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Skill Level

Calphin Swim Levels are a set of skill levels or standards designed to evaluate any learn-to-swim students, which were originally developed and successfully applied by Calphin Swim Academy in over one million swim lessons. These levels are also intended to be used by any amateur swimmers to reference their swim skill levels. Unless specified otherwise, below are the Passing Criteria of each level for swimmers of any gender or age. The swim times below are in reference to 50yd swims, non-stop without aid in a standard 25yd pool; FR stands for freestyle, BK for backstroke, BR for breaststroke, Fly for butterfly, “yd” for yard, and “s” for seconds

Preschool Group Lessons

PK Starter Class:           Max Ratio = 1:3             Class Time: 30min         Age: 3~4

This level is designed for first-timers, learning-to-swim preschool age students,  who are new to group lessons and swimming.  PK Starter (preschool Starter) students may be afraid of the water or cry due to lack of confidence in water.  The goal of PK Starter is to introduce the students to the water, help them be comfortable and enjoy the water, and introduce them how to be safer in and around the water.  They will be challenged with fun activities that help stimulate and improve hand-eye coordination and refine motor skills.

PK Starter students will learn to follow simple instructions from a non-parent instructor, put their face in the water, blow bubbles for 3-5 seconds, and back float. The instructor will teach in the water on the steps.  Parents are welcome to sit on the pool deck if the student needs extra support.  The end goal is to build their confidence so that they are comfortable learning independently from their parent.  Swimmer must wear waterproof diapers.

Passing criteria for PK Starter

PKS: Face in water for 5 s, Comfy head in water and at swim lesson w/o guardian present.                          

PK Bubbler Class:           Max Ratio = 1:3             Class Time: 30min         Age: 3~4

This level is designed for novice Preschool swimmers who have little or no swim lesson experience, able to put their face in the water, and blow bubbles for 3-5 seconds with goggles on.  PK Bubbler (Preschool Bubbler) will begin to learn basic swim skills and set a good foundation to carry with them for the rest of their lives.

The goal of PK bubbler is to learn how to kick, streamline push offs, develop confidence in the water, and climb out of the pool.  Swimmers must be comfortable with swimming without their parents and wear waterproof diapers.  The instructor will teach in teh water on the steps.

Passing criteria for PK Bubbler

PKB1:  Push off, glide or kick 2yd without help.

PKB2: Push off and FRkick > 3yd. FRkick > 5yd/w board.

PKB3: FR kicks 10yd /w board, float on back, BK push off, FR kick or swim w/o aid > 5yd.

Beginner Group Lessons

Starter Class:           Max Ratio = 1:4             Class Time: 30min         Age: 5~9

This level is designed for first-time learn-to-swim students, who are new to group lessons in a swimming pool. STR students may still be afraid of the water or cry due to lack of confidence in the water if their parents are not present.  The goal of the STR class is to introduce the students to the swimming pool, help them get comfortable and relaxed in water, and help them enjoy water games and activities in a group environment.

STR students will learn to follow simple instructions from a non-parent instructor, put their face in the water, and blow bubbles for 3-5 seconds with their goggles on.  The instructor will teach in the water. 

Passing criteria for Starter

STR: Face in water for 5 s w/ goggles on, Comfy head in water and at swim lesson w/o guardian present.                          

Bubbler Class:           Max Ratio = 1:4             Class Time: 30min         Age: 5~9

This level is designed for novice swimmers who have little or no swim lesson experience, able to put their face in the water and blow bubbles for 3-5 seconds with goggles on.

The goal of BUB is to Learn how to back float, blow bubbles, develop confidence in the water, and swim Over 5 yards

Passing criteria for Bubbler

BUB1:  Push off, glide or kick 2yd without help.

BUB2: Push off and FRkick > 3yd. FRkick > 5yd/w board.

BUB3: FR kicks 10yd /w board, float on back, BK push off, FR kick or swim w/o aid > 5yd.

Teenager Bubbler Class:           Max Ratio = 1:6             Class Time: 45min         Age: 10~18

This class is for BUB level students who are older than 9 years old or height at least 4.5 feet, in the large pool.

The instructor will stay inside the water to teach and hand on BUB level swimmers.

Intermediate Group Lessons

Crawler Class:           Max Ratio = 1:6             Class Time: 45min         Age: 5~9

This level is designed for swimmers with a mastery of fundamental swimming skills.  The prerequisite is the capability to swim over 5 yards without aid.

The class goal is to learn basic freestyle (FR) and backstroke (BK) leading to the ability to swim over 20 yards of each without aid, while maintaining good FR & BK kick.

Passing criteria for Crawler

CRL1:  Push off, glide or kick 2yd without help.

CRL2: Push off and FRkick > 3yd. FRkick > 5yd/w board.

CRL3: FR kicks 10yd /w board, float on back, BK push off, FR kick or swim w/o aid > 5yd.</strong

Teenager Crawler Class:           Max Ratio = 1:6             Class Time: 45min         Age: 10~18

This class is for CRL level students who are older than 9 years old or height at least 4.5 feet, in the large pool.

The instructor will stary inside the water to teach and hand on CRL level swimmers.

Glider Class:           Max Ratio = 1:8             Class Time: 45min         Age: 5~18

This level is designed for proficient swimmers who have already mastered the basics of freestyle and backstroke.

