Swim Programs

The MLC School Aquatic Centre offers Learn to Swim programs for all levels and ages; for children from as young as six months through to adult classes.

Water Familiarisation

Aquababies and Turtles programs aim to build confidence and comfort in the water while developing basic swimming skills.

Aquababies

• Class duration: 30 minutes
• Your child will develop water confidence as they are introduced to swimming in a group lesson
• Basic swimming skills will be practiced, including floating, paddling and balancing in the water
• An Aquababies class allows your child to become familiar with our instructors and prepares them to take classes independently with us from the age of 2

Turtles

• Class duration: 30 minutes
• In this level, your child will be introduced to a small group class and become comfortable swimming with their instructor
• This class aims to build your child’s confidence and comfort in the water and further develop basic swimming skills, including floating, kicking and paddling independently with a back float
• Children will progress from this level once independent swimming with the assistance of a back bubble is shown, with basic paddles, kicks and face in the water

Early Development

Jellyfish, Starfish and Octopus programs continue to work on water confidence, teaching basic water safety and lifesaving skills. Children learn to swim independently and begin to develop basic swimming strokes.

Jellyfish

• Class duration: 30 minutes
• Swimmers in this level will continue to build their confidence in the water with a strong emphasis on water and pool safety
• Jellyfish students will further develop their skills in floating, kicking, paddling and general water familiarisation
• Children will progress from this level when they can swim competently without aids or assistance confidently for a required distance

Starfish

• Class duration: 30 minutes
• All swimmers in this level must swim unassisted without flotation aids
• Starfish classes aim to help your child develop confidence with independent swimming and focus on developing general swimming strength in order to take breaths and complete short laps comfortably
• A focus is put on developing a strong kick in this level, in order to form the basis for future stroke development
• Basic stroke technique is introduced in this level, including torpedoes, back floats, back kicking and 'big arms'
• Children will progress from starfish once a student can demonstrate strong paddles and kicks independently from one side of the lane to the other, with breathes being taken unassisted, a strong torpedo kick is shown as well as the demonstration of a strong back float, recover and swim to the platform

Octopus

• Class duration: 30 minutes
• In this level, your child will master a strong torpedo, freestyle “big arms” and a strong back kick in order to move up from octopus.
• Children will be taught to swim independently with straight freestyle arms and breathing. The breathing does not necessarily have to be bilateral at this stage of the progression, with breathing to the front being acceptable
• Children must develop a strong kick on their back and demonstrate this independently for numerous laps of the set lane
• Strength, body position and consistency of skills are all focused on, setting up students for an easier progression of skills in future levels

Stroke Development

Seahorse, Seals and Dolphins focus on learning correct stroke technique whilst building a student's endurance and stamina.

Seahorse

• Class duration: 30 minutes
• The main focus in this level is the mastering of freestyle with bilateral breathing and developing strong backstroke
• Tempo, strength, technique body position and stamina are all factors included with the development of such skills
• These are crucial for the student as future levels require further distances covered

Seals

• Class duration: 30 minutes
• Seals classes are conducted in a 12m lane
• A large focus in this level is to develop your child’s endurance whilst maintaining correct stroke technique for freestyle and backstroke
• Breaststroke kick is introduced as a new skill in this level and will be practiced and performed with a kickboard, demonstrating the basic understanding of the skill. The perfection of the kick will be focused on in future levels. 

Dolphins

• Class duration: 30 minutes
• A higher level of stroke mastery in freestyle and backstroke is expected of students in this level, and technique and endurance are both important for swimmers
• Breaststroke kick is taught and perfected in this level. Correct technique must be mastered before progression to the next level
• Sculling arms are introduced in order to prepare for full breaststroke taught in future levels
• Butterfly kick is taught as an additional new skill and students will develop a basic concept of this

Early Squad

Marlins, Sharks and Novice Squad provide further opportunity for stroke improvement and student performance. Various squad group levels ensure that a student is matched in the correct group.

Marlins

• Class duration: 1 hour
• This level is the first of out of water teaching with squad coaches correcting and monitoring students
• Freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke are practiced with critical stroke correction from instructors
• Again, greater stamina is expected of swimmers before passing from the Marlins level, to ensure they are prepared for our squad programs
• Butterfly is taught as the new skill in this level and it is expected that swimmers will achieve correct technique and timing of this stroke before progression further levels
• A thorough understanding and mastery of all four strokes is required of swimmers before progression to the next level

Sharks

• Class duration: 1 hour
• Out of water teaching with squad coaches
• Swimmers in this class are pushed to build the strength and endurance required of squad swimmers in all four strokes
• Coaches apply intensive stroke correction, helping your child to master a higher level of technique
• Swimmers are taught correct starts and turns, and skills such as reading a pace clock are also taught in preparation for joining more advanced squad levels

Novice Squad

• Class duration: 1 hour – 1 hour 15 minutes
• Students will be selected by our coaches to join this squad
• Swimmers are required to swim a minimum of 2 sessions per week
• Novice squad sessions incorporate intensive stroke correction, starts, turns and finishes

Competitive Squad Programs

Metro Development

• Class duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Students will be selected by our coaches to join this entry-level competitive squad
• Swimmers are required to swim a minimum of 3 sessions per week and must become a member of the MLC Marlins swimming club
• Metro Development sessions incorporate intensive stroke correction, starts, turns and finishes training. Metro Development is a great introduction for swimmers into competition racing and aerobic training.

State Squad

• Class duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Students will be selected by our coaches to join this level of competitive squad
• In this squad, swimmers are required to swim a minimum of 3 sessions per week and must become a member of MLC Marlins swimming club
• State squad is a more advanced competitive squad that focuses on major competitions throughout the year
• This squad incorporates stroke correction, training volume and competitive racing

Performance Squad

• Class duration: 2 hours
• Students will be selected by our coaches to join this level of competitive squad
• In this squad, swimmers are required to swim a minimum of 4 sessions per week and must become a member of MLC Marlins Swimming Club
• Performance squad is the most advanced competitive squad in the program, which focuses majorly on qualifying for Nationals

Fitness Squad Programs

All Stars Squad

• Class duration: 1 hour 45 minutes
• This squad focuses on the fitness aspect of swimming
• Coaches cover all strokes in an aim to improve both fitness and technique 
• Competitive swimming is optional with coaches providing swim sets designed for all abilities

Masters Squad

• Class duration: 1 hour
• This squad focuses on volume swimming as well as stroke correction
• This squad has a wide range of abilities and swimming goals, focusing on stroke technique as well as fitness

Senior Beginner

Senior Bs, Adult Beginners and Adult Intermediate are classes designed for older children (aged 10–17 years) and adults wanting to learn how to swim and/or master a stroke.

Senior Bs

• Class duration: 30 minutes
• Senior Bs is a learn-to-swim class suited for beginners aged 10-17
• This level caters to the diverse needs of all beginners and teaches both water confidence and stroke development

Adult Beginners

• Class duration: 30 minutes
• A beginner class for adults with little or no swimming experience that aims to develop water confidence and basic swimming skills

Adult Intermediate

• Class duration: 30 minutes
• An adult’s class for swimmers who have mastered basic skills and are ready to begin stroke development
• Swimmers must be able to strongly swim 15 metres unaided and confidently