 Dashing Dolphins
5 years old & up
This level transitions students from safety swimming with the rollover breath to competitive beginner freestyle techniques. The gross motor skills of our students in this level are challenged (especially for our younger students) as they must maintain simultaneous movements of head, arms, and legs. Proper breath control technique is stressed as these students move into building endurance. Technical breakdown of the freestyle stroke also begins at this level.
o Prerequisite: swimming 20 feet and achieving independent breaths, independent floats, intermediate propulsion techniques
o Final Goal: Unilateral side breathing 30 feet, streamline kicks, back kicks, windmill arms, 6 beat kick.
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 Blazing Barracudas
6 years old & up
Blazing Barracudas transition the unilateral side breathing learned in the Dashing Dolphin level into the traditional freestyle stroke, which is bilateral side breathing to both sides. In addition to refining freestyle technique, our teachers continue to build the endurance of their students. Also, the Elementary Backstroke is taught from start to finish in this level. This stroke is a safety stroke rather than a competitive stroke, but is essential if ever caught in an open water situation.
o Prerequisite: Swimming 30 feet with several unilateral side breaths, back kicks 25 feet
o Final Goal: Bilateral breathing freestyle 60 feet, bent arm recovery, streamline into freestyle, elementary backstroke 40 feet.
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 Mighty Makos
7 years old & up
The Mighty Mako class extends the swim distance to laps of the entire length of the pool (75 feet). Freestyle endurance is built as students learn to maintain their stroke technique as the tire. The breaststroke is taught from start to finish in this level. In addition to stroke technique, freestyle and breaststroke starts and turns and speed techniques are introduced.
o Prerequisite: Swimming freestyle with bilateral breathing and bent arm recovery 60 feet & elementary backstroke 40 feet.
o Final Goal: Several laps of rhythmic breathing freestyle with refined technique, mastery of breaststroke including the whip kick, arms, and timing.
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Speedy Stingrays
7 years old & up
This class introduces the two remaining strokes into our curriculum, backstroke and butterfly. Though back kicks have been introduced in previous levels, backstroke arms are taught and butterfly is taught from start to finish. Not only is stroke technique emphasized, but endurance is stressed as the students begin medley swims involving all four strokes. Though freestyle and breaststroke have been taught in previous levels, those strokes are still practiced within this level.
o Prerequisite: 2 laps of rhythmic breathing freestyle and 1 lap of breaststroke
o Final Goals: Swim competitive backstroke and butterfly 80 feet.
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 Super Otter
8 years old & up
As our most advanced level, Super Otters work on the mastery of all four competitive strokes: freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly. Lung capacity and muscle strength are increased as these students combine consistent laps of swimming all four strokes. We utilize drills similar to swim team workouts to increase correct stroke techniques and endurance. Starts, turns, speed techniques, and endurance are the focus of this level.
o Prerequisite: Swim all four competitive strokes 80 feet
Final Goal: Swim all four competitive strokes with proper starts, turns, endurance, and technique.
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Developmental Swim Team
A seasonal addition to the Little Otter schedule, the developmental team has more focus on stroke technique, speed, and endurance than our normal swim lessons. It is run in a team-like atmosphere, with 4 coaches instructing an entire pool.
Prerequisite: at least 6 years of age, Dashing Dolphins (beginner freestyle) and above.
Final Goal: because there is no real way to age up or move out of the team, the goals will be to expose each child to all four competitive strokes in preparation for competition.
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