Welcome to Teaching Beginners & Kickers
This module covers The Swim Academy's two foundation Learn To Swim levels. Beginners and Kickers. These are the levels where children first enter the water and begin building the motor skills that underpin every stroke they'll ever swim.
At Beginners level, safety, confidence and water familiarity come first. At Kickers level, swimmers are building the kick mechanics and body position that freestyle and backstroke rely on. Getting these foundations right makes everything that follows significantly easier to teach.
Work through the sections in order using the rope on the left (or the bar at the top on mobile). Finish with the Knowledge Check, then keep the Quick Reference handy for your first lessons.
What you'll cover
- Safety: where to stand, where the platform goes, and the rules that keep every swimmer safe
- Setting Up For Success: the four habits that start every lesson right
- Class Control: Pete's ten techniques for keeping your lesson engaged and under control
- Beginners. Lesson Content: the nine content items and how to teach them
- Beginners. Delivery: how to run the lesson safely and engagingly
- Kickers. Lesson Content: the six content items and progressions
- Kickers. Delivery: cue words, feedback and support techniques
- Troubleshooting. Beginners: the most common Beginners problems and how to fix them
- Troubleshooting. Kickers: the most common Kickers problems and how to fix them
- Knowledge Check: questions to test your understanding
- Quick Reference, a cheat sheet for your first lessons
Safety
Every safety rule in this module exists because of this fact. No rule is optional. No exception is acceptable. Your full attention is on your swimmers for the entire lesson, every lesson.
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NEVER turn your back on swimmers
Not to talk to a parent. Not to grab equipment. Not for a moment. If you need to turn away, the lesson stops. Swimmers go to the wall and hold it. Until you can face them again. A child can get into serious difficulty in seconds.
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Keep the lesson under control at all times
A chaotic lesson is an unsafe lesson. Set your rules at the start, enforce them every single time, and never let the group get ahead of your ability to supervise. If the group is out of control, stop the lesson, reset, and start again. Control is a safety requirement, not a preference.
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Help Beginners and Kickers swimmers onto the platform after every lap
Beginners and Kickers swimmers have not yet learned safe exit skills independently. After every lap, physically assist them onto the platform. Do not assume they can manage it, a fatigued child reaching for a platform in the water is vulnerable. This is your responsibility every single time.
Where do I stand? Where does my platform go?
Platforms are for SAFETY and to act as a guide for the length of each lap. They DO NOT replace the need for you to rotate swimmers or move around the lane.
Setting Up
Every lesson opens with the same four steps. They take about 60 seconds and they're non-negotiable.
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1
Call out the class
Check names against your class list and sort swimmers into their correct lanes before they enter the water. Knowing who is in front of you from the first moment makes everything else easier.
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2
Introduce yourself
"Hi, I'm Sam, I'll be teaching you today." Builds trust fast, especially with younger or nervous swimmers. It also signals to parents watching that a named adult is responsible for their child.
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3
Icebreaker
A quick, fun question to settle nerves and build connection before anyone enters the water. Examples: "I love the colour of your togs?" "What did you have for breakfast?" "Did you do anything fun today?" "Are you excited for dinner tonight?" This is especially important at Beginners level where children may be anxious about water.
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Set the rules
You only need to give one firm rule that you follow through with for the entire lesson: Keep your head above the water at the wall. Keep it short and sharp to be effective.
You must always be within arms reach of your swimmers, and you must NEVER turn your back on them. At these early levels, every single activity must keep the swimmer within reach. This is the non-negotiable rule that overrides everything else.
End of Lesson
Always finish with something positive. Even a child who struggled today should leave feeling good about the lesson. Finishing on time is crucial for your next lesson.
Class Control Tips
Just as students work out what they can and can't get away with from their own teachers, your swimmers will work you out in the first week or two. If you tolerate bad behaviour in the beginning, it gives children permission to continue behaving poorly. These techniques work. Use them.
