Squads
Once children advance from Stroke Development, and have strong freestyle and back stroke skills, they are ready to advance to our squad levels. We have 3 levels outlined below.
Mini Squad
Mini Squad is conducted in the small pool with a teach in the water correcting technique as students further develop their strength and skills.
Students will learn to:
- Side breathing both sides
- Kick strongly with good technique in streamline, unassisted
- Swim bubble arm/ breathing arm (freestyle) unassisted minimum 50m
- Back kicking unassisted
- Backstroke unassisted minimum 50m
- Backstroke start with glide
- Dive off the wall, swim freestyle and back to the wall and climb out
- Swim distance underwater like a fish
- Learn to somersault for tumbleturns
- Kick like a dolphin unassisted
- Start butterfly arms
- Kick like a froggy unassisted
- Start breaststroke arms
Development Squad
Development Squad is conducted in the 50m pool. At this level, stamina and distance and further technique is developed in all 4 strokes. Focus is on developing technique, efficiency, strength and consistency through the water, in all strokes.
Students will learn to:
- Swim freestyle and breathe on both sides with precise technique
- Build up swimming freestyle to a minimum 200m unassisted without stopping
- Backstroke unassisted (minimum 200m unassisted without stopping with good technique)
- Start dives off the block in freestyle, butterfly & breaststroke
- Somersault from standing position
- Butterfly kick and stroke developed
- Breaststroke arms with breaststroke kick developed
- Medleys introduced
Junior Squad
This is the advanced squad at Mermaid Swim Academy. The focus is on building good technique learnt in previous squads with an emphasis on swim times, distance, endurance and fitness.
Students will learn to:
- Swim freestyle with good technique (minimum of 400m unassisted)
- Backstroke with good technique (minimum of 400m unassisted)
- Backstroke race starts off the wall and finishes into the wall
- Race dives off the block in freestyle, butterfly and breaststroke
- Perform turns in all 4 strokes
- Swim butterfly with good technique minimum 200m unassisted
- Swim breaststroke with good technique minimum 200m unassisted
- Endurance kick of all 4 strokes
- Swim individual medleys in correct order
- Perform turns for each stroke in medley order
Term 1
10 October - 16 December (10 week term)
Holiday Intensive Weeks
Week 1 (19-23 Dec), Week 2 (26-30 Dec), Week 3 (2-6 Jan), Week 4 (9-13 Jan), Week 5 (16-20 Jan), Week 6 (23-27 Jan)
Term 2
2 January - 28 January 2012 (4 week term)
Term 3
30 January - 7 April 2012 (10 week term)
Holiday Intensive Weeks
Week 7 (9-13 Apr), Week 8 (16-20 Apr)
Term 4
23 April - 2 June 2012 (6 week term)
Term 3 has already commenced- do not despair! Please call or email us to arrange a prorated term in our current program.
When booking for TERM 3, to get your 15% Discount, Simply Enter "mermaid" in the Promotional Code before January 16.
Class times and days and costs can be viewed through the booking links below.
Mini Squad
Mini Holiday Intensive Weeks
Development Squad
Development Holiday Intensive Weeks
Advanced Development Squad
Adv Dev Holiday Intensive Weeks
Junior Squad
Junior Holiday Intensive Weeks
What do we need to bring?
- Silicon Swimming Cap
- Goggles (no 2nd hand ones please!)
- Toggs (ie swimming suit!)
- Wetsuit—steamers are better but spring suits are fine as well. Surf Culture are still our preferred surf wear shop and they’ll order your size within a couple of days if not in stock! 40 Bronte Road Bondi Junction 9389 5477. Make sure you mention Mermaids’ name so they know you’re needing your wettie for swimming lessons!!
- Long swimming fins for Development & Junior Squad (essential!!). No short fins please!!!
How long do lessons go for?
Mini Squad runs for 45 minutes. They are held in the small pool with a teacher in the water
Development & Junior Squads run for 60 minutes. They are held in the 50m pool with a coach on pool side.
Is pool entry included?
Pool entry is separate to swimming fees.
Pool entry fees for children over the age of 2 years is $3, or child 25 visit passes $95. Spectator entry is $2, alternatively opt for a coffee at the Crabbe Hole for free entry!! Please note that should you wish to sit and watch your child at poolside you will required to pay the Spectators fee of $2. If you desire to use the pool &/or sauna adult pool entry of $5 applies.
If I can't make a lesson, are make up lessons available?
Mermaid Swim Academy has a no make up policy. However, if there is the off chance there is a space available in another class we would be able to offer this to you.
Will lessons be cancelled in adverse weather conditions?
Lessons will always go ahead in the rain - we are only going to get wet anyway :)
Should there be a threat of lightening or severe tidal movement, we will determine whether the lesson needs to be cancelled and endeavour to reschedule this lesson within the current term, or offer each student a make up class.