Swimming - ASA awards

[ListersSister]

Hi there

Just wondered if the ASA awards are expected to be in line with school years (ie Level 1 = Yr 1), and that children go up a level every year. Or, are they purely ability based? If so, would anyone mind sharing what age their child is and what level they are on?

While I am at it, anyone know anything about the Gym Proficiency certificates!? They seem to start at Level 7 and then go down??

Not important , just wondering.

They are ability based and, if anything, achieveable above the year group.

No, the swim awards weren't designed with school years in mind.

Message withdrawn

Thanks ladies.

The reason I ask is that my DD1 is 6 (Yr2) and her swimming teacher says she should be in a level 5 class (she is currently in a Level 3), but the pool seem to think she shouldn't be 'too far ahead for her age', whatever that means? The swim teacher works for the pool btw!

DD2 is in level 2 (she is 5 and in reception) and missed out Level 1 all together, so it isn't about skipping a level, as they said she should go straight into a Level 2.

I am wondering if it is just because they don't have space in the class?
Thanks again

level one i think is water confidence really, head under etc?
If dd1 can do the level 5 stuff she should be in level 5, nothing to do with age but what boxes they tick isnt it?
Can do bla bla bla move up a level.
DD1 is 10 and level 7
DD2 is 7 and level 3.

We organise our classes on more than just ASA award level, but not by age. One of the things we do look at is stamina (ability to swim distances maintaining a good stroke) and theis does have a tendency to be age related. So sometimes we find the very able youngsters lack the stamina of the older children and stuggle in a group of stronger older children even though technically they are at that level. Another issue that comes up sometimes in that of confidence in deep water. Some children can swim fine if they know they can touch the bottom, but not if they can't - they then need to stay in a lower (shallower) group for a little longer to build confidence.

Odd that you are getting different messages from the teacher and the pool - it could well be a class-full situation. A good teacher should be able to tailor the lesson to stretch a spread of abilities though - I have taught levels 3,4 and 5 in one group before.

That's really helpful ladies - thank you.

I suspect it is a class-is-full situation that is making the pool backtrack on what dd's teacher said. He said she needs to go to Level 5 as she is fine about not being in her depth and has good technique but now needs to work on her stamina. Is it likely that the children in a Level 5 class are going to be that much older do you think? It won't bother dd - she gets on well with everyone and is happy being with older children - but I assumed it would be 7-8 yr olds or so?

I shall try again with the pool and be a little more assertive this time that there is no good reason why she shouldn't be in this class if her teacher says she should be!

It's not uncommon to have a six year old at level 5 (we generally don't but sometimes do, but then we only start at 5), but it's always a bit hit and miss whether you have any youngsters in a particular group when you want them there if you see what I mean.

My 6 (well almost 7 year old!) is working towards his level 9 badge. He is a very strong swimmer, but there has always been a problem in that he is so much younger than the rest of the group, and is nowhere near as good as them at listening to the coach. Hence the coach gets p**d off that he doesn't listen well enough, could be doing better if he did, etc. It is getting a bit better now as he's getting older, but when I ask him why he doesn't concentrate on what the coach is saying, he says he doesn't like standing still in the water and he can just copy the others anyway!
My friend has a similar not listening problem with her DD. If your DD is a good listener, etc, there should be no problem at all!