York City Baths Club’s Learn to Swim Programme has been developed based on principles of the Amateur Swimming Association’s Learn to Swim Framework. The 8 stages are designed to take your child from complete beginner to club swimmer. Children are required to achieve all of the outcomes at each stage in order to progress to the next. Upon successful completion of each stage, children are rewarded with a certificate. Please see below for a list of outcomes to be achieved at each stage, with effect from 1st January 2017:

White Hats

In line with ASA Learn to Swim Framework Stage 1

• Enter the water safely
• Scoop water and wash face
• Be at ease with water showered from overhead
• Swim 5 metres on front using a floatation aid in a stretched position, returning to an upright position with support
• Swim 5 metres on back using a floatation aid, returning to an upright position with support
• Push and glide in a horizontal position to or from a wall
• Swim 5 metres on front unaided, returning to an upright position independently
• Swim 5 metres on back unaided, returning to an upright position independently
• Exit the water safely

View / download a printable white hat criteria sheet by clicking here

Purple Hats

In line with ASA Learn to Swim Framework Stage 2

• Enter the water confidently and unaided using a swivel entry
• Jump in from the poolside safely using various techniques
• Blow bubbles rhythmically with nose and mouth submerged
• Push from the wall and glide on front
• Push from the wall and glide on back
• Swim 10 metres on front using a floatation aid
• Swim 10 metres on back using a floatation aid
• Swim 5 metres on front unaided [basic breaststroke]
• Swim 5 metres on front unaided [basic front crawl]
• Swim 5 metres on back unaided [basic backstroke]
• Swim 10 metres on front unaided [basic breaststroke or front crawl]
• Swim 10 metres on back unaided [basic backstroke]
• Demonstrate an understanding of pool rules

View / download a printable purple hat criteria sheet by clicking here

Yellow Hats

In line with ASA Learn to Swim Framework Stage 3

• Jump in from the poolside and submerge [minimum depth 0.90 metres]
• Introduce a sitting dive
• Push and glide in a streamlined position from the wall on front and log roll onto back
• Push and glide in streamlined position from the wall on back and log roll onto front
• Travel on the front, tuck to rotate around the horizontal axis, and return on the back
• Fully submerge to pick up an object
• Swim 10 metres on front [recognisable breaststroke]
• Swim 10 metres on front [recognisable front crawl]
• Swim 10 metres on back [recognisable backstroke]
• Answer correctly questions on pool safety

View / download a printable yellow hat criteria sheet by clicking here

Orange Hats

In line with ASA Learn to Swim Framework Stage 4

• Introduce a crouching dive
• Perform a tuck float for 5 seconds
• Perform a star float on front for 5 seconds
• Perform a star float on back for 5 seconds
• Sink, push and glide from the wall to the pool floor to pick up an object
• Tread water for 10 seconds
• Perform a head first sculling action on back for 5 metres in a horizontal position
• Kick 10 metres breaststroke on front or back [floatation aid optional]
• Kick 10 metres front crawl [floatation aid optional]
• Kick 10 metres backstroke [floatation aid optional]
• Kick 10 metres butterfly on front or back
• Swim 25 metres on front [recognisable breaststroke with a symmetrical kick]
• Swim 25 metres on front [recognisable front crawl]
• Swim 25 metres on back [recognisable backstroke]
• Travel on front and roll in one continuous movement onto back
• Travel on back and roll in one continuous movement onto front

View / download a printable orange hat criteria sheet by clicking here

Light Green Hats

In line with ASA Learn to Swim Framework Stage 5

• Introduce a standing dive
• Perform 3 different shaped jumps into deep water
• Tread water for 30 seconds
• Perform a feet first sculling action on back for 5 metres in a horizontal position
• Kick 25 metres on front rhythmically and continuously using a buoyancy aid
• Kick 25 metres on back rhythmically and continuously using a buoyancy aid
• Swim 25 metres breaststroke using a legal kick **
• Swim 25 metres front crawl **
• Swim 25 metres backstroke **
• Swim 10 metres butterfly **
• Perform a forward somersault, tucked, in the water
• Perform a handstand and hold for a minimum of three seconds
• Perform a surface dive to collect a submerged object from the pool floor
• Demonstrate an action for getting help

** refer to the ASA expected stroke standards sheet

View / download a printable light green hat criteria sheet by clicking here

Dark Green Hats

In line with ASA Learn to Swim Framework Stage 6

• Perform a standing dive into a streamline position from the side of the pool
• Perform a pencil jump from a starting block
• Introduce a crouching dive from a starting block
• Submerge at the side of the pool, push and glide in a streamline position for 5 metres
• Swim 50 metres breaststroke using a legal kick, to include at least six rhythmical breaths **
• Swim 50 metres front crawl, to include at least six rhythmical breaths using bi-lateral breathing **
• Swim 50 metres backstroke **
• Swim 10 metres butterfly, to include at least three rhythmical breaths **
• Introduce a forward somersault in tucked position, feet to make contact with the pool wall, push off on back in a horizontal position
• Introduce a forward somersault in tucked position, feet to make contact with the pool wall, push off and rotate onto front in horizontal position
• Introduce legal turns using hand touches on front
• Introduce legal turns using hand touches on back

** refer to the ASA expected stroke standards sheet

View / download a printable dark green hat criteria sheet by clicking here

Blue Hats

In line with ASA Learn to Swim Framework Stage 7

• Dive confidently from a starting block
• Tread water for 1 minute using an eggbeater action
• Submerge at the side of the pool, push and use an underwater butterfly leg kick (at least 2 repetitions) in a streamline position on front
• Submerge at the side of the pool, push and use an underwater butterfly leg kick (at least 2 repetitions) in a streamline position on back
• Perform a feet first sculling action on back for 10 metres in a horizontal position
• Perform a head first sculling action on back for 10 metres in a horizontal position
• Swim 100 metres breaststroke consistently using a legal kick and perform a 2 handed finish **
• Swim 100 metres front crawl using bi-lateral breathing **
• Swim 100 metres backstroke **
• Swim 25 metres butterfly consistently and perform a 2 handed finish **
• Swim 50 metres continuous front crawl in a 25 metre pool, attempting a tumble turn
• Swim 50m continuous backstroke in a 25 metre pool, attempting a tumble turn
• Demonstrate a basic understanding of using the pace clock during sessions

** refer to the ASA expected stroke standards sheet

View / download a printable blue hat criteria sheet by clicking here

Red Hats

In line with ASA Learn to Swim Framework Stage 8

• Dive from the a starting block in a streamline position and use an underwater butterfly leg kick whilst submerged (at least 5 repetitions)
• Swim 100 metres breaststroke in a 25 metre pool, using legal turns, introducing underwater pull-outs, and performing a legal finish
• Swim 100 metres front crawl in a 25m pool, using legal tumble turns, and performing a legal finish
• Swim 100m backstroke in a 25m pool, using legal tumble turns, and performing a legal finish
• Swim 25 metres butterfly using a 2 stroke breathing pattern
• Swim 100 metres IM in a 25 metre pool, using legal turns, and performing a legal finish
• Swim 400 metres continuously using one stroke
• Complete a 400 metre set in a 25 metre pool (i.e. 16 x 25 metres) on a specific turnaround time set by the teacher/coach (e.g. 1 min for each 25 metres)

View / download a printable red hat criteria sheet by clicking here