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NPTS (National Plan for Teaching Swimming)

The National Plan for Teaching Swimming (NPTS) has been revised in an ongoing development plan by the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) to ensure quality in teaching and to ensure that swimmers are equipped with the essential core skills to allow progression to the various competitive swimming disciplines (Competitive Swimming, Water Polo, Diving, Synchronised Swimming and Rookie life Saving).

The measurement system used in this process has changed subtly which may initially cause a little confusion.  Swimmers are now graded against ‘Stages’ of progression, each stage has clear goals, which a swimmer must achieve before progressing to the next stage.

Initially children will learn the fundamental skills that are required by all swimming disciplines, these are listed below.

• Entry – Safe entry into the water, using steps, pool side, jumping and when eventually diving.
• Exits – Safe exit from the pool, using the steps and pool side.
• Buoyancy & Balance – Swimmers learn about buoyancy and balance and what affects it, and how to become buoyant in the water.
• Rotation & Orientation – developing skills such as: how to turn around, lie back, lie forward, regain an upright position, and how to twist from back to front and vice versa.
• Streamlining – understanding streamlining and the importance of it.
• Aquatic Breathing – developing confidence in the water and a feeling of being at ease with the water around the face, learning how to breathe correctly, which consequently is developing a ‘safe’ swimmer.
• Travel & Coordination – developing movement in the water and exploring different ways of travelling in water.
• Water Safety – developing a basic understanding of how to remain safe around water.
• Health & Fitness – developing an understanding of why activity is good for you.

 

If a swimmer does not learn a skill such as ‘aquatic breathing’ the achievement of other skills such as streamlining, travel, buoyancy and balance will become impossible to learn effectively.  Therefore each stage of the ASA NPTS must be easily achieved prior to moving on to the next stage, it is important that children are comfortable at each skill before advancing stages.  This will build confidence and competence in the water, the child will have more fun and is more likely to be active and follow a healthy lifestyle.  A child introduced to regular activities at a young age is more likely to continue to be active in later life.

All swimmers will progress at their own pace, initially confidence in the water will be the controlling factor and this will depend on the amount of experience a child has in a swimming pool environment.

A brief overview of Stages 1-10:
(For more information regarding the content of each stage you may wish to purchase the ASA Awards Criteria available from the ASA Awards Centre, Freephone: 0800 220292)

Stage 1

1. Enter the water safely
2. Move forwards for a distance of 5 metres
3. Move backwards for a distance of 5 metres
4. Move Sideways for a distance of 5 metres
5. Scoop water and wash face
6. Be at ease with water showered from overhead
7. Move into a stretched floating position using aids, equipment or support
8. Regain an upright position from on the back, with support
9. Regain an upright position from on the front, with support
10. Push and glide in a horizontal position from or to a wall
11. Take part in a teacher lead, partner orientated game
12. Demonstrate an understanding of pool rules
13. Exit the water safely

 

Stage 2

1. Jump in from poolside safely
2. Blow bubbles a minimum of 3 times rhythmically with mouth and nose submerged.
3. Regain an upright position from the back without support
4. Regain an upright position from the front without support
5. Push from wall and glide on the back
6. Push from wall and glide on the front
7. Travel on the back for 5 metres, aids or equipment may be used
8. Travel on the front for 5 metres, aids or equipment may be used
9. Perform a rotation from the back to the front to regain an upright position
10. Perform a rotation from the back to the front to regain an upright position

 

Stage 3

1. Jump in from poolside and submerge (minimum depth 0.9 metres)
2. Sink, push away from wall on side and maintain a streamlined position
3. Push and glide on the front with arms extended and log roll onto the back
4. Push and glide on the back with arms extended and log roll onto the front
5. Travel on the front, tuck and rotate around the horizontal axis to return on the back
6. Fully submerge to pick up an object
7. Answer correctly 3 questions on the Water Safety Code
8. Travel 10 metres on the back
9. Travel 10 metres on the front

 

Stage 4

1. Demonstrate an understanding of buoyancy
2. Perform a tuck float for 5 seconds
3. Perform a sequence of changing shapes (minimum of 3) whilst floating at the surface.
4. Push and glide from the wall to the pool floor
5. Kick 10 metres Backstroke (one item of equipment optional)
6. Kick 10 metres Front crawl (one item of equipment optional)
7. Kick 10 metres Butterfly on front or back (one item of equipment optional)
8. Kick 10 metres Breaststroke on the front (one item of equipment optional)
9. Kick 10 metres Breaststroke on the back (one item of equipment optional)
10. Perform on the back a head first sculling motion for 5 metres in a horizontal position.
11. Travel on back and roll in one continuous movement onto front
12. Travel on front and roll in one continuous movement onto back
13. Swim 10 metres, choice of stoke is optional

