Swimming levels

[thirdfiddle]

In case anyone thought these levels meant anything standardised... DS just got awarded ASA level 5 from one school and level 7 from another. In the same week!

For his age neither is particularly good so not a stealth brag or anything. It just amused me. And I thought it might reassure anyone who's worrying about their DC not moving up - just move them to a different teacher and they could go up 2 levels in a shot.

:) Well done little thirdfiddle! :)

Yes, it is slightly crazy how the levels work. Some pools just seem stricter with their criteria, which is a good thing I think! No shocks when you pass stage 7 in the hardest swim school, and progress to a club! If you are in a swim school that awards stage 7 for stage 5 work, you might not pass a trial for a club, which could be disappointing :(

I also think though, that some teachers are just slow to notice good swimmers and slow to progress some kids to the next stage (the cynic in me recognises that swim schools make money the longer kids remain in swim lessons and therefore dont want progression too fast!!) My DS 7 (now in a competitive club) was very small and young compared to other kids in his swim lessons, and despite being stage 4 when he was 5, one teacher would not move him from stage 2 where all the other kids his age (and height!) were (even though he swam in stage 4 on another day in the week!! at the same swimming centre!!) We moved him, and I'm so glad we did as he'd probably still be in stage 2!! Or maybe stage 3 if we'd left him!!! (When we moved him, he was put in stage 5 in the new swim centre!!! - that is HUGELY different from stage 2!!!! 🤔)

Swimming is a bit bonkers!! But once they hit club it seems that most coaches are on the same page! And it is a bit clearer and easier to notice progress etc..

No danger of hitting a club here, sounds too much like hard work to DS! He's more of a potterer than a racer. Sounds like your DS is doing brilliantly, my 7 yr old DD still can't get her arms and legs and breathing coordinated.

Have to say I did share your cynical thought about the other school. They're a small pool and stage 5 is about the limit of what you could sensibly do so keep them in stage 5 for as long as possible? We only kept him there as the teacher is admittedly better on technique and wanted him to learn properly. The stage 8 teacher at the big pool seems much more focussed though so will probably let small pool go.

We had something very similar, we moved house and my DS was in Stage 7 when we left. He was put down to Stage 4 in the new swimming school and three years on he is still only in a Stage 6. I cannot believe it really!

We have a similar thing in gymnastics really, kids keep passing levels where I'm sure they can't really do the skills properly. I'm sure they'd be loads of levels lower if they were at a club that took the levels more rigorously. No moderation! I have my doubts about EYFS come to that - despite moderation; they can only moderate what gets recorded. Current school was dramatically meaner with its "exceeding"s than previous school for a similar cohort.
Setting absolute standards for things that are teacher-assessed seems to be hard.

We live in London and my daughter is 9 and on stage 4 at the local swimming club, she has been on S4 for over a year.
She has 30mins training each week and there are about 10 kids in total in her group.
I watch her from the viewing area and I understand completely why she isn’t stage 5 as her Arms need to be stronger in 2 techniques .
I don’t see the issue about stages, as a certificate won’t save their life only their confidence and capabilities in the water will.

Oh I agree it doesn't matter particularly. Main thing for us is they're getting some exercise in a way they enjoy. The less strict school is probably better for survival skills as they move up the levels and swim bigger distances. Strength and stamina more important than perfect butterfly technique.