SKILL LEVEL
The skills defined for each course level represent the objectives that swimmers must achieve by the end of the school year. Completing one year of a course does not automatically guarantee access to the next level the following year. Once the objectives of a level have been achieved, the swimmer can then enrol in the next group.
The courses focus mainly on swimming technique, rather than distance or endurance.
The 9 skill levels:
From level 1 to level 7
The courses are open to all swimmers, whether they are enrolled in the ‘classic extracurricular programme’ or the ‘ESB Octopus competition programme’. All levels are therefore compatible with these two courses.
If a swimmer reaches level 7 but does not wish to join the ESB swimming team afterwards, they can continue to register at this level. The instructors will then set personalised objectives to ensure constant progress at the swimmer's own pace.
Levels 8 ESB1 and 9 ESB2
These courses are a continuation of Level 7, but are reserved exclusively for competitive swimmers who are part of the ESB Octopus swim team, once Level 7 has been completed.
Small Pool
Level 1
- Jump alone in the water from the shore
- 5 dives underwater + blow 3 times in the water
- Back float with assistance + righting
- Front float
- Starfish
- Belly and back propulsion
Level 2
- Discovery Large pool
- Forward movement with arms
- Move backwards with the arms
- 5 dives + blowing into the water (head fully submerged)
- Arms forward and push on the wall
- Same on the back
- Search for objects in the water (3 minimum) where they have footing
- Stroke with front/back board
- 5m Fluttering with back arm
Level 3
- Jump into the deep end of the pool + front or back swim to the shore
- Jump from the edge of the pool or a pole with assistance (pole or floating object)
- 15m non-stop belly flapping (breathing) - Same as back
- 10m belly flapping + arms
- 10m backstroke small pool + large pool
- Introduction to tumbling
- Search for objects in the water with a pole in the large pool
Grand Bassin
Level 4
- Jump from the edge of the deep end of the pool unassisted
- Sitting or kneeling dive
- 25m correct backstroke start in water
- Ventral propulsion + left and right lateral breathing
- 5m unassisted crawl
Level 5
- 15m crawl correct
- 50m backstroke correct
- Propulsion breaststroke legs
- Basic turns (breaststroke touching 2 hands, back to back)
- Backstroke start in the water
- Initiation of stationary swimming (small Chinese)
- Standing dive from the shore
Level 6
- (25m pyjamas, 1 minute Chinese and 100m swim) and 3x50 (front, breast and back)
- 50m crawl correct
- 25m crawl 3 times - 100m backstroke
- 25m (breaststroke) 1 x arm then 2 x legs
- 25m breaststroke legs correct
- Fetch at least 3 objects from the bottom of the water
- Dive from the starting block
- Backstroke, breaststroke, crawl turns
- Learn to undulate
- Butterfly catch initiation
- Diving with a short run-up
Level 7
- Swimmers who do not wish to compete but have the highest level of the program
- Successful completion of the previous groups
- Improved swimming technique and endurance
- Swimmers may progress to this level if they are not competing.
Level 8/9: For ESB OCTOPUS members only
Level 8 "ESB1 Intermediate Competition"
- 200m backstroke
- 200m crawl
- 200m breaststroke
- 25m butterfly
- 4 turns + stroke
- 100m 4 strokes + swim turn
- Improvement of endurance
Level 9 "Advanced ESB2" "Competition
- 500m backstroke
- 500m Breaststroke
- 500m Crawl
- 100 Butterfly
- 4 competitions minimum
- Ability to follow 1 training session 1h30
- Follow the team training 1x per month
- 4 competitions minimum
- Follow the team training courses