Receive the American Red Cross - Level V Stroke Refinement or YMCA certificate or equivalent in Intermediate Swimming OR pass the following requirements
While it is not required that you have a professional teach you (or your kids) to swim, it is highly advisable. Check with your local pool (a local college, or YMCA for example) to see what kind of swimming courses are offered. If you are unsure where your nearest American Red Cross (ARC), or YMCA is, then check online at: Red Cross (in the middle near the top there is a place to enter your zip code so that you can locate your locale ARC chapter); or YMCA (there is a box off to the left that will allow you to enter your zip code). If you choose to not have a professional teach you, you will find the requirements below.
1. Using a kick board for arm support, swim 20 yards (18.3 meters) employing a scissors stroke of the legs, 20 yards (18.3 meters) using a flutter kick, and 20 yards (18.3 meters) using the breaststroke kick. The three leg strokes do not have to be performed consecutively.
2. Using some form of leg support or trailing the legs with minimum motion, swim ten yards employing the side stroke of the arms, ten yards using the crawl stroke, and ten yards using the breaststroke arm pull. The arm strokes do not have to be performed consecutively.
