MSB Methodology
My Swim Buddy Methodology
My Swim Buddy is a boutique-style swim school specializing in private Learn-to-Swim lessons. All of our teachers are trained in the exclusive My Swim Buddy Methodology while our tenured and Master Level teachers have also obtained certifications or additional training in speciality areas. These areas include Advanced Adaptive Aquatics training (Swim Angelfish Swim Whisperers Methodology) for our students with special needs, Competitive Stroke Development methodology inspired by teachings from Lauri Lawrence at (Worldwide Swim School), and Infant and Toddler methodology inspired by (Aqua Sensory).
Private Swim Lessons With an Adaptive Aquatics Approach
What does Adaptive Aquatics mean?
Regardless of their tenure, all of our teachers are highly trained to be attuned to their student’s needs so they can adapt lessons to the individual swimmer’s comfort level and pace. Our gentle and effective approach allows us to reach our students where they are which builds true trust between our teachers and their students. Our goal is to instill a sense of security, fortitude, and self-confidence—ultimately creating SAFER, STRONGER, more CONFIDENT swimmers!
Throughout the entire My Swim Buddy training process, our teachers are taught to read and understand their student’s feedback (verbal and nonverbal) and then to introduce new skills based on each student’s needs, water comfort level, and learning capability. We seek to build our swimmer’s comfort, confidence, skills, and love for the water throughout their swim journey with us.
For our students with special needs we have a Master Level teacher who has advanced Adaptive Aquatics training from Swim Angelfish Swim Whisperers Methodology.
Training Partners
Learn More
Swim Angelfish has developed aquatic-based training programs targeted to swimmers of availabilities, including those with special needs such as anxiety, attention and physical difficulties, sensory challenges, and autism.
Levels of Achievement
The skills we measure are categorized by Safety, Breath Control, Buoyancy, and Movement / Stroke Development. Below you will find examples of competencies required for each category that swimmers must achieve to earn a specific color swim cap.
The colored cap system is a visible sign of a student’s progress and we award the caps as students reach significant levels of achievement in their swimming abilities. As a swimmer advances they must maintain the ability to perform the skills of lower levels.
*These skill lists are not all encompassing of our curriculum, but examples to help you understand levels of progression.
Level 1: White Cap
Water Discovery & Comfort
Competencies
Safety
Walks on Pool Deck
I’m Ready Bench
Enters/Exits Water from Stairs
Humpty Dumpty (Assisted)
Breath Control
Water on Face
Puffy Cheeks/Bubbles
Full Submersion (Assisted) w/ Puffy Cheeks/Bubbles
Buoyancy
Crab Walk (Assisted)
Horizontal Body (Back & Tummy Assisted)
Back Float – Calm 3 Seconds (Assisted)
Tick – Tock Eyes In (Assisted)
Movement & Stroke Development
Leg Movement on Noodle/Mat/Shoulders (Assisted)
Take Side (Stairs/Wall)
Roll From Back to Tummy (Assisted)
Level 2: Gray Cap
Safety & Confidence
Competencies
Safety
Ready-Set-Go
Take Side Before Standing
High Hand Reach for Pool Edge
Enters & Exits from Poolside
Open Eyes Underwater
