During Stage 5, swimmers will develop their skills in treading water, learn the correct arm pulls for all four strokes and learn how to do handstands and somersaults.

This means they will develop their technique and perform all strokes to the expected standards.

The emphasis is on ensuring all work done in the previous stages is developed further.

A key activity in Stage 5 is sculling, which is an important skill to master as it is not only prevalent in artistic swimming, but is also vital to ensuring water safety.

Learning to tread water is an important area of development and again is a crucial lifesaving skill.

GOLDFISH 1

1. Answer 2 water safety questions
2. Enter the water with a step or jump entry, tread water for 5 seconds, swim to poolside
3. Push and glide, and hold the streamlined position for 5 seconds
4. Push and glide, or swim to the bottom of the pool, to retrieve an object
5. Swim 5 metres on front, roll over and swim 5 metres on back
6. Perform dolphin leg kick on the front or back for 5 metres
7. Scull head first for 2 metres
8. Scull feet first, using a woggle for support
9. Show rhythmical breathing in front crawl for 10 metres, using a woggle or float
10. Swim a recognisable breaststroke for 5 metres

GOLDFISH 2

1. Answer 2 water safety questions
2. Perform a back float, tuck to a front float and return to a standing position
3. Scull head first for 5 metres, and feet first for 3 metres
4. Push and glide on the back, tuck, rotate to the front and return to the starting point
5. Swim 10 metres of a recognised front stroke, either front crawl or breaststroke. Learner’s first choice
6. Swim back crawl for 10 metres
7. Swim 5 metres of a recognised front stroke. Learner’s second choice
8. Push and glide to the bottom of the pool, tuck, place feet on the bottom and spring up
9. Perform a mushroom float and hold for 3 seconds, extend to a front float and return to a standing position
10. Enter the water with a step or jump entry, swim 5 metres on the front, then swim to poolside and exit water safely

15 Metres Distance Swim

20 Metres Distance Swim

Water Safety 2 Award

This Award introduces swimming in clothes, the key water safety messages from RNLI and RLSS, and essential personal survival techniques such as the Heat Escape Lessening Position (HELP).

The outcomes of this Award should be performed in water of at least full reach depth, without goggles and light clothing (shorts and t-shirt).

1. Perform a fall in entry.
2. Float on the back for 60 seconds without floatation equipment and explain why this is important.
3. Tread water for 30 seconds without floatation equipment.
4. Perform a rotation of 360 degrees whilst treading water without floatation equipment.
5. Signal for help whilst treading water without floatation equipment.
6. Swim on the front for 10 metres, log roll onto the back and then rest for 60 seconds; return to an upright position to tread water.
7. Swim 10 metres on the front, log roll and swim 10 metres on the back to a floating object.
8. Swim for 10 metres towards the side of the pool using long arm front paddle (survival stroke).
9. Fully submerge to the pool floor; rhythmically bounce from the pool floor to the surface to take a breath; re-submerge. Repeat four times.
10. Demonstrate the Heat Escape Lessening Position (HELP) with a floating object.
11. Climb out from the side, without using the steps.
12. Recite and show understanding of the four key water safety messages.

GOLDFISH 3

1. Answer 2 water safety questions
2. Perform 2 different types of entries and tread water for 15 seconds each time; performed in shoulder-deep water
3. Swim 15 metres of back crawl
4. Swim 15 metres of a recognised front stroke, either front crawl or breaststroke
5. Swim 10 metres, holding a float under each arm, using lifesaving backstroke leg kick
6. Swim 5 metres, dolphin leg kick on front
7. Swim 5 metres, dolphin leg kick on back
8. Perform a handstand with both hands on the pool floor; performed in chest-deep water
9. Perform a horizontal float on the back and hold for 5 seconds, roll on to the front, hold for 5 seconds, roll to the original back float position and hold for 5 seconds
10. Submerge, push and glide on the side, roll to a face down position

Stage 5

Perform a flat stationary scull on the back.

1. Perform a feet first sculling action for 5 metres in a flat position on the back.
2. Perform a sculling sequence with a partner for 30-45 seconds to include a rotation.
3. Tread water for 30 seconds.
4. Perform three different shaped jumps into deep water.
5. Push and glide and swim 10 metres backstroke (performed to Swim England expected standards).
6. Push and glide and swim 10 metres front crawl (performed to Swim England expected standards).
7. Push and glide and swim 10 metres breaststroke (performed to Swim England expected standards).
8. Push and glide and swim 10 metres butterfly (performed to Swim England expected standards).
9. Perform a handstand and hold for a minimum of three seconds.
10. Perform a forward somersault.
11. Demonstrate an action for getting help.