LIFELONG LEARNING, LIFELONG FUN.
For the past 120 years Y’s have offered swim lessons. We have always been driven to be on the cutting edge of swim instructing. Our lessons are designed to challenge, motivate, and provide focus on water safety and proper swimming technique.
A few benefits of Our Lesson Program are:
- Knowledgeable and trained swim instructors
- Small Class Size (Preschool & School Age Levels)
WHAT MAKES OUR PROGRAM 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 aquatics activities and promote a healthy lifestyle.
DOWNLOAD SWIM LESSON GUIDE DOWNLOAD SWIM LESSON OVERVIEW
School-Aged Swim Lessons (Ages 6-12)
Our lesson program is made up of six levels of swimming and water safety instruction. As participants progress through the levels and develop these aquatic skills they will become better and safer swimmers. Children will be placed into levels based upon their abilities.
Levels 1-3 Students will learn personal water safety and achieve basic swimming competency by learning two benchmark skills: Swim, float, swim – sequencing front glide, roll, back float, roll, front glide, and exit; and Jump, push, turn, grab.
Levels 4-6 Students will learn additional water safety skills and build stroke technique, developing skills that prevent chronic disease, increase social-emotional and cognitive well-being, and foster a lifetime of physical activity.
Questions? Contact Kim Waite, Director of Aquatics, E-mail: kwaite@statelineymca.org
WHAT CLASS DOES MY CHILD BELONG IN?
Children who are ages 6-12 should register for School Age Swim Lessons. At the beginning of the first day of the session our certified Swim Instructors will place the children in a group that will best fit their needs and abilities. This will primarily be based on observations in the water and our records from prior sessions.
WHAT DAYS AND TIMES ARE CLASSES OFFERED?
Days and times and classes can be located by session by clicking on “View Classes & Register” button. You will be taken to our registration system, where you may choose to register. Viewing this page does not commit you to registering.
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Class Descriptions
Learn to Swim (6 – 12 years) - 30 minute lessons
Level 1: Water Acclimation – No skill prerequisites. Children will become familiar with an aquatics environment. Children will develop an increased comfort with underwater exploration and will be introduced to basic self-rescue skills performed with assistance. Emphasis is placed on helping children to develop positive attitudes and safe practices in and around the water.
Level 2: Water Movement – This level encourages forward movement in water and basic self-rescue skills to be performed independently. Children will continue to explore using simultaneous and alternating arm and leg actions on the front and back to gain greater proficiency in preparation for performing strokes. (Prerequisite Level 1)
Level 3: Water Stamina – This is an advanced class where all skills are performed independently. Children will develop intermediate self-rescue skills that will be performed at longer distances than in previous levels. Children will work on coordinating combined simultaneous arm and leg actions and alternating arm and leg actions. (Prerequisite Level 2).
Level 4: Stroke Introduction – This class introduces basic stroke technique in front crawl and back crawl and reinforces water safety through treading water and elementary backstroke. (Prerequisite Level 3)
Level 5: Stroke Development – This level introduces breaststroke and butterfly and reinforces water safety through treading water and sidestroke. (Prerequisite Level 4)
Level 6: Stroke Mechanics - This level refines strokes technique on all major competitive strokes and encourages swimming as part of a healthy lifestyle. (Prerequisite Level 5)
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YMCA DIVERSE ABILITIES SWIM PROGRAM (Ages 3-17)
Program Information:
The Y is dedicated to elevating and promoting equity within communities around the country, guaranteeing fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement for all, while striving to identify and eliminate barriers that have prevented full participation of some groups. Through this swimming program, parents and caregivers of children with diverse abilities will be given the opportunity to provide their children with the means to learn fundamental water safety and swimming skills in a safe environment. Knowing how to be safe around water is one of the most important life skills we can teach our children.
Using the evidence-based Y-USA Swim Lessons and Y-USA Safety Around Water curriculums, the YMCA Diverse abilities program is designed to reach children at risk of drowning and teach them basic water safety and swimming skills. Children will be placed in a skill and ability-specific program based on their needs.
Getting Started:
Before beginning the program, we are asking parents/caregivers to complete an intake form outlining their child’s needs/goals. We’ll review the form together with you to determine the best track for your child – group or private lessons. Our unique approach to the intake process will allow us to focus on each individual’s unique abilities ensuing that all participants are able to gin the skills needed to be safe in and around water and to learn to swim. The student intake form is available below, at the Front Desk, or by emailing Kim Waite, Director of Aquatics, at kwaite@statelineymca.org
Student Intake Form