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Swimming Lessons
WELCOME to the Harrogate Borough Council Swimming Development Scheme. The Swimming Development Scheme covers a wide range of skills from learn to swim classes right through to competitive swimming at national events.
Below are details of our Rainbow Swimming Lesson for children. Alternatively, use the links in the right hand menu to find out about Water Baby Lessons, Adult Lessons, Competitive Training and Alternative Lessons such as Water Polo and Snorkelling.
RAINBOW SWIMMING SCHEME
The 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.
The Rainbow section of the Swimming Development Scheme is the foundation to personal swimming development, progressing 'through the colours of the rainbow, to reach the pot of gold.'
Each colour band in the rainbow represents a level of swimming combining stroke technique, water safety, water skills, and stamina. For example, in Harrogate we do not believe it is enough to swim 25 metres we encourage our swimmers to swim a strong and consistent 25 metres with the correct technique.
RAINDROPS
This fun, half hour class is aimed at pre-school children with a parent/carer in the water (6 months 3 years but would also be suitable for nervous children aged 3-5 years). See separate information sheet for further details. Awards: ASA DUCKLING 1, 2, 3 and the ASA Parent and Child Award.
RED CLASSES
AIM: ASA Duckling 4, 5 awards, Puffin Awards, National Swim Award 1, and 5 metres.
Our teachers are in the water with the children and an additional lifeguard is placed on poolside. Classes are of half hour duration.
ORANGE CLASSES
AIM: ASA National Swim Awards 2, 3 and 10 metres.
At this stage classes are more structured and the teachers are on the poolside. Classes are of a half hour duration.
YELLOW CLASSES
AIM: ASA National Swim Awards 4,5 and 25, 50 metres (front and back).
The Yellow swimmer develops stroke techniques and stamina and are expected to swim confidently out of their depth. Classes are of half hour duration.
GREEN CLASSES
AIM: ASA National Swim Awards 6, 7 and 100 metres.
The Green swimmer develops further stroke technique and stamina. Personal survival and diving skills are introduced at this stage. Classes are of half hour duration.
BLUE CLASSES
AIM: ASA National Swim Award 8; Preliminary Diving Award; Personal Survival level 1 and 200 metres (multi stroke).
The Blue swimmer must develop good stroke techniques that comply with ASA stroke laws. Stamina at this level is important to prepare for the next colour groups where the lessons are of one-hour duration.
INDIGO CLASSES
AIM: ASA National Swim Awards 9, 10; Personal Survival 2; Bronze Challenge and 400 metres ( multi stroke).
The Indigo classes are of one-hour duration. Full stroke butterfly and racing starts are a requirement at this stage. The ASA Challenge Awards are introduced. This is the first stage at which swimmers can exit the scheme into foundation squads.
VIOLET CLASSES
AIM: ASA National Swim Award11; Silver Challenge and 800 metres.
Violet classes are of one hour duration. Good stroke technique on all four strokes is now essential. Stamina is increased and starts and turns further developed.
GOLD CLASSES
AIM : ASA Gold and Honours Challenge; National Swim Award 12; 1000 - 1500metres.
Gold swimmers swim for one hour. This is the last challenge for our Rainbow Swimmers.