Sauvetage Assuré
Nage Assurée
Most swim programs teach people to survive in the water. Ours teaches them to swim.
The Sauvetage Assuré aquatic program offers three distinct streams — Junior, Teen, and Adult — each built around the same core principle: water safety comes first, and genuine swimming ability comes after. The program does not treat survival as the finish line. Once a swimmer is safe, the real work begins — correct technique, real endurance, and the kind of ability that stays with someone for life.
Every stream is structured around observable skills that must be demonstrated before a swimmer advances. Groups are capped at five participants. These are not incidental details — they are what separates a program that produces real development from one that simply logs hours in the water.
Each stream is designed to be entered at the level that accurately reflects where a swimmer actually is. Every tier builds specific mechanics that the next one depends on. A swimmer placed above their current ability does not progress faster — they miss the foundation the next tier was built to require.
Three streams. One standard.
Tots (6 months - 2 y/o)
Level 1 (6 months - 1 y/o)
Objective
Introduce infants aged 6 months to 1 year to the aquatic environment safely, with a parent in the water throughout. The instructor teaches the parent — correct holds, reading the child's cues, progressive water introduction. The child's comfort is the direct result of correct parent technique.
Preparation for the next level
The ventral, dorsal, and upright holds established at Tots 1 are the prerequisites for everything that follows. At Tots 2, the parent introduces water on the face and a first brief submersion — steps that require total hold proficiency and precise distress recognition. A parent who has not yet mastered the holds should not attempt these progressions.
Level 2 (1 - 2 y/o)
Objective
Deepen water comfort by introducing face contact, a first brief submersion, and early interaction with the pool wall. The parent learns to guide their child through new sensory experiences progressively, in the correct sequence, and without forcing.
Preparation for the next level
The submersion experience and wall interaction developed at Tots 2 directly prepare Tots 3, where physical contact between parent and child begins to reduce. A child who has never experienced submersion cannot be introduced to wall independence. A parent who has not yet mastered the blow-before-submersion sequence should not be managing reduced-contact scenarios.
Level 3 (2 - 3 y/o)
Objective
Introduce the first experiences of independence — the child holding the pool wall without parent contact, jumping from the pool edge into the parent's arms, floating dorsally with minimal support. The objective is not full independence, but ensuring that the transition to the Mini program is not the child's first experience of being in the water without complete parental support.
End of program
Tots 3 is the graduation standard of the Tots program. A child who completes it arrives at Mini 1 with established water comfort, submersion experience, a relationship with the pool wall, and a first experience of reduced parental contact. It is not a shortcut to Mini — it is what turns Mini 1 into a continuation rather than a cold start.
Mini (3 - 4 y/o)
Level 1
Objective
Introduce 3 and 4 year olds to the aquatic environment without pressure and without parents in the water. The primary objective is building confidence — entering the pool, accepting water on the face, feeling what flotation is with instructor support. Nothing here requires independence.
Preparation for the next level
The water contact and wall kick developed at Mini 1 are not ends in themselves — they prepare the body and mind for the first submersions of Mini 2. A child who does not yet accept water on their face cannot progress toward breath control. Mini 1 builds the tolerance without which nothing else is possible.
Level 2
Objective
Introduce the first active sensations in the water — face submersion, bubble blowing, flotation with a single point of support, and a first 3m of independent movement. The child begins to interact with the water rather than simply tolerate it.
Preparation for the next level
The reduced-support flotation and exhale reflex developed at Mini 2 are the direct foundations of the independence required at Mini 3. A child who blows bubbles with their face at the water surface is learning that air goes out when the face goes in — precisely what makes the eyes-open full submersion of Mini 3 possible, and later, the side breathing of the Junior program.
Level 3
Objective
Meet every Junior Level 1 exit criterion. This level exists exclusively to close the gap between what Mini 2 produces and what the Junior program requires. A child who passes Mini 3 is ready for Junior Level 2. A child who passes the majority of criteria enters at Junior Level 1.
End of program
Mini 3 is the graduation standard of the Mini program. The skills acquired here — eyes-open submersion, independent flotation, streamline glide, a first 5m swim — are exactly those of Junior Level 1. These are not preparatory exercises. They are the foundations on which the entire aquatic program that follows is built.
Junior (5 - 12 y/o)
Level 1
Objective
Introducing children to the aquatic environment. The primary objective is to eliminate fear and build genuine confidence in the water. The skills at this level establish the fundamental mechanisms — floating, breath control, gliding in a streamlined position — upon which all future swimming is based. Nothing here requires advanced technique.
Preparation for the next level
Breath control and buoyancy are not introductory exercises — they are the mechanical prerequisites for all subsequent skills. The continuous exhalation developed in Level 1 becomes the rhythmic movement required in Level 2, which is itself the foundation for the lateral breathing pattern introduced in Level 3 and the bilateral breathing standard maintained over 400m in Level 9. A child who can cross the pool but cannot reliably submerge their face and exhale will encounter an increasingly difficult ceiling as swimming mechanics demand breath coordination. Starting at Level 1 ensures that this ceiling will never be reached.
