The Y is your partner in water safety.


Drowning is one of the leading causes of death for children in the United States. As America’s most trusted swim instructor, with more than 110 years’ experience teaching millions of kids to swim, the Y is committed equipping kids with the skills they need to stay safe in and around water.

Swimming Lessons categories

Accompanied by a parent, infants and toddlers learn to be comfortable in the water and develop swim readiness. Parents learn about water safety for kids (especially pool safety) and drowning prevention in these baby swimming lessons.

Stage A Water Discovery: The class introduces infants and toddlers to the aquatic environment through exploration.

  • Class length: 30 minutes
  • Qualification: None needed
  • Adult participation: One parent or guardian per child must be in the pool for each lesson.

Stage B Water Exploration: Focuses on exploring body positions, blowing bubbles, and fundamental safety and aquatic skills.

  • Class length: 30 minutes
  • Qualification: Child is comfortable in the water or child has taken Stage A Water Discovery
  • Adult participation: One parent or guardian per child must be in the pool for each lesson.

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Children learn water safety, basic swimming competency, and progress through levels as they develop skills in our swimming lessons for kids.

Stage 1 Water Acclimation: Preschoolers develop comfort with underwater exploration and are introduced to basic self-rescue skills performed with assistance.

  • Class length: 30 minutes
  • Qualification: None needed. This class is for kids who aren’t yet comfortable going under water voluntarily.
  • Skills Practiced:
    ○ Bob to submerge in water
    ○ Front and back glide to the wall for 5 feet with no help
    ○ Front and back float for 10 seconds with help
    ○ Roll from back to front and front to back with help
    ○ Jump, push, turn, grab with help
    ○ Swim, float, swim 10 feet with help
    ○ Exit the water

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Stage 2 Water Movement: Preschoolers 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 water.

  • Class length: 30 minutes
  • Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 1 skills.
  • Skills Practiced:
    ○ Submerge to look at an object on the bottom of the pool
    ○ Front and back glide to the wall for 5 feet
    ○ Front and back float for 10 seconds
    ○ Roll from back to front and front to back
    ○ Jump, push, turn, grab
    ○ Swim, float, swim 5 yards
    ○ Tread water near the wall for 10 seconds
    ○ Exit the water

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Stage 3 Water Stamina: Preschoolers learn how to swim to safety from a longer distance than in previous stages. The class also introduces rhythmic breathing and integrated arm/leg action.

  • Class length: 30 minutes
  • Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 2 skills.
  • Skills Practiced:
    ○ Retrieve an object in chest-deep water
    ○ Swim on front and back for 10 yards
    ○ Roll from back to front and front to back
    ○ Jump, push, turn, grab 10 yards
    ○ Swim, float, swim 15 yards
    ○ Tread water for 30 seconds
    ○ Exit the water

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Stage 4 Stroke Introduction: Having mastered the fundamentals, preschoolers learn additional water safety skills and build stroke technique.

  • Age: 3-5 years
  • Class length: 40 minutes
  • Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 3 skills.
  • Skills Practiced:
    ○ Swim the front crawl with rotary breathing for 15 yards
    ○ Breaststroke kick for 15 yards
    ○ Butterfly kick for 15 yards
    ○ Elementary backstroke for 15 yards
    ○ Dive from a sitting position
    ○ Tread water using a scissor and whip kick for one minute
    ○ Swim any combination of strokes for 25 yards

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In these swimming lessons for kids, students learn personal water safety, achieve basic swimming competency, and progress to learn about the four competitive swimming strokes.

Stage 1 Water Acclimation: Kids develop comfort with underwater exploration and are introduced to basic self-rescue skills performed with assistance.

  • Class length: 30 minutes
  • Qualification: None needed. This class is for kids who aren’t yet comfortable going under water voluntarily.
  • Skills Practiced:
    ○ Bob to submerge in water
    ○ Front and back glide to the wall for 5 feet with no help
    ○ Front and back float for 10 seconds with help
    ○ Roll from back to front and front to back with help
    ○ Jump, push, turn, grab with help
    ○ Swim, float, swim 10 feet with help
    ○ Exit the water

REGISTER NOW

Stage 2 Water Movement: Kids 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 water.

