Survival and Beyond
South Bay Aquatics proudly teaches the Survival & Beyond swim method.
What is Survival & Beyond?
Survival & Beyond is a survival swim program that prioritizes teaching lifesaving skills first. These essential skills form the foundation for learning proper stroke technique when basic swimming strokes are introduced.
Children are naturally drawn to water, with infants and toddlers often showing little fear. As they grow, they may develop fears due to the water’s depth and negative experiences. Traditional swim methods require motor skills typically developed between ages 3 and 4. The Survival & Beyond Method is tailored for infants and toddlers, teaching crucial lifesaving skills early, before fears set in, building confidence and a sense of achievement.
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Our Swim Program
Baby & Me (6 months to 3 years)
Our Baby & Me classes are designed for children aged 6 to 36 months, offering a delightful bonding experience with your little one in the water. These 30-minute classes are perfect for parents, or even grandparents, to join their child in the pool, focusing on beginning swimming skills and water acclimation. Our goal is to help your child become comfortable and confident in the water, all while sharing precious moments with a trusted adult.
Each session is filled with fun group songs and water skill exercises, making the experience enjoyable and engaging for you and your child. To ensure a safe and clean environment, we require infants to wear non-disposable water diapers. We offer a variety of sizes for sale at our facility, or you can bring your own. Each Baby & Me class accommodates 5 to 8 students, depending on the location, providing a personalized and engaging experience for every participant.
We are so confident that you and your child will love our Baby & Me classes that we offer the first class for free! Classes are available each day at various times to meet your scheduling needs. Call us today to schedule your free trial class and join the fun at South Bay Aquatics Swim School.
- For Students 6 months to 36 months old
- 30-Minute-Long Instructed Classes
- 5-8 Students Per Class
- Both Parent and Child get in the water
Pre-Stroke School (6 months to 5 years)
Emphasizes water safety and survival skills, leading to students independently back floating and performing swim-roll-swim skills to exit the pool.
Our Pre-Stroke School program for children aged 6 months to 5 years focuses on water safety and foundational swimming skills. Children begin by learning to submerge, float, and recover independently by rolling and floating on top of the water, which is crucial for drowning prevention and early swimming strokes. They then advance to kicking and rolling in and out of the water to safely reach the pool’s edge and exit.
As the children pass each swimming test, they earn ribbons, motivating their progress. Our survival-based Pre-Stroke School equips children with essential skills to ensure their safety and foster a love for swimming from an early age.
Our Pre-Stroke School classes are available in various formats to best meet your needs. We offer private lessons for one-on-one attention, semi-private lessons for small groups, and group classes for a more social learning environment. Explore the different class options on our ‘LESSONS’ page to find the best fit for you or your child and start their journey toward water safety!
Stroke School (5 years + or completion of Pre-Stroke School)
Concentrates on efficient kicking, body position, and proper swimming techniques. Students learn to swim multiple strokes with good form and efficiency.
Our Stroke School program is designed for swimmers aged 5 and older or those who have completed Pre-Stroke School. This specialized level of instruction focuses on perfecting swimming techniques through detailed attention to efficient kicking, body positioning, and stroke mechanics. Our program is divided into two main stages.
In Beginner Stroke School, students master streamlined body positions for freestyle, backstroke, and side strokes, emphasizing horizontal alignment and fluid flutter kicks through targeted rotation drills. These drills are crucial for developing the foundational skills required for proficient swimming.
Once students have achieved a strong command of streamlined positions and efficient kicking, they advance to Intermediate Stroke School, where arm techniques are introduced and refined, developing well-executed freestyle and backstroke. As students progress through the program, they can earn ribbons by passing tests and advancing to the next level, celebrating their achievements and milestones.
Swimming lessons are offered in different formats. We provide private lessons for personalized, one-on-one attention, semi-private lessons for small groups, and group classes for a more social learning environment. Explore the different class options on our ‘LESSONS’ page to find the best fit for you or your child and start their journey toward water safety and swimming proficiency!
Pre-Team Development (6 years + or completion of Stroke School)
Prepares swimmers for the challenges of a competitive team environment. These practice-style classes focus on refining all four competitive strokes, starts, and turns while building endurance, giving swimmers the skills and confidence needed to advance to a team level.
At South Bay Aquatics Swim School, our Pre-Team Development program is designed to prepare swimmers, ages 6 and up, for the challenges of a competitive team environment.
Team Endurance
Team Endurance is tailored for swimmers who have successfully completed the Pre-Comp level or have passed an in-water evaluation. To join, participants should be able to swim 50 yards of freestyle and backstroke, 25 yards of breaststroke, and perform a legal butterfly for half the distance of a 25-yard pool. This class focuses on swimming longer distances while maintaining solid fundamental stroke technique. Swimmers work towards mastering 100 yards of freestyle and backstroke, 50 yards of breaststroke, 25 yards of legal butterfly, and completing a medley with proper starts and turns. Team Endurance classes are held twice a week, with each session lasting 60 minutes and featuring a maximum of 6 students per coach, ensuring personalized attention and effective training.
Team Power
Team Power is designed for swimmers who have undergone an in-water evaluation and are ready to refine their competitive skills. This class emphasizes advanced competitive techniques that enable swimmers to maintain their endurance while increasing their speed by adding power to each stroke. Team Power classes are also held twice a week, with each session lasting 60 minutes and maintaining a 6:1 student-to-coach ratio for focused instruction.
Swim Stroke & Technique Clinics
Our Swim Stroke & Technique Clinics offer targeted instruction on all four competitive strokes. Through a combination of drills and specific sets, these clinics help swimmers develop and perfect their technique. Classes are organized by stroke type, with individualized feedback and instruction provided to each participant. The Stroke Clinics are offered once a week, with 60-minute sessions and a maximum of 6 students per coach to ensure detailed, personalized guidance.
How Does Our Method Differ from Traditional Programs?
Traditional methods teach children to lift their heads to breathe while swimming face down or to tread water, causing vertical positioning that leads to exhaustion in emergencies. Our method teaches children to roll onto their backs to float, relax, and breathe, maintaining a horizontal position to conserve energy.
Traditional programs often combine kicking and arm movements simultaneously when learning proper strokes. Our Stroke School breaks down each component of a proficient freestyle and backstroke. In Beginner Stroke School, students master front, back, and side streamline positions with efficient kicks using rotation drills. Once these skills are mastered, they progress to Intermediate Stroke School, where arm movements are refined for a proficient freestyle and backstroke.