The Pioneers of Swim Lessons

The Y started the practice of swim lessons over 160 years ago and has taught generations of families how to swim and be safe in the water. We know best how to teach this fundamental life skill.

One of the many benefits of Y membership is having access to Y swim lessons where our nationally certified instructors teach progressive, skills-based lessons for all ages. We focus on water safety, swim readiness, stroke development, and establishing a healthy approach to water and exercise.

You must be a Y member to participate in Y swim lessons. Click below to learn more about membership and to join.

Learn more and JOIN

Not sure which swim lesson is right for you or your child? View our SWIM LESSON SELECTOR GUIDE or contact a Y FAMILY CENTER for a free swim assessment.

GROUP SWIM LESSONS

SWIM STARTERS

PARENT/CHILD | AGE 0-3

Working with a parent, infants/toddlers learn to be comfortable in the water and develop swim readiness skills through fun, confidence-building experiences. Parents learn about water safety, drowning prevention and proper supervision around water. 

CLASSES

• Lvl A - Water Discovery: Introduces infants and toddlers to the swim environment.
   
• Lvl B - Water Exploration: Parents work with their children on exploring body positions, floating, blowing bubbles, and fundamental safety and swim skills.

Register: Swim Starters Ages 0-3

SWIM BASICS

PRESCHOOL AGE 3-5 | SCHOOL-AGE 5-12 | TEEN/ADULT AGE 12+

Learn personal water safety and achieve basic swimming competencies through activities, games and drills. Skills include safe water habits, underwater exploration and how to swim to safety in the event of falling into a body of water. 

CLASSES

• Lvl 1 - Water Acclimation: Students develop comfort with underwater exploration and learn basic self-rescue skills performed with assistance.
   
• Lvl 2 - Water Movement: Students focus on body position, control, directional change, forward movement in water, and basic self-rescue skills performed independently.
   
• Lvl 3 - Water Stamina: Students develop intermediate self-rescue skills performed at longer distances than in previous levels. Students are introduced to rhythmic breathing and integrated arm and leg action.

SWIM STROKES

PRESCHOOL AGE 3-5 | SCHOOL-AGE 5-12 | TEEN/ADULT AGE 12+

Having mastered the fundamentals, students learn additional water safety and rescue skills. Swimmers build stroke technique and are introduced to the four competitive swimming strokes: freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly.

CLASSES

• Lvl 4 - Stroke Introduction: Students are introduced to basic stroke technique in front crawl and back crawl. Water safety is reinforced through treading water and elementary backstroke. Instructors will teach from the water and the pool deck.
   
• Lvl 5 - Stroke Development: Students are introduced to breaststroke and butterfly. Water safety is reinforced through treading water and sidestroke. Instructors will teach from the pool deck. (Ages 5 and up.)
   
• Lvl 6 - Stroke Mechanics: Students refine stroke technique on all four major competitive strokes, learn about competitive swimming, and discover how to incorporate swimming into a healthy lifestyle. Instructors will teach from the pool deck. (Ages 5 and up.)

BEYOND SWIM LESSONS

Swim Conditioning | AGE 5 & up who have completed level six in Y swim lessons

This competitive class builds upon Y swim lessons. There is a focus on enhancing endurance and stroke technique for all major competitive strokes as well as encouraging swimming as part of a healthy lifestyle.

Register: Swim Conditioning Ages 5 & Up

INDIVIDUAL SWIM LESSONS

Individual swim lessons provide 1-on-1 instruction for ages 3 and up. All sessions are 30 minutes long and include a set of four lessons. To register, click the link below for your Y family center and complete the Individual Swim Lesson Request Form.

Note: Many Y family centers currently have a waitlist for individual swim lessons. When space becomes available, more centers will be added below.