  • Class length: 30 minutes
  • Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 1 skills.
  • Skills Practiced:
    ○ Submerge to look at an object on the bottom of the pool
    ○ Front and back glide to the wall for 5 feet
    ○ Front and back float for 10 seconds
    ○ Roll from back to front and front to back
    ○ Jump, push, turn, grab
    ○ Swim, float, swim 5 yards
    ○ Tread water near the wall for 10 seconds
    ○ Exit the water

REGISTER NOW

Stage 3 Water Stamina: Kids learn how to swim to safety from a longer distance than in previous stages. The class also introduces rhythmic breathing and integrated arm/leg action.

  • Class length: 30 minutes
  • Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 2 skills.
  • Skills Practiced:
    ○ Retrieve an object in chest-deep water
    ○ Swim on front and back for 10 yards
    ○ Roll from back to front and front to back
    ○ Jump, push, turn, grab 10 yards
    ○ Swim, float, swim 15 yards
    ○ Tread water for 30 seconds
    ○ Exit the water

REGISTER NOW

Stage 4 Stroke Introduction: Having mastered the fundamentals, kids learn additional water safety skills and build stroke technique.

  • Class length: 40 minutes
  • Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 3 skills.
  • Skills Practiced:
    ○ Swim the front crawl with rotary breathing for 15 yards
    ○ Breaststroke kick for 15 yards
    ○ Butterfly kick for 15 yards
    ○ Elementary backstroke for 15 yards
    ○ Dive from a sitting position
    ○ Tread water using a scissor and whip kick for one minute
    ○ Swim any combination of strokes for 25 yards

REGISTER NOW

Stage 5 Stroke Development: Students work on stroke technique and learn all major competitive swimming strokes.

  • Class length: 40 minutes
  • Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 4 skills.
  • Skills Practiced:
    ○ Swim the front crawl with bent-arm recovery for 25 yards
    ○ Breaststroke for 25 yards
    ○ Butterfly with simultaneous arm action and kick for 15 yards
    ○ Back crawl for 25 yards
    ○ Sidestroke for 25 yards
    ○ Dive from a kneeling position
    ○ Tread water using a scissor and whip kick for 2 minutes
    ○ Swim any combination of strokes for 50 yards

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Stage 6 Stroke Mechanics: Students refine stroke technique on the major competitive strokes, learn about competitive swimming and discover how to incorporate swimming into a healthy lifestyle.

  • Class length: 40 minutes
  • Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 5 skills.
  • Skills Practiced:
    ○ Swim the front crawl for 50 yards and do a flip turn
    ○ Breaststroke for 50 yards and do an open turn
    ○ Butterfly for 25 yards
    ○ Back crawl for 25 yards and do a flip turn
    ○ Sidestroke or elementary backstroke for 50 yards
    ○ Dive from a standing position
    ○ Swim any combination of strokes for 150 yards
    ○ Swim any combination of strokes for 50 yard

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Trying to find adult swimming lessons near you? Look no further! Teens and adults can choose from different levels of classes, beginning with water safety and swimming competency, to building and refining swimming stroke techniques.

Stage 1 Water Acclimation: Students develop comfort with underwater exploration and are introduced to basic self-rescue skills performed with assistance.

  • Class length: 45-60 minutes, varies by branch and age
  • Qualification: None needed. This class is for students who aren’t yet comfortable going under water voluntarily.
  • Skills Practiced:
    ○ Bob to submerge in water
    ○ Front and back glide to the wall for 5 feet with no help
    ○ Front and back float for 10 seconds with help
    ○ Roll from back to front and front to back with help
    ○ Jump, push, turn, grab with help
    ○ Swim, float, swim 10 feet with help
    ○ Exit the water

REGISTER NOW

Stage 2 Water Movement: 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 water.

  • Class length: 45-60 minutes, varies by branch and age
  • Qualification: Student must be able to demonstrate all Stage 1 skills.
  • Skills Practiced:
    ○ Submerge to look at an object on the bottom of the pool
    ○ Front and back glide to the wall for 5 feet
    ○ Front and back float for 10 seconds
    ○ Roll from back to front and front to back
    ○ Jump, push, turn, grab
    ○ Swim, float, swim 5 yards
    ○ Tread water near the wall for 10 seconds
    ○ Exit the water

REGISTER NOW

Stage 3 Water Stamina: Students learn how to swim to safety from a longer distance than in previous stages. The class also introduces rhythmic breathing and integrated arm/leg action.

