First Steps Series

Learn to Swim in 14 steps...

The STA announces that, in conjunction with the Rubbadubbers™, it has launched the First Steps Series. This replaces, in 2004, the Teddy Bear, Tadpole and Pool Frog Series.

The First Steps Series is specially designed to teach pre-school children, from as young as 2 years old, to learn to swim through 14 progressive steps; it also teaches basic water safety as an integral part of the scheme. The scheme builds on the STA motto “Swim for Fun, Health and Safety”.

Roger Millward, Chief Executive of the STA said “This is a very exciting situation and very important in delivering the STA charitable objective of saving lives in the aquatic environment. The link with the Rubbadubbers will, I am sure, create a great deal of interest from young children who will want to participate in swimming lessons, learn water safety and get the exciting new badges and certificates.

The STA will be advising the Rubbadubbers on swimming and water safety and their future programmes will feature this.

The STA looks forward to a long association which I am confident will work to improve water safety amongst our young children and, I hope, will create an interest in the healthy activity of swimming that will last through their lives.”

Buy the STA Learn to Swim Club book online.

Click here to download the First Steps Assessment Standards.

Important Information for Scheme Users

  • The First Steps Series is designed to teach children aged 2 years upwards to learn to swim.
  • After completing the 14 steps of the First Steps Series pupils should progress to ISWSS Level 2 – Goldfish Series.
  • Older children will probably wish to learn to swim using the Octopus Series.
  • The existing Cygnet Series for the under 2’s will remain unchanged.
  • Teddy Bear, Tadpole and Pool Frog Series will be phased out; it is anticipated that stocks will be available until March 2004. When existing stocks have been sold they will not be replaced – customers are advised to place orders now if they wish to guarantee availability.
  • The International Swimming & Water Safety Standards (ISWSS) Levels 1 to 8, and all other STA awards will continue unchanged.
  • Further resources to support the First Steps Series will be available in due course.

The First Steps Series has been designed, in conjunction with members of the STA, to provide more incentive awards during the important early stages in learning to swim. Reg 1, the first step award, should normally be achieved during the first session that a pupil attends. This provides a wonderful opportunity to reward your pupils at their first session; they will certainly want to return for more lessons and more awards. The STA recommends that you have a stock of Step 1 awards available for presentation at the end of the first session

Substantial demand is expected for this series; plan now!

For more information contact us direct.

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Reg 1

Step 1:

  1. Identify the teacher.
  2. Enter the water safely.
  3. Splash in the water using feet whilst sitting on the poolside, steps or on the beach.
  4. Hold the rail, trough or poolside move along the pool wall.
  5. Hold the rail, trough or poolside, bob up and down in the water.
  6. Leave the pool safely.

It is recommended that all skills be performed in shallow water. Buoyancy aids may be used; adult assistance in the water is optional.

 Reg 1 Badge
Download Tick Sheet
as pdf
 
Reg 2

Step 2 :

  1. Identify the swimming lesson area.
  2. Walk in shallow water unaided for 5 metres, if in deeper water, unassisted walking actions may be substituted.
  3. Splash the feet on the surface, whilst holding the rail, trough or poolside and then return to standing position.
  4. Move through the water on the front for 2 metres.
  5. Turn completely around with the feet off the pool floor.
  6. Blow bubbles while holding onto the poolside.

It is recommended that all skills be performed in shallow water. Buoyancy aids may be used; adult assistance in the water is optional.

 Reg 2 Badge
Download Tick Sheet
as pdf
 
Terence 3

Step 3:

  1. Enter the water safely from the sitting position.
  2. Wash the face with both hands.
  3. Move through the water for 2 metres on the front returning to a standing position.
  4. Blow a small object across the water for 2 metres.
  5. Perform a floating position.
  6. Move through the water for 2 metres backwards using an alternating leg action.

It is recommended that all skills be performed in shallow water. Buoyancy aids may be used; adult assistance in the water is optional.

