MSS Swimming Levels Overview
Our MSS program is designed for children aged 6 to 12 years old, focusing on developing swim techniques, endurance, and water safety skills. Each level ensures swimmers gain confidence, learn essential skills, and progress towards advanced techniques and lifesaving practices.
MSS Beginner
Age Group: 6 to 12 years old
Focus: Introduction to swimming basics and water safety.
This level develops water confidence, essential swim skills, and foundational safety practices through engaging activities and hands-on instruction.
- Swim Skills: Swim 10 metres, front glide (5M), back glide (5M), and open eyes underwater without goggles.
- Safety Skills: Learn swimming pool protocols, wear a life jacket, tread water for 10 seconds (with a life jacket), jump into chest-deep water, and identify who to call in an emergency.
Test Requirements:
- Swim distance: 10 metres
- Front glide: 5M
- Back glide: 5M
- Open eyes underwater (no goggles)
- Tread water for 10 seconds with a life jacket
- Jump into chest-deep water
MSS-1
Age Group: 6 to 12 years old
Focus: Building swim endurance and introducing independent swimming techniques.
This level enhances swim distance and introduces side glides and unassisted swimming. Safety skills focus on life jacket use and underwater breath control.
- Swim Skills:
Front glide (5 m)
Back glide (5 m)
Safe entries & exits
Blowing bubbles & submersion
Floating (front & back)
Deep water activities with a PFD
Swim Distance: 5 Metres - Safety Skills:
Swimming pool protocol
Wearing life jacket
Jumping into chest-deep water
Tread water 5 second
Front float and roll onto back
Opening their eyes underwater
Retrieving objects from the bottom
Who to call in an emergency?
Test Requirements:
- Swim distance: 25 metres
- Front glide: 10M
- Back glide: 10M
- Side glide: 5M (unassisted)
- Hold breath underwater for 10 seconds
- Submerge and exhale 5 times
MSS-2
Age Group: 6 to 12 years old
Focus: Strengthening swim techniques and underwater skills.
This level introduces more advanced combinations, such as front and side swimming, pencil glides, and basic whip kicks. Safety focuses on retrieving objects underwater and deep-water comfort.
- Swim Skills:
Front glide with kick (10 m)
Back glide with kick (10 m)
Side Glide (Unassited) (5m )
Deep water activities with a PFD
Swim Distance: 10 Metres - Safety Skills:
EMS/911
Introduction to PFDs/Lifejackets
Rhythmic Breathing (10 Times, 2 Ways)
Test Requirements:
- Swim distance: 55 metres
- Front and side combination: 20M
- Pencil glide on back: 20M
- Basic whip kick: 15M (assisted)
- Tread water for 30 seconds
MSS-3
Age Group: 6 to 12 years old
Focus: Improving swim strokes and introducing deep-water entries.
This level focuses on breathing techniques during front crawl, back crawl, and unassisted whip kick. Safety skills emphasize entries like kneeling dives and forward roll entry into deep water.
- Swim Skills:
Front glide/side glide combination (Every 1 arms one breath) (15 m)
Pencil on back swim (15 m)
Kneeling dive
Treading water (30 sec)
Swim Distance: 15Metres - Safety Skills:
When and Where to Swim
PFDs/Lifejackets, Deep Water
Deep Water Float 5 sec
Jump In, Change Direction, Return to Safety, Deep Water
Surface Support, Deep Water 20 sec
Sitting Dive, Change Direction, Return to Safety
Rhythmic Breathing 15 Times
Test Requirements:
- Swim distance: 55 metres
- Front crawl: 20M (breathing every 3 strokes)
- Back crawl: 20M
- Whip kick: 15M (unassisted)
MSS-4
Age Group: 6 to 12 years old
Focus: Mastering advanced swim strokes and underwater swimming.
This level emphasizes endurance, technique improvement, and advanced skills like dolphin kicks and head-up front crawl. Safety includes standing dives and swimming underwater.
- Swim Skills:
Front glide/side glide combination (Every 3 arms one breath) (15 m)
Back swim with shoulder roll (15 m)
Kneeling dive
Deep water float (45 sec)
Surface support (45 sec)
Swim Distance: 25 Metres - Safety Skills:
Self-Safety
Show How to Contact EMS/9-1-I
Self-Safety-Safe Diving
Introduction to Sculling, Shallow Water
Kneeling Dive
Surface Support, Deep Water 45 sec
Rhythmic Breathing 15 Times (Front Crawl Specific)
Test Requirements:
- Swim distance: 160 metres
- Front crawl: 60M (high elbow)
- Back crawl: 60M
- Elementary backstroke: 20M
- Dolphin kick: 20M
MSS-L5
Age Group: 6 to 12 years old
Focus: Fitness, lifesaving skills, and advanced swim endurance.
This level combines fitness training, obstacle swimming, and lifesaving techniques. Swimmers refine advanced strokes like breaststroke and scissor kicks while practicing lifesaving responses.
- Swim Skills:
Front crawl (20 m) High elbow
Back crawl (20 m)
Whip kick (on back, 10 m)
Standing dive
Treading water (1 min)
Swim Distance: 50 Metres - Safety Skills:
How to Be a Safe Boater
Staying Warm
Cold Water HELP/Huddle
Disorienting Entries
Tread Water 1 min
Stride Dive
Rhythmic Breathing 20 Times (2 Ways)
Test Requirements:
- Swim distance: 300 metres (10 minutes)
- Front crawl: 100M
- Back crawl: 80M
- Elementary backstroke: 20M
- Breaststroke: 80M
- Fitness training: 350M