Pool > Lessons > Stages 1-9

Comprised of 9 distinct stages, children go from the use of swimming aids, to being able to confidently swim unaided. The stages are outlined in detail below:

NPTS Stage 1 - TADPOLES

The use of aids is permitted throughout this stage except 12, 13 + 14
  1. Enter the water safely showing a walk in, swivel and jump in entry
  2. Exit the water safely
  3. Show an understanding of pool rules
  4. Comfortable with face in the water and demonstrate the ability to blow bubbles
  5. Push and Glide on Front - Flat body position and face in the water
  6. Push and Glide on Back - Flat body position 
  7. Star Float Front and Back - Flat body position for both
  8. Swim 10m on Front - flat body position and attempting face in the water
  9. Swim 10m on Back - flat body position 
  10. Be Confident submerging under water 
  11. Demonstrate Simultanioues leg action (Breaststroke)
  12. Travel 5m Forwards (feet on or off the floor) NO AIDS
  13. Travel 5m Backwards (feet on or off the floor) NO AIDS
  14. Travel 10m (feet on or off the floor) NO AIDS 

NPTS Stage 2 - FROGS

    The use of aids is permitted for numbers 1 - 6 ONLY the rest is Unaided 
    1. 5m basic Breaststroke leg action
    2. 10m correct Frontcrawl leg action
    3. 10m correct Backstroke leg action
    4. Demonstrate Breaststroke arm action
    5. Demonstrate Frontcrawl arm action (overarm recovery)
    6. Demonstrate Backstroke arm action (overarm recovery)
    7. Push and Glide on front - flat body position and face in water
    8. Push and Glide on back - flat body position 
    9. Star float front and back - flat body position for both
    10. Kick 10m on back - flat body position
    11. Swim 5m on front using arms and legs (attempting overarm recovery) and demonstrating the ability to breathe 
    12. Swim on front - roll onto back unsupported and kick legs on back in flat body position
    13. Junp in unassisted
    14. Demonstrate number 10, 11, 12 +13 in the main pool 

    NPTS Stage 3 - STARFISH

      WITOUT THE USE OF AIDS unless specified 
      1. Jump in and fully submerge - without assistance return to the wall 
      2. From in the pool - fully submerge to collect an object from the bottom
      3. Swim 5m on front - unsupported roll onto back and swim 5m on back 
      4. Swim 5m on back - unsupported roll onto front and swim 5m on front 
      5. 10m Breaststroke leg action with aids
      6. 10m Frontcrawl leg kick demonstrating side breathing with aids 
      7. Perform a tuck float for 5 seconds 
      8. Demonstrate Dolphin leg action
      9. Swim 5m Basic Breaststroke with some breathing
      10. Swim 10m Basic Frontcrawl with some breathing
      11. Swim 10m Basic Backstroke 
      12. Swim 5m choice stroke in deep water 

                    NPTS Stage 4 - SEAHORSES

                      1. Perform a sequence of floats without any support
                      2. Perform 3 different jumps into deep water and fully submerge 
                      3. Push and Glide from the pool wall towards the pool floor 
                      4. Push and Glide into a forward somersault 
                      5. Tread water - upright position with head above water - for 30 seconds 
                      6. 5m head first sculling - flat body position 
                      7. 5m Dolphin kick on front
                      8. 5m Dolphin kick on back
                      9. Swim 10m correct Breaststroke with correct breathing 
                      10. Swim 10m correct Frontcrawl with correct side breathing 
                      11. Swim 10m correct Backstroke 

                                        NPTS Stage 5 - SEALIONS

                                        1. Tread water in an upright position with head above water for 60 seconds 
                                        2. Perform a forward somersault without the use of the wall
                                        3. Perform a handstand - vertical body position - hold for 5 seconds
                                        4. 10m head first sculling - flat body position 
                                        5. 10m feet first sculling - flat body position 
                                        6. 10m Dolphin Kick Front and Back 
                                        7. Demonstrate Butterfly type simultaneous arm action 
                                        8. Swim 15m Breaststroke - correct breathing and timing 
                                        9. Swim 15m Frontcrawl correct stroke 
                                        10. Swim 15m correct Backstroke 
                                        11. Swim 25m choice stroke - correct stroke 

