Swimming Lessons

Swimming Lessons

The Harrogate Borough Council Swimming Development Scheme covers a wide range of skills from learn to swim classes right through to competitive swimming at national events.

We also run a number of other lessons

• Water Baby Lessons
• Adult Lessons
• Competitive Training
• Alternative Lessons such as Snorkelling and Disability Swimming

Rainbow swimming scheme

The Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) approved Rainbow Swim Scheme operates at all our five swimming pools in the Harrogate District and is taught by fully qualified and committed staff. Our scheme of works is recognised as operating in line with the ASA National Plan for Teaching Swimming.

Each colour band in the rainbow represents a level of swimming combining stroke technique, water safety, water skills, and stamina.

RAINDROPS

Aim: Parent/carer education, basic submersions, building confidence in water through play.

Awards: Swim A Song Step1, Step 2, Duckling 1 and 2.

Duration: 30 minutes

This lesson is for children aged 6 months to approximately 2 years. Lessons include structured play, songs and familiarisation with the environment, introduction to water and building confidence in preparation for more formal swimming tuition.

RAINTOTS

RED CLASSES

Aim: Full water confidence/orientation.

Awards: National Plan for Teaching Swimming Stage 1 and 2, Duckling 5, 5m 

Duration: 30 minutes

For children of school age who may be complete non-swimmers. These classes will still be with the teacher in the water and a lifeguard on the side. Children will now be learning how to swim independently on their front and back as well as other vital skills such as submerging, streamlining and Fun! To move to the Orange group, children must be able to swim 5m front and back as well as complete other basic skills.

ORANGE CLASSES

Aim: Develop Front Crawl and Back Crawl. Introducing Breaststroke and deep water.

Awards: National Plan for Teaching Swimming Stage 3 and 4, 10m

Duration: 30 minutes

Classes of up to 10 children, with the teacher now on poolside and children in shallow water. The emphasis is now on developing strokes. Children are taught a variety of different skills including breaststroke; children in this class are often taken into deep water to assist with confidence and distance swimming. To move up to the Yellow group, children must be able to swim 10m front and back, 10m basic breaststroke, as well as completing other skills such as floating.

YELLOW CLASSES

Aim: Refining Front and Back Crawl and developing Breaststroke. Introduction to Butterfly and Diving.

Duration: 30 minutes

Classes of up to 12 children. Children are now working towards swimming lengths of the pool. The emphasis is on developing stroke technique and the introduction of butterfly. Diving skills are introduced at this level. Swimmers develop stamina and are expected to swim confidently out of their depth. To move up to Green group, children must be able to swim 50m using multi-strokes, with effective technique.

GREEN CLASSES

Aim: Advanced Front and Back Crawl practices. Breaststroke improvement and basic Butterfly.

Awards: National Plan for Teaching Swimming Stage 6, 100m

Duration: 30 minutes

Classes of up to twelve children. The Green swimmer develops further stroke technique and stamina building confidence and competence in all strokes. Skills such as streamlining, sculling and treading water are developed. These skills are building blocks on which other skills such as lifesaving, waterpolo or synchronised swimming can be developed. To move up to the Blue group, children must be able to swim 100m using multi-strokes.

BLUE CLASSES

Aim: Efficient Front and Back Crawl Technique. Advanced Breaststroke practices and basic Butterfly stroke.

Awards - National Plan for Teaching Swimming Stage 7, 200m

Duration: 30 minutes

Classes of up to 15 children. At this stage swimmers will be given a clear understanding of stroke technique which complies with ASA Laws. Stamina at this level is important to prepare for the next colour groups where the lessons are of one-hour duration. To move up to the Indigo group, children must be able to swim 200m using multi-strokes efficiently and complying with ASA Laws.

INDIGO CLASSES

Aim: Build stamina, efficient Breaststroke technique and efficient Butterfly timing.

Awards - Bronze, National Plan for Teaching Swimming Stage 8, 400m

Duration: 60 minutes

Info - Classes of up to 15 children. This stage focuses on efficient stroke technique and stamina work as well as introducing using the pace clock. Swimming turns are the main emphasis of this stage. To move up to the Violet group, children must be able to swim 400m using multi-strokes efficiently and complying with ASA Laws

VIOLET CLASSES

Aim: Maintain efficient technique in all four strokes. Introduce medley swimming and reinforce competitive elements.

Awards - Silver, National Plan for Teaching Swimming Stage 9, 800m

Duration: 60 minutes

Classes of up to fifteen children. This stage focuses on reinforcement of coaching and training principles preparing swimmers for competitive coaching or other water based activities. All swimming is to be completed with efficient technique throughout. Good stroke technique on all four strokes is now essential. Stamina is increased with the main emphasis on starts and further developing turns. To move up to the Gold group, children must be able to swim 800m using multi-strokes effectively and complying with ASA Laws

GOLD CLASSES

Aim: Reinforce coaching/training principles.

Awards: Gold, 1000m, National Plan for Teaching Swimming Stage 10, 1500m, Honours

Duration: 60 minutes

Classes of up to 15 children. Here we consolidate the competititive aspects of the sport, which include individual medley swimming, starts, turns and pulse rate work. The main emphasis for this stage are relay takeovers. This is the last challenge for our Rainbow swimmers.

N.B. Please note that the National Plan for Teaching Swimming Stage Awards are the minimum standards set by the ASA; some of the elements within the stages have been made slightly harder to fit the standards of our colour groups.

Find out more
If you want to know more about the Scheme or you would like to enrol, please contact your local pool, or just call in.