date

 

Pre Schools Age Lessons

Tadpoles, Frogs, Dolphins and Sharks

These classes precede the Aqua 1-5 programme and give an excellent opportunity for young children to gain water confidence and learn early practices prior to embarking on the main programme. Children who have achieved the objectives in the shark syllabus usually feed into Aqua 1A or Aqua 2.

Tadpoles

Adult with child up to 18 months - must have received inoculations or on the advice from health advisor. Appropriate nappies designed for swimming should be used. Accidents in the pool may result in later classes being cancelled.

Adults gain knowledge of practices and handling techniques which are appropriate to their child’s stage of development in the water.

Safe entries and exits

Water familiarisation

Introduce trigger response

Introduce methods of response

Learn towing skills

Introduce submersion skills

Develop hand and eye co-ordination

Flotation skills

Rotation

Develop pulling and kicking actions

Frogs

 Child - age 18 – 36 months

Appropriate nappies designed for swimming should be used. Accidents in the pool may result in later classes being cancelled.

Skills as Tadpoles plus

Confidence building exercises

Breathing skills

Develop use of woggles and floats

Independence activities

Develop leg propulsion

Develop front paddle

Introduce push and glides

Dolphins

Adult with child age 3-5 years

Children learn by communication between the teacher and child. However the adult participates in the class to reinforce instruction and to support the child in the water.

Water familiarisation

Submersion skills

Flotation front and back and learning to stand again

Breath control

Streamlining skills

Rotation skills

Sculling

Progressive practices for all four strokes in leg and arm actions

Use of aids

Independence activities

Sharks

Children age 3-5 years.

Children in this class are confident in submersion skills and can swim unaided for a short distance

As Dolphins plus...

Understands instruction without reinforcement from adult

Participates within class environment

Develop breath control

Further develop all four strokes

 

Aqua 1-5 Syllabus

This syllabus has been developed in conjunction with the National Governing Body’s (Scottish Swimming) Learn to Swim Programme which is sponsored by the Bank of Scotland

Aqua 1

To help children become more confident in the water focusing on the basic skills which are essential to future development, including water familiarisation, orientation and controlled propulsion.

1. Safe entry and exit
2. Perform movement exercises confidently
3. Regain feet
4. Submerge confidently
5. Exhale through nose and mouth
6. Perform 5 bobs
7. Float prone with aids, face in water
8. Float supine with aids
9. Push and glide and regain feet

Aqua 1A

As Aqua 1 plus

1. Kick 5m Frontcrawl with float, face in water
2. Kick 5m Backcrawl, float held over tummy
3. Attempt Breaststroke kick
4. Attempt Butterfly kick
5. Propel on front for 5m

Aqua 2

The basic skills of water confidence and stroke technique will be progressed and improved. The importance of streamlining in all strokes will be emphasised.

1. Float prone, no aids
2. Float supine no aids
3. Submerge, eyes open, pick up object from pool bottom
4. Push, glide, kick for 5m
5. Perform 20 bobs
6. Kick 10m Frontcrawl showing correct breathing patterns with a float
7. Swim 8m Frontcrawl, face in water
8. Swim 10m Backstroke
9. Kick 10m Backstroke, no float, arms sculling at side
10. Kick 5m Breaststroke with float, circling feet
11. Walk 5m, circling arms in front
12. Swim 5m Breaststroke circling arms and legs
13. Kick 5m Butterfly, hands by sides, face in water

 

Aqua 2A

As Aqua 2 plus

1. Kick 15m Frontcrawl showing correct breathing patterns with a float
2. Swim 15m Frontcrawl face in water
3. Kick 5m Breaststroke with float attempting Dorsiflexion and Eversion
4. Tread water for 20 seconds

 

Aqua 3

All stroke techniques will be further developed with the emphasis being placed on kicking and breathing skills. More advanced water skills will be progressed such as treading water, surface diving and sculling.

