• Safe unaided entry/exit to and from the pool without the use of steps
• Put face in the water for three secs, blowing bubbles
• Completely submerge without goggles
• Kick through the water on front – with two floats
• Kick through the water on back – with two floats
• Swim half width on front rollover to half width on back – with a noodle
• Star float on front with assistance and face in the water
• Star float on back with assistance and ears in the water
• Jump into shallow water (0.9m minimum) with support if necessary

• Submerge three times blowing bubbles without goggles – only one breath between submersions
• Push and glide on front – hold glide for three secs
• Swim one width of front paddle confidently with face in the water, demonstrating lifting head to breathe
• Push and glide on back – hold glide for three secs
• Swim one width of back paddle confidently
• Half width on front rollover to half width on back – unaided
• Swim five metres breaststroke kick with two floats
• Tuck float – hold for three secs
• Jump into shallow water (0.9m minimum) confidently and unaided

• Safe entry/exit to and from the pool without the use of steps
• Put face in the water for three secs, blowing bubbles
• Completely submerge without goggles
• Kick through the water on front – with two floats
• Front paddle with a noodle – face in the water blowing bubbles
• Kick through the water on back – with two floats
• Breaststroke kick for five metres on back – with two floats
• Swim half width on front rollover to half width on back – with a noodle
• Star float on front with assistance and face in the water
• Star float on back with assistance and ears in the water
• Jump into shallow water (0.9m minimum) with support if necessary

To join Beginner 2, you’ll need to have completed the Non-Swimmer 1 criteria.

• Submerge three times blowing bubbles without goggles – only one breath between submersions
• Push and glide on front – hold glide for three secs
• Front paddle with face in the water – demonstrating lifting head to breathe – one width confidently
• Push and glide on back – hold glide for three secs
• Back paddle – one width confidently
• Front and back paddle – introduction of arms when nearly ready to move up
• Half width on front rollover to half width on back
• Swim five metres breaststroke kick with two floats on front
• Mushroom float unaided – hold for three secs
• Star float on front unaided –for three secs
• Star float on back unaided –for three secs
• Jump into shallow water (0.9m minimum) and swim back to the side confidently and unaided

Once you’ve finished Non-Swimmer 2, you’re ready to dive into Swimmer 1!

• Good front crawl leg kick for five metres – arms extended
• Swim ten metres front crawl confidently in deep water (1.8m minimum)
• Good backstroke leg kick for five metres – hands by sides
• Swim ten metres backstroke confidently in deep water (1.8m minimum)
• Swim five metres breaststroke leg kick with feet turned out on back – with two floats
• Swim five metres breaststroke leg kick with feet turned out on Front – with two floats
• Swim five metres breaststroke showing use of arms and legs
• Jump into deep water confidently and unaided (1.8m minimum) and tread water for 20 seconds
• Pick up an object from the bottom of the pool (minimum 0.9m) without goggles
• Star floats front and back in deep water
• Mushroom floats in deep water

You’re all set for Swimmer 2 once you’ve completed the Swimmer 1 criteria.

• Swim ten metres front crawl legs with one float demonstrating a good side- breathing action
• Swim ten metres front crawl with side breathing
• Swim ten metres backstroke with an over arm recovery and good body position
• Swim ten metres breaststroke leg kick with feet turned out on front – with two floats
• Swim ten metres breaststroke with feet turned out and good coordination of arms and legs – with good breathing
• Swim five metres dolphin kick with hands by side
• Pencil, star and tuck jump into deep water without goggles
• Headfirst surface dive to retrieve an object from the bottom of the pool (minimum 1.4m) (without goggles once confident)
• Swim five metres headfirst sculling
• Jump into deep water and tread water for 30 secs – 360 degrees turn after 15 secs

• Swim 30 metres basic front crawl with regular side breathing
• Swim 30 metres basic backstroke
• Swim 20 metres breaststroke showing correct timing of breathing
• Swim 10 metres dolphin-leg kick
• Straddle entry without goggles
• Push and glide into a forward somersault
• Tread water for one minute
• Swim five metres feet first sculling

• Swim 60 metres front crawl with good technique
• Swim 60 metres backstroke with good technique
• Swim 30 metres breaststroke with good breathing and timing
• Swim ten metres basic butterfly
• Swim 100 metres continuous of any stroke
• Crouch dive without goggles
• Straddle entry and tread water for one minute
• Tread water for 30 secs demonstrating an eggbeater leg action
• Swim five metres front crawl and somersault

• Push and streamline then kick 20 metres backstroke with or without using a board
• Push and streamline then kick 20 metres breaststroke with or without using a board
• Push and streamline then kick 20 metres butterfly without using a board
• Push and streamline then kick 20 metres front crawl with or without using a board
• Perform a backstroke touch turn from 10 metres
• Perform a breaststroke turn from 10 metres
• Perform a front crawl turn from 10 metres
• Perform a 10-metre underwater kick on front from a push and glide in a streamlined position
• Swim 400 metres continuously using one stroke
• Rookie Bronze Level 1
• Rookie Bronze Level 2
• Rookie Bronze Level 3

• Perform a butterfly turn from 10 metres
• Swim a continuous 200 metre competition individual medley using recognised turns with a focus on stroke technique and consistency
• Perform a backstroke start with underwater phase
• Perform a front crawl start with underwater phase
• Perform a butterfly start with underwater phase
• Perform a breaststroke start with underwater phase
• Swim 800 metres continuously using one stroke (assessed twice termly)
• Rookie Bronze Level 1
• Rookie Bronze Level 2
• Rookie Bronze Level 3