Please note that where students are physically unable to ever acheive an outcome listed (due to pool rules, depth of pool, medical issues, etc) then the award will be granted based on the acheivement of the remaining outcomes or a suitable adaptation.

The award criteria and test conditions are listed below and can be acheived over a number of weeks:

Stage 1

By the end of this stage participants will be able to, with or without aids, equipment or support:

1. Enter the water safely
2. Move forwards for a distance of 5m
3. Move backwards for a distance of 5m
4. Move sideways for a distance of 5m
5. Scoop the water and wash face
6. Be at ease with water showered from overhead
7. Move into a stretched floating position using aids, equipment or support
8. Regain an upright position from on the back, with support
9. Regain an upright position from on the front with support
10. Push & glide in a horizontal position to or from a wall
11. Take part in a teacher lead partner orientated game
12. Demonstrate an understanding of pool rules
13. Exit the water safely

Stage 2

By the end of this Stage participants will be able to, with or without aids, equipment or support:

1. Jump in from poolside safely
2. Blow bubbles a minimum of 3 times rhythmically with nose and mouth submerged
3. Regain upright position from the back without support
4. Regain upright position from the front without support
5. Push from wall & glide on the back
6. Push from wall & glide on the front
7. Travel on the back for 5m, aids or equipment may be used
8. Travel on the front for 5m, aids or equipment may be used
9. Perform a rotation from the front to the back to gain an upright position
10. Perform a rotation from the back to the front to gain an upright position

Stage 3

By the end of this Stage participants will be able to, without support:

1. Jump in from poolside and submerge (min depth, 0.9)
2. Sink, push away from wall on side and maintain a streamline position
3. Push & glide on the front with arms extended and log roll onto the back
4. Push & glide on the back with arms extended and log roll onto the front
5. Travel on the front, tuck to rotate around the horizontal axis to return on the back.
6. Fully submerge to pick up an object*
7. Answer correctly 3 questions on the Water Safety Code
8. Travel 10m on the back
9. Travel 10m on the front

Stage 4

By the end of this stage participants will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of buoyancy
2. Perform a tuck float for 5 seconds
3. Perform a sequence of changing shapes (minimum of 3) whilst floating at the surface
4. Push & glide from the wall to the pool floor
5. Kick 10m Backstroke (one item of equipment optional)
6. Kick 10m Front crawl (one item of equipment optional)
7. Kick 10m Butterfly on the front or on the back (one item of equipment optional)
8. Kick 10m Breaststroke on the back (equipment optional)
9. Kick 10m Breaststroke on the front (equipment optional)
10. Perform on the back a head first sculling action for 5m in a horizontal position
11. Travel on back and roll in one continuous movement onto front
12. Travel on front and roll in one continuous movement onto back
13. Swim 10m, choice of stroke is optional.

Stage 5

By the end of this stage participants will be able to, without aids:

1. Perform a horizontal stationary scull on the back
2. Perform a feet first sculling action for 5m whilst horizontal 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 3 different shaped jumps into deep water
6. Swim 10m Backstroke
7. Swim 10m Front crawl face in the water
8. Swim 10m Breaststroke
9. Swim 10m Butterfly
10.Perform a forward somersault, tucked, in the water

Stage 6

By the end of this Stage participants will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of preparation for exercise
2. Sink, push off side from the wall, glide, kick and rotate into Backstroke
3. Sink, push off side from the wall, glide, kick and rotate into Front crawl
4. Swim Front crawl to include at least six rhythmical breaths
5. Swim Breaststroke to include at least six rhythmical breaths
6. Swim Butterfly to include at least three rhythmical breaths
7. Swim 25m, choice of stroke optional
8. Exit the water without using steps

Stage 7:

By the end of this Stage participants will be able to:

1. Swim 25m Backstrokes
2. Swim 25m Front crawl
3. Swim 25m Breaststroke
4. Swim 25m Butterfly
5. Perform a sitting dive
6. Swim 50m continuously using one stroke
7. Swim 100m, using a minimum of 3 different strokes
8. Tread water using eggbeater action for 30 seconds

Stage 8: Competitive Swimming

By the end of this stage participants will be able to:

