Starfish focuses on building a foundation of relaxation, safety, and a love of the water for swimmers ages 2 and up. At Gold Medal Swim School, we believe if a student is comfortable and feels secure in the water, they will learn and acquire new skills more effectively. Our instructors help students warm up to the water at their own pace, transition to instruction away from the parent, and acquire skills willingly and quickly.
Student Goals
Starfish students learn to independently back float, swim to the wall and exit the pool, and acquire numerous underwater swimming techniques. Emphasis is placed on safety, survival skills, and independence with adult supervision. On graduation day, students jump in the pool with street clothes, turnaround, and swim back to the wall independently!
Seahorse classes are all about kicking and our Propulsion Core Value! The focus is on air regulation, correct body position, and maintaining proper relaxation during both belly and back kicking drills. After these techniques are mastered, stroke work is easily introduced.
Student Goals
Seahorse swimmers learn to kick fast with proper technique for forward propulsion and master air regulation through varied breathing exercises, including learning to swim to the bottom of the pool. On graduation day, students jump in the pool with street clothes and shoes and kick 30 feet on their backs!
Dolphin allows students to further their underwater swimming abilities, achieve mastery in Backstroke, and develop competency in Freestyle.
Student Goals
Dolphin students learn to use their “big arms” and roll to their backs to breathe, readying themselves for the side-breathing technique necessary in Freestyle. Students continue to develop their kick while stacking backstroke drills to improve their first stroke. Dolphin students are eligible for Summer Swim Team Participation.
Seal classes work to achieve mastery in Freestyle and side-breathing while improving Backstroke skills and introducing Butterfly.
Student Goals
Seal students master “big arms” and use side-breathing effectively. They are introduced to the basics of the Butterfly kick (wiggles!) and continue to practice Backstroke. Seal students are eligible for Summer Swim Team Participation.
Stingray focuses on learning the mechanics of Butterfly and Breaststroke and align them with proper timing and breathing. When students graduate from Stingray, they are competent in all four strokes and ready for the challenge of building stamina and increasing distance on Swim Team.
Student Goals
Stingray students develop proper breathing and timing of Butterfly and Breaststroke while refining techniques used in Backstroke and Freestyle. Students completing Stingray have competency in all four strokes. Stingray students are eligible for Summer Swim Team Participation.