Group Lessons
Building Confidence Beyond the Pool
Our Group Swim Lessons provide far more than basic swim instruction—they create a structured pathway for swimmers to develop water safety skills, confidence, and lifelong success in and around the water. Through the nationally recognized SwimAmerica curriculum, swimmers progress through a proven, goal-oriented system designed to build skills step-by-step, ensuring measurable advancement at every level.
In a fun, positive, and supportive learning environment, swimmers work alongside their peers while receiving individualized instruction from experienced and dedicated instructors. Our small class sizes (4:1) allow for personalized feedback and skill development, while the group setting encourages motivation, social interaction, and confidence-building through shared achievement.
Whether your child is experiencing the water for the first time, learning foundational swimming skills, refining stroke technique, or preparing for more advanced aquatic opportunities, our program meets swimmers where they are and helps them reach their full potential. Every lesson emphasizes water safety, proper technique, and continuous progress, giving families the confidence that their swimmer is developing skills that will benefit them for a lifetime.
At Swim America Swim School, we are committed to creating safe, capable, and confident swimmers while fostering a lifelong love of the water. Our structured approach, experienced instructors, and proven curriculum have helped families throughout Hampton Roads build a strong foundation for swimming success for more than 30 years.
Swim America Programs
Preschool Program
Ages 2½–5 Years
Our Preschool Program is specifically designed to introduce young children to the water in a fun, safe, and confidence-building environment. Using the nationally recognized SwimAmerica curriculum, swimmers progress through ten carefully structured stations that focus on water safety, independence, and foundational swimming skills. Children advance at their own pace as they master each station's objectives.
Station 1 – Water Introduction
Goal: Comfort and confidence in the water.
Skills include:
- Entering and exiting the pool safely
- Water adjustment activities
- Blowing bubbles
- Submerging mouth and nose
- Basic water exploration
- Instructor-assisted movement
Station 2 – Float Introduction
Goal: Developing buoyancy awareness.
Skills include:
- Assisted front floating
- Assisted back floating
- Body position awareness
- Recovering to a standing position
- Increased comfort with face in the water
Station 3 – Independent Floating
Goal: Learning self-support in the water.
Skills include:
- Independent front float
- Independent back float
- Basic kicking movements
- Floating without instructor support
- Beginning water confidence and control
Station 4 – Paddle & Propel
Goal: Moving independently through the water.
Skills include:
- Front paddle motions
- Basic arm movements
- Streamlined body position
- Short independent swims
- Swimming toward a target
Station 5 – Jump, Float & Recover
Goal: Fundamental water safety skills.
Skills include:
- Safe jumps into the water
- Returning to the surface
- Rolling onto the back
- Floating independently
- Swimming to the wall
Station 6 – Rollover Breathing
Goal: Learning survival and recovery techniques.
Skills include:
- Front-to-back rollovers
- Floating to breathe
- Extended kicking
- Swimming short distances
- Increased independence
Station 7 – Beginner Freestyle
Goal: Introduction to proper swimming technique.
Skills include:
- Freestyle arm action
- Flutter kicking
- Rhythmic breathing concepts
- Streamline position
- Swimming longer distances
Station 8 – Beginner Backstroke
Goal: Swimming comfortably on the back.
Skills include:
- Backstroke arm motion
- Back flutter kick
- Body alignment
- Continuous movement
- Increased endurance
Station 9 - Stroke Development
Goal: Building efficiency and confidence.
Skills include:
- Improved freestyle technique
- Improved backstroke technique
- Side breathing
- Stroke coordination
- Swimming greater distances
Station 10 – Preschool Graduate
Goal: School-Age Program readiness.
Skills include:
- Independent swimming proficiency
- Water safety competency
- Freestyle and backstroke proficiency
- Swimming multiple pool widths
- Confidence in deep-water situations
- Prepared transition into SwimAmerica's School-Age Program
What Makes SwimAmerica Different?
✔ Goal-driven instruction
✔ Small class sizes
✔ Proven skill progression
✔ Water safety emphasis
✔ Advancement based on mastery, not age
✔ Nationally recognized curriculum developed by the American Swimming Coaches Association
At SwimAmerica, every child progresses at their own pace, ensuring that confidence, safety, and proper technique are developed every step of the way.