 Terence 1 Badge
Download Tick Sheet
as pdf
 
Terence 4

Step 4:

  1. Enter the water from the poolside.
  2. Splash water over the face.
  3. Hold the rail, trough or poolside, stretch the legs allowing the feet to rise to the surface and return to a standing position.
  4. Using the alternating leg action move through the water for 3 metres on the front.
  5. Move through the water backwards using an alternating leg action with the eyes looking at the ceiling.
  6. Perform 2 different floating positions.

It is recommended that all skills be performed in shallow water. Buoyancy aids may be used.

 Terence 2 Badge
Download Tick Sheet
as pdf

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Amelia 5

Step 5:

  1. Enter the water from the poolside, move forward 1 metre then return and exit from the pool unassisted.
  2. Hold the rail, trough or poolside, with the mouth and the nose in the water, blow bubbles.
  3. Perform controlled alternating leg action, on the front, with legs stretched while holding the rail, trough or poolside.
  4. Use an alternating leg action to move through the water for 5 metres on the front.
  5. Perform a star float on the back and regain the feet.
  6. Stand in shallow water or on the poolside and demonstrate the arm action for front paddle.

It is recommended that all skills be performed in shallow water. Buoyancy aids may be used.

 Amelia 1 Badge
Download Tick Sheet
as pdf
 
Amelia 6

Step 6:

  1. Answer a question on poolside safety.
  2. Hold the rail, trough or poolside, submerge the face in the water and blow out.
  3. Swim 2 metres front paddle.
  4. Stand in shallow water or on the poolside and demonstrate the hand action for back paddle.
  5. Perform a star float on the front and regain the feet to a standing position.
  6. Move through the water on the back using an alternating leg action for 5 metres.

It is recommended that all skills be performed in shallow water. Buoyancy aids may be used.

 Amelia 2 Badge
Download Tick Sheet
as pdf
 
Sploshy 7

Step 7:

  1. Answer 2 questions on poolside safety.
  2. Hold the rail, trough or poolside, bob up and down submerging the face 3 times.
  3. Hold the rail, trough or poolside lying on the front, release and regain the standing position.
  4. Swim 3 metres front paddle.
  5. Swim 2 metres back paddle.
  6. Perform a safe entry and exit unassisted.

It is recommended that all skills be performed in shallow water. Buoyancy aids may be used.

 Sploshy 1 Badge
Download Tick Sheet
as pdf
 
Sploshy 8

Step 8:

  1. Answer 2 questions on poolside rules.
  2. Hold the rail, trough or poolside, bob up and down submerging the face 4 times exhaling underwater.
  3. Hold two floats on the front; regain feet to a standing position without the use of buoyancy aids.
  4. Swim 5 metres front paddle extending the arms and resting the chin in water.
  5. Swim 5 metres back paddle.
  6. Perform a pencil float on the front.
  7. Hold a float(s) and swim 3 metres using an alternating leg kick on the front.
  8. Identify an object below the surface with the face in the water.

It is recommended that all skills be performed in shallow water. Buoyancy aids may be used unless otherwise stated.

 Sploshy 2 Badge
Download Tick Sheet
as pdf

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Tubb 9

Step 9:

  1. Answer 2 questions on poolside rules.
  2. Perform a sit and swivel entry.
  3. Hold the rail, trough or poolside, bob up and down submerging the face 6 times and exhaling under the water.
  4. Float on back holding two floats regain the feet to a standing position without the use of buoyancy aids.
  5. Swim 2 metres on the front and 2 metres back paddle with a smooth transition in between.
  6. Perform 3 types of float for 3 seconds each.
  7. Hold a float(s) and swim 3 metres using an alternating leg kick on the back.
  8. With the face in the water identify and retrieve an object from below the surface.

It is recommended that all skills be performed in shallow water. Buoyancy aids may NOT be used unless otherwise stated.

 Tubb 1 Badge
Download Tick Sheet
as pdf
 
Tubb 10

Step 10:

  1. Answer 2 water safety questions.
  2. Enter safely; swim back paddle or front paddle for 5 metres.
  3. Perform a tucked float for 2 seconds.
  4. Hold the rail, trough or poolside and breathe rhythmically 4 cycles.
  5. Stand in shallow water or on the poolside demonstrating a sculling hand action.
  6. Regain the feet to a standing position from floating on the back.
  7. Perform a front floating position without the use of aids.
  8. Hold a float, with the face out of the water and on the front, perform a push and glide for 1 metre on the front.

