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Progressive Swim Lessons
The YMCA Swim Lessons Program has two main components: Parent/Child and Preschool Aquatic Program and Youth and Adult Aquatic Program.
The first is for children under the age of five and their parents; the second is for children ages 6 and up, as well as adults and people with disabilities. The Parent Child/Preschool Program has 8 levels: the first four levels are for children under three and their parents, and within these levels, they learn water orientation and adjustment skills; the second four levels are for children ages 3 through 5, and within those levels, they learn beginning swimming skills. The Youth/Adult Program has 7 levels, each one building on the one before it.
There are five components to the YMCA Swim Lesson Program (Personal Safety, Personal Growth, Stroke Development, Water Sports and Games
Rescue.
What makes our programs different? The goal of the YMCA swim lesson program is to develop the whole person--spiritually, mentally and physically. Our teaching methods focus primarily on student-centered learning, increasing awareness of safety in all aspects, and assisting participants in perfecting skills to the best of their ability. The goal is to create a life-long interest in aquatic activities and promote a healthy lifestyle. All instructors are certified.
Programs are listed below in the order that they are taken:
(Ages 6-8 months) A parent must be in the water with each child. The class focuses on water orientation and adjustment through songs and games.
(Ages 9-12 months) A parent must be in the water with each child. The class focuses on water orientation and adjustment through songs and games.
(Ages 13-18 months) A parent must be in the water with each child. The class focuses on water orientation and adjustment through songs and games.
(Ages 19-36 months) A parent must be in the water with each child. The class focuses on water orientation and adjustment through songs and games.
Is your child ready to learn to swim but not ready to learn without you? This class is designed for beginner swimmers accompanied by a parent in the water. This class is similar to the Pike level class but is meant for swimmers who are not ready to swim without their parent.
(Ages 3-5 years) This class offers children their first experience in the pool without parental assistance. Children will learn safe pool behavior, adjust to the water and develop independent movement. Participants learn basic paddle stroke and kicking skills, and learn to hold their faces in the water while blowing bubbles.
(Ages 3-5 years) This class is designed for those who are more advanced than Pike but not yet ready for the Eel class. Participants must have completed the Pike class as a prerequisite.
(Ages 3-5 years) This class is designed for the child who has advanced from Pike Advanced or can swim independently with a flotation device on their front, back and side the length of the pool and is able to do a front and back float for 10 seconds.
(Ages 3-5 years) This class is for the child who has advanced from the Eel class or who can swim the length of the pool with one float on the belt on their front, back and side, and can swim 15 feet on their front, back and side without a flotation device.
(Ages 3-5 years) This class is designed for the child who has advanced from the Ray class or who can swim a length of the pool on their front, back and side without a flotation device.
This is the beginning level class for school-age children. This class helps children get acquainted with the pool through the use of flotation devices and basic swimming skills like floating and front paddle stroke. By the end of this level children should be able to front paddle the length of the pool unassisted.
The beginning level for school-age children. Children should already know how to float on their back and front, paddle on their front, back and side with a belt and 10 feet without a belt.
To enter this level, children should be able to float on front and back for 30 seconds without a float belt, paddle for 25 yards without a float belt on the front, back and side, jump in without assistance, and be comfortable in deep water.
To enter this level, children should be able to front and back float for one minute, front alternating paddle with rhythmic breathing for 25 yards without float belt, front and back symmetrical paddle for 25 yards, side and back alternating paddle for 25 yards, kneeling dive.
This is the initial intermediate level class. Children further refine the lead-up strokes they have learned, as their skills become more like those normally used in swimming.
This class is for the swimmer who has advanced from Minnow or who can swim front crawl, back crawl breaststroke, sidestroke and elementary backstroke for three lengths of the pool.
This class is for the swimmer who has advanced from Fish or who can swim four lengths of front crawl, back crawl, breaststroke, sidestroke, elementary backstroke and 25 yards (one length) of butterfly.
This class is for the swimmer who has advanced from Flying Fish or who can swim four lengths of front crawl, back crawl, breaststroke, sidestroke, and elementary backstroke and butterfly.