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Set your expectations early
Your swimmers will work you out in the first week or two. If you tolerate bad behaviour in the beginning, it will give the children permission to continue behaving poorly. Set the standard from lesson one and hold it.
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Put a spotlight on the misbehaving swimmer
"Let's all watch Johnny show us his beautiful straight Freestyle arms."
"Johnny is going to show us how to do fast Freestyle kicking."
It'll make Johnny try twice as hard because his peers are watching, and keeps the interest of the other swimmers at the same time. It's one of the fastest ways to stop the behaviour and turn things around in a positive way.
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Follow through
If you say "the next person who puts their head under water when I'm speaking will have to sit on the side of the pool", then enforce it. It lets every swimmer know you mean what you say. This doesn't need to be done in a mean or angry way. It's just how you've decided your classes will be run.
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Mix things up
Every child needs a chance to lead the group and swim first, and every child should have their moment to shine when they are praised in front of the other swimmers for doing something well. This also helps promote a team energy in your classes.
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It's OK to not be happy with a swim
If you've got a good swimmer who's underperforming in their lesson, it's OK to point that out.
"I didn't love that swim Johnny", or "I need to see stronger kicking like you normally do."
It makes them strive harder for approval, and sets the standard for all the swimmers.
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Offer incentives
"If everybody shows me strong Backstroke kicking, we can play with the sinkies."
"Johnny, if you can fix up those Backstroke arms, you might be able to move up to the next level."
Used well, incentives create focus, effort and positive energy, without giving anything away for free.
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Don't reward bad behaviour
If your swimmers have been misbehaving and wasting time, don't reward them with a fun activity at the end. This needs to be earned, and the children will soon learn it's not an automatic thing they get every week.
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Be consistent
Children need to know where they stand when it comes to your expectations.
"Eyes on me when I'm speaking." "Don't put your head underwater if you're not swimming."
The same simple rules each week and the swimmers will know exactly what's expected of them.
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Friendly competition
Done the right way, this can get all your swimmers trying extra hard.
"Let's see who does the best bubble bubble breathe…"
Every swimmer will try their best and then it's up to you to give appropriate feedback.
"Mary had strong arms, Charlotte had great head position, but Johnny wins because he did everything really well!!"
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Have fun!
At the end of the day, we want our swimmers to enjoy their lessons. Once you've set your expectations and done some of the other things on this list, there's no reason why you can't all enjoy the lesson together.
Beginners: Lesson Content
Nine content items make up the Beginners lesson. Work through them in order. Each one builds on the last..
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1
Safe entry/exit
Hands on the edge, turn around, lower into the water slowly. This is teaching them how to enter the water safely.
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2
Blow bubbles with eyes in the water
We are trying to get them to put their face in the water. Blowing bubbles is a fun way to introduce this. A child who can put their face in the water and blow bubbles confidently progresses through every subsequent skill much faster.
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Noodle kicking + blow bubbles
Holding the noodle out front in a rainbow shape around the head, kicking with straight legs while blowing bubbles. The noodle provides security and keeps the head in the right position.
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Kick + paddle with noodle
Adding arm paddles to the noodle kick. The aim is to have them kick and paddle a short distance without a noodle or instructor assistance over the term.
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Airplane kicking + blow bubbles
Arms out to the sides like airplane wings, face in the water, blowing bubbles and kicking. Removes the security of the noodle and starts building independent horizontal body position.
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Monkey-monkey to humpty dumpty (safe entry/exit)
With hands on the edge, younger kids practice their grip strength on the side of the pool then use their safe exit skills to sit on the side of the pool. Singing the nursery rhyme "Humpty Dumpty" provides a fun game for them to practice falling into the water and safely turn back around to the wall. It is a great opportunity to have some water splash on their face too.
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Floating on back
In a starfish position with arms and legs spread for stability. Ears in the water, eyes to the sky, hips up. Support the head with your shoulder to ease them into the back float position. Reassure constantly.
