Everything you need to know about swim levels & skills

As with any sport, there are levels to progress and training in swimming. Not all swimmers will train together, and most classes are divided by level, should you use to go for public swimming classes. The swim levels depend on the age and skill of the swimmers.

Most swim lessons are broken down into the following levels – Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Pre-Competitive, and Competitive.

Even within the beginner, intermediate and advanced batches there might be sub-levels. Your coach will divide you within the session based on what they feel will allow you to be the most comfortable.

Some even call them stages of swimming, such as stage 1, stage 2, stage 3, and so on.

Based on your frequency to attend sessions and skill level, you should select which class to be a part of. Carry your swim bag with the swim gear needed for training.

Most of the academies have a very structured and systematic way to group their swim training. Some clubs and academies like Nisha Millet Swimming Academy (NMSA) give certificates to swimmers for each level the swimmers complete.

Usually, these swim trainings happen in batches and each session is 1 hr. Each level might take 4-5 months assuming you attend at least 8 classes each month. It also depends on the swimmers’ interest and openness to learn.

Swimming for beginners

This is for swimmers who have never swam before in their lives. They need complete training and need to learn how to float. It is for people who have never set foot in a pool for the purpose of swimming, and would like to learn. Beginner’s class can usually be twice a week. Most beginners classes will be divided into adults and children.

In the beginner’s swim lessons, the swimmer explores the water. They become capable of entering and exiting the water themselves. They can submerge their face, including mouth, nose, and eyes. They will be able to blow bubbles through the mouth and nose. They also learn to float in the front and back using their arms and legs. Children are also asked to retrieve objects underwater for fun.

Pre-requisites – None

What do you learn at this level? – In this swim level, explore and overcome the fear of water, learn how to float, breathe in water

Duration – A month with 8 sessions of 1 hr each. Some might do it earlier.

When are you ready for the next level? – When the swimmer is able to float and breathe in water and can swim independently.

Swimming at the intermediate level

This is for swimmers who have learned the basics of swimming. This means floating, kicking, and maybe some rudimentary freestyle. In the intermediate level of swimming, the swimmers will learn the other strokes like backstroke and breaststroke, and how to stabilize themselves in water and refine their strokes. They should be able to swim a lap at a time. These classes are usually available for adults and children separately, around two times a week. 

Pre-requisites – Confident in water and can swim independently in laps with proper breathing technique.

What do you learn at this level? – Stroke development. The swimmers learn strokes like butterfly, breaststroke, and backstroke and also improve their freestyle technique. 

Duration – 2 months with 8 sessions of one-hour each. Some might do it earlier depending on their individual capabilities.

When are you ready for the next level? when you are able to swim in laps in major 4 strokes – freestyle, butterfly, backstroke, and breaststroke.

Swimming at the advanced level

This is for swimmers who know the basics of all strokes and are looking to improve their speed and endurance. They are not yet competition ready, but have decent strokes with little need for refinement. The most important job for an advanced swimmer is to build stamina for a swimming workout and increase the yardage of a class. These classes may be joint between children and adults and can happen all days of the week. 

Pre-requisites – Can swim multiple laps continuously, and know all four strokes well.

What do you learn in this level? – In this swim level, learn to endurance for all strokes and are introduced to variation in workout. There is major stroke correction and improvement.

Duration –  varies. 

When are you ready for the next level? – when you have built enough endurance and speed.

Pre-competitive swim level

Pre-Competitive swimmers are those who are ready for competition, and have good technique and speed, but can’t devote all their time to the sport for a more rigorous training schedule. 

Pre-Competitive swimmers are usually at the same level as competitive swimmers, but cannot swim as often as competitive swimmers. They may be very good swimmers, but swimming is not their complete priority. This batch will occur usually all days of the week, but only once each day. 

Not all swim clubs or academies provide this sort of training. Nisha Millet Swimming Academy does provide this, which helps you participate in interschool swim meets, or non-medalist meets.

Pre-requisites – Here the swim coach decides whether you can go from the advanced batch to the pre-competitive batch

What do you learn in this level? – In this swim level, swimmers build considerable endurance and speed. They refine their mainstroke and discover their main events.

Duration –  A swimmer might continue in the pre-competitive batch forever, if that is what they are comfortable with.

When are you ready for the next level? – They can move to a competitive batch especially when they are young. It is difficult to shift to competitive batches after some time.

Competitive swim-level training

Competitive swimmers are at the highest level. This batch is for swimmers who likely want to continue swimming into the future, and are interested in participating in major meets. Competitive Swimmers train around 9 times a week, for two hours each time. It requires a lot of commitment, but if you are a talented swimmer, it is worth pursuing the sport. Competitive swimming also requires a lot of additional classes and commitments. This includes strength and conditioning training, nutritionists, and physiotherapy.

Pre-requisites – Decided by the coach

What do you learn in this level? – In this swim level, swimmers build considerable endurance and speed for higher level competitions

Duration –  A swimmer might continue in the pre-competitive batch forever, if that is what they are comfortable with.

Parent and baby swimming classes

These classes are for children 4 months to 3 years to help your child build water confidence that lasts a lifetime. It also helps your child to develop muscle strength and motor skills. Bond with your child with a little exercise. Again NMSA has regular classes in different swimming pools for toddlers.

Swimmers looking for improvement

If you are a swimmer who has been practicing for some time, you may want a trainer to analyze your technique. They will advise on ways to improve your strokes, speed, and effectiveness in water. There are sessions held by trainers and coaches for this reason. You can attend one of these sessions and feel the improvement right away, and this is usually much more effective than training by yourself.

It also helps to swim with a group of people in a class, as this can provide a benchmark and compeition. It also makes the sport more enjoyable when shared with others.

1-on-1 swim coaching

If you are looking for personal classes, you can easily get a trainer for all levels of swimmers. These coaches can train in your home/community pools or can use the private pools as well. The best part is that you work with your own coach on times and days of your choice.

Finally, swimmers should have fun at whatever level they swim