Swim Levels

The Y’s primary goal is to provide your child with a pleasant, fun-filled water experience while teaching fundamental aquatic and water safety skills. Our newly-designed swim curriculum is organized into three general categories: Swim Starters, Swim Basics and Swim Strokes.

NEW!!!

We have simplified our registration process - simply register by age and our instructors will place your child into the appropriate level. We are also rolling out ongoing monthly billing. Gone are the days of having to remember session dates! Swim lessons will be ongoing until you cancel.

SWIM STARTERS

Parent/Child Swim Lessons

1-2-3 Grow!

1-2-3 Grow! Baby & Me Gym & Swim is a parent-child class including 30 minutes gym time, 15 minutes for changing, and 30 minutes swim time. The underlying goal is to encourage social, physical and developmental growth. 

We define parent broadly to include all adults with primary responsibility for raising the children. Grandparents are welcome! Swim diapers are required. 1-hour lesson.



Preschool A

Preschool A/Water Discovery is designed for children ages 6 months to 2 years and parents to enjoy together. The class introduces infants and toddlers to the aquatic environment. If your child is still learning to respond to verbal cues and can't jump on land yet, then start them in this level.

We define parent broadly to include all adults with primary responsibility for raising the children. Swim diapers are required. 30-minute lesson.



Preschool B

Preschool B/Water Exploration is designed for children 2 to 3 years. This class focuses on exploring body positions, blowing bubbles, and fundamental safety and aquatic skills. Swimmers in this level are getting better at responding to verbal cues and jumping on land. However, a parent is still required for in water support at this level.

Swim diapers are required. 30-minute lesson.



SWIM BASICS

Recommended skills for all to have around water

Level 1

Level 1/Water Acclimation increases comfort with underwater exploration and introduces basic self-rescue skills performed with assistance. Register for this level if your swimmer is comfortable working with an instructor without a parent in the water, but they have not mastered going underwater voluntarily.

This level is offered for preschool age swimmers 2 to 5 years and youth swimmers 6-12 years. 40-minute lesson. 
 



Level 2

Level 2/Water Movement encourages forward movement in water and basic self-rescue skills performed independently. If your child is going underwater voluntarily, but can't do a front and back float on his or her own, then register for this level.

This level is offered for preschool age swimmers 3 to 5 years and youth swimmers 5-12 years. 40-minute lesson.



Level 3

Level 3/Water Stamina develops intermediate self-rescue skills performed at longer distances than in previous stages. Register for this level if your child can do a front and back float on his or her own, but still cannot swim 10-15 yards on his or her front and back.

This level is offered for preschool age swimmers 3 to 5 years and youth swimmers 6-12 years. 40-minute lesson.
 



SWIM STROKES

Skills to support a healthy lifestyle

Level 4

Level 4/Stroke Introduction introduces basic stroke technique in front crawl and reinfores water safety through treading water and elementary back stroke. If your child cannot swim 15 yards of front and back crawl, then register for this level.

This level is offered for youth swimmers 3-12 years. 40-minute lesson.
 



Level 5

Level 5/Stroke Development introduces breaststroke and butterfly, and reinforces water safety through treading water and sidestroke. If your child cannot swim the front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke across the pool, then register for this level.

This level is offered for youth swimmers 6-12 years. 40-minute lesson.



Level 6

Level 6/Stroke Mechanics refines stroke technique on all major competitive strokes and encourages swimming as part of a healthy lifestyle. If your child can swim all the major strokes one length of the pool, but not back again, then register for this level.

This level is offered for youth swimmers 6-12 years. 40-minute lesson.



Competition Level

Youth Aquatic Conditioning

These lessons are designed as a workout for advanced swimmers to improve their stroke technique and to increase endurance. Focus will be on fine tuning the four competitive strokes, turns, starts, and endurance. Ages 10-16.

REGISTER FOR CONDITIONING CLASSES

If you're interested in learning more about the YMCA Stingrays swim team or the Pennock Penguins for Special Olympics athletes, click here.