1. Move around confidently in deep water
2. Tread water for 60 seconds
3. Push and Glide underwater
4. Push and Glide on side, rotating to front
5. Perform standard scull
6. Perform sitting dive and transition (dependant on pool depth)
7. Perform mushroom and lifesaving floats
8. Perform head-first surface dive, picking up objects in 1.5m
9. Kick 10m Breaststroke showing knowledge of dorsiflexion, eversion and glide
10. Swim 10m Breaststroke, circling arms in front of body
11. Kick 10m Butterfly on front and back
12. Kick 10m Butterfly attempting arm recovery with arms pulling through together
13. Perform a front somersault
14. Swim 15m Frontcrawl with unilateral breathing
15. Swim 15m Backstroke with arms windmilling

Where swimmers have not achieved all of the above but are more advanced – Aqua 3A classes may be offered

Aqua 4

Stroke techniques will be consolidated with the emphasis being on arm actions and timing in all strokes. Advanced water skills will be improved to include underwater swimming, diving, somersaults and sculling.

1. Perform a plunge dive (dependant on pool depth)
2. Perform a head-first surface dive and 5m swim in deep water
3. Perform a feet-first surface dive
4. Push and glide into forward roll
5. Perform stationary scull
6. Kick 25m Frontcrawl with no float (arms extended or Superman style)
7. Swim 25m Frontcrawl with unilateral breathing
8. Swim 25m Frontcrawl with bilateral breathing
9. Kick 10m Backstroke with arms extended
10. Perform supine push and glide
11. Kick 15m Butterfly on front, no float
12. Kick 5m Butterfly on both sides
13. Walk demonstrating "Keyhole" pull and breathing
14. Swim 15m Butterfly attempting regular breathing
15. Kick 25m Breaststroke with float, breathing before each kick
16. Swim 25m Breaststroke attempting "orthodox" timing – pull, breath, kick, glide

Aqua 5

To develop a wide range of swimming skills whilst aiming to increase stamina and develop technique by using more advanced practices.

1. Somersault at wall, transferring into push and glide
2. Demonstrate a stationary scull and reverse scull
3. Demonstrate egg-beater kick
4. Understand lane discipline
5. Understand basic use of the pace clock for starting and resting
6. Demonstrate two advanced drills in each stroke and explain
7. Swim 2 X 25m Frontcrawl with 10 seconds rest showing correct technique
8. Swim 2 X 25m Backstroke with 10 seconds rest showing correct technique
9. Swim 2 X 25m Breaststroke with 10 seconds rest showing correct technique and demonstrating two handed touch
10. Swim 200m continuously, demonstrating at least 3 strokes
11. Swim 4 X 25m in Individual Medley order
12. Kick 4 X 25m in Individual Medley order

Transition From Aqua 5 to a Swimming Club

Each Aqua 5 class is linked to a Swimming Club in the area, however, parents have freedom of choice as to which Club they wish their children to join. Information regarding clubs are detailed later in this guide.

An additional session or linked session is offered to swimmers in Aqua 5 who have shown interest in joining a club and who are of an age which fits in with the club’s age policy.

A list of all the linked sessions will be made available to all Aqua 5 swimmers via notice boards or by letter. Each linked session is different and depends on the availability of club pool time and space within the sessions. For more information on the linked session parents/guardians should contact the swimming co-ordinator for your area. The telephone numbers are listed on the inside back cover of this leaflet.

When a child joins a swimming club at Aqua 4 level and above we would advise that the membership of Aqua Aberdeen is cancelled. It is important for progression that a child increases the number of weekly sessions as they are promoted through the swimming club. Remaining in the Learn to Swim Programme although improving stamina and technique may hinder progression and cause confusion to the child should different teaching methods be used.

All swimmers will be offered a maximum of two blocks at Aqua 5 level and on completion of Aqua 5 will receive the Aqua 5 medal. Options ope to swimmers on completion of Aqua 5 will be made available during their final block.

Of course not all children will be interested in competing and some of the clubs can offer recreational swimming, lifesaving and diving as an alternative to competition.

There may be an opportunity in the future for swimmers to participate in diving, water polo and life-saving classes as part of the swimming development programme.

There is a section in this guide giving useful information regarding the swimming clubs connected with the City of Aberdeen Swim Team. However further information regarding clubs and swimming development in general is available by contacting Swimming Development Officer, Arts & Recreation Dept, St Nicholas House, Broad Street, Aberdeen Tel 01224 522996