Level 2
Objective
Building on basic water comfort, children begin to move with intention — arms and legs working together, breathing controlled and rhythmic, and the crucial step of independently entering the deep end. By the end of Level 2, each child should be able to swim across the pool without stopping.
Preparation for the next level
The leg kick without a kickboard and the fully independent back float developed in Level 2 are not isolated achievements — they establish the horizontal body position that the crawl technique requires to be taught correctly. In Level 3, this body position becomes the basis for the first consistent swimming mechanics: face in the water, alternating arms, and an initial attempt at side breathing. A swimmer who has not developed a reliable horizontal alignment without support will require significant corrective work before teaching the technique can be productive. Level 2 eliminates this obstacle before it becomes one.
Level 3
Objective
The survival phase ends and the technique phase begins. Children learn essential self-protection skills — staying afloat and self-rescue — while beginning to swim with intentional and observable mechanisms. The crawl begins to resemble the crawl. The transition from moving through the water to swimming takes place here.
Preparation for the next level
Level 3 establishes intentional breathing mechanisms with low requirements — one imperfect breathing attempt per 25 meters is sufficient for success. Level 4 significantly raises this standard: breathing must occur consistently every three arm cycles throughout a 50-meter swim, with body rotation, a high-elbow recovery, and a continuous kick, all present simultaneously. The gap between these two standards is not negligible. A swimmer who barely reaches the threshold of Level 3 does not yet possess the mechanical reliability necessary to meet the simultaneous demands of Level 4. The deliberate intermediate standard exists to build this reliability before it is tested under more stringent conditions.
Level 4
Objective
This is the first technical hurdle in the program. Distance alone is no longer enough for a swimmer to progress. The front crawl must demonstrate four technical criteria observable simultaneously over 50 meters. This level distinguishes swimmers who simply move from swimmers who simply swim. The standard established here is the foundation upon which all future work on distance and multi-strokes rests.
Preparation for the next level
The technical lock of Level 4 is the foundation upon which every subsequent level is built. At Level 5, backstroke is assessed against strict technical indicators, and breaststroke is introduced as a second stroke — both demanding considerable cognitive and physical attention. A swimmer who has passed Level 4 with marginal technique will see that technique regress as soon as a new stroke demands their attention. The lock is strict because the cost of premature progression is cumulative: mechanical deficiencies in front crawl become harder to correct as distances increase and new strokes are added.
Level 5
Objective
Consolidate the Level 4 technique over longer distances, formalize backstroke as a fully evaluated stroke according to strict technical indicators, and introduce breaststroke as a new discipline. This is the final 30-minute level. Level 6 increases to 45 minutes, and the development of multiple strokes accelerates considerably — Level 5 should prepare swimmers for this stage.
Preparation for the next level
Breaststroke is the most technically complex stroke in the program. Level 5 introduces it gradually — legs before arms, arms before the full stroke — because the glide phase that defines breaststroke cannot be imposed on a swimmer who has not yet internalized the leg movement. At Level 6, a visible glide is a strict evaluation criterion; at Level 8, this glide must be maintained over 200 meters under the effect of fatigue. The 15 meters of combined swimming at Level 5 are not the end goal — they are the first step in a developmental arc that extends to the end of the program.
Level 6
Objective
With 45 minutes now available, the real multi-stroke development begins. Bilateral breathing improves the symmetry of the front crawl. The backstroke becomes a formally evaluated stroke according to strict technical indicators. The timing of the breaststroke must now be consistent and observable. The three-stroke combination brings together all three strokes for the first time in a single, continuous sequence.
Preparation for the next level
The Level 6 three-stroke routine — 25m per stroke, 75m total — reveals whether technique holds up during transitions between strokes, not just in isolation. Level 7 increases each stroke to 50m per segment for a total of 150m. The difference is diagnostic: a swimmer whose breaststroke timing collapses in the final segment of the Level 6 routine is not ready for Level 7, where that same stroke must be maintained continuously for 100m without assistance. The Level 6 routine is the most accurate indicator of true preparation for what follows.
Level 7
Objective
Significant increase in distances in all three strokes. Tumble turns are introduced into the freestyle program, adding efficiency and technical complexity. The medley relay is extended to 150m. This level builds the aerobic base that the formal endurance training of Level 8 will systematically develop — swimmers arriving at Level 8 without this base will struggle to keep up.
Preparation for the next level
Tumble turns are not a technical accessory — they are a functional requirement for training the distances that Level 8 demands. A swimmer performing wide turns over 300m freestyle loses momentum at each wall and carries this inefficiency into endurance training. More importantly, Level 8 introduces interval training, which requires the ability to maintain a consistent pace over repeated efforts. This ability is built at Level 7 through sustained distances in multiple strokes. Interval training without this aerobic base generates poor pace habits, and poor pace habits, once established, are difficult to correct.