 

Stage 5

1. Perform a horizontal stationary scull on the back
2. Perform a feet first sculling motion for 5 metres whilst horizontal on the back
3. Perform a sculling sequence with a partner for 30-45 seconds to include a rotation
4. Tread water for 30 seconds
5. Perform 3 different shaped jumps into the water.
6. Swim 10 metres Backstroke
7. Swim 10 metres Front crawl face in the water
8. Swim 10 metres Breaststroke
9. Swim 10 metres Butterfly
10. Perform a handstand and hold for a minimum 3 seconds
11. Perform a forward somersault, tucked, in the water
12. Demonstrate an action for getting help

 

Stage 6

1. Demonstrate an understanding of preparation for exercise
2. Sink, push off on side from wall , glide, kick and rotate into Backstroke
3. Sink, push off on side from wall , glide, kick and rotate into Front crawl
4. Swim 10 metres with clothes on
5. Swim Front crawl to include at least 6 rhythmical breaths
6. Swim Backstroke to include at least 6 rhythmical breaths
7. Swim Butterfly to include at least 3 rhythmical breaths
8. Swim 25 metres, choice of stroke is optional
9. Perform a ‘Shout & Signal’ rescue
10. Perform a surface dive
11. Exit the water without using steps

 

Stage 7

1. Swim 25 metres Backstroke
2. Swim 25 metres Front crawl
3. Swim 25 metres Breaststroke
4. Swim 25 metres Butterfly
5. Perform a movement sequence of 1 minute in 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/on the back, tuck float, create own; Eggbeater – moving, lifting one or both arms out of the water link skills with strokes and sculls.

6. Perform a sitting dive
7. Swim 50 metres continuously using one stroke
8. Swim 100 metres using a minimum of 3 different strokes
9. Tread water using egg beater action for 30 seconds.
10. Complete an obstacle course (using a minimum of 4 objects) with feet off the bottom throughout

 

Stage 8

1. Complete a set lasting at least 400 metres on a specific turn around time set by the coach
2. Swim 400 metres continuously using one stroke
3. Kick 25 metres Backstroke with/without using a board
4. Kick 25 metres Breaststroke with/without using a board
5. Kick 25 metres Front crawl with/without using a board
6. Kick 25 metres Butterfly with/without using a board
7. Perform a Backstroke turn from 10 metres in to 15 metres out
8. Perform a Breaststroke turn from 10 metres in to 15 metres out
9. Perform a Butterfly turn from 10 metres in to 15 metres out
10. Perform a front crawl turn from 10 metres in to 15 metres out

 

Stage 9

1. Complete a set lasting 800 metres on a specific turn around time set by the coach
2. Swim 800 metres continuously choosing one stroke
3. Swim a continuous 100 metre IM using legal turns
4. Perform a 15 metre under water kick on front in a streamlined position
5. Perform a Backstroke start then Butterfly kick in a streamlined position under water until 10 metres from the start point is completed, transfer into stroke and continue until 25 metres is completed
6. Perform a Front crawl start, under water kick in a streamlined position for a minimum of 10 metres from the start point, transfer into stroke and continue until 25 metres is completed
7. Perform a Butterfly start, kick in a streamlined position for a minimum of 10 metres from the start point, transfer into stroke and continue until 25 metres is completed
8. Perform a Breaststroke start, perform a 1½ pull under water, transfer into stroke and continue until 25 metres is completed

 

Stage 10

1. Complete a set lasting 1600 metres on a specific timed turn around set by the coach
2. Swim 1500 metres continuously using one stroke
3. Perform a continuous 100 metre IM kick without using a kick board
4. Swim a continuous 200 metre IM using legal turns
5. Perform a 15 metre under water Butterfly kick on back or front in a streamlined position
6. Perform a Front crawl relay take over  - as an incoming swimmer
7. Perform a Front crawl relay take over – as an outgoing swimmer

 

Most of this information has been taken from the ASA hand book ‘NPTS Parents Guide’ if you would like to know more this can be purchased from the ASA website for £2.

Swimming teachers/coaches have their own versions of the NPTS. The teacher’s version goes into much more depth about things like an ‘acceptable’ stroke, kick or turn and exactly what the acceptance criteria is for completing the various exercises.

As stated earlier it is very important that the swimmer completes all of the steps in the correct order and to the correct standard.