ASA National Plan for Teaching Swimming
The criteria for each of the awards has been set by the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA), the National Governing Body for Swimming in England and provide a common standard throughout England. . Those who have achieved all 12 levels will have developed a wide range of skills and will be competent on all of the 4 recognised strokes. This foundation will assist those who wish to develop their swimming in the competitive environment, those who wish to explore other aquatic opportunities and those who wish to swim for fitness or recreation.. The National Swimming Awards have been specifically designed to compliment the ASA National Plan for Teaching Swimming
Skill Development
Enter the water confidently and unaided using a swivel entry
Put face in water and blow bubbles for 5 seconds
Bob up and down to fully submerge the head- repeat 6 times continuously
Move freely around the pool using a combination of hop, jump, skip etc
Open eyes under water and identify an object selected by the teacher
Stroke Development
Travel 5 metres using an alternating kicking action with a float(s)
Travel 5 metres using a simultaneous kicking action with a float(s)
Standing with arms in the water stretched in front of the shoulders, show an underwater alternating arm action
Standing with arms in the water stretched in front of the shoulders, show an underwater simultaneous arm action
Achieve a horizontal position on the back with a float(s)
Skill Development
Push off wall or floor to show a horizontal position on the front with face in the water with/without aids
Push off wall or floor to show a horizontal position on the back with/without aids
Remaining in a vertical position throughout rotate through 360 degrees with feet off the floor with/without aids
Show a motionless floating position and hold for 5 seconds with/without aids
1. Climb out of the pool without using the steps
Stroke Development
Kick 5 metres using an alternating action without aids on the front
Kick 5 metres using an alternating action without aids on back
2. Kick 5 metres using a simultaneous kicking action without aids
using arms and legs travel 5 metres on the front without aids
using arms and legs travel 5 metres on back without aids
*1. In pools where the distance between the water surface and the side of the pool makes climbing out very difficult, the correct use of the steps may be used as the criterion.
*2. Simultaneous kicking action refers to a breaststroke or dolphin type kick
Skill Development
Jump in the water (minimum depth 0.9metres) from the side with confidence and without support
Submerge to kneel on the floor
Submerge completely for 5 seconds
Lie flat on the front at the surface of the water without support for 5 seconds and regain the standing position
Stand with arms in the water stretched in front of the shoulders, demonstrate a figure of 8 sculling- repeat 6 times consecutively
Stroke Development
Stand with face in the water 1) Breathe to side 2) Breathe to front (repeat 6 times consecutively)
Kick 5 metres on front using breaststroke type kick, with feet turned out without a float
Kick 5 metres on back using and alternating action with legs long and toes pointed hands held still at side
Using arms and legs travel 10 metres on front
Stand with shoulders at the water surface, hands in front demonstrate a circular front crawl arm action
Skill Development
Lie flat on back at the surface of the water without support for 5 seconds and regain standing position
With eyes open pick up an object from the pool floor without hesitation and using both hands (minimum depth 0.9 metres)
3. From a horizontal stretched position, face in the water, arms overhead in line with the body, turn through 180 degrees, travel 5 metres to the side without touching the pool bottom, then climb out
from the wall, push off with two feet and hold a streamline glide on the front for 5 seconds
hold a tucked floating position for 10 seconds
Stroke Development
Kick 5 metres, on front or back, using a dolphin undulating action with toes pointed
Kick 5 metres on front, using an alternating action with legs long and toes pointed without use of hands
Stand with shoulders under water, hands in front and demonstrate a small circular Breaststroke action
Using arms and legs travel 10 metres on the back
Standing upright demonstrate a circular Back Crawl arm action
*3 In pools where the distance between the water surface and the side of the pool makes climbing out very difficult the correct use of the steps may be used as the criterion
Skill Development
3 different jumps entering the water first and showing control in flight and on landing (minimum depth 0.9 metres)
Mushroom float for 10 seconds
On the back and using two feet push from the wall into a streamlined position and hold stretched position arms overhead in line with the body for a minimum of 5 seconds
In water of at least shoulder depth, tread water for at least 10 seconds
Scull head first on the back, for a distance of 5 metres
From a horizontal flat stretched position (face in the water) rotate through 360 degrees and regain the standing position
Stroke Development
Kick 10 metres on front using a front crawl leg action without a float and with hands still
Kick 10 metres using a breaststroke leg action, with or without a float
Kick 10 metres using a back crawl leg action, without a float, with arms extended overhead, hands together
Travel 5 metres on the front using legs and arms, roll and continue for 5 metres on the back using legs and arms
Skill Development
Feet first surface dive to show complete submersion
*4. Head first surface dive, in water of at least full stretch height depth to show complete submersion
Star float on the front or the back for 5 seconds
Submerge, move underwater to an object positioned 5 metres away, pick up, surface and return to the start on the back carrying the object
Tread water using hands and feet, for a minimum of 15 seconds, to include two 360 degree turns in the vertical position, one in each direction
Stroke Development
Swim 10 metres full stroke front crawl showing basic technique with regular breathing
Swim 10 metres full stroke backcrawl showing basic technique with regular breathing
Swim 10 metres full stroke breaststroke showing basic technique with regular breathing
Using a dolphin action, without a float, kick 10 metres on front
All stroke development skills for Level 6 to be completed from a push and glide with appropriate transition, unless otherwise stated
*4. In pools where the water depth is less than full stretch height of the individual, the following can be completed instead: from swimming on the surface submerge to touch the bottom of the pool with both hands
Skill Development
A straddle jump entry into water of at least full reach height