Swim America Children Program
Ages 5–16 Years
The Swim America School-Age Program provides a structured pathway from basic swimming skills to advanced stroke development. Using the nationally recognized SwimAmerica curriculum, swimmers progress through ten stations designed to build confidence, water safety, endurance, and technical proficiency in all four competitive swimming strokes.
Each swimmer advances based on demonstrated skill mastery, ensuring a solid foundation and long-term success in the water.
Station 1 – Water Confidence & Safety
Goal: Develop comfort, independence, and basic water safety skills.
Skills include:
- Safe pool entry and exit
- Front and back floating
- Breath control
- Submersion
- Assisted kicking
- Basic water movement
Advancement Goal:
- Demonstrate comfort and independence in shallow water.
Station 2 – Independent Floating & Gliding
Goal: Establish balance and body position.
Skills include:
- Front glide
- Back glide
- Streamline position
- Front kicking
- Back kicking
- Recovery to standing
Advancement Goal:
- Perform controlled floating and gliding independently.
Station 3 – Kicking Fundamentals
Goal: Develop propulsion and body control.
Skills include:
- Front flutter kick
- Back flutter kick
- Streamline kicking
- Directional control
- Extended kicking distances
Advancement Goal:
- Demonstrate efficient kicking on both front and back.
Station 4 – Freestyle Introduction
Goal: Learn the fundamentals of the crawl stroke.
Skills include:
- Freestyle arm action
- Side-glide kicking
- Rollover breathing
- Stroke timing
- Streamlined body position
Advancement Goal:
- Swim freestyle with side breathing and proper body position.
Station 5 – Freestyle Development
Goal: Increase distance and efficiency.
Skills include:
- Continuous freestyle swimming
- Rhythmic breathing
- Bilateral breathing introduction
- Endurance development
- Stroke refinement
Advancement Goal:
- Swim freestyle continuously while maintaining technique.
Station 6 – Backstroke
Goal: Develop proficiency swimming on the back.
Skills include:
- Backstroke arm action
- Backstroke kick
- Body alignment
- Rotation
- Continuous backstroke swimming
Advancement Goal:
- Swim freestyle and backstroke for extended distances.
Station 7 – Breaststroke & Butterfly Introduction
Goal: Learn the fundamentals of the remaining competitive strokes.
Skills include:
- Breaststroke kick
- Breaststroke timing
- Butterfly arm action
- Dolphin kick
- Stroke coordination
Advancement Goal:
- Demonstrate beginning breaststroke and butterfly skills.
Station 8 – Turns & Advanced Stroke Development
Goal: Improve efficiency and introduce competitive skills.
Skills include:
- Bilateral breathing
- Open turns
- Freestyle turns
- Extended swimming distances
- Butterfly and breaststroke refinement
Advancement Goal:
- Swim all four strokes with increasing proficiency and efficiency.
Station 9 – Lifetime Swimming Skills
Goal: Expand swimming competency beyond competitive strokes.
Skills include:
- Sidestroke
- Elementary backstroke
- Extended endurance swimming
- Water safety applications
- Stroke refinement
Advancement Goal:
- Demonstrate proficiency in both competitive and recreational swimming skills.
Station 10 – Individual Medley & Program Completion
Goal: Combine all learned skills into complete swimming proficiency.
Skills include:
- Freestyle
- Backstroke
- Breaststroke
- Butterfly
- Individual Medley swimming
- Advanced endurance
- Stroke refinement
Advancement Goal:
- Swim all four competitive strokes proficiently.
- Complete an Individual Medley.
- Graduate from the SwimAmerica School-Age Program with a strong foundation for recreational or competitive swimming.
Why Parents Choose Swim America
✔ Small class sizes
✔ Proven national curriculum
✔ Advancement based on mastery
✔ Strong emphasis on water safety
✔ Development of all four competitive strokes
✔ Clear progression from beginner to advanced swimmer
✔ Excellent preparation for competitive swimming opportunities
At Swim America, our goal is simple: help every swimmer become safer, stronger, and more confident in the water while developing skills that last a lifetime.