Skippers Program
CHP Skippers program is designed for preschoolers ages 3 years to 5 years old. Skippers 1 to 6 are designed to be completed in chronological order. If you are unsure of where your preschooler may fit please see below our Skipper level comparison chart which states all the skills to be performed in the class. All skills listed below must be completed 3 times for a participant to progress to the next level.
If your preschooler is now over the age of 5 years please see below our level conversion chart, which states what Swimmers level (ages 5-12 years old) your child should next be registered for.
|
Level
Completed |
3-5 Years | 5-12 Years |
| Skippers 1 | Skippers 2 | Swimmer 1 |
| Skippers 2 | Skippers 3 | Swimmer 1 |
| Skippers 3 | Skippers 4 | Swimmer 1 |
| Skippers 4 | Skippers 5 | Swimmer 2 |
| Skippers 5 | Skippers 6 | Swimmer 2 |
| Skippers 6 | N/A | Swimmer 2 |
Skippers 1
Occurs in Leisure Pool
This level is recommended for children ages 3 to 5 years old, who have no swimming experience. In this level children will be introduced to the water, learn to complete front and back floats, flutter kick, front and back glides with assistance.
🏊 View Skills (click here)
- Enter/Exit shallow water
- Submerge head
- Front glide (assisted)
- Back glide (assisted)
- Comfortable being splashed
- Blow bubbles (face in)
- Kicking on steps
- Front float (assisted)
- Back float (assisted)
- Jump, turn & glide (assisted)
- Jump into waist deep water
Skippers 2
Occurs in Leisure Pool
This level is recommended for children ages 3 to 5, who have previously completed Mates Bronze and/or Mates Silver or Skippers 1. In this level children will progress to complete their front and back floats independently and their front and back glides in lifejackets.
🏊🏽 View Skills (click here)
- Submerge head and exhale 3 times
- Assisted exit from pool
- Jump into chest deep water
- Back float (unassisted)
- Front float (unassisted)
- Front glide (PFD)
- Back glide (PFD)
- Flutter kick on front (PFD)
- Flutter kick on back (PFD)
Skippers 3
Occurs in Leisure Pool
This level is recommended for children ages 3 to 5, who have previously completed Mates Gold or Skippers 2. In this level children will progress to complete their front and back glides independently, be introduced to side glides and complete 5 head submersions with exhales.
🏊🏿 View Skills (click here)
- Submerge head and exhale 5 times
- Jump in deep water (PFD)
- Kicking on front with flutterboard
- Back glide (unassisted)
- Side glide (assisted)
- Front glide (unassisted)
- Roll over floats (PFD)
- Recover object from bottom in waist deep water
- Flutter kick on back (unassisted)
Skippers 4
Occurs in Comp & Leisure Pool
This level is recommended for children ages 3 to 5, who have previously completed Skippers 3. Children will be introduced to the competition pool, where they will learn to roll-over-float, glide with kicks and jump independently.
🏊🏽 View Skills (click here)
- Open eyes underwater
- Intro to main pool
- Jump in & recover to the side shallow water
- Front glide & kick with underwater pull (PDF)
- Roll over floats (unassisted)
- Front glide & Kick (unassisted)
- Back float & recovery (unassisted)
- Back glide & kick (unassisted)
- Side glide (unassisted)
- Jump in (unassisted)
Skippers 5
Occurs in Comp Pool
This level is recommended for children ages 3 to 5, who have previously completed Skippers 4. In this level children will be introduced to treading water, seated dives, front and back crawl wearing lifejackets and 5 second breath holds. This level is completed in the competition pool.
🏊🏻 View Skills (click here)
- Tread water (PFD) [10 sec]
- Sideways entry
- Side glide & Kick (unassisted)
- Seated front dive
- Back crawl (PFD)
- Front crawl (PFD) [5m]
- Back glide & kick [7m]
- Front glide & kick [7m]
- Jump in, swim 5m front/back (PFD)
- Submerge and hold breath [5 sec]
Skippers 6
Occurs in Comp Pool
This level is recommended for children ages 3 to 5, who have previously completed Skippers 5. In this level children will complete 5m of front and back crawl independently, learn a kneeling front dive and progress to treading water for 20 seconds. This level is completed in the competition pool.
🏊🏽 View Skills (click here)
- 10 rhythmic bobs
- Tread water [10 sec]
- Side glide and kick [3m]
- Forward roll (PFD)
- Front crawl [5m]
- Back crawl [5m]
- Jump in, swim [5m] front/back
- Kneeling front dive