Hilton-Parma Parks and Recreation
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Swim Instruction

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Girl with goggles.
We are very excited to again partner with Varsity Swim Coach Jeff Sadowski and his Varsity swimmers to provide instructional swim lessons for all abilities, ages 4 and older. The levels can be found online and are loosely based on the Red Cross guidelines for swim lessons. Each level is described as accurately as possible, but some adjustments may be necessary in order to place your child in the proper level. Any physical limitations should be noted upon registration. All youth will be tested for swimming ability during the first class.

See level descriptions below (the suggested rule is to underestimate your child’s abilities).

NOTES: Classes generally include 20-30 minutes of instruction and up to 10 minutes of free time. Parents may enter the Merton Williams aquatics doors (around the back of the school), sign their child in with an instructor, and come back at the end of class to pick up their swimmer. There will be multiple lifeguards and instructors on hand. Instructors will verify the ability of each participant during the first class. It is recommended that participants come ready to swim with swim clothing on prior to entering the building. Classes may be added, split, or combined based on registration. Pool temperature is between 78-82 degrees.

Instruction Swim Level Descriptions
  • Level 1: Introduction to Water Skills - For a beginner to get comfortable and familiar with being in the water with assistance. Focus skills: water entry and exit, bobbing and breath control, going underwater, front and back floating, rolling from front to back/back to front in the water, gliding from the wall, and assisted flutter kick.
  • Level 2: Fundamental Aquatic Skills – For a swimmer who can independently enter and exit the water safely and comfortable with putting their face underwater. Focus skills: independent floating and rolling from front to back/back to front, flutter kick on front and back, freestyle arms, backstroke arms, retrieving underwater objects, and jumping into water over their head.
  • Level 3: Stroke Progression – For a swimmer who is independent and comfortable with freestyle and backstroke in the water. Focus skills with total independence: gliding, freestyle with bilateral breathing, backstroke, breaststroke and dolphin kicks, retrieving objects in deep water, treading water, and compact dives.
  • Level 4: Advanced Skills – For a swimmer who can independently swim 1 length of the pool freestyle and 1 length of the pool backstroke. Focus skills: Breaststroke arms with legs, adding rotation to freestyle and backstroke, Butterfly arms with legs, kneeling and standing dives.
  • Adaptive Swim Lessons - Adapted Swim Lessons are designed for children with disabilities who may require more of a one-on-one and controlled atmosphere. These lessons are facilitated by our Head Boys and Girls Varsity Swim Coach Jeff Sadowski, and Head JV Girls Swim Coach Kristi Lane. Jeff has coached swimming for over 17 years, and Kristi is a certified adapted physical education teacher in the Hilton School District and has 10 years of coaching and teaching students with a variety of disabilities. The lessons will be focused on the following skills: water exploration, functional fitness and stability work, swimming stroke work and skills in the water, and water safety.

* Adjustments and discounts will be applied during checkout if applicable. *

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