School Age Children Assessment

The Dolphin Kick

A child performing a dolphin kick moves through the water with a smooth, wave-like motion. Their legs stay together and straight, kicking in unison from the hips rather than the knees—like a mermaid or dolphin tail. The motion starts from the core and travels down the body, creating a fluid undulation that propels them forward efficiently. Their toes should be pointed, and there should be minimal splash on the surface. When done correctly, the dolphin kick looks graceful and rhythmic, often used in butterfly stroke and underwater swimming.

5M Streamline & Flutter Kick

A child who can do a 5-metre streamline with flutter kick pushes off the wall with arms extended straight above their head, hands together, and body in a tight, straight line. While holding this streamlined position, they use a small, fast flutter kick—legs straight with slight movement from the hips—to travel forward through the water. The movement should be smooth and continuous for at least 5 metres without breaking form.

Somersault / Tumbleturn

Somersault (in water):

A child performing a somersault in the water does a full forward roll, tucking their chin to their chest and curling into a tight ball. They initiate the motion by pushing their hips over their head, allowing momentum to carry them through a smooth underwater rotation. The key is control and orientation—they should finish facing the same direction they started, comfortable and steady in the water.

Tumble Turn:
A tumble turn is a swimming skill where the child approaches the wall, performs a forward somersault just before reaching it, then plants their feet on the wall and pushes off powerfully into a streamlined position on their back or front. It requires good timing, body awareness, and the ability to transition quickly from swim to turn to push-off. A successful tumble turn looks quick, controlled, and confident.

Diving

Diving:
A child who can dive enters the water headfirst with control and confidence. Their body stays straight and streamlined, with arms extended above the head and legs together. The dive should be smooth and shallow, with minimal splash, showing that the child can safely and effectively transition from land or a platform into the water.

Standing Dive:

 In a standing dive, the child starts at the edge of the pool in a steady, balanced position—feet together, arms straight and pointing forward above their head. They bend slightly at the knees and hips, then push forward and down into the water in one fluid motion. A good standing dive shows control, proper form, and a clean entry into the water, without jumping straight up or landing flat.

Stepping into water, treading and floating

Step Into Water:
A child who can step into the water safely shows confidence and awareness. They enter the pool from the edge with control—usually stepping forward while facing the water, landing with feet first. They stay upright, recover quickly, and begin swimming or floating without panic. This shows they are comfortable transitioning from land to water.

Treading Water:
When a child can tread water, they stay in an upright position in the deep end without touching the bottom. Using a combination of arm movements (like sculling or circular motions) and a steady flutter or frog kick with their legs, they keep their head above the water. A confident tread lasts at least 30 seconds and shows both endurance and water safety skills.

5-Second Front Float:
A child who can perform a front float lies face-down in the water with their body extended and relaxed. Their face is in the water, arms are stretched forward or at their sides, and legs are straight. They float calmly and confidently for at least 5 seconds without support, showing good breath control and comfort in the water.

20-Second Back Float:
For the back float, the child lies on their back in the water with their ears submerged, face up, and body relaxed. Their arms may be out to the sides for balance, and their legs stay extended. They remain still and buoyant for at least 20 seconds without assistance, demonstrating strong water confidence and body control.

The Breaststroke Kick

A child performing a breaststroke kick bends their knees to bring their heels up towards their bottom, then turns their feet outward in a circular motion to push the water backward. The legs move in a wide, smooth, frog-like sweep, finishing with the legs straight and together. A correct breaststroke kick is controlled, with no fluttering or scissor movement, and helps glide the body forward in the water.

Backstroke Tumble turn

A child performing a backstroke tumble turn approaches the wall on their back, then flips forward into a somersault just before reaching it. As they rotate, they twist onto their front and place their feet on the wall, pushing off in a streamlined position on their back. This turn shows body awareness, timing, and coordination, allowing for a smooth transition between laps without stopping.

Backstroke - Full Length

A child swimming a full length of backstroke maintains a steady, streamlined position on their back from one end of the pool to the other. Their arms alternate in a controlled, windmill motion—each arm reaching back and entering the water near their shoulder, while the other pulls through underneath. Their flutter kick is continuous and comes from the hips, helping to keep their body flat and moving forward. They keep their face relaxed above the water, with eyes looking up, showing endurance, coordination, and confidence across the full distance.

Front Crawl - Full Length

A child swimming front crawl for a full length of the pool shows strong, coordinated technique and stamina. Their body remains streamlined and flat in the water, with a steady flutter kick from the hips. Arms alternate in a windmill motion—one arm pulls through the water while the other recovers over the top. They turn their head to the side to breathe without lifting it too far, maintaining a smooth rhythm. A successful full-length front crawl demonstrates control, consistent breathing, and the ability to swim confidently from one end of the pool to the other.