Nurturing skills and building confidence in the water
No matter where you are in your swimming journey, the YMCA has a program designed for you. From water exploration for little ones to skill refinement for teens and adults, our lessons focus on safety, confidence, and lifelong skills in the water.
Choose Your Path
Swim Lessons for All Ages
Swim lessons are grouped by age to help you find the right starting point. Each stage builds safety, confidence, and technique. Select your age group to see lesson options.
Choose Your Path
Swim Lessons for All Ages
Swim lessons are grouped by age to help you find the right starting point. Each stage builds safety, confidence, and technique. Select your age group to see lesson options.
Swim Starters
Accompanied by a parent, infants and toddlers learn to be comfortable in the water and develop swim readiness skills through fun and confidence-building experiences, while parents learn about water safety, drowning prevention, and the importance of supervision.
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
Students 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
- Jump, push, turn, grab
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
Having mastered the fundamentals, students 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.
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.
Swim Basics
Students 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
- Jump, push, turn, grab
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
Having mastered the fundamentals, students 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.
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.
Teen & Adult Swim
Beginner swimmers will learn floating (front and back) and get an introduction to front crawl and elementary backstroke.
Intermediate swimmers will refine front crawl and elementary backstroke, Learn sidestroke, breaststroke and deep-water swimming. This is a self-paced class.
Beyond the basics
Private and Specialty Swim Options
Swim lessons are grouped by age to help you find the right starting point. Each stage builds safety, confidence, and technique. Select your age group to see lesson options.
Beyond the basics
Private and Specialty Swim Options
Swim lessons are grouped by age to help you find the right starting point. Each stage builds safety, confidence, and technique. Select your age group to see lesson options.
Beyond the basics
Private and Specialty Swim Options
Swim lessons are grouped by age to help you find the right starting point. Each stage builds safety, confidence, and technique. Select your age group to see lesson options.
Private and Semi-Private Swim Lessons
Personalized instruction tailored to your needs. Whether you’re looking for one-on-one coaching or a small group setting, private and semi-private lessons help swimmers build skills and confidence at their own pace.
Specialty Programs and Classes
Go beyond traditional lessons with specialty offerings designed for specific skills and interests. From adaptive swim to advanced stroke clinics, our specialty classes meet swimmers where they are and help them grow.
Private and Semi-Private Swim Lessons
Personalized instruction tailored to your needs. Whether you’re looking for one-on-one coaching or a small group setting, private and semi-private lessons help swimmers build skills and confidence at their own pace.
Specialty Programs and Classes
Go beyond traditional lessons with specialty offerings designed for specific skills and interests. From adaptive swim to advanced stroke clinics, our specialty classes meet swimmers where they are and help them grow.
Choose the Right Starting Point
Find Your Swim Level
Answer a few quick questions to discover the swim level that’s the best fit for you or your child. This tool matches skills with the right class so you can register with confidence.
Choose the Right Starting Point
Find Your Swim Level
Answer a few quick questions to discover the swim level that’s the best fit for you or your child. This tool matches skills with the right class so you can register with confidence.
VOICES FROM THE POOL
What Families and Swimmers Are Saying
Hear how YMCA swim lessons build skills, confidence, and joy in the water – for every age and stage.
VOICES FROM THE POOL
What Families and Swimmers Are Saying
Hear how YMCA swim lessons build skills, confidence, and joy in the water – for every age and stage.
Grandmother of Titus
YMCA Swim Instructor
Find SWIM LESSONS Near You
Explore Locations & Register
Use the filters below to quickly find swim lessons at a YMCA near you. Browse by location, schedule, or program type and register in just minutes.
Find SWIM LESSONS Near You
Explore Locations & Register
Use the filters below to quickly find swim lessons at a YMCA near you. Browse by location, schedule, or program type and register in just minutes.
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Swim Smart, Swim Safe
Tips to Support Your Swim Journey
Simple ways to help your swimmer succeed, practice skills, and stay safe in and around the water.
Swim Smart, Swim Safe
Tips to Support Your Swim Journey
Simple ways to help your swimmer succeed, practice skills, and stay safe in and around the water.
Trust Our Team
Let instructors lead your child’s progress while you offer encouragement outside the pool. If you have questions, connect with staff to stay involved.
Swim Regularly
Reinforce skills from lessons by practicing together during recreational swim at your local YMCA. Consistent practice builds confidence.
Safety First
Safety is our top priority. Explore resources that teach water safety basics and give your family tools to stay safe near any depth of water.
Trust Our Team
Let instructors lead your child’s progress while you offer encouragement outside the pool. If you have questions, connect with staff to stay involved.
Swim Regularly
Reinforce skills from lessons by practicing together during recreational swim at your local YMCA. Consistent practice builds confidence.
Swim Regularly
Safety is our top priority. Explore resources that teach water safety basics and give your family tools to stay safe near any depth of water.
Frequently Asked Questions
