Stepping Stones on the Swim Path®
Our levels are designed to group students of similar age and ability together, because that’s how learning and growing works best.
Our levels are designed so students of similar age and ability are learning the same skills together because we have found this is the best learning environment. Within each level, students will work on a series of skills – the individual motions and capabilities we work on through games and instruction.
Students put these skills together to reach each of the four major milestones on our Swim Path® – the major markers of mastery when it comes to learning to swim or developing advanced swim skills. The milestones are how we measure progress towards graduation, and levels are the stepping stones towards that goal, with each student following his or her own path.
How Students Find The Right Level at FOSS
Levels are named to indicate the age group, then numbered to indicate more advanced skills – new students generally start in a 1-level class for their age group, for example. You’ll see that our levels aren’t strictly linear, unlike some programs where every new swimmer is in the same class regardless of age. Instead, quarter by quarter, they progress from one level to the next that is appropriate for them and that moves them towards their next milestone.
Because students of different ages and ability learn at different speeds, you will find that in some cases students work on a single milestone over multiple levels. On the other hand, in some cases students may move through multiple milestones in a single level.
This is an example path based on swimmer age and ability, actual path will be tailored to each individual swimmer once our teachers start working with them.
Learn to Swim Program
Our foundational and most popular program, designed to take swimmers of any ability and comfort level – even those getting in a pool for the first time – to being safer, more confident swimmers.
Key to milestones in the Learn to Swim program
Backfloat Baby
Ideal for 6-36 months
- Backfloat Baby 1 ●
- Backfloat Baby 2 ●
- Backfloat Baby 3 ●
- Backfloat Baby 4 ●
Little
Ideal for 3-5 years
- Little 1 ●●
- Little 2 ●●
- Little 3 ●●
- Little 4 ●●
Middle
Ideal for 5-7 years
- Middle 1 ●●●
- Middle 2 ●●
- Middle 3 ●
- Middle 4 ●
Big
Ideal for 7-10 years
- Big 1 ●●●
- Big 2 ●
- Big 3 ●
10+
Ideal for 10-17 years
- 10+1 ●●●●
- 10+2 ●
Adult
Ideal for 18 years and up
- Adult 1 ●●●
- Adult 2 ●
- Adult 3 ●
Swim Stronger Program
For Learn to Swim graduates and students who are able to swim confidently and want to develop greater abilities.
Key to milestones in the Swim Stronger program
Middle
Ideal for 5-7 years
- Middle 5 ●
Big
Ideal for 7+ years
- Big 4 ●
- Big 5 ●●●
Swim Faster Program
For confident swimmers who know the four competitive strokes and want a swim team experience and stroke refinement. Progress is measured against benchmark times for each stroke, and swimmers may repeat the level as often as they wish to reach their goals.
Key to milestones in the Swim Faster program
Big
Ideal for 7+ years
- Big 6 ●●●●