  • Class length: 45-60 minutes, varies by branch and age
  • Qualification: Student must be able to demonstrate all Stage 2 skills.
  • Skills Practiced:
    ○ Retrieve an object in chest-deep water
    ○ Swim on front and back for 10 yards
    ○ Roll from back to front and front to back
    ○ Jump, push, turn, grab 10 yards
    ○ Swim, float, swim 15 yards
    ○ Tread water for 30 seconds
    ○ Exit the water

REGISTER NOW

Stage 4 Stroke Introduction: Having mastered the fundamentals, student learn additional water safety skills and build stroke technique.

  • Class length: 45-60 minutes, varies by branch and age
  • Qualification: Student must be able to demonstrate all Stage 3 skills.
  • Skills Practiced:
    ○ Swim the front crawl with rotary breathing for 15 yards
    ○ Breaststroke kick for 15 yards
    ○ Butterfly kick for 15 yards
    ○ Elementary backstroke for 15 yards
    ○ Dive from a sitting position
    ○ Tread water using a scissor and whip kick for one minute
    ○ Swim any combination of strokes for 25 yards

REGISTER NOW

Stage 5 Stroke Development: Students work on stroke technique and learn all major competitive swimming strokes

  • Class length: 45-60 minutes, varies by branch and age
  • Qualification: Student must be able to demonstrate all Stage 4 skills.
  • Skills Practiced:
    ○ Swim the front crawl with bent-arm recovery for 25 yards
    ○ Breaststroke for 25 yards
    ○ Butterfly with simultaneous arm action and kick for 15 yards
    ○ Back crawl for 25 yards
    ○ Sidestroke for 25 yards
    ○ Dive from a kneeling position
    ○ Tread water using a scissor and whip kick for 2 minutes Breaststroke for 25 yards
    ○ Swim any combination of strokes for 50 yards

REGISTER NOW

Stage 6 Stroke Mechanics: Students refine stroke technique on the major competitive strokes, learn about competitive swimming and discover how to incorporate swimming into a healthy lifestyle

  • Class length: 40 minutes
  • Qualification: Student must be able to demonstrate all Stage 5 skills.
  • Skills Practiced:
    ○ Swim the front crawl for 50 yards and do a flip turn
    ○ Breaststroke for 50 yards and do an open turn
    ○ Butterfly for 25 yards
    ○ Back crawl for 25 yards and do a flip turn
    ○ Sidestroke or elementary backstroke for 50 yards
    ○ Dive from a standing position
    ○ Swim any combination of strokes for 150 yards
    ○ Swim any combination of strokes for 50 yards

REGISTER NOW

Private Swim Lessons

Group lessons aren't for everyone. Instead, work one-on-one with a swim instructor to meet your swimming goals. Contact your branch Aquatics Director for more information, pricing, or to schedule your kids swimming lessons today!

  • Designed for 1:1 instruction
  • Class length: 30-60 minutes

Semi-Private Swim Lessons

Bring a swimming partner and work two-on-one with an instructor for focused attention on your swimming goals and needs. Contact your branch Aquatics Director for more information, pricing, or to schedule your swim lessons today!

  • Designed for 2:1 instruction
  • Class length: 30-60 minutes
  • Qualification: Participants must register as a pair.

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Lesson Selector
Find the right swim lesson for your child.

Become a Water Watcher. It Could Save a Life!

Swim lessons are an essential part of keeping kids safe in and around the water, but there’s no substitution for parental or adult supervision. There should always be someone designated as a "water watcher" to watch the children, especially when they’re around water.

Swimming Lesson Refund Policy

Any cancellation made prior to the registration deadline will receive a 100% refund. Cancellations received after the registration deadline will be subject to a $15 fee. No refunds will be issued for cancellations after two weeks into the program.

Water Safety Resources
The world is 71% water. Are your children 100% prepared?

Aquatics Guidelines

our guarantee
Our Guarantee
The Y guarantees 6 out of 8 group swim lessons each session. If the Y doesn't uphold this guarantee, we will prorate and credit the account for future sessions. All system credits will be applied at the end of the session.
swimwear
Come Dressed to Class
Come to class dressed in your swimsuit, and don't forget to bring your towel for after class! Goggles are optional, but you're welcome to bring them!
parents
Parents & Guardians
Parents must remain in the building while your children are taking swimming lessons. One parent/guardian must be in the water with their swimmer in the parent/child lessons for ages 6 months - 36 months.
inclement weather
Inclement Weather Pool Policy
Our YMCA guidelines require us to close the pool to all activities if lightning and thunder is within 6 miles of our facility. Lifeguards are trained to judge this and have the final say on all closures. Pool and wet areas must be cleared and closed until 30 minutes after the last evidence of lightning and thunder is present.