Swim Lessons

Swim Lesson Curriculum

It’s now easier for children to become comfortable and safe in and around water. YMCA Swim Lessons begin with the development of basic swimming skills as well as gaining confidence and ease in the water.  From there, swimmers refine the strokes they have learned and progress their skills.  The lessons also include character development, family involvement and safety education components.  There are three phases, beginning with Swim Starters, then Swim Basics and Swim Strokes. 

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Swim Starters (ages 6 to 35 months old)

• The Swim Starters program teaches a parent or caregiver how to help develop aquatic readiness. The program develops a high comfort level for the child in water and teaches parents about water safety and drowning prevention, developing a foundation of aquatic skills through fun and confidence-building experiences.

• Stage A: Water Discovery - Parents accompany children in this class which introduces babies and parents to the aquatic environment through exploration that encourages them to enjoy themselves while learning about the water.

• Stage B: Water Exploration - In this class, parents are guided to work with their child to explore body positions, floating, blowing bubbles and fundamental safety and aquatic skills.

Swim Basics (ages 3 to 14 years old)

• Swim Basics are introductory classes divided into three progressive stages that include the foundations of water safety and basic swimming skills, focusing on swimming to safety. Classes for children ages 3 to 5 will have no more than 4 students per instructor.

• Stage 1: Water Acclimation - Increases comfort with underwater exploration and introduces basic self-rescue skills performed with assistance.

  Qualifications:  NONE  

• Stage 2: Water Movement - Encourages forward movement in water and basic self-rescue skills performed independently.

  Qualifications: (1) able to go underwater and comfortably open eyes without goggles, (2) able to float on front and back with minimal assistance, (3) able to jump in the pool,  submerge and return to the wall with assistance.

• Stage 3: Water Stamina - Develops intermediate self-rescue skills performed at longer distances.

  Qualifications: (1) able to float on front and back unassisted, (2) able to push off wall on stomach with face submerged for 10 ft (5 ft preschool) unassisted, (3) able to Swim-Float-Swim 15 ft unassisted, (4) able to tread water for 10 seconds

Swim Strokes (ages 3 to 14 year old)

• Learn additional water safety skills and build stroke technique, fostering a lifetime of physical activity.

• Stage 4: Stroke Introduction - Introduces basic stroke technique in front crawl & back crawl and reinforces water safety through treading water and elementary backstroke.

  Qualifications: (1) able to submerge and retrieve an object in chest deep water, (2) able to swim on front 15 yds (10 yds preschool) while taking a breath, (3) able to Swim-Float-Swim 25 yds /15 yds preschool (4) able to jump in and tread water for 1 minute/ 30 secs preschool

Teen and Adult Lesson (ages 15 and up)

•  These lessons are for swimmer ability from very beginner to intermediate.  

 

 

 

 

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Sharks (ages 6 to 16 years old)

• Ready for the next level of swim class?  Try Sharks!  Sharpen your front crawl, learn the butterfly and breast stroke.  Learn proper diving and become an ultimate swimmer!  Must be able to swim length of pool comfortably and have a recognizable front crawl.  Click here for more info.

Private Lessons

• They are available by appointment only.  Instruction can be for one or two students.  Registration forms are at the front desk.
• $20 for 30 minutes for Y members
• $30 for 30 minutes for participants