Our Swimming Awards

Duckling 1

• Make a supervised safe entry with adult support

• Kick 2 metres on the back with adult support

• Float on the back with adult support behind the head

• Blow bubbles at the water surface

• Wet the head without submersion

• Travel without assistance 2 metres to a floating object

Duckling 2

• Make a sitting entry with adult support

• Blow an object for a distance of 2 metres

• Using a baby seat or other buoyancy aid, rotate through 180 degrees without assistance

• Move 5 metres along the rail or wall without assistance

• Travel 3 metres using arms and/or legs without assistance

• Submerge the face with confidence

Duckling 3

• Make a supervised jump to an adult with or without support

• Kick 5 metres on the front holding a float (the adult may hold the other end of the float)

• Blow bubbles with the mouth underwater

• Float on front OR back without adult support

• Travel 5 metres on the front to the side of the pool

• Show a torpedo shape on front or back when pushed to a partner

Duckling 4

• Jump unaided, but supervised, into the water

• Submerge completely

• Rotate through 360 degrees either horizontally or vertically

• Show a mushroom OR a star float

• Travel without assistance 10 metres on the front OR back

• Climb out of the water with assistance if required

Stage 1

1. Enter the water safely.

2. Move forward for a distance of 5 metres, feet may be on or off the floor.

3. Move backwards for a distance of 5 metres, feet may be on or off the floor.

4. Move sideways for a distance of 5 metres, feet may be on or off the floor.

5. Scoop the water and wash the face.

6. Be comfortable with water showered from overhead.

7. Move from a flat floating position on the back and return to standing.

8. Move from a flat floating position on the front and return to standing.

9. Push and glide in a flat position on the front from a wall.

10. Push and glide in a flat position on the back from a wall.

11. Give examples of two pool rules.

12. Exit the water safely.

Stage 2

1. Jump in from poolside safely to a minimum depth of 1.0 metre.

2. Blow bubbles a minimum of three times rhythmically, with nose and mouth submerged.

3. Move from a flat floating position on the back and return to standing without support.

4. Move from a flat floating position on the front and return to standing without support.

5. Push from a wall and glide on the back – arms can be by the side or above the head.

6. Push from a wall and glide on the front with arms extended.

7. Travel using a recognised leg action with feet off the pool floor on the back for 5 metres.

8. Travel using a recognised leg action with feet off the pool floor on the front for 5 metres.

9. Perform a tuck to rotate from a flat floating position on the front, to a back floating position, then return to standing.

10. Perform a tuck to rotate from a flat floating position on the back, to a front floating position, then return to standing.

11. Perform a log roll from the back to the front.

12. Perform a log roll from the front to the back.

13. Exit the water without support.

Stage 3

1. Jump in from poolside and submerge to a minimum depth of 1.0 metre.

2. Sink, push away from wall and maintain a streamlined position.

3. Push and glide on the front with arms extended and log roll onto the back.

4. Push and glide on the back with arms extended and log roll onto the front.

5. Travel 5 metres on the front, perform a tuck to rotate onto the back and return on the back.

6. Fully submerge to pick up an object.

7. Answer correctly three questions on the Water Safety Code.

8. Push and glide and travel 10 metres on the back.

9. Push and glide and travel 10 metres on the front.

10. Perform a tuck float and hold for three seconds.

11. Exit the water without using steps.

Stage 4

1. Perform a sequence of changing shapes (minimum of three) whilst floating on the surface and demonstrate an understanding of floating.

