LEARN-TO-SWIM PROGRAMS!
For the past 120 years Y’s have offered swim lessons. We have always been driven to be on the cutting edge of swim instruction. Our lessons are designed to challenge, motivate, and provide focus on water safety and proper swimming technique.
A few benefits of Y Aquatics Lessons include
Knowledgeable and trained swim instructors
Small class size (Preschool & School Age Levels)
WHAT MAKES YMCA SWIM LESSONS UNIQUE?
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 very best of their ability. The goal is to create life-long interest in aquatics activities and promote a healthy lifestyle.
WHAT CLASS DOES MY CHILD BELONG IN?
On the first day of the swim lesson 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 swim testing, observations in the water, or our records from prior sessions.
Questions? Send us an email!
Aquatics Director
YOUTH
Ages 6 – 12 years
Classes are 40 Minutes in Length
Ratio 1:5
Level 1
WATER ACCLIMATION
Beginner swimmer with no experience.
Will learn basic skills of blowing bubbles with face in water, floats and push-offs to instructor.
WILL LEARN
- Front float (30 seconds independent) and Back float (30 seconds independent)
- Bubbles - do bobs going under water blowing out by nose/mouth 10 times
- Introduce front stroke kick (strait legs) start on wall then move out with the barbel and noodle first to flags then to red line if comfortable
- Introduce arm circles or arm strokes (down and over) with a cupped hand on the wall then proceed with barbel and noodle and have them look down blow bubbles and do 2 arm circles then breath all while kicking their legs strait up and down pointed toes.
- Independent front stroke: swim to flags if they are uncomfortable have them swim to a noodle out in front of them or have them reach for your hand, goal is to the flags
- Backstroke: use barbel (make sure they hold it against their stomach and look straight up and that their ears are in the water and the go up and down with strait leg kicks and pointed toes
- Backstroke arms: Use barbel have them move one hand up toward ceiling (thumb up, pinky down) and then switch, make sure they go slow then once they get it they can begin to go faster
- Independent backstroke: hold them by the head and hips and periodically let go and hold them up again until confidence is gained, goal is to the flags.
- To pass must be able to float, blow bubbles, and swim to the flags on front and back (not perfectly)
Level 2
WATER MOVEMENT
Has passed Y1 and/or is able to float, be comfortable in the water, able to blow bubbles, has knowledge of front and backstroke.
Students should be able to/swim:
Comfortably put face in water
Front glide 5 feet assisted
Back glide 5 feet assisted
Front float 30 seconds assisted
Back float 30 seconds assisted
WILL LEARN
- This is the level where you make sure they have straight legs kicking both on back and front
- Front and back float for 1 minute or more without assistance
- Barbel is still used at this level for front and back stroke, same idea only longer distance (to red line and back with barbel and without a noodle)
- Front stroke: head looking down to the floor blowing bubbles doing 1….2…Breathe and having straight leg kicks at the same time
- Front stroke goal: need to be able to swim on the front with straight leg kicks and arm circles independently of instructor to red line
- Backstroke: Head looking up and ears in water (body parallel with the water) strait leg kicks with barbel and thumb up pinky in backstroke arms
- Backstroke goal: need to be able to swim independently on the back to the red line
- Can introduce froggy kick or breaststroke kick in this level
- This level is all about perfecting front and backstroke kicks and arms and making sure they are not bending their knees and have control of their body.
Level 3
WATER STAMINA
Has passed Y2 and/or is able to swim independently to red line with looking down blowing bubbles perfect straight leg kicks both on front and back, and is able to float by themselves without assistance
Students should be able to/swim:
Bob up and down under water
Front glide 10 feet
Back glide 10 feet
Front float 20 seconds
Back float 20 seconds
Jump into water
Treading water
WILL LEARN
- Introduction to Side breathing, Breaststroke, and Dolphin kick
- Backstroke is perfecting flutter kick and rotating arms and increasing distance
- Side Breathing: Using a slow progressing system
- Use smaller barbel have them choose 1 side (usually dominant hand side) to have their ear attached to the shoulder leaning on their side and kick normally (flutter kick)
- Using the smaller barbel, have them then roll down (ear still attached to shoulder) using the non-dominate hand on their side and look to the bottom of the floor by placing that hand on top resuming streamline position for 5 second bubbles then roll and repeat
- Then use kick board with handles have them look face down and blow bubbles have them use it as a guide for their hands and practice rolling and breathing on their ear on their dominate side breathing side.
- One arm moves to roll and breath the other then is used to blow bubbles.
- 1…Breath…1…Breath
- Breaststroke is introduced in this level
- Begin with kickboard to work on the kick for breaststroke (Bend, Open, Close OR Kick your butt with your heels, Do the splits and Smack them straight together)
- With kickboard- Bend, Open, Close kick then breath (legs should not be moving when they come up for a breath), Chin should be tucked looking down when doing the bend, open, close kick with kick board.
- Arms: Make a heart, break a heart; hands in streamline position, face palms out, push water away, curve palms to chest, bring hands together to go back into streamline position
- Breaststroke put together: Pull, Breath, Kick, Glide (this is correct timing)
- Basically, doing the worm but in water, start with the head and roll it down to the shoulders, hips, and whip it out with feet together.
- End of level to graduate:
- Demonstrate side breathing up to lifeguard chair without lifting their head forward to breath
- Demonstrate Backstroke with strait leg flutter kicks and rotating arms, chin looking up and legs are not sinking halfway down the pool
- Demonstrate breaststroke kick and have basic knowledge on how to preform breaststroke (but not perfect)
- Demonstrate dolphin kick (not perfect)
Level 4
STROKE INTRODUCTION
Has passed Y3 and or is able to complete goals of Y3.
Students should be able to/swim:
Retrieve object down 3.5 feet
40 feet on front
40 feet on back
Front float
Back float
Jump into water
Treading water
WILL LEARN
- any stroke or combination of strokes, 25 yd.
- rotary breathing (ear on shoulder rolling down), teach to breath on dominate side only 15 yd.
- Rotating shoulders while reaching back, thumb up, pinky in, straight leg kick 25 yd.
- Diving and Summersaults
- Resting Stroke
- Tread Water
- scissor & whip kick, 1 min.
- Frog Kick (bend - open - close) intro to timing, 15 yd.
- Dolphin Kick, moving in a worm like motion, 15 yd.
Level 5
STROKE DEVELOPMENT
Students should be able to/swim:
40 feet front crawl
40 feet of Breaststroke kick
40 feet of Butterfly kick
40 feet of Backstroke
40 feet of Elementary backstroke
Sitting dive
Treading water
WILL LEARN
Endurance and stroke development
Level 6
STROKE MECHANICALS
Students should be able to/swim:
25 meters Front Crawl
25 meters of Breaststroke Kick
25 meters of Butterfly Kick
25 meters of Backstroke
25 meters of Elementary Backstroke
Kneeling Dive
Treading water
WILL LEARN
Endurance and stroke development