Level 4 · Strokes and distance

Guppies Stroke lessons for young swimmers in Hallandale Beach

Guppies introduces younger swimmers to freestyle, backstroke and dolphin kick over distances suited to their age and ability. Lessons focus on strong fundamentals, coordinated movement and confidence before the laps get longer.

Age
Ages 4+
Lesson
30 min
Group
Up to 4 swimmers
Water
90°F, indoor
A girl in patterned goggles swimming freestyle to the pool wall, head turned to breathe
The ladder

Where Guppies fits in

One of 11 levels between a first float and the swim team. Each one starts where the one before it ends.

What they learn

What Guppies learn

The first real strokes, over distances a young swimmer can finish well.

  • Freestyle

    The fundamentals of freestyle: arms, kick and breathing working together.

  • Backstroke

    The fundamentals of backstroke, face up and relaxed.

  • Dolphin kick

    The fundamentals of dolphin kick, the wave-like kick behind butterfly.

The class

How a class works

Ready for strokes

For swimmers developing body position, kicking and breathing, and ready to start strokes over shorter distances.

Up to 4 swimmers per coach

Shorter distances and a teaching style suited to younger swimmers.

30 minutes at 90°F

An indoor pool held warm every day of the year.

$132 per month · 4 sessions

One monthly price for a place in the group, at the same time each week.

Weekly schedule

Class times for Guppies

11 classes a week, 30 minutes each, as scheduled in our booking system. Booking shows which of them have a place.

Monday

  • 9:30 AM

Wednesday

  • 9:30 AM
  • 4:20 PM
  • 5:20 PM

Thursday

  • 9 AM
  • 3:50 PM
  • 4:50 PM
  • 6:20 PM

Friday

  • 5 PM

Sunday

  • 9 AM
  • 9:30 AM
Coaches

Who teaches Guppies

The coaches teaching Guppies classes on the current schedule, all working from the same curriculum.

Portrait of Ulyana Navarro

Ulyana Navarro

Swim Instructor · Starfish 2+

  • Red Cross WSI
  • Lifeguard
  • CPR
Portrait of Elina Miasoiedova

Elina Miasoiedova

Swim Coach · Private Lessons

  • Red Cross WSI
Portrait of Alexander Inzhevatkin

Alexander Inzhevatkin

Swim Coach · All Ages

  • Red Cross WSI
  • Lifeguard
  • CPR
Moving up

Ready for the next level

Swimmers move up when they show the required freestyle, backstroke and dolphin kick skills with enough control and stamina for longer distances.

What the coach looks for

  • Freestyle with control
  • Backstroke with control
  • A coordinated dolphin kick
  • Stamina for longer distances
Next level

Vaquitas

Ages 6+

All four strokes + endurance

About Vaquitas
Good to know

Before the first class

  • Guppies and Sea Otters work on the same core strokes. Guppies uses shorter distances suited to younger swimmers.
  • Placement follows demonstrated skills as well as age.
  • Close adult supervision stays essential around every body of water.
Common questions

What people ask before they book

When should kids start learning freestyle?

Once body position, kicking and breathing are developing. Guppies starts freestyle, backstroke and dolphin kick over short distances for younger swimmers, so arms, kick and breathing learn to work together before the laps get longer. These first stroke lessons in Hallandale Beach run 30 minutes, with up to 4 swimmers per coach.

What is a dolphin kick?

Both legs kicking together in one wave from the hips. It is the kick used in butterfly and underwater off the walls. In Guppies, swimmers learn the fundamentals of dolphin kick alongside freestyle and backstroke, and Sea Otters later works on a dolphin kick that moves with the whole body.

Guppies or Sea Otters?

Both work on the same strokes. Guppies suits younger swimmers with shorter distances; Sea Otters brings more distance and technical detail for older ones. Placement follows demonstrated skills as well as age, and the coach sees where your swimmer’s strokes are on the first day. Both levels lead to Vaquitas.

What comes after Guppies?

Vaquitas, where strokes are swum legally and breaststroke begins. Swimmers move up when they show freestyle, backstroke and dolphin kick with enough control and stamina for longer distances. Vaquitas runs longer classes to leave room for distance and endurance, and a swim evaluation confirms the right advanced class before the first lesson.
Next step

Their first real strokes

Bring a swimsuit, goggles and a towel. The coach sees where your swimmer’s strokes are on the first day.