Breath Control
Ring Grab (Stairs)
Teeter – Totter (5 Seconds)
Eyes in Soft Start (3-5 Seconds)
Self Initiated Rollover for Breath
Buoyancy
Monkey – Star – Zoom (Assisted)
Backfloat (5 Seconds)
Yoyo Float (Assisted)
Humpty Dumpty – Float (Assisted)
Launch to Stairs (3-5 Seconds)
Movement & Stroke Development
Fast Kicks w/ Legs Close Together
Streamline Circles at Stairs
Super Hero Swim
Surface Glide to Roll Over (1x)
Level 3: Orange Cap
Pool Discovery & Safer Play
Competencies
Safety
When, Where, and How to Jump Safely
Circles on Wall
Safety = Float/Wall/Stairs (No People)
Rescue Tube Save
Pencil Jump – Float
Breath Control
Nose Bubbles
Tea Party
5 Bobs (5:1 Sec)
Shallow Bottom – Ring Dive
Buoyancy
Horizontal Body – Eyes Down
Back Glide
Monkey – Star – Zoom (3x)
Self-Corrects Buoyancy
Movement & Stroke Development
Effective Kicks w/ & w/out Fins
Fishy-Birdy Arms
Make-Cut a Pizza (Noodle)
Dolphin/Mermaid Swim (w/ Fins)
Swim – Float – Swim (3x)
Level 4: Green Cap
Independent Swimming
Competencies
Safety
No Breath Holding Games
Personal Distress Float & Call for Help
Jump – Float Return to Safety
Jump – Float (Deep End)
Treading Arm & Leg Motion
Breath Control
10 Kabobs (5:1)
Bobbing to Wall/Stairs (5 ft)
Head Down – Bottom Up
Super Hero Swim w/ Side Breath
Buoyancy
Streamline Backstroke Kicks (15 yds)
Ready Position to Push Off
Survival Stroke w/ Long Glide
Streamline Kicks – Roll (5:3) × 3
Movement & Stroke Development
Movement w/Breaststroke Kick
Streamline Kicks w/ Kickboard
Freestyle w/ Effective Arms
Corkscrew w/ Fins
Level 5: Yellow Cap
Safer & Stronger Swimmer
Competencies
Safety
No Diving in Shallow Water
Crab Walk (Clothed)
Jump – Float (Clothed)
Tread Water – 5 Seconds
Breath Control
Head First Object Retrieval (3+ ft)
Chin to Shoulder Breath (Fr)
Quick Side Breath w/ Arms
Pull & Breath – Kick – Glide
Buoyancy
Monkey – Star – Zoom (Clothed)
Ready Position – Expload (3 UW Dolphin Kicks)
Back Kicks w/ Belly Button Dry
Backstroke Kick in Streamline
Movement & Stroke Development
UW Dolphin Kick (No Fins)
Backstroke w/ Head Still
Butterfly Arms & Legs w/ Fins
Fr Arms: Reach (Forward) – Catch – Pull – Recovery (Hips)
Level 6: Purple Cap
Swim Stroke Development
Competencies
Safety
Never Swim Alone
Reach – Throw – Don’t Go
Surprise Fall – Return to Safety (Clothed)
Tread Water 5 Seconds (Clothed)
Breath Control
Inhale Through Mouth – Exhale Through Nose (All Strokes)
Breath on Both Sides (Fr)
Breaststroke Breath Timing
Buoyancy
Breaststroke w/ Long Glide
Introduction to Flip Turn
Tread Water – 20 Seconds
Movement & Stroke Development
Backstroke w/ Shoulder Rolls
Constant Kick (Fr, Bk)
Climb Out at Wall (Clothed)
Butterfly Arms w/ 2 Beat Kick
Level 7: Blue Cap
Swim Team Prep
Competencies
Safety
Treads Water 30 Seconds
Uses Kick Board Safely
Breath Control
Head Turns Out w/ Arm Pull
Rythmic Breathing
Buoyancy
Breaststroke 2 Kicks 1 Pull
M Dolphin Kicking w/ Forward Breath
Movement & Stroke Development
Arm Entry in Backstroke at 1 and 11 O’clock
Dolphin Kick
Level 8: Red Cap
Swim Team Star
Competencies
Safety
Backstroke Count to Wall
Circle Swim
Breath Control
Butterfly Stroke Breathing
Flip Turn w/ 3-5 Dolphin Kicks
Buoyancy
Backstroke – Use Kick to Drive Rotation
Freestyle – Body Position Kicking Face Up
Movement & Stroke Development
Early Vertical Forarm
Underwater for Backstroke Start