From a head first surface dive swim underwater for a distance of 5 metres and pick up an object using both hands: return the object to the side and then climb out unaided (minimum depth full stretch height)
Starting with a push and glide demonstrate a forward somersault
Scull head first, on the back, for 5 metres: rotate to front: somersault, scull 5 metres feet first on back
Stroke Development
Kick 20 metres using an efficient front crawl leg action, holding a float
Kick 20 metres using an efficient breaststroke leg action holding a float
Kick 20 metres using an efficient back crawl leg action, arms extended
Swim 25 metres full stroke breaststroke showing basic technique
Swim 25 metres full stroke front crawl showing basic technique
Swim 25 metres full stroke back crawl showing basic technique
Skill Development
Jump with tuck entry into water of at least full reach height depth
Tread water for 30 seconds with head above surface throughout, showing two different methods of kicking and keep one arm out of the water for 10 seconds
Back somersault starting with a horizontal position
Handstand in shoulder depth water for 5 seconds
Stroke Development
Kick 20 metres, using butterfly kick, without a float and without using hands, 5 metres underwater and 15 metres at the surface
Swim 10 metres full stroke butterfly showing basic technique
Swim 50 metres continuously, smoothly, on own choice stroke(s) showing basic technique throughout and including one turn
Demonstrate a hand touch for front crawl covering a distance of 5 metres before and after the turn
Swim 25 metres on either front crawl or back crawl showing efficient technique
Swim 25 metres on either breaststroke or butterfly showing efficient technique
Skill Development
Two different jumps with body straight on entry into water of at least full reach depth, gaining height and taking up a different position in flight selected from straight, tuck, pike, star, turning
A sequence combining: push off on back and glide head first, scull for 5 metres, back somersault, feet first scull for 5 metres, rotate 360 degrees in a vertical tucked position
From feet first surface dive swim underwater to retrieve a diving brick from the bottom of the pool (minimum depth full reach height), surface and carry the object for a distance of 10 metres on the back and land it on the poolside
Stroke Development
Swim continuously 50 metres on each of two strokes showing efficient technique throughout (10-20 seconds rest to be taken after 50 metres)
Swim 25 metres on each of the other two strokes showing efficient technique (10-20 seconds rest to be taken after 25 metres)
A correct urn for butterfly covering a minimum of 5 metres before and after the turn
A correct hand touch turn for back crawl covering a distance of 5 metres before and 5 metres after the turn
A correct hand touch turn for breaststroke covering a distance of 5 metres before and after the turn
Kick 50 metres on front or back crawl showing efficient technique. Use a float for front crawl and arms extended above for back crawl
Kick 25 metres on both breaststroke and butterfly. Use a float for breaststroke and arms extended in front for butterfly. (5-10 seconds rest to be taken after 25 metres)
Skill Development
A plunge dive into water of at least full reach height holding the streamlined position and covering a distance of at least 5 metres
Tread water (minimum depth full reach height) and pass a abll accuratelyto a partner positioned 5 metres away
Swim for 3 minutes continuously in a circuit, and include the following: one feet first surface dive, one head first surface dive, one swim through a hoop (floating just below the surface): tread water for 15 seconds with one arm out of the water throughout. Finish by climbing out of the deep end unaided
Torpedo scull, on the back, feet first, hands overhead, with or without leg support
Stroke Development
Swim continuously for 150 metres on any stroke or combination of strokes showing efficient technique throughout (covering a minimum of 25 metres continuously on any of the strokes used)
A front crawl tumble turn covering a minimum distance of 5 metres before and 5 metres after the turn each of the following covering 25 metres on each stroke showing an appropriate turn: Butterfly- Back crawl. Back crawl-Breaststroke. Breaststroke-Front Crawl
Swim 4 x 1 length of any stroke showing correct use of the pace clock for start time and rest periods
Skill Development
3 pre swim loosening exercises
Tread water for one minute with one arm out of the water for 30 seconds signalling help
Swim front crawl head up, and propel a ball for 15 metres, tread water, pick up the ball with one hand, and throw it to land in a floating hoop 5metres away
On the back, scull head first for 10 metres, back somersault and scull feet first for 10 metres, show star float holding the position for at least 5 seconds
From a push and glide on the back perform a back circle with body stretched throughout
Stroke Development
Swim continuously for 10 minutes using two different competitive strokes and changing every length between an alternating and simultaneous stroke. Efficient technique must be shown throughout
From a push swim 4 x 50 metres on front crawl with 10-15 seconds rest between each 50 metres. Efficient technique and control of stroke and pace must be shown throughout
From a push swim 50 metres on any stroke and use the pace clock to accurately time the swim (+/- second)
Kick for 3 minutes continuously changing every length between an alternating and a simultaneous kick without using the hands for propulsion
From a push, swim continuously for 100 metres on a stroke other than front crawl, maintaining efficient technique throughout
Skill Development
A front crawl racing start, including the correct response to commandsand the transition to the stroke
A back crawl racing start, including the transition to the stroke
A breaststroke racing start including the transition to the stroke
Swim 1 length (minimum 20 metres) combining an alternating arm action and a simultaneous leg kick
Swim 1 length (minimum 20 metres) combining a simultaneous arm action and a alternating leg kick
Stroke Development
From a racing start demonstrate an individual medley covering 1 length on each stroke (minimum 20 metres on each stroke). Efficient technique must be shown throughout.
A back crawl tumble turn covering a minimum of 5 metres before and after the turn
Swim 4 x 1 length on front crawl or back crawl accurately counting the number of single arm strokes for each length. Rest 15-20 seconds between each length
Swim 4 x 1 length on butterfly or breaststroke accurately counting the number of strokes for each length. Rest 15-20 seconds between each length
Swim 100 metres on own choice of stroke showing a correct start, turn and finish and showing efficient technique throughout