                                        NPTS Stage 6 - SHARKS

                                        1. Perform a straddle jump into deep water in clothes 
                                        2. Swim 10m in clothes, choice stroke - NO GOGGLES
                                        3. Tread water in clothes - vertical body position + head above water - 30 seconds 
                                        4. Perform a shout and signal rescue 
                                        5. Perform a head first surface dive 
                                        6. Perform a feet first surface dive
                                        7. Perform a kneeling dive 
                                        8. Push and Glide into 10m Butterfly - correct stroke 
                                        9. Push and Glide into 25m Breaststroke - correct stroke and correct finish (2 hand touch)
                                        10. Push and Glide into 25m Frontcrawl - correct stroke 
                                        11. Push and Glide into 25m Backstroke - correct stroke and correct finish (finish on back)
                                        12. Push and Glide into 50m choice stroke - correct stroke 

                                        NPTS Stage 7 - DOLPHINS

                                        1. Perform a dive from a standing position - showing controlled flight and entry 
                                        2. Demonstrate Egg Beater leg action and tread water using this for 30 seconds 
                                        3. Complete an obstacle course without using the bottom of the pool or the wall 
                                        4. Swim 10m on frint, perform a forward somersault and then continue swimming 
                                        5. Push and Glide into 25m Butterfly showing overarm recovery and breathing 
                                        6. Push and Glide into 50m Breaststroke - correct stroke and finish at each end (2 hand touch)
                                        7. Push and Glide into 50m Frontcrawl correct stroke 
                                        8. Push and Glide into 50m Backstroke - finishing both lengths on back 
                                        9. Push and Glide into 100m (4 lengths) continuously using one stroke (choice of stroke) correct stroke throughout 
                                        10. Push and Glide into 200m (8 lengths) continuously using three strokes - correct strokes throughout 

                                        NPTS Stage 8 - Bronze

                                        1. Swim 200m/400m continuously using two recognised strokes to an efficiant standard
                                        2. Kick 50m Backstroke without a board in a streamlined position
                                        3. Kick 50m Breastroke with/without using a board
                                        4. Kick 50m Frontcrawl with/without using a board
                                        5. Kick 25m Butterfly without using a board
                                        6. Push and Streamline, underwater kick, 100m Frontcrawl including a tuble turn
                                        7. Push and Streamline, underwater kick, 100m Backstroke include Backstroke turn
                                        8. Push and Streamline, including pull down sequence to breakout, swim 50m Breastroke with correct finish
                                        9. Push and Streamline to underwater undualation, swim 25m Butterfly
                                        10. 8 x 50m Frontcrawl and own choice using pace clock
                                        11. Track start into all strokes
                                        12. 6 x 100m including Front crawl and own choice using pace clock

                                        NPTS Stage 9 - Silver

                                        1. 400m Front crawl, efficient start, swim, turns, transitions and finish
                                        2. 200m Bacstroke, efficient start, swim, turns, transitions and finish
                                        3. 200m Breastroke, efficient start, swim, turns, transitions and finish
                                        4. 50m Butterfly, efficient start, swim, turns, transistions and finish
                                        5. 100m IM Kick
                                        6. Sets of 50m kick with/without board, all strokes using pace clock
                                        7. 100m IM efficient start, swim, correct transitions to each stroke
                                        8. Track start to correct underwater sequence and breakout
                                        9. Frontcrawl drills
                                        10. Backstroke drills
                                        11. Breastroke drills
                                        12. Butterfly drills
                                        13. 16 x 50m - mix of all strokes using pace clock
                                        14. 8 x 100m IM using pace clock