2. Push and glide from the wall towards the pool floor.

3. Kick 10 metres backstroke (one item of equipment optional).

4. Kick 10 metres front crawl (one item of equipment optional).

5. Kick 10 metres butterfly on the front or on the back.

6. Kick 10 metres breaststroke on the front (one item of equipment optional).

7. Perform a head first sculling action for 5 metres in a flat position on the back.

8. Travel on back and log roll in one continuous movement onto front.

9. Travel on front and log roll in one continuous movement onto back.

10. Push and glide and swim 10 metres, choice of stroke is optional.

Stage 5

1. Perform a flat stationary scull on the back.

2. Perform a feet first sculling action for 5 metres in a flat position on the back.

3. Perform a sculling sequence with a partner for 30-45 seconds to include a rotation.

4. Tread water for 30 seconds.

5. Perform three different shaped jumps into deep water.

6. Push and glide and swim 10 metres backstroke (performed to Swim England expected standards).

7. Push and glide and swim 10 metres front crawl (performed to Swim England expected standards).

8. Push and glide and swim 10 metres breaststroke (performed to Swim England expected standards).

9. Push and glide and swim 10 metres butterfly (performed to Swim England expected standards).

10. Perform a handstand and hold for a minimum of three seconds.

11. Perform a forward somersault.

12. Demonstrate an action for getting help.

Stage 6

1. Demonstrate an understanding of preparation for exercise

2. Sink, push off on side from the wall, glide, kick & rotate into Backstroke

3. Sink, push off on side from the wall, glide, kick & rotate into Front Crawl

4. Swim 10 metres with clothes on

5. Swim Front Crawl to include at least six rhythmical breaths

6. Swim Breastroke to include at least six rhythmical breaths

7. Swim Butterfly to include at least three rhythmical breaths

8. Swim 25 metres, choice of stroke is optional

9. Perform a shout & signal recue

10. Perform a surface dive

11. Exit the water without using steps.

Stage 7

1. Push and glide and swim 25 metres backstroke (performed to Swim England expected standards).

2. Push and glide and swim 25 metres front crawl (performed to Swim England expected standards).

3. Push and glide and swim 25 metres breaststroke (performed to Swim England expected standards).

4. Push and glide and swim 25 metres butterfly (performed to Swim England expected standards).

5. Perform a movement sequence (linking skills with strokes and sculls) of one minute duration, in a group of three or more, incorporating a number of the following skills:Sculling: head first, feet first

6. Rotation: forward or backward somersault, log roll

7. Floating: star on the front or on the back, tuck float, create own

8. Eggbeater: Moving, lifting one or both arms out of the water

9. Perform a sitting dive or dive.

10. Push and glide and swim 50 metres continuously using one stroke (performed to Swim England expected standards).

11. Push and glide and swim 100 metres, using a minimum of three different strokes (performed to Swim England expected standards).

12. Tread water using eggbeater action for 30 seconds.

13. Complete an obstacle course (using minimum of four objects) with feet off the pool floor throughout.

Stage 8

1. Complete a set lasting 400 metres (e.g. 16 x 25 metres, 8 x 50 metres, 4 x 100 metres) on a specific turnaround time agreed by the teacher or coach (e.g. 1.00 minutes for each 25 metres) with a focus on stroke technique and consistency.

2. Swim 400 metres continuously using one stroke.

3. Push and streamline then kick 25 metres backstroke with or without using a board.

4. Push and streamline then kick 25 metres breaststroke with or without using a board.

5. Push and streamline then kick 25 metres butterfly without using a board.

6. Push and streamline then kick 25 metres front crawl with or without using a board.

7. Perform a backstroke turn from 10 metres in to 15 metres out.

8. Perform a breaststroke turn from 10 metres in to 15 metres out.

9. Perform a butterfly turn from 10 metres in to 15 metres out.

10. Perform a front crawl turn from 10 metres in to 15 metres out.

11. Perform a dive track or grab start, and kick butterfly underwater in a streamlined position for 5 metres with the focus on progressing it to 10 metres.*

*Delivery will depend on the pool design and facilities available.

Stage 9

1. Complete a set lasting 800 metres (either 16 x 50 metres, 8 x 100 metres, 4 x 200 metres) on a specific turnaround time as agreed by the teacher or coach (e.g. 1.30 minutes for 50 metres) with a focus on stroke technique and consistency.

2. Swim 800 metres continuously using one stroke.

3. Swim a continuous 100 metre individual medley (4 x 25 metres) using recognised turns with a focus on stroke technique and consistency.

4. Perform a 15 metre underwater kick on front from a push and glide in a streamlined position.

5. Perform a backstroke start then butterfly kick in a streamlined position underwater up to a maximum of 15 metres from the start point (wall). Transfer into stroke and complete the remainder of the 25 metres.*

6. Perform a front crawl start then kick in a streamlined position underwater up to a maximum of 15 metres from the start point (wall). Transfer into stroke and complete the remainder of the 25 metres.*

7. Perform a butterfly start then kick in a streamlined position up to a maximum of 15 metres from the start point (wall). Transfer into stroke and complete the remainder of the 25 metres.*

8. Perform a breaststroke start then perform a one and a half pull underwater. Transfer into stroke and complete the remainder of the 25 metres.*

*Delivery will depend on the pool design and facilities available.

Stage 10

1. Complete a set lasting 1600 metres (either 16 x 100 metres, 8 x 200 metres, 4 x 400 metres) on a specific timed turnaround set by the teacher or coach (e.g. 2.30 minutes for 100 metres), focus on stroke technique and consistency.

2. Swim 1500 metres continuously using one stroke.

3. Perform a continuous 100 metre individual medley kick (4 x 25 metres) without using a kick board.

4. Swim a continuous 200 metre individual medley (4 x 50 metres) using recognised turns.

5. Perform a front crawl relay take over – as an incoming swimmer.

6. Perform a front crawl relay take over – as an outgoing swimmer.