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: Swim Starter ages 6-36 months Swim Basics ages 3-5 and Swim Strokes ages 6-14.
We also offer Teen and Adult Lessons.
SWIM STARTERS teach 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.
Under 3 years old.
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.
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 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.
- Water Acclimation: Increases comfort with underwater exploration and introduces basic self-rescue skills performed with assistance.
Qualifications: NONE - 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. - 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 learn additional water safety skills and build stroke technique, fostering a lifetime of physical activity.
Classes for children ages 6 to 14 will have no more than 6 students per instructor.
- Stroke Introduction: (Ages 3 to 14)
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) - Stroke Development: (Ages 6 to 14)
Introduces breaststroke and butterfly and reinforces water safety through treading water and sidestroke.
Qualifications: (1) able to swim 25 yds, (2) able to swim front crawl with rotary breathing for 15 yds, (3) able to swim breaststroke kick and dolphin kick 15 yds, (4) able to tread water using multiple kicks for 1 minute. - Stroke Mechanics: (Ages 6 to 14)
Refines stroke technique on all major competitive strokes and encourages swimming as a part of a healthy lifestyle.
Qualifications: (1) able to swim front crawl with bent arm recovery and rotary breathing for 25 yds, (2) able to swim back crawl with stroke rotation for 25 yds, (3) able to swim butterfly with overarm recovery for 15 yds, (4) able to swim breaststroke for 25 yds achieving stroke rhythm, (5) able to dive from a kneeling position.
TEEN and ADULT LESSONS
(Ages 15 and up)
For very beginner to intermediate level swimmers.
PRIVATE LESSONS
Available by appointment only. For one on one or two student instruction. See Customer Service Desk for application.
$20/30 minutes for Y Members
$30/30 minutes for Participants