Swim School Curriculum

Oceanus Swimming offers small-group classes according to the following levels, from beginner to a swimmer preparing to compete.

Learn the details of our offerings below:

Tadpole

Introduction to the basic skills necessary for swimming. For nervous or fearful students. We work on head submersion, front/back body balance, and great attitudes. Many children take this class multiple times, especially if the term duration is five weeks.

Specific focus:

  • Flutter kick stationary (wall)
  • Balance via prone/dorsal position (wall)
  • Up/down breathing mechanism (inhale/exhale); 15 cycles minimum
  • Jump entry
  • Merger of prone body position and breathing mechanism, stationary
  • Back Kick stationary (wall)

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Goldfish

Must be comfortable with head underwater and executing breathing mechanism. We’ll build on this via rotary breathing, kick-based propulsion, and independence in the water.

Specific focus:

  • Rotary (inhale/exhale) vs. up/down breathing, three cycle minimum
  • Dorsal/Back kick locomotive with barbell/noodle/solo progression
  • Flutter kick with board, no breathing mechanism
  • Merge flutter kick and breathing mechanism, locomotive
  • Independent, non-anchored prone (stomach) floatation with breathing mechanism
  • Independent, non-anchored dorsal (back) floatation

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Jellyfish

Must be able to take three consecutive breaths unassisted and independent balance/floatation, both prone (stomach) and dorsal (back). We focus on building strength, confidence, and self-sufficiency in the water.

Specific focus:

  • Back arms: 20, 15, 10, 5 kicks/1 stroke
  • Freestyle Catchup stationary (wall); transition to Freestyle Catchup locomotive with barbell, noodle, instructor’s arm, solo
  • Flutter kick w/board, incrementally longer distances
  • Back Kick streamlined, incrementally longer distances

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Octopus

Must be comfortable on their backs and able to work the width of the pool. We focus on big-arm freestyle with side breathing, and backstroke. Many children take this class multiple times, especially if the term duration is five weeks.

Specific focus:

  • Freestyle drills/parts to whole (catchup, 5-20, breathe bad side, etc.)
  • Freestyle drills/kicking/swimming with snorkels
  • Flip-turn introduction: somersaults
  • Backstroke drills/parts to whole (10 kicks/1 stroke, two hands, no feet, kick on side, etc.)
  • Back turn introduction (six strokes, rollover, somersault)
  • Free/Back kick incrementally longer distances

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Lobster

Must have solid freestyle and backstroke skills. We focus on all four strokes, endurance and speed for short distances.

Specific focus:

  • Segue into fly/breast (short axis) strokes
  • Further honing of freestyle and backstroke balance, skills, and related endurance
  • Added endurance via longer class duration

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Intro to Competitive Swimming

Exposure to and basic familiarity with all four competitive strokes required. Many children take this class multiple times, especially if the term duration is five weeks. Following successful completion, our staff can make competitive team try-out recommendations.

Specific focus:

  • General kicking and swimming endurance
  • Improved swimming vocabulary
  • Starts/Dives introduction and refinement
  • Individual stroke and IM (individual medley) transition turn introduction/refinement
  • Short distance speed generation, all strokes

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Contact Us

Phone, Address, and Email Address for Oceanus Swimming
Phone: (781) 316-2557
Address: 16 Rockmont Road
Arlington, Massachusetts 02474
Email: oceanus-swimming.com