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Teddy bear kick
Holding a teddy bear can help them feel at ease. Ask them if they have a special teddy at home. They can imagine cuddling it while they ease their head back into the water. Keeps the arms out of the way so the focus stays on the kick and back float position.
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Noodle backstroke kick
Kicking on the back with the noodle under the arms for support. Straight legs, pointed toes, feet bubbling near the surface. The noodle keeps hips up while they develop the kick pattern.
Beginners: Delivery
How you run a Beginners lesson is as important as what you teach. Confidence, trust and fun are the outcomes. Every delivery choice should serve those three things.
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Call each swimmer by their name before they push off
Before every single push-off, use the swimmer's name and give a cue to set them up for success. For example: "Sarah. Noodle up, eyes down, big kick, go!" Using their name gets their attention, and the cue sequence gives their body the instruction it needs before they leave the wall.
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SAFETY: always within arms reach, NEVER turn your back
This is the non-negotiable rule for Beginners. Every activity, every moment, every swimmer must be within arms reach. Never turn your back on the group. No exceptions.
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Remind and follow through with rules
State your rules at the start, then actually enforce them. A rule stated once and never enforced teaches children that rules don't matter. Follow through every single time, warmly but firmly.
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Rainbow noodle shape around head
The noodle goes under the arms and curves up around the back of the head like a rainbow, not straight across the chest. This keeps the head in position for blowing bubbles and front kick.
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Support hands on when needed and test boundaries for improvement
Physical support is not a crutch. It's a tool. Use it when a child needs it, but regularly test whether they can go a little further without it. Every lesson should show some progression, however small.
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Support head with shoulder to ease into water on back
When moving a child to the back float, use your shoulder to gently support their head rather than your hands. This creates a more stable, reassuring position and frees your hands to support their body.
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Reassure to relax and float
"Relax your neck, look at the sky, I've got you." Tension is the enemy of floating. The more relaxed a child is, the more naturally they'll float. Calm, quiet reassurance is more effective than loud encouragement at this stage.
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Needs to feel fun!
Use imagination and play to frame every skill: "What flavour ice cream should we scoop?" (paddling arms), "Where is the airplane going?" (airplane kick), "What teddy are you holding?" (teddy bear kick). Children learn physical skills faster when they're having fun.
At Beginners level, the most important thing you can give a child is a positive experience in the water. Technical precision matters far less than confidence and trust at this stage. A child who loves being in the water will learn to swim. A child who is scared of it will resist every technique you try to teach.
Kickers: Lesson Content
Kickers swimmers have water confidence. Now the focus shifts to building correct kick mechanics for freestyle and backstroke. Six content items form the Kickers lesson structure.
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Noodle kicking + blow bubbles
The warm-up. Face in the water, noodle in the rainbow position, continuous flutter kick. Blowing bubbles throughout reinforces the breathing habit that underpins freestyle.
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Freestyle kicking on board
We are teaching them correct foot position for freestyle kick. Toes need to be pointed and legs straight. Holding a kickboard out front, face in the water, continuous flutter kick. Cue words while swimming: "Kick, kick, kick."
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Rocket arms freestyle kicking
Arms in streamline (rocket position) out in front, face in the water, kicking. No board. Swimmers are now holding their own body position in the water. Cue: "Rockets up!" before pushing off.
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Starfish back float
If they cannot float by themselves, they won't be able to do backstroke kick without a board or support. Floating on the back with arms and legs spread wide. The starfish position. Is the foundation for all backstroke work.
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Backstroke kicking on board
Holding the kickboard over their knees on the back. Teaching correct foot position. Toes need to be pointed and "flick" the water. Feet should bubble near the surface.
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Backstroke kicking hands by side
On the back, hands by the sides, straight leg kick with pointed toes. No board. The swimmer is now generating their own flotation through kick and body position. Feet should "bubble" at the surface.
Each item in the Kickers list builds on the one before it. Always start with the earlier item before moving to the next. If a swimmer can't kick well on the board, they're not ready for rocket arms. If they can't hold the starfish float, they're not ready for backstroke kicking hands by side.
