Swim Academy at Surrey Sports Park provides group swimming lessons in Guildford to swimmers from the age of 18 months right through to adults. You can join Swim Academy at any time of the year. Whatever the ability, we'll find a class to suit.

Our programme consists of 46 weekly swimming lessons per year with a two-week break at Christmas and the summer holidays. Lessons start at £32 per month and get you weekly tuition and access to the online Home Portal where you can track progress.

We've put together a summary of the skills that children will learn with us at Swim Academy. Click your child's stage for full information...

• Adult & Child
• Pre-School
• Stage 1
• Stage 2
• Stage 3
• Stage 4
• Stage 5
• Stage 6
• Stage 7
• Stage 8
• Stage 9
• Stage 10
  
  

Adult & Child

These lessons are designed to introduce young children to the start of their swimming journey in a fun environment. Both parent/guardian and child will be guided through a variety of water-confidence practices and water-based games with supervision from a qualified teacher.

Pre-School

Once children have reached the age of three, they can begin their independent swimming journey with Pre-School lessons. These lessons focus on developing movement in the water as well as continuing water safety progression. Children will also learn the basics of floating, kicking and gliding through water-based games.

Stage 1

Learners will develop the building blocks for future technique and skills by building their confidence in the water. We will introduce water safety skills and the basic movement skills needed to build swimming ability.

1A

1. Enter the water safely (turning around going in backwards)

2. Walk forwards for a distance of 5 metres

3. Walk backwards for a distance of 5 metres

4. Walk sideways for a distance of 5 metres

5. Scoop water and wash face

6. Be at ease with water showered from over head

7. Take part in a teacher - led orientated game

8. With aids move into a stretch position on front

9. With aids move into a stretch position on back

10. Exit the water safely

1B

1. Regain an upright position from their back with support

2. Regain an upright position from their front with support

3. On front straight legs kicking using aids

4. On back straight legs kicking using aids

5. On back ensure ears are in the water correct body position

6. Push and glide in a horizontal position to or from a wall

7. Demonstrate an understanding of pool rules

8. Jump in holding hands

Stage 2

Learners will develop streamlining to their strokes and travel without their feet on the floor, using a recognised leg kick. We will also start to introduce aquatic breathing and how to make safe entries into the water.

2A

1. Jump in from poolside safely (no hands).

2. Blow bubbles a minimum 3 times rhythmically with nose & mouth submerged

3. Push from wall and glide on the front.

4. Travel on the back for 5 metres (aids may be used)

5. Travel on the front for 5 metres (aids may be used)

6. Perform a front star

7. Perform a back star

8. Pick up sinker with hand or foot

2B

1. Regain upright position from their front without support

2. Regain upright position from their back without support

3. Push from the wall and glide on the back

4. Kick on the back for 5 metres with either 1 or 2 floats

5. Paddle on the front for 5 metres

6. Perform a rotation from the front to the back to gain an upright position (star rotation)

7. Perform a rotation from the back to the front to gain an upright position (star rotation)

Stage 3

Swimmers will develop their kicks on both front and back, and they will also learn to swim underwater. We will also introduce safe entries into the water, while water safety knowledge and rotation skills will also be progressed.

3A

1. Jump in from poolside and submerge (0.9m depth minimum)

2. Push and glide on the front with arms extended and log roll onto the back

3. Push and glide on the back with arms extended and log roll onto the front

4. Fully submerge to pick up an object

5. Travel 10 metres on the back

6. Travel 10 metres on the front

7. Introduction into breaststroke legs (5m)

8. Introduction to deep water

3B

1. Sink, push away from wall on the side and maintain streamlined position

2. Travel on the front, tuck to rotate around the horizontal axis to return on the back

3. Answer correctly three questions on the Water Safety Code

4. Travel 10 metres on the back - must be completed in deep water with some arm recovery

5. Travel 10 metres on the front - must be completed in deep water with some arm recovery

6. Kick 10 metres breaststroke feet turned out

7. Jump into deep water

8. Try fly legs  

3C

1. Sink, push away from wall on the side and maintain streamlined position

2. Travel on the front, tuck to rotate around the horizontal axis to return on the back

3. Floating sequence - Front, Star, Back Star and Mushrooms 5 secs each in deep water

4. Travel 10 metres on the back crawl with arm recovery

5. Travel 10 metres on the front crawl with arm recovery

6. Kick (with a float) 10 metres Breaststroke feet turn out with a glide

7. Treading water by the wall

8. Fly kick 5m

Stage 4

Swimmers work on their leg kicks for all four strokes and further develop push and glides, while also developing an understanding of buoyancy.

4A

1. Demonstrate an understanding of buoyancy

2. Perform a tuck float for 5 seconds

3. Kick 10 metres backstroke

4. Kick 10 metres front crawl

5. Kick 10 metres butterfly

6. Kick 10 metres breaststroke

7. Travel on the back and roll in one continuous movement onto the front

4B

1. Perform a sequence of changing shapes whilst floating at the surface (minimum of 3 shapes)

2. Push and glide from wall to the pool floor

3. Full stroke 3 metres backstroke

4. Full stroke 5 metres front crawl breathing to one side

5. Full stroke 3 metres butterfly (arms coming out of the water)

6. Full stroke 3 metres breaststroke (turn out feet, arms then legs)

7. Perform on the back a head first sculling action for 5 metres in a horizontal position

8. Travel on back and roll in one continuous movement onto front

Stage 5

Swimmers will develop their skills in treading water, learn the correct arm pulls for all four strokes and how to do handstands and somersaults.

