NATIONAL PLAN FOR TEACHING SWIMMING
As the experts in all things swimming, the ASA developed the 2007 National Plan for Teaching Swimming (NPTS), powered by British Gas, as a syllabus for swimming lessons. Lessons delivered using the National Plan use fun and games to take children from the first splash to full competence in the pool and will ultimately help your child develop confidence in the water. The NPTS guides your child through ten clearly defined stages, and there’s a foundation level to get babies as young as six-months-old started. All of the NPTS is supported by the Kellogg’s ASA Awards scheme… that’s the badges and certificates you probably remember getting as a youngster.
STAGE 1
This stage is concerned with developing basic safety awareness, the ‘class’ scenario, basic movement skills and water confidence skills. Swimmers may use aids, such as arm bands, floats, etc.
STAGE 2
This stage focuses on developing safe entries to the water, including jumping in, basic floating, travel on the front and back up to a distance of five metres, and rotating the body to regain an upright position. Swimmers may use aids such as arm bands, floats, etc.
STAGE 3
Concerned with developing safe entries into the water – including submersion – travel up to 10metres on the front and back, and progressing water safety knowledge and body rotation skills from the previous Stage, Stage 3 also sees the swimmer being assessed without the use of aids or support.
STAGE 4
This stage aids the learner in developing the understanding of buoyancy through a range of skills. Also covered is refining kicking techniques for all strokes. The swimmer also has to swim 10metres to a standard directed by the ASA.
STAGE 5
During this stage swimmers develop ‘watermanship’ through sculling and treading water skills and body complete rotation. They also perform all strokes for a distance of 10metres to a standard provided by the ASA within the NPTS resources.
STAGE 6
Developing effective swimming skills – including coordinated breathing – across all strokes is the focus of this stage. Learners also have to swim a distance of 25metres using a stroke of the swimmer’s choice. Children also learn about aspects of water safety and about preparing properly for exercise.
STAGE 7
During this stage, children develop quality stroke techniques up to 100metres incorporating the skills they have learned, and combine them to develop a linked routine. They also complete successfully an obstacle course that combines a variety of skills accomplished through stages 1-7.
Once the swimmer has developed the core range of skills required to be confident, competent and safe in the water through stages 1-7, he or she can then take part in different aquatic disciplines through stages 8-10.
Once the swimmer has developed the core range of skills required to be confident, competent and safe in the water through stages 1-7 of the National Plan for Teaching Swimming, powered by British Gas, he or she can then take part in different aquatic disciplines through stages 8-10.
These Stages are called the FUNdamental Sport Skills of the NPTS. Disciplines available to swimmers are competitive swimming, diving, synchronised swimming, water polo and rookie lifesaving. Availability will depend on leisure facility, so check with your local provider .
Stages 8, 9 and 10 of the NPTS are discipline specific and have synergy with the grass roots programmes developed by the disciplines to support the individual sports. These are the diving specific Flip ‘n’ Fun, the synchronised swimming focused AquaFun and mini-polo for swimmers interested in water polo.
For the competitive swimming discipline in Stages 8, 9 and 10 the ASA has developed awards specifically to support the NPTS. For more information visit the awards page here.
The ASA and the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) have worked closely to develop Stages 8, 9 and 10 and to produce awards that link into the ASA NPTS. The syllabus relating to the Rookie Lifesaving stages can be accessed through the RLSS by using the web link above.
Awards Payment
Award : £3.20