Level 8
Objective
The program progresses from mastering swimming strokes to sustained performance. Distances increase significantly in all three strokes. Interval training is introduced as a formal method for the first time. Swimmers begin to develop an awareness of pace, effort regulation, and structured recovery — the foundations of competitive swimming at any level.
Preparation for the next level
The butterfly stroke is introduced at Level 9 — not before — because it is the most physically demanding stroke in the program and the least forgiving of an underdeveloped aerobic base. Interval training at Level 8 develops the lung capacity and effort regulation that make the butterfly achievable. A swimmer introduced to the butterfly without this foundation will complete one or two stroke cycles before fatigue overwhelms the mechanics — and the pattern learned at that stage is a survival pattern, not a swimming pattern. Level 8 ensures that when the butterfly stroke arrives, the swimmer has the physical resources to learn it.
Level 9
Objective
The butterfly stroke is deliberately introduced at Level 9 — not before, where it would compete with underdeveloped body control and inadequate lung capacity. By Level 9, swimmers have the strength, body awareness, and aerobic base necessary to learn it productively. The front crawl is extended to 400 meters. The individual medley makes its first appearance.
Preparation for the next level
At Level 9, the butterfly stroke is introduced over 25 meters with some technical leeway — simultaneous arm strokes and a continuous dolphin kick are the criteria, and imperfect execution is acceptable. At Level 10, the distance doubles to 50 meters and appears as the first segment of a 200-meter individual medley without any reduction in standards. The difference between these two stages is not simply a matter of distance — it is the consolidation of a neuromuscular pattern through 10 sessions of deliberate practice. A swimmer who has just learned the 25-meter butterfly has not yet consolidated it. Level 9 is the consolidation phase. Level 10 is where it is applied under conditions of full challenge.
Level 10
Objective
The graduation level. A swimmer who successfully completes Level 10 is truly accomplished — technically sound in all four strokes, capable of sustained performance over significant distances, and comfortable in any aquatic environment. This is the stated goal of the program, achieved. From 5 meters of any stroke at Level 1 to a 200-meter individual medley and a 500-meter freestyle here.
End of the program
Level 10 is the program's graduation threshold. A swimmer who completes it has demonstrated technical proficiency in all four strokes, sustained performance over distances that define genuine recreational fitness, and the ability to maintain quality under maximum fatigue. The 200m individual medley and the 500m freestyle are not arbitrary endpoints — they represent the standard at which swimming becomes a self-sustaining, lifelong athletic activity. From the first 5m at Level 1 to the 200m individual medley here, each preceding level was an essential step toward this goal.
Teen (13 - 17 y/o) / Adult (18+ y/o)
Level 1
Objective
Establish water comfort and build the foundational mechanics that all subsequent development depends on. Unlike the Junior program where technique is deliberately deferred, the Teen/Adult program introduces it from the very first session — adults and teenagers understand mechanical explanations and can apply corrections consciously from day one.
Preparation for the next level
Intermediate requires 150m front crawl with bilateral breathing maintained throughout, 100m backstroke with full technique criteria, and 50m breaststroke with a visible glide phase. None of these standards are achievable without the breathing coordination and body position established at Beginner. A swimmer who passes Beginner with marginal side breathing is not ready — they are missing the foundation Intermediate is built directly on.
Level 2
Objective
Formalize technique in front crawl and backstroke, introduce breaststroke as a third stroke, and bring all three together in a first multi-stroke set. Bilateral breathing replaces one-sided breathing. Backstroke acquires precise technical markers. Breaststroke is built from the kick up to the full combined stroke.
Preparation for the next level
Advanced requires 300m front crawl with flip turns and bilateral breathing, 200m backstroke, 200m breaststroke with glide maintained under fatigue, and a 3-stroke individual medley of 150m. The technique formalized at Intermediate must be solid enough to hold across those distances. A swimmer whose bilateral breathing collapses at 100m is not ready for 300m. A swimmer whose breaststroke glide is inconsistent at 50m will not sustain it over 200m under fatigue.
Level 3
Objective
Build the endurance and capacity to sustain the technique established at Intermediate across significantly greater distances. Advanced does not introduce new strokes — it builds the engine to hold what Intermediate built. Flip turns enter here as a functional requirement at 300m. Interval training introduces pace management as a formal skill.
End of the program
Advanced is the graduation standard of the Teen/Adult program. A swimmer capable of 300m front crawl, 200m backstroke, 200m breaststroke, and a 150m individual medley is, by any reasonable measure, a genuinely capable swimmer. That is the program's stated goal — from first movement in the water to lasting, self-sufficient aquatic competency.