5A

1. Perform a feet first sculling action for 5 metres whilst horizontal on the back

2. Tread water for 30 seconds

3. Perform 3 different shaped jumps into deep water

4. Swim 10 metres backstroke with correct hand entry

5. Swim 10 metres front crawl face in the water breathing to one side

6. Demonstrate an action for getting help

7. Swim 5 metres butterfly

8. Swim 5 metres breaststroke focus on breathing in correct place

5B

1. Perform a horizontal stationary scull on the back

2. Perform a sculling sequence with a partner for 30-45 seconds to include a rotation

3. Swim 10 metres breaststroke

4. Swim 10 metres butterfly

5. Swim 15 metres backstroke

6. Swim 15 metres front crawl

7. Perform a head first surface dive in a minimum depth of 1 metre

8. Perform a forwards somersault, tucked, in deep water

9. Swim 5 metres underwater

10. Demonstrate an action for help

Stage 6

Swimmers learn how to prepare for exercise, while developing an efficient technique for all four strokes and further developing surface dives. The effective swimming skills taught include coordination, breathing and an understanding of water safety.

6A

1. Sink, push off on side from the wall, glide, kick, and rotate into backstroke

2. Sink, push off on side from the wall, glide, kick and rotate into front crawl

3. Swim 10 metres wearing shorts and t shirt

4. Swim front crawl to include at least six rhythmical breaths

5. Swim 20 metres front crawl

6. Swim 20 metres backstroke

7. Swim 15 metres butterfly

8. Swim 15 metres breaststroke

9. Perform a 'shout and signal' rescue

10. Exit from the water without using steps

6B

1. Demonstrate an understanding of preparation for exercise

2. Swim 10 metres wearing clothes - long sleeves and trousers must be worn

3. Swim breaststroke to include at least six rhythmical breaths

4. Swim butterfly to include three rhythmical breaths

5. Swim 25 metres front crawl

6. Swim 25 metres backstroke

7. Swim 10 metres underwater

8. Perform a feet surface dive

9. Exit water without using steps

Stage 7

Swimmers focus on fully developing all four swimming strokes, as well as building stamina and improving diving skills. Swimmers should develop a quality stroke technique for up to 100 metres, incorporating the skills they have learnt throughout the stages and combining them to develop a linked routine.

1. Perform a movement sequence of 1 minute duration, in a group of 3 or more, incorporating a number of the following skills: Sculling (head first, feet first), Rotation (forward /backward somersault, log roll), Floating (star on front/back. Tuck float, create own), Eggbeater (moving, lifting one or both arms out of the water link skills with stroke and sculls)

2. Swim 25 metres butterfly

3. Swim 25 metres breaststroke

4. Perform a standing dive from the pool side

5. Swim 50 metres continuously using backstroke

6. Swim 50 metres continuously using front crawl

7. Swim 50 metres continuously using breaststroke

8. Swim 100 metres using a minimum of three different strokes

9. Tread water for 1 minute using eggbeater action

10. Complete an obstacle course (minimum of four objects) with feet off the pool floor throughout

Stage 8

Stage 8 is the start of the Aquatic Skills Framework where swimmers will be introduced to more competitive swimming, starting with the completion of a 400m set for time. There will be a strong emphasis on technique and consistency, particularly for stroke kicking and turns.

1. Complete a set lasting 400m on a specific turnaround time set by the coach

2. Swim 400m continuously using one stroke

3. Kick 25m backstroke with/without a board

4. Kick 25m breaststroke with/without a board

5. Kick 25m butterfly with/without a board

6. Kick 25m front crawl with/without a board

7. Perform a backstroke turn from 10m into 15m out

8. Perform a breaststroke turn from 10m into 15m out

9. Perform a butterfly turn from 10m into 15m out

10. Perform a front crawl turn from 10m into 15m out

Stage 9

Swimmers will develop further strength and endurance for longer distance competitive swimming. This will focus on an 800m set for time, on specific turnaround times. This is followed by a core focus on competitive race starts by stroke, and their corresponding underwater transition phases into the full stroke.

1. Complete a set lasting 800m on a specific times turn around set by coach (e.g. either 16 x 50m on 1:30; 8 x 100m on 2.45; 4 x 200m on 6mins)

2. Swim 800m continuously choosing one stroke

3. Swim a continuous 100m IM using legal turns

4. Perform a 15m underwater kick on front in a streamlined position

5. Perform a backstroke start then butterfly kick in a streamlined position underwater until 10m from the wall, transfer into stroke and complete the remainder of the 25m

6. Perform a front crawl start, underwater kick in a streamlined position until a minimum of 10m from the wall is completed, transfer into stroke and complete remainder of the 25m

7. Perform a butterfly start, underwater kick in streamlined position until a minimum of 10m from the wall is completed, transfer into stroke before 15m and complete remainder of the 25m

8. Perform a breaststroke start, perform a legal underwater pull and transition stroke, then transfer into full stroke and complete the remainder of the 25m

Stage 10

Swimmers will complete their introduction to competitive swimming, focusing on 1500-1600m sets. This will be supplemented with coaching on the Individual Medley, legal turns, and relay take overs.

1. Complete a set lasting 1600m on a specific time turn around set by coach (e.g. 16 x 100m on 2:30; 8 x 200m on 5:30; 4 x 400m on 12 mins)

2. Swim 1500m continuously choosing one stroke

3. Swim a continuous 200m Individual Medley using legal turns

4. Perform a 15m underwater butterfly kick on back or front in a streamlined position

5. Perform a continuous 100m Individual Medley kick without using a kick board

6. Perform a front crawl relay take over - as an incoming Swimmer

7. Perform a front crawl relay take over - as an outgoing Swimmer