Kickers: Delivery
Kickers lessons are more structured and faster-paced than Beginners. Swimmers are ready to be challenged. Your delivery should be energetic, precise and feedback-focused.
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1
Call each swimmer by their name before they push off
Before every push-off, use the swimmer's name and give the cue sequence. For example: "Jack. Rockets up, eyes down, bend your knees, go!" Using their name secures their attention, and the cue sequence sets their body up correctly before they leave the wall.
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SAFETY: always within arms reach, NEVER turn your back
The same golden rule applies at Kickers level. As swimmers get more confident they may push boundaries. Hold the line on this every lesson.
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Remind and follow through with rules
Kickers are at an age where they test boundaries. Consistent, warm follow-through on rules creates the structure that makes real learning possible.
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Support hands on when needed, test boundaries for improvement
Physical support is still appropriate at Kickers level, but the goal is always to need less of it. After each supported attempt, try one attempt with less or no support and see what happens.
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Cue words before pushing off: "Rockets up, eyes down, bend your knees, go!"
Give this cue every single time before a swimmer pushes off. It encodes the correct body position (streamline arms, face in the water, knees bent for a good push) before they even leave the wall.
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Repetition of cue words while swimming: "Kick, kick, kick"
Call "kick, kick, kick" continuously while swimmers are in the water. The verbal rhythm gives them a beat to kick to and keeps them focused on the task rather than on the anxiety of being in the water.
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Remind to take a big breath before pushing off. Inhale with them
Before each push-off, inhale loudly and visibly with the swimmer. This cues them to breathe in before their face goes in the water, preventing the panic of running out of air mid-lap.
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Show correct rocket arms (freestyle) and pointed toes (backstroke) on platform before swimming
Demonstrate the technique on dry land before any water attempt. Show rocket arms for freestyle (straight arms, hands together, pressed to ears) and pointed toes for backstroke. If they can't do it on land, they can't do it in the water.
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Hands-on feedback to show them how it feels
Physical feedback is one of the most powerful teaching tools at this age. Gently point toes, straighten a knee, position rocket arms. Children feel and remember correct body position better than they hear or see it.
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Support head with shoulder to ease into water on back
The same backstroke support technique from Beginners still applies for swimmers who are anxious about the back float. Use your shoulder to support their head while your hands support their body.
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Reassure to relax and float
"Head back, eyes to the ceiling, I've got you." Even at Kickers level, some swimmers need reassurance on their back. Keep your calm, slow your voice, and give them time to settle.
Troubleshooting: Beginners
These are hands-on techniques. Step-by-step physical interventions for the most common Beginners problems. Demonstrate every technique yourself before asking a swimmer to try.
Child will not swim unless you are holding them
- Gradually introduce less contact with them.
- Start with hand under belly and transition to holding their hands while they hold onto the noodle.
- Then, hold onto the noodle with no contact with them.
- Finally, start to introduce periods of no contact at all. Say "Wow, you did that all by yourself!": giving them positive praise will show them that doing it by themselves is the outcome you are looking for.
Child will not put their eyes in the water
- Getting a child to put their eyes in the water is all about trust and making it fun, not scary!
- Giving them an "anchor" or a point of contact with you is a good way to start off getting their face in the water.
- It is a progression. Start with their hands on your shoulders and your hands on their shoulders. Gradually progress to holding one hand, then them holding onto the wall, then nothing.
- Progress from asking them to put their chin in the water, to asking them to blow bubbles with their mouth, to dipping the tip of their nose, then using their eyes to find/check something under water.
- You need to DEMONSTRATE.
Child will not put their head back in backstroke or float in starfish
- To make it less daunting, you need to soften the fall into the water.
- Get them to rest their head on your shoulder, and slowly lower into the water.
- Progress gradually by moving them away from your shoulder, and using a hand under their back instead. You can slowly progress further by removing your hand momentarily until they don't need it at all.
