1. Correctly Identify the Key Water Safety Messages and Beach Flags

Your child will review key water safety messages, including understanding beach flags and how to spot potential water dangers.

Parent Tips:

• Make it practical: Discuss water safety at home or while visiting the beach or pool. Point out real-life examples of potential dangers.
• Use visual aids: Show your child images of different beach flags and their meanings to reinforce their understanding.
• Encourage discussion: Ask your child to explain what they would do in various water safety scenarios to check their understanding.

2. Swim 25 Metres Frontcrawl

Your child will swim 25 metres of frontcrawl, starting with an underwater push and glide, followed by 3 dolphin kicks.

Parent Tips:

• Smooth transition: Practise transitioning from the underwater glide and dolphin kicks into the frontcrawl stroke smoothly.
• Focus on breathing: Encourage your child to maintain a consistent breathing pattern, such as breathing every 3 strokes.
• Strong kicks: Remind your child to kick from the hips to maintain a strong, steady pace throughout the swim.

3. Swim 25 Metres Backstroke

Your child will swim 25 metres of backstroke, starting with an underwater push and glide, followed by 3 dolphin kicks.

Parent Tips:

• Keep eyes on the ceiling: Encourage your child to keep their head still and focus on looking at the ceiling for good body alignment.
• Smooth arm movements: Practise continuous, alternating arm recovery to maintain momentum throughout the swim.
• Focus on kicking: Ensure your child is kicking steadily from the hips to propel them efficiently through the water.

4. Swim 25 Metres Breaststroke

Your child will swim 25 metres of breaststroke, focusing on the pull-breathe-kick-glide sequence for maximum efficiency.

Parent Tips:

• Emphasise the glide: Encourage your child to extend the glide phase after each stroke to conserve energy.
• Correct foot position: Ensure their feet are flexed during the kick for maximum propulsion.
• Smooth coordination: Practise timing the pull, breath, and kick in sync to maintain smooth, controlled movements.

5. Swim 25 Metres Butterfly

Your child will swim 25 metres of butterfly, starting with an underwater push and glide, followed by 3 dolphin kicks.

Parent Tips:

• Focus on rhythm: Help your child find the rhythm of undulating body movements to keep their butterfly smooth and efficient.
• Short, quick dolphin kicks: Encourage small, quick kicks to build strength and momentum during the stroke.
• Break it down: Practise in short bursts to build endurance while maintaining proper technique.

6. Swim 100 Metres Individual Medley

Your child will swim 100 metres continuously, using all four strokes in the following order: 25m butterfly, 25m backstroke, 25m breaststroke, 25m frontcrawl.

Parent Tips:

• Practise transitions: Help your child practise transitioning smoothly between each stroke during the IM.
• Build endurance: Work on swimming longer distances regularly to build the stamina needed for 100 metres.
• Focus on technique: Remind them to maintain good technique throughout each stroke to avoid fatigue.

7. Swim 200 Metres Using at Least 3 Different Strokes

Your child will swim 200 metres continuously, using at least 3 different strokes to complete the distance.

Parent Tips:

• Break it down: Start with shorter distances to build up your child’s stamina and confidence before attempting the full 200 metres.
• Practise switching strokes: Help them practise switching strokes smoothly without losing momentum.
• Encourage pacing: Teach your child to start at a steady pace to conserve energy and avoid tiring early.

8. Perform a Plunge Dive (Into Water at Least 1.8 Metres Deep)

Your child will perform a plunge dive from the poolside, focusing on safe water entry and maintaining a streamlined body position.

Parent Tips:

• Practise a safe entry: Teach your child to dive with their arms extended by their ears and chin tucked in.
• Start shallow: Begin practising the dive in shallower water to build confidence before moving to deeper water.
• Controlled dive: Remind them to keep their body tight and controlled to ensure a smooth entry into the water.

9. Tread Water Using an Eggbeater Kick While Passing a Ball

Your child will tread water for 30 seconds, using an eggbeater kick, while passing and catching a ball in a team.

Parent Tips:

• Practise the eggbeater kick: Help your child practise the eggbeater kick on land to develop strength before trying it in the water.
• Use teamwork: Encourage your child to communicate with their teammates and stay focused while passing the ball.
• Build endurance: Practise treading water for longer periods to build endurance and confidence.

10. Complete a 25 Metre Obstacle Course with 4 Obstacles

Your child will go through a 25-metre obstacle course that includes at least 4 obstacles, such as diving under barriers or swimming through hoops.

Parent Tips:

• Practise manoeuvres: Help your child practise swimming under and around objects to prepare for the obstacle course.
• Encourage problem-solving: Teach your child to think about how they will approach each obstacle and stay calm while completing the task.
• Make it fun: Turn practising obstacles into a game to keep your child motivated and excited.

11. In a Small Group, Demonstrate Rotation, Floating, Sculling, and Treading Water

In a small group, your child will perform a sequence that lasts at least 45 seconds, involving rotation, floating, sculling, and treading water.

Parent Tips:

• Practise sculling and floating: Help your child practise these skills individually before combining them into a sequence.
• Work on teamwork: Teach your child the importance of communicating and working together with others during the exercise.
• Build confidence: Encourage your child to stay calm and focus on maintaining control throughout the sequence.

12. Take Part in a Relay Race

Your child will take part in a relay race, swimming as part of a team and working together to complete the race.

Parent Tips:

• Focus on transitions: Practise smooth hand-offs during the relay to avoid losing time.
• Encourage teamwork: Remind your child to cheer on their teammates and work together to finish the race.
• Practise pacing: Teach your child to swim at a steady pace and save energy for their leg of the relay.

Wave 7 is the final stage in the Swim Wales system that I teach, where your child will master all strokes over longer distances and participate in competitive swimming tasks such as relay races and the Individual Medley. By focusing on both individual technique and teamwork, your child will develop the confidence and skills necessary to excel in swimming beyond the wave system.