Lightning Fast Swim Series

Set A Higher Standard...

After creating, developing and coaching the highly successful Olympic Way program, PCS coaches wanted to create a new program that allowed for improvements in how children are taught to swim. The outcome of this discussion is the Lightning Fast Swim Series!

The Lightning Fast Swim Series has 5 levels and is based on a Swimming First Philosophy which introduces the techniques of competitive swimming right from the earliest levels, to develop improved levels of swimming efficiency and skills. It is designed primarily for 3 to 10 year olds who want to learn to swim with confidence, gain endurance and improve stroke technique. The series is designed by our award winning Pacific Coast Swimming coaches and is an innovative skills-based swimming program designed to be mastered quickly by young children.

Lightning Fast One - LF1 (Ages 3-6)
(Available only at Gordon Head and UVic swimming pools)
Designed for children comfortable in shallow water without a parent, Lightning Fast One aims at having the child learn all of the basic swimming movements including body position in the water leading to stroke development, kicking propulsion, submersion, exhalation under water, and safe comfortable movement in shallow water progressing to deep water. Guaranteed small class size of no more than 4 swimmers per instructor.

Lightning Fast Two - LF2 (Ages 4-6)
(Available only at Gordon Head and UVic swimming pools)
Designed for children with good listening skills and who are comfortable in deep water. All of the skills of treading water, basic dive entry, swimming 10m on front and back will be performed in shallow water. This level prepares children for the pre-competitive levels and will quickly build confidence and their endurance in the water. It is designed to prepare the child for the Lightning Fast Three OR entry into Red Cross Swim Kids Level 4. Guaranteed small class size of no more than 4 swimmers per instructor.

Lightning Fast Three - LF3
(Available at Gordon Head, UVic, Oak Bay and Saanich Commonwealth Place swimming pools)
This level of the Lightning Fast Swim Series introduces the skills of three of the competitive strokes as well as the beginnings of turns and dives. Swimmers will become proficient kickers and understand the feeling of efficient movement through the water. Guaranteed small class size of no more than 7 swimmers per instructor. Prerequisite: Lightning Fast Two or Swim Kids 4.

Lightning Fast Four - LF4
(Available at Gordon Head, UVic, Oak Bay and Saanich Commonwealth Place swimming pools)
Level Four will see the swimmer improve their skills in all of the competitive strokes including breaststroke. Children will enjoy their increased kicking ability, learn many new stroke drills, as well as develop an improved endurance and skill level in swimming and turning. Guaranteed small class size of no more than 7 swimmers per instructor. Prerequisite: Lightning Fast Three or Swim Kids 4.

Lightning Fast Five- LF5
(Available at Gordon Head, UVic and Oak Bay swimming pools)
Lightning Fast Five introduces in-house competitions. Coaches will aim to have the swimmers complete an 'individual medley' distance using all four strokes. The children will have fun learning to use the pace clock and challenge themselves at their level in the four strokes, turns, starts and relays. The one-hour lesson per week will introduce some dryland skills as well. Upon completion of Level Five swimmers will be comfortable swimming several hundred meters in a session. Guaranteed small class size of no more than 10 swimmers per instructor. Prerequisite: Lightning Fast Four or Swim Kids 5.

Many children have already excelled in the Lightning Fast Swim Series, with the guaranteed small class sizes. The emphasis in this program is to learn to swim through actual swimming. If you are concerned about the small amount of swimming that takes place in a normal swim lesson, then this is the program for you.

In addition, all swimmers will receive a Lightning Bolt Cap and T-shirt and approximately once per month Lightning Fast swimmers may attend an optional swim meet to test their newly acquired skills.

Here is a summary of the May to August 2010 sessions and registration information:

• Gordon Head sessions please register online or through Gordon Head by phone at 250-475-7100.
• UVic sessions, please register online or through the club at 250-727-9243.
• Oak Bay sessions please egister at Oak Bay or phone 250-595-7946.
• SCP sessions please register online or through SCP by phone at 250-475-7600.

You can find Lightning Fast swim times on page 2 of our practise schedules and visit our registration page for PCS registration information. For more information on the Lightning Fast Swim Series contact Mark Lancaster.

For general information call 250-727-9243