OUR PROGRAM
Ten levels to water safety
We follow the Swiss Aquatics program, a structured system of ten progressive levels that takes your child from their first splash to mastering all four swimming strokes.
SWISS AQUATICS
A proven system for learning to swim
Swim Verbier works with Swiss Aquatics, the governing body for aquatic sports in Switzerland. Swiss Aquatics promotes both elite and grassroots swimming and other watersports for all ages.
Swiss Aquatics provides a multi-level training system that we use to structure our lessons. This system aims to keep children motivated as they progress level by level, while providing them with increasingly higher degrees of challenge.
OUR TEACHING APPROACH
Three methodological principles
Every lesson we deliver is built on these three core principles from the Swiss Aquatics methodology.
Mini Swimmers
Children learn best when they're having fun. We use games, challenges and playful exercises to teach swimming techniques in a way that feels natural and enjoyable for every age group.
Practising
Repetition alone isn't enough. We vary exercises, environments and approaches so that children build a deep, versatile understanding of movement in the water.
Active movement
Learning happens through doing, not watching. Our lessons maximise time in motion, with clear instructions followed by hands-on practice and immediate feedback.
PROGRAMME STRUCTURE
Basic and Advanced
The Swiss Aquatics system is divided into two programmes. Children progress through the Basic programme first, then move on to the Advanced programme once they have a solid foundation.
FOUNDATION
Basic Programme
1 to 6
Water comfort to water safety
Water comfort to water safety
From getting comfortable in the water and blowing bubbles, through to swimming 25 metres independently with correct front crawl and backstroke. Level 6 is the milestone where your child is considered water-safe.
PERFORMANCE
Advanced Programme
7 to 10
Technique refinement to four strokes
Building on the foundation, children refine all four competitive strokes: front crawl, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly. By Level 10, your child can swim all four strokes correctly with good endurance for one hour.
THE 10 LEVELS
What your child will achieve
Each level has clear milestones that your child must master before advancing to the next. Here's what to expect at every stage of their swimming journey.
Getting comfortable
Water safety is the foundation of everything we do. At level one, your child is getting comfortable in the water and is able to put their face in the water and blow bubbles.
Floating and kicking
Your child is able to float on his/her back and front and start kicking their legs, moving a few metres without putting their feet on the floor.
Streamlined swimming
Your child is able to swim 10 metres in the deep pool in a streamlined position (straight body) on his/her front and on his/her back. At this level, kids will start learning how to use their arms during back crawl.
Front crawl begins
Your child is starting to do front crawl and is able to swim 15 metres on their back with arms. He/she can make a forward roll into the water from the pool edge and is starting to dive in the water.
Water safe
Your child is starting to do front crawl correctly and is able to start swimming with a dive. He/she is starting to breathe on their side after three strokes. He/she can do the back crawl for 25m. At this level, your child is safe to be in the water without supervision.
Crawl with breathing
Your child is able to start with a dive and swim 25m crawl with breathing every 3 strokes. Your child is able to kick with breaststroke legs and can do 15m of dolphin kick.
Competition starts and flip turns
Your child is able to do back crawl without mistakes and with a competition start. Your child can swim breaststroke with the correct timing (only a short distance). Your child is able to do a flip turn in crawl and backstroke.
Breaststroke and butterfly
Your child is able to do a two-handed breaststroke turn and can do 15m of correct breaststroke. Your child is learning to do be able to do the butterfly.
All four strokes mastered
Your child is able to swim all four strokes (front crawl, back crawl, breaststroke and butterfly) correctly and has a good endurance to swim for one hour.
THE BIG MILESTONE
When is my child water safe?
This is one of the most common questions we hear from parents. The answer is clear: from Level 6 and above, your child is safe and confident in the water.
We advise beginners to swim year-round to reach this milestone as quickly as possible. It can take up to a year for a young child to be able to jump in the big pool, turn by themselves onto their back, swim to the wall and climb out. For some older children who are scared to put their head in the water, this can take longer.
What does "water safe" mean ?
A child at Level 6 can start swimming with a dive, breathe on their side after three strokes, and swim 25 metres of back crawl without mistakes. They are safe to be in the water without direct supervision. This is the level we encourage every child to reach.
Ready to start the journey?
From Level 1 to Level 10, we'll guide your child every step of the way. Enrol today and give them the gift of water safety and confidence.