Swim Lesson Finder

FIND YOUR LEVEL

Use the interactive form below to find the swim lesson appropriate for your swimmer's age and skill level.

Looking for a level at your YMCA that is not listed in our registration system? Contact Us


You're ready for Parent/Child Swim Lessons!

The parent/child swim program introduces infants and toddlers to the joys of swimming for the first time under the care and love of their parents. As a parent, you will learn about the importance of supervision, water safety, and how to encourage and guide your child to become more more familiar with being in the water.

Find Parent/Child Swim Lessons

You're ready for Adult & Teen Swim Lessons!

Our adult & teen swim lessons provide a place for adults and teens ages 13 and older to learn how to swim in a friendly small-group setting. Students come from all walks of life—from young adults to high school students to retirees.

Find Adult & Teen Swim Lessons


Already a swimmer looking to refine skills, speed and endurance? Try Masters Swim.

Find Masters Swim programs

You're ready for Adult & Teen Swim Lessons!

Our adult & teen swim lessons provide a place for adults and teens ages 13 and older to learn how to swim in a friendly small-group setting. Students come from all walks of life—from young adults to high school students to retirees.

Find Adult & Teen Swim Lessons


Already a swimmer looking to refine skills, speed and endurance? Try one of the following:

Endurance, Sports & Games
Swimmers meet twice a week for 30 minutes to improve stroke technique and efficiency, teach proper starts and turns, and build endurance in a swim team-style practice within a small group.

Find Endurance, Sports & Games 

Aquatics Conditioning
Swimmers meet twice a week for 45–60 minutes with a focus on enhancing endurance and stroke technique for all major competitive strokes as well as encouraging swimming as part of a healthy lifestyle.

Find Aquatics Conditioning programs

YMCA Youth Swim Team
Swim Team is a competitive swimming program. Swimmers are grouped by skill level and participate in practices and competitive swim meets to continue refining stroke technique, speed and endurance.

Find Swim Teams


BEGINNER NONSWIMMER

Your Level is Stage 1: Water Acclimation

YMCA Swim Lessons: Water Acclimation (Stage 1)

In stage 1, students develop comfort with underwater exploration and learn to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water. This stage lays the foundation that allows for a student’s future progress in swimming.


Beginner: Swims with Assistance

Your Level is Stage 2: Water Movement

YMCA Swim Lessons: Water Movement (Stage 2)

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.


Advanced Beginner

You're ready for Stage 3: Water Stamina

YMCA Swim Lessons: Water Stamina (Stage 3)

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.


Intermediate Swimmer

You're ready for Stage 4: Stroke Introduction

YMCA Swim Lessons: Stroke Introduction (Stage 4)

Students in stage 4 develop stroke technique in front crawl and back crawl, and they learn the breaststroke kick and butterfly kick. Water safety is reinforced through treading water and elementary backstroke.

Find School-Age Stage 4 Swim Lessons


Students ready for Stage 4 may also improve skills in Endurance, Sports & Games and in Aquatics Conditioning Programs.

Endurance, Sports & Games
Swimmers meet twice a week for 30 minutes to improve stroke technique and efficiency, teach proper starts and turns, and build endurance in a swim team-style practice within a small group. 

Find Endurance, Sports & Games

Aquatics Conditioning
Swimmers meet twice a week for 45–60 minutes with a focus on enhancing endurance and stroke technique for all major competitive strokes as well as encouraging swimming as part of a healthy lifestyle.

Find Aquatics Conditioning programs


Advanced Swimmer

You're ready for Stage 5: Stroke Development

YMCA Swim Lessons: Stroke Development (Stage 5)

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.

Stage 5 is only available for ages 5–12.

Find School-Age Stage 5 Swim Lessons


Students ready for Stage 5 may also improve skills in Endurance, Sports & Games and in Aquatics Conditioning Programs.

Endurance, Sports & Games
Swimmers meet twice a week for 30 minutes to improve stroke technique and efficiency, teach proper starts and turns, and build endurance in a swim team-style practice within a small group. 

Find Endurance, Sports & Games

Aquatics Conditioning
Swimmers meet twice a week for 45–60 minutes with a focus on enhancing endurance and stroke technique for all major competitive strokes as well as encouraging swimming as part of a healthy lifestyle.

Find Aquatics Conditioning programs

 


Advanced Swimmer

You're ready for Stage 6: Stroke Mechanics

YMCA Swim Lessons: Stroke Mechanics (Stage 6)

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.

Stage 6 is only available for ages 5–12.

Find School-Age Stage 6 Swim Lessons


Students ready for Stage 6 may also improve skills in Endurance, Sports & Games and in Aquatics Conditioning Programs.

Endurance, Sports & Games
Swimmers meet twice a week for 30 minutes to improve stroke technique and efficiency, teach proper starts and turns, and build endurance in a swim team-style practice within a small group. 

Find Endurance, Sports & Games

Aquatics Conditioning
Swimmers meet twice a week for 45–60 minutes with a focus on enhancing endurance and stroke technique for all major competitive strokes as well as encouraging swimming as part of a healthy lifestyle.

Find Aquatics Conditioning programs

Wow, what a swimmer!

Based on your answers, your swimmer has already mastered the skills taught in our most advanced group swim lessons class. We encourage you to consider participating in:

Endurance, Sports & Games
Swimmers meet twice a week for 30 minutes to improve stroke technique and efficiency, teach proper starts and turns, and build endurance in a swim team-style practice within a small group.

Find Endurance, Sports & Games 

Aquatics Conditioning
Swimmers meet twice a week for 45–60 minutes with a focus on enhancing endurance and stroke technique for all major competitive strokes as well as encouraging swimming as part of a healthy lifestyle.

Find Aquatics Conditioning programs

YMCA Youth Swim Team
Swim Team is a competitive swimming program. Swimmers are grouped by skill level and participate in practices and competitive swim meets to continue refining stroke technique, speed and endurance.

Find Swim Teams

You can also contact the Aquatics Director at your local Y to ask about additional swimming instruction opportunities that may be available to you.