1. Breath Holding. Face fully submerged, breath to be held at least ten seconds.
This is often the most significant barrier to overcome when a person is learning to swim. If you are faced with teaching this honor to a child who is fearful of getting his face wet, you must be patient. It may take multiple sessions at the pool (or wherever the lessons are taught). Here are some things to try:
Don't go under - As a preliminary step have the child hold his breath without going under the water.
Goggles - make sure they fit well. Sometimes the fear of getting the face wet is limited to only the eyes.
Rewards - sometimes the offer of a reward will motivate a child to overcome his fear. Follow through, and do not offer a reward you cannot bestow.
Swimming pool - pools are less threatening than lakes, rivers, ponds, or oceans.
Do not try these:
Berating - this will only make the child feel worse.
Comparing to another child - this could strain the child's relationship with the person to whom he is compared.
Force - do not throw a child into the water or force his head under.
Dole out plenty of praise for every small success. He may not go under for the full ten seconds until after several attempts. Tell him you will tap him on the shoulder when the ten seconds are up (and then do it).
In difficult cases it is tempting to gloss over this step, but doing so is a huge mistake. The child must become comfortable in the water and overcome the fear over getting his face wet. Otherwise, he may attempt to keep his face above the surface when learning the next phases. This makes swimming exceedingly difficult and will only serve as a discouragement as the child advances. Master the basics first.
2. Rhythmic Breathing. Alternately inhale through the mouth above the surface and exhale through the mouth and nose, with head completely submerged, ten times rhythmically and continuously.
3. Prone Float. In waist-deep water lie face down on the water and return to standing position without assistance or support.
4. Prone Glide. Push off face down in waist-deep water, take a prone position, glide a distance of at least two body lengths, and recover to a standing position.
5. Supine Float. Assume a supine floating position face up in waist-deep water, hold the position with the face above water for at least ten seconds, and return to a standing position unaided.
6. Supine Glide. From a position in waist-deep water, with arms at sides, sit back, push off, glide a distance of at least one body length, and resume standing position in a confident and easy manner.
7. Kick Glide on the Front. In waist-deep water push off in prone gliding position, pick up the beginner's leg stroke in a smooth and unhurried manner, and kick a distance of three body lengths before resuming standing position.
8. Kick Glide on the Back. In waist-deep water take a supine gliding position, using the beginner's leg stroke while supine for a distance of three body lengths, and recover to standing position with ease.
9. Arm Stroke. (Human Stroke or Dog Paddle) In waist-deep water assume a prone position with face buried and, with legs trailing or kicking gently, do the arm stroke in series, pull and recover the arms, and make progress thereby.
10. Arm Stroke Supine. In waist-deep water start back glide, then propel self using "fin" method.
11. Combine Stroke on the Front. In water of standing depth swim a coordinated beginner's stroke continuously for a distance of 20 to 25 yards (18.3 to 22.9 meters).
12. Combine Stroke on the Back. In water of standing depth swim a minimum distance of ten yards comfortably and somewhat easily using finning and the beginner's flutter kick in combination.
13. Change of Direction. In water of standing depth start swimming the beginner's stroke prone and, in stroke, make an abrupt right angle turn. Repeat the test, making a turn to the left. Finally, demonstrate ability to make a complete turn.
14. Turning Over. Start swimming prone in water chest deep. From the front swimming position, roll onto the back and remain there floating motionless or resting in a floating position, then resume swimming position and continue swimming.
15. Leveling Off. Wade to position in neck-deep water, then turn and face the shallow water. With a minimum of push-off from the bottom, swim to waist-deep water before standing.
16. Survival Float. Start in deep water over the head; assume the resting position with the body vertical in the water and the face also in the water; by motion of the arms and legs, raise the head out of the water; exhale and inhale and resume resting position.
17. Feet Foremost Jump Into Waist-deep Water. This test should finish with a glide, a kick glide, or the combined beginner's stroke prone.
18. Jump Into Deep Water, Level, and Swim.
19. Plain Front Header. This test should be done from a solid deck at a low elevation over water neck deep. Finish by emerging and swimming a little way along the surface.
20. Jump into deep water, level off, and swim 15 yards (13.7 meters). Without stopping or touching, turn about and swim back to the starting point.
21. Do a plain front header from a deck or dock, level off, and swim 15 yards (13.7 meters), turn about, and start swimming back. Halfway back, turn to the supine position and rest either motionless or with gentle paddling movements for 15 seconds. Turn back again to front swimming position and swim to starting point.
22. On land, demonstrate the proper way to put on a personal flotation device.
23. Show how to release a cramp from a survival float position in neck-deep water and progress to deep water.
24. From a deck or dock do an arm and leg extension rescue. Do an extension rescue using a pole, towel, or shirt.
25. Demonstrate artificial respiration.
26. Know the causes of and methods for the prevention of accidents that can occur in or near the water.
