The YMCA is the leader in youth aquatics programming including swim lessons, safety around water, lifeguard training and more. In an effort to continue to grow and provide the highest quality experience for your child, we have recently upgraded our Swim lessons to include an easier way to choose the perfect program, track your child’s progress and help them grown stronger every day. Strong swimmers confident kids.
Program Enrollment
Once the Enrollment Guide is viewed and the appropriate program identified, please choose the age level from below to begin your program enrollment today. Parent and Child programs are perfect for children ages 6 months – 3 years. Preschool age programming is designed for those swimmers ages 3 – 5 years old and the school age are for youths 5 years of age – 12 years of age.
Swim Starters – Age 6mth -3 6mths
A. Water Discovery
Parents accompany children in stage A, which introduces infants and toddlers to the aquatic environment through exploration and encourages them to enjoy themselves while learning about the water.
B. Water Exploration
In stage B, parents work with their children to explore body positions, floating, blowing bubbles, and fundamental safety and aquatic skills.
Swim Basics – Preschool age 3-5 and Youth age 6-12
1. Water Acclimation
Students develop comfort with underwater exploration and learn to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water in stage 1. This stage lays the foundation that allows for a student’s future progress in swimming.
2. Water Movement
In stage 2, students focus on body position and control, directional change, and forward movement in the water while also continuing to practice how to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water.
3. Water Stamina
In stage 3, students learn how to swim to safety from a longer distance than in previous stages in the event of falling into a body of water. This stage also introduces rhythmic breathing and integrated arm and leg action.
Swim Strokes – Preschool age 3-4 and Youth age 6-12
4. Stroke Introduction
Students in stage 4 develop stroke technique in front crawl and back crawl and learn the breaststroke kick and butterfly kick. Water safety is reinforced through treading water and elementary backstroke.
5. Stroke Development
Students in stage 5 work on stroke technique and learn all major competitive strokes. The emphasis on water safety continues through treading water and sidestroke.
6. Stroke Mechanics
In stage 6, students refine stroke technique on all major competitive strokes, learn about competitive swimming, and discover how to incorporate swimming into a healthy lifestyle.