- They need to push up their belly when floating. Gently use your hand to push their lower back up to the sky momentarily when they begin to sink.
- Use your hands to bring their arms outwards and spread their legs apart to give them greater balance and take the load off of their core.
Child doesn't scoop the water for kick + paddle
- Use your hand to pick up and move one hand through the water, extending outwards and scooping downwards into their body.
- If they only use one arm, it could be they are too scared to use both, or that they don't know that they need to. In which case show them how to use both arms via the method above.
Child doesn't want to do humpty dumpty
- Progress from lifting them up off the wall and softly putting them in the water close to the wall, to allowing them to fall into the water once you pick them up. Gradually increase how deep they go.
- Then, only hold their hands and guide them into the water, stepping a bit further away each time.
- Repeat the above without holding their hands.
Troubleshooting: Kickers
Hands-on physical techniques for the most common Kickers problems. Use them in the water in real time as problems arise.
Child cannot kick with straight legs
- Let the child lay horizontally, with correct body positioning.
- Place one arm straight across, underneath the thighs, and one arm straight across, over the calves.
- This will restrict the movement of the kick, only allowing straight legs.
Child has bent arms holding the board
- Before the child pushes off, squeeze their elbows together, pushing their arms into the centreline to force the arms straight.
- If the arms become bent while swimming, reach over the top of their arms and repeat with the cue words "straight arms".
Child kicks with feet flexed
- First, show them what pointed toes looks like on you. Then, ask them to show you their pointed toes.
- If they don't know what pointed toes "feels like", use your thumb on the top of their foot to manipulate their toes downwards and the rest of your fingers to accentuate the arch underneath.
- While they swim you can repeat this motion to remind them to point their toes.
- For backstroke, you will need to get them to "flick" the water with their toes as if they are flicking something icky off of them. Using the same hand movement, you can manipulate their feet to be pointed, then flick their toes slightly upwards while moving their whole leg to the surface.
Child cannot swim to the wall without stopping or lifting head
- This is likely due to them running out of breath.
- Before they push off, cue to them "BIG BREATH" and INHALE with them audibly. This will cue them to take a big breath in.
- Then give them a big push to allow them to finish the lap. Repeat this, giving smaller pushes as they improve.
Knowledge Check
Quick Reference
Download or print this page for your first few lessons using the button at the bottom of the page.
Every Lesson: Start
- Call out the class
- Introduce yourself
- Icebreaker
- Set the rules
Golden rule: always within arms reach, NEVER turn your back on swimmers.
Beginners Content
- Safe entry/exit
- Blow bubbles with eyes in the water
- Noodle kicking + blow bubbles
- Kick + paddle with noodle
- Airplane kicking + blow bubbles
- Monkey-monkey to humpty dumpty
- Floating on back
- Teddy bear kick
- Noodle backstroke kick
Kickers Content
- Noodle kicking + blow bubbles
- Freestyle kicking on board
- Rocket arms freestyle kicking
- Starfish back float
- Backstroke kicking on board
- Backstroke kicking hands by side
Kickers Key Cues
Before push-off: "Rockets up, eyes down, bend your knees, go!"
While swimming: "Kick, kick, kick!"
Before backstroke: Inhale together
Back float: "Head back, eyes to the ceiling, I've got you"
Beginners Delivery Tips
- Rainbow noodle. Curves around back of head
- Support head with shoulder on back float
- Make it fun. Ice cream, airplanes, teddies
- Reassure: "I've got you, relax, look at the sky"
- Test boundaries. Try a little less support each time
Every Lesson: End
- Constructive fun (if time)
- Finish on time
- Positive end and goodbye
Every child should leave feeling good about the lesson, regardless of how it went technically.
You've covered the full Beginners and Kickers lesson structure. Good luck with your first lessons.
Thank you for completing the Beginners & Kickers Module.
You're now ready to deliver your first Beginners and Kickers lessons. Good luck!