Our Wimbledon Classes

Our DSA STAGE 1-PRE-CLUB classes are suitable for children aged 3 years and above. Each level has a specific criteria that children should be able to meet in order to attend that class. Children will enter the water unaccompanied by an adult and are for children of all abilities from complete non swimmers to competition swimmers.

Students at Mitcham and Perseid are moved to the next level when their teacher feels they are comfortably able to complete the required criteria to progress. Children at Wimbledon College are moved once they have been tested by our Pool manager at the pool.

Certificates are emailed to customers when children move to the next level.

Please see what to expect from our classes below:

DSA STAGE 1

(3 Years+) (0-5 metres)

(White Caps)

Backpacks/armbands are compulsory until children are deemed confident without
Safe entry and exit from the pool
Confidence building
Demonstrate the correct body position on front
Breathing and blowing techniques (face in the water)
Kicking exercises
Paddling exercises
Unaided Swimming (depending on individual ability)
Introduction to Backstroke
Jumping
- Star Jumps
- Pencil Jumps
Sitting Dives
Floatation
- Star Floats
- Pencil Floats

In order for children to move into our DSA STAGE 2 class they will need to be able to push and glide from the poolside kicking a minimum of 5 metres unaided returning to the poolside Swimming 5 metres demonstrating a Paddling and Kicking action with their face in the water and being able to breath independently.

DSA STAGE 2

(3 Years+) (5-10 metres)

(Red Caps)

Safe entry and exit from the pool
Swimming with alternate arms on front
Maintaining a straight and fast leg kick on front
Chin in the water to breathe eyes in the water to blow
Correct body position on back
Straight leg kicking on back
Alternating straight arms on back
Jumping
- Star Jumps
- Pencil Jumps
Floatation
- Star Floats front and back
- Pencil Floats front and back
- Mushroom Floats
Retrieval of objects from pool floor
Sitting Dives

In order for children to move into our DSA STAGE 3 class they will need to be able to swim a minimum of 10 metres unaided on their front demonstrating alternating arms lifting the head out of the water to breath and putting the face in the water to blow whilst keeping the correct body position and a strong leg kick. Children will also need to swim 10 metres unaided on their back showing the correct body position with straight legs and alternating arms trying to squeeze their ears.

DSA STAGE 3

(3 Years+) (10-25 metres)

(Orange Caps)

Safe entry and exit from the pool
Maintaining the correct body position and leg kick on their front
Demonstrate an understanding breathing to the side on their front
Long alternating arms coming out the water on their front
Practice the correct timing of the stroke on their front
Correct body position showing a strong leg kick with pointy toes on their back
Demonstrate an understanding of their thumb exiting the water 1st and little finger entering the water 1st on their back.
Jumping
- Star Jumps
- Pencil Jumps
Floatation
- Star Floats front and back
- Pencil Floats front and back
- Mushroom Floats
Retrieval of objects from pool floor
Kneeling Dives

In order for children to move into our DSA STAGE 4 class they will need to be able to swim a minimum of 15 metres unaided on their front demonstrating the breathing arm and blowing arm technique whilst maintaining a good position and strong leg kick . Children will also need to swim 15 metres unaided on their back Demonstrating an understanding of their thumb exiting the water 1st and little finger entering the water 1st whilst maintaining the correct body position and a strong leg kick.

DSA STAGE 4

(3years+) (25-50 metres)

(Purple Caps)

Safe entry and exit from the pool
Maintaining the correct body position and leg kick on their front
Show the correct breathing and blowing technique on their front
Perfect the correct timing techniques when swimming on their front
Correct body position showing a strong leg kick on their back
Show a perfect arm action on their back with the thumb exiting the water 1st and little finger entering the water 1st keeping the arms very straight
Understanding of Breastroke
Jumping
- Star Jumps
- Pencil Jumps
- Straddle Jumps
Floatation
- Star Floats front and back
- Pencil Floats front and back
- Mushroom Floats
Retrieval of objects from pool floor
Kneeling Dives

In order for children to move into our DSA STAGE 5 class they will need to be able to swim a minimum of 25 metres unaided on their front showing the correct breathing and blowing technique with the correct timing of the stroke . Children will also need to swim 25 metres unaided on their back keeping their arms moving, brushing their ears with their arms and showing the correct timing of the stroke.

DSA STAGE 5

(3 years+) (50-200m metres)

(Yellow Caps)

Safe entry and exit from the pool
Show the correct timing when swimming on their front
Introduction to bilateral breathing on their front (breathing to both sides every 3 strokes)
Show the correct timing when swimming on their back
Show the correct timing when swimming Breastroke
Holding their glide on Breastroke for a minimum of 2 seconds
Introduction and understanding of Butterfly legs
Stamina building
Jumping
- Star Jumps
- Pencil Jumps
- Straddle Jumps
Floatation
- Star Floats front and back
- Pencil Floats front and back
- Mushroom Floats
Treading water
Retrieval of objects from pool floor
Standing Dives

In order for children to move into our DSA STAGE 6 class they will need to be able to swim a minimum of 100 metres in total. 25 metres unaided on their front showing the correct and perfect timing of the stroke . Children will also need to swim 25 metres unaided on their back showing the correct and perfect timing of the stroke. 50 metres Breastroke demonstrating the correct stroke whilst holding their glide for 2 seconds after each arm and leg kick.

DSA STAGE 6

(3 years+) (200-600 metres)

(Green/Blue Caps)

Safe entry and exit from the pool
Show the correct timing when swimming on their front
bilateral breathing on their front
Show the correct timing when swimming on their back
Show the correct timing when swimming Breastroke
Holding their glide on Breastroke for a minimum of 3 seconds
Show the correct timing when swimming Butterfly
Stamina building whilst swimming lengths of the pool
Introduction to starts and turns on all 4 strokes
Sculing
- Feet first sculling
- Head first sculling
Treading water minimum of 2 minutes
Retrieval of objects from pool floor
Diving from the block at the end of the pool

In order for children to move into our PRE CLUB class they will need to be able to swim a minimum of 600 metres in total. Showing the correct timing and recognisable swimming on all 4 strokes. Children will only be moved into PRE-CLUB sessions at the teachers discretion.

Preliminary Club

(3 years+) (600 metres plus)

Safe entry and exit from the pool
Show the correct timing when swimming on their front
Show the correct timing when swimming on their back
Show the correct timing when swimming Breastroke
Show the correct timing when swimming Butterfly
25 metre sprints all 4 strokes
50 metre sprints all 4 strokes
Using the following equipment
- Kickboard
- Hand paddles
- Pull buoy
- Flippers
Starts and turns on all 4 strokes
- Frontcrawl
- Backstroke
- Breastroke
- Butterfly
Stamina building whilst Swimming for 1 hour
Sculing
- Feet first sculling
- Head first sculling
Treading water minimum of 5 minutes with 1 hand out the water
Racing dives
- Grab Start
- Track start

Once we feel your child has mastered all 4 strokes we will recommend them joining a competition Swimming club. If your child is aged 16 or over and interested in becoming a Swimming Teacher we can look at employing them and become a member of our team.

Our Classes Wimbledon