Amateur Swimming Association's National Plan for Teaching Swimming (NPTS)

Overview of Stages 1 – 7

The National Plan for Teaching Swimming (NPTS) 2007 is the national syllabus produced by the ASA to assist and support the delivery of swimming lessons.

It is the most successful sports programme of its kind and the syllabus is currently being implemented in over 1,000 swimming programmes nationwide as well as being adopted overseas as a model of good practice.

The NPTS has been developed to use fun and games to take children from their first splash to full competence in the water via 7 stages but is underpinned throughout by Long Term Athlete Developement (LTAD) principles, with clear progression between each stage.

FUNdamental Movement Skills STAGE 1 Developing basic safety awareness, the ‘class’ scenario, basic movement skills and water confidence skills. Swimmers may use aids, e.g. arm bands, floats etc. STAGE 2 Developing safe entries to the water, including jumping in, basic floating, travel and rotation unaided to regain upright positions. Swimmers may use aids, e.g. arm bands, floats etc. STAGE 3 Developing safe entries including submersion, travel up to 10m on the front and back, progress rotation skills and water safety knowledge. STAGE 4 Developing the understanding of buoyancy through a range of skills, refining kicking technique for all strokes, and swimming 10m to a given standard as directed by the ASA. STAGE 5 Developing ‘watermanship’ through sculling and treading water skills, and complete rotation, also performing all strokes to the given standard as directed by the ASA. STAGE 6 Developing effective swimming skills including coordinated breathing; developing the water safety aspects and understanding of preparation for exercise. STAGE 7 Developing quality stroke technique up to 100m, incorporating skills learnt and combining them to develop a linked routine and complete successfully an obstacle course that combines a variety of skills accomplished throughout stages 1 – 7.

The detailed skills for each stage:

FUNdamental Movement Skills STAGE 1 Developing basic safety awareness, the ‘class’ scenario, basic movement skills and water confidence skills. Swimmers may use aids, e.g. arm bands, floats etc. Enter the water safely Move forward for a distance of 5m Move backwards for a distance of 5m Move sideways for a distance of 5m Scoop the water and wash the face Be at ease with water showered from overhead Move into a stretched floating position with or without using aids, equipment or support Regain an upright position from on the back with support Push & glide in a horizontal position to or from a wall Take part in a teacher lead partner orientated game Demonstrate an understanding of pool rules Exit the water safely Move forward for a distance of 5m Move backwards for a distance of 5m Move sideways for a distance of 5m STAGE 2 Developing safe entries to the water, including jumping in, basic floating, travel and rotation unaided to regain upright positions. Swimmers may use aids, e.g. arm bands, floats etc. Jump in from poolside safely Blow bubbles a minimum of 3 times rhythmically with nose and mouth submerged Regain an upright position from the back without support Regain an upright position from the front without support Push from wall & glide on the back Push from wall & glide on the front Travel on the front for 5m, aids or equipment may be used Travel on the back for 5m, aids or equipment may be used Perform a rotation from the front to back to gain an upright position Perform a rotation from the back to the front to gain an upright position STAGE 3 Developing safe entries including submersion, travel up to 10m on the front and back, progress rotation skills and water safety knowledge. Jump in from the poolside and submerge Sink, push away from the wall on side and maintain a streamlined position Push & glide on the front with arms extended and log roll onto the back Push and glide on the back with arms extended and log roll on to front Travel on the front, tuck to rotate around the horizontal axis to return on the back Fully submerge to pick up an object Answer correctly 3 questions on the Water Safety Code Travel 10m on the back Travel 10m on the front STAGE 4 Developing the understanding of buoyancy through a range of skills, refining kicking technique for all strokes, and swimming 10m to a given standard as directed by the ASA. Demonstrate an understanding of buoyancy Perform a tuck float for 5 seconds Perform a sequence of changing shapes (minimum 3) while floating on the surface Push & glide from the wall to the pool floor Kick 10m Backstroke Kick 10m Frontcrawl Kick 10m Butterfly Kick 10m Breaststroke on the front Kick 10m Breaststroke on the back Perform on the back a head first sculling action for 5m in a horizontal position Travel on back and roll in one continuous movement onto front Travel on front and roll in one continuous movement onto back Swim 10m, own choice to ASA Expected Standards STAGE 5 Developing ‘watermanship’ through sculling and treading water skills, and complete rotation, also performing all strokes to the given standard as directed by the ASA. Perform a horizontal stationary scull on the back Perform a feet first sculling action for 5m whilst horizontal on the back Perform a sculling sequence with a partner for 30-45 seconds to include a rotation Tread water for 30 seconds Perform 3 different shaped jumps into deep water Swim 10m Backstroke to ASA Expected Standards Swim 10m Frontcrawl to ASA Expected Standards Swim 10m Breaststroke to ASA Expected Standards Swim 10m Butterfly to ASA Expected Standards Perform a handstand and hold for a minimum of 3 seconds Demonstrate an action for getting help STAGE 6 Developing effective swimming skills including coordinated breathing; developing the water safety aspects and understanding of preparation for exercise. Demonstrate an understanding of preparation for exercise Sink, push off on side from the wall, glide, kick and rotate into Backstroke Sink, push off on side from the wall, glide, kick and rotate into Frontcrawl Swim 10m with clothes on Swim Frontcrawl to ASA Expected Standards to include at least six rhythmical breaths Swim Breaststroke to ASA Expected Standards to include at least six rhythmical breaths Swim Butterfly to ASA Expected Standards to include at least three rhythmical breaths Swim 25m, choice of stroke to ASA Expected Standards Perform a ‘Shout & Signal’ rescue Perform a surface dive Exit deep water without using the steps STAGE 7 Developing quality stroke technique up to 100m, incorporating skills learnt and combining them to develop a linked routine and complete successfully an obstacle course that combines a variety of skills accomplished throughout stages 1 – 7. Swim 25m Backstroke to ASA Expected Standards Swim 25m Frontcrawl to ASA Expected Standards Swim 25m Breaststroke to ASA Expected Standards Swim 25m Butterfly to ASA Expected Standards Perform a movement sequence of 1 minute duration, in a group of 3 or more, incorporating a number of the following skills: Sculling –head first, feet first; rotation – forward/backward somersault, log roll; floating – star on the front/back, tuck float, create own: Eggbeater – moving, lifting one or both arms out of the water, link skills with strokes and sculls Perform a sitting dive Swim 50m continuously using one stroke to ASA Expected Standards Swim 100m using a minimum of 3 different strokes to ASA Expected Standards Tread water using egg beater action for 30 seconds Complete an obstacle course (using minimum of 4 objects) with feet off the bottom throughout