1. Complete a set lasting 400m (e.g. 16 x 25m) on a specific turn around time set by the coach (e.g. 1.00min for each 25m)
2. Swim 400m continuously using one stroke
3. Kick 25m Backstroke with/without using a board - swimmer's choice
4. Kick 25m Breaststroke with/without using a board - swimmer's choice
5. Kick 25m Butterfly with/without using a board - swimmer's choice
6. Kick 25m Front crawl with/without using a board - swimmer's choice
7. Perform a Backstroke turn from 10m in to 15m out
8. Perform a Breaststroke turn from 10m in to 15m out
9. Perform a Butterfly turn from 10m in to 15m out
10. Perform a Front crawl turn from 10m in to 15m out

Stage 9: Competitive Swimming

By the end of this stage participants will be able to:

1. Complete a set lasting 800m (e.g. either 16 x 50m; 8 x 100m; 4 x 200m) on a specific turn around time set by the coach (e.g. 1.30min for 50m; 2.45min for 100m; 6.00min for 200m)
2. Swim 800m continuously choosing one stroke
3. Swim a continuous 100M i.m using legal turns
4. Perform a 15m underwater kick on front in a streamlined position
5. Perform a Backstroke start then Butterfly kick in a streamlined position underwater until 10m from the start point (wall), transfer into stroke and complete the remainder of the 25m
6. Perform a Front crawl start, underwater kick in a streamlined position until a minimum of 10m from the start point (wall) is completed, transfer into stroke and complete the remainder of the 25m
7. Perform a Butterfly start, kick in a streamlined position until a minimum of 10m from the start point (wall) is completed, transfer into stroke and complete the remainder of the 25m
8. Perform a Breaststroke start, perform a 1-½ pull under water, transfer into stroke and complete the remainder of the 25m
N.B. All starts to be done by a 'take your marks, go' by the coach. The 'go' can be a whistle or shout

Stage 10: Competitive Swimming

By the end of this stage participants will be able to:

1. Complete a set lasting 1600m (either 16 x 100m; 8 x 200m; 4 x 400m) on a specific timed turn around set by the coach (e.g. 2.30min for 100m; 5.30min for 200m; 12min for 400m)
2. Swim 1500m continuously choosing one stroke
3. Perform a continuous 100m IM kick without using a kick board
4. Swim a continuous 200m IM using legal turns
5. Perform a 15m under water Butterfly kick on back or front in a streamlined position
6. Perform a Front crawl relay take over - as an incoming Swimmer
7. Perform a Front crawl relay take over - as an outgoing Swimmer

Duckling Grade 1

1. Make a supervised safe entry with adult support
2. Kick 2m on the back with adult support
3. Float on the back with adult support behind the head
4. Blow bubbles at the water surface
5. Wet the head without submersion
6. Travel without assistance 2m to a floating object. (It is recommended that a baby seat or other appropriate buoyancy aid be used)

Duckling Grade 2

1. Make a sitting entry with adult support
2. Blow an object for a distance of 2m
3. Using a baby seat or other buoyancy aid, rotate through 180 degrees without assistance
4. Move 5m along the rail or wall without assistance
5. Travel 3m using arms and/or legs without assistance
6. Submerge the face with confidence

Duckling Grade 3

1. Make a supervised jump to an adult with or without support
2. Kick 5m on the front holding a float (the adult may hold the other end of the float)
3. Blow bubbles with the mouth underwater
4. Float on front OR back without adult support
5. Travel 5m on the front to the side of the pool
6. Show a torpedo shape on front or back when pushed to a partner

Duckling Grade 4

1. Jump unaided, but supervised, into the water
2. Submerge completely
3. Rotate through 360 degrees either horizontally or vertically
4. Show a mushroom OR a star float
5. Travel without assistance 10m on the front OR the back
6. Climb out of the water with assistance if required

Duckling Grade 5

1. Show the sequence - to jump in the water, turn around, swim back to the point of entry and hold the rail or side
2. Submerge completely and low bubbles under the water
3. Push and glide achieving a distance of 2m on the front or back
4. Float on the front or back and regain standing/vertical position
5. Swim 5m on the front or back using an over water arm recovery
6. Exit safely showing correct use of the ladder (or steps if no ladder is available)