The class goal is to learn breaststroke, improve freestyle and backstroke, improve breathe control, introduce timing on 50yd swims for three strokes, and be able to swim 500+ yds within the 45min class time. The instructor will teach the class inside the large pool to maximally improve the swimmer’s technique with hands on corrections.

Passing criteria for Glider

GLD1:             FR > 25yd;             BK > 25yd:          BR Kicks                       --                           Good FR & BK 500+yd in 45min.

GLD2:             FR > 50yd;             BK > 50yd;          BR > 50yd                     --                           BR kicks / w flexing feetm BK finish.

GLD3:             FR < 1:40;              BK < 1:50;           BR < 2:30;          100 FR < 4:30;         Legal BR kicks & swim.</strong

Advanced Group Lessons

Sprinter Class:           Max Ratio = 1:10             Class Time: 60min         Age: 10~18

The first of Calphin’s advanced levels. This is level is designed for swimmers with strong freestyle, backstroke, and breaststroke who are ready to tackle butterfly (Fly).

The class goal is to learn dolphin kicks, butterfly (Fly), and be able to swim 1000+ yds. within the three formerly learned strokes.  The instructor will teach the class from outside the water.

Passing criteria for Sprinter

SPR1:             FR < 1:30;                     BK < 1:40;                       BR 25yd;                     Dolphin kicks, Good BR timing.                          

SPR2:             FR < 1:20;                    BK < 1:30;                        BR 50 yd;                    1200yd in 1hr, fly streamlines.                           

SPR3:             FR < 1:10;                    BK < 1:20;                        BR < 1:30;                      Fly < 1:40;                      300FR < 9:00; Good FR/BK/BR.

Racer Class:           Max Ratio = 1:12             Class Time: 60min         Age: 10~18

This level is designed for advanced swimmers with a strong understanding of all four strokes.  The class goal is to learn basic competitive swim skills, be able to swim 1200+ yds. with in the 1-hr class time, and enhance all four strokes in strength, stamina, and technique.  The class graduates will be able to swim over 400 yards with decent freestyle and swim 50 yds of all four strokes in decent time/speed. The instructor will teach the class from outside the water.

Passing criteria for Racer

RCR1:             FR < 1:05;                     BK < 1:10;                       BR <1:20;                       Fly < 1:30;                     1400yd in 1 hr, BR & Fly finishes.                          

RCR2:             FR < 1:00;                     BK < 1:05;                       BR < 1:15;                      Fly < 1:15;                     Push-off, BR pulldown, IM turns.                           

RCR3:             FR < 55s;                       BK < 1:00;                        BR < 1:10;                      Fly < 1:05;                     400FR < 9:00; Good FR/BK/BR.

Challenger Class:           Max Ratio = 1:14             Class Time: 60min         Age: 10~18

This level is designed for advanced swimmers ready to learn high level swimming skills.  The class goal is to swim 1500+ yds. within the 1-hr class time, learn racing techniques, improve on swim speed rating times, and improve advanced competitive skills such as racing starts, turns, finishes, and racing stamina. The instructor will teach from outside the water.

Passing criteria for Challenger

CHL1:             FR < 52s;                      BK < 55s;                          BR <1:05;                       Fly < 1:00;                      1600yd in 1 hr.                          

CHL2:             FR < 49s;                      BK < 52s;                          BR < 1:00;                      Fly < 55s;                        Flip turns, dive & BK start.                           

CHL3:             FR < 46s;                      BK < 49s;                          BR < 55s;                        Fly < 52s;                        400IM < 9:00.

Master Class:           Max Ratio = 1:14             Class Time: 60min         Age: 10~18

This class is designed for the highest-level swimmers at Calphin who already have a deep understanding of all four strokes and advanced additional skills.  The class goal is to swim 1700+ yds. within the 1-hr class time, refine all four strokes, improve racing techniques, stamina, speed, racing starts, turns, finishes and eventually approach B+ times (B+ time standards for USA Swimming Boys 10 & under).  Graduates will be ready to race in any local swim meets or competitions.  The instructor will teach the class from outside the water.

Passing criteria for Master

MST1:             FR < 44s;                      BK < 46s;                          BR < 52s;                        Fly < 49s;                      1800yd in 1 hr.                          

MST2:             FR < 42s;                      BK < 44s;                          BR < 49s;                        Fly < 46s;                      refine all competitive skills.                           

MST3:             FR < 40s;                      BK < 42s;                          BR < 46s;                        Fly < 43s;                      400IM < 8:00, 2000+ yd in 1 hr.

Elite Clinic Class:           Max Ratio = 1:14             Class Time: 60min         Age: 10~18

This class is designed for Calphin’s elite who have already demonstrated their skills by graduating from the program.  The class goal is for the graduates, or team swimmers, to continue to refine and perfect their competitive skills on starts, turns, finishes kicks, and all strokes.  The class will help swimmer improve both their overall technique and sprint times.  The instructor will teach the class from outside the water.

Passing criteria for ELITE

ELITE:             FR < 38s;                      BK < 40s;                          BR < 44s;                        Fly < 41s;                      400IM < 7:00, 2200+ yd in 1 hr.                          

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