It is recommended that all skills be performed in shallow water. Buoyancy aids may NOT be used unless otherwise stated.

 Tubb 2 Badge
Download Tick Sheet
as pdf
 
Winona 11

Step 11:

  1. Answer 2 water safety questions.
  2. Enter safely; swim back paddle or front paddle for 5 metres.
  3. Scull on the back for 2 metres head first.
  4. Perform a mushroom float for 3 seconds.
  5. Hold the rail and breathe rhythmically for 6 cycles.
  6. Stand in shallow water or on the poolside demonstrating back crawl arm action.
  7. Perform a star float for 3 seconds on the front turn and repeat on the back.
  8. Perform a push and glide for 1 metre on the front, holding a float and keeping the face in the water.

It is recommended that all skills be performed in shallow water. Buoyancy aids may NOT be used unless otherwise stated.

 Winona 1 Badge
Download Tick Sheet
as pdf
 
Winona 12

Step 12:

  1. Answer 2 water safety questions.
  2. Scull on the back in a complete circle.
  3. Perform a mushroom float for 5 seconds.
  4. Hold the rail, trough or poolside with 1 hand scull with the other hand and demonstrate a treading water leg action.
  5. Hold the rail, trough or poolside, fully submerge beneath the surface, release and return to the surface.
  6. Perform a push and glide for 2 metres on the front holding a float with face in the water and exhaling.
  7. Swim through a submerged hoop.
  8. Swim 3 metres using a breaststroke type leg action, holding 2 floats.

It is recommended that all skills be performed in shallow water. Buoyancy aids may NOT be used unless otherwise stated.

 Winona 2 Badge
Download Tick Sheet
as pdf

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Finbar 13

Step 13:

  1. Answer 2 water safety questions.
  2. Rotate 360 degrees in a tucked position with both feet off the pool bottom and the face clear of the water.
  3. Hold the rail, trough or possible with 1 hand whilst breathing rhythmically turning the head to the side to inhale.
  4. Stand in shallow water or on the poolside demonstrating front crawl arm action.
  5. Perform a star float slowly change to a narrow float and return to a star float.
  6. Rotate from the front to the back around the longitudinal axis and regain the feet.
  7. Swim 5 meters using a breaststroke type leg action, holding 2 floats.
  8. Swim 10 meters back paddle.

It is recommended that all skills be performed in shallow water. Buoyancy aids may NOT be used unless otherwise stated.

 Finbar 1 Badge
Download Tick Sheet
as pdf
 
Finbar 14

Step 14:

  1. Answer 2 water safety questions.
  2. Hold a float with 1 hand whilst breathing rhythmically turning the head to the side to inhale and exhaling under the water using a front crawl arm action on the breathing side.
  3. Stand in the shallow water or on the poolside demonstrating breaststroke arm action.
  4. Swim 2 meters dolphin leg kick on the front or back.
  5. Swim 10 meters front paddle.
  6. Tread water for 10 seconds.
  7. Swim 5 meters of front crawl or back crawl.
  8. Swim 3 meters using a front like action of the arms and legs.

It is recommended that all skills be performed in shallow water. Buoyancy aids may NOT be used unless otherwise stated.

 Finbar 2 Badge
Download Tick Sheet
as pdf
 

Transferring

Pupils who have received awards under the previous Early Years scheme, Teddy Bear, Tadpole or Pool Frog, should transfer to the First Steps scheme.

The award level (step) that pupils start on which they transfer should be based on an assessment by the swimming teacher who should satisfy themselves that the pupils can perform all the skills on the steps leading to the one being started.

The suggested starting steps when transferring from the Early Years series are:

  • Teddy Bear 1 to Step 4 – Terence 2
  • Teddy Bear 2 to Step 5 – Amelia 1
  • Teddy Bear 3 to Step 9 – Tubb 1
  • Pool Frog 1 to Step 12 – Winona 2

As the Tadpole series was a stroke skill series, and not progressive, swimming teachers should select a suitable step based on their assessment of the pupil.