
Swim Lessons
GROUP YOUTH SWIM LESSONS
Group Swim Lessons at the YMCA focus on building strong confident swimmers using a skill based curriculum that allows students to flow easily from one skill to the next with clearly defined stages of progress. Learning starts with water acclimation and focuses on vital water safety skills first, then progresses to stroke development. We’re proud to offer a variety of swim lessons for people of all ages and abilities.
Classes are once a week for 30 minutes. Lessons are offered on Sunday through Thursday. Class times vary depending on skill and pool availability. We do not offer make up classes for missed classes. Click the register link above to see current availability.
Current Session:
Fall 1 Session: September 27th – November 11th (Classes on 9/24, 9/25, & 9/26 have been rescheduled to 11/19, 11/13, & 11/14)
Registration is now open for Members and Guests for this session.
Price for members: $110
Price for guests: $150
Next Session:
Fall 2 Session: November 20th – December 23rd Registration opens November 2nd for Members and November 7th for Guests.
We offer the following youth swim classes:
- Parent/ Child A/B Water Discovery & Exploration
- Preschool 1 Water Acclimation
- Preschool 2/3 Water Movement & Stamina
- Preschool 4 Stroke Introduction
- School Age 1 Water Acclimation
- School Age 2/3 Water Movement & Stamina
- School Age 4 Stroke Introduction
Parent/ Child swim lessons are for ages 6 months – 3 years old
Preschool swim lessons are for ages 3 – 5 years old
School Age swim lessons are for ages 6 – 12 years old
Stage A/B Water Discovery & Exploration: With a parent in the pool, infants and toddlers learn to be comfortable in the water and develop swim readiness skills through water exploration. Parents learn about water safety and drowning prevention. Swimmers advance to Stage 1 when they are 3 years of age and can work with an instructor without a parent present.
Stage 1 Water Acclimation: Children develop comfort with underwater exploration, and learn to safely exit the water in the event they fall into a body of water. This stage lays the foundation that allows for children’s future progress in swimming. Swimmers advance to stage 2/3 once they can submerge voluntarily.
Stage 2/3 Water Movement & Stamina: Children focus on body position, directional change, and forward movement in the water. They will work to increase the distance they are able to swim by introducing rhythmic breathing and integrated arm and leg movements. Swimmers advance to stage 4 once they can swim 10-15 yards completely independently on their front and back.
Stage 4 Stroke Introduction: Children develop stroke technique for front and back crawl and learn breaststroke and butterfly. Water safety skills are reinforced through treading water and sidestroke. Swimmers advance to our mini marlins once they can safely swim 50 yards using both freestyle and backstroke and have a working knowledge of breaststroke and butterfly.
Mini Marlins (Stage 5 & 6): Swimmers who participate in the mini marlins program will learn how to swim butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle. They will learn how to perform flip turns and starts. This is a noncompetitive team for ages 5-10 years old.

GROUP ADULT SWIM LESSONS
During our group adult lessons, instructors will use the same skill based curriculum taught in a way that best suits our adult learners.
Adult Beginners will focus on swim basics, which includes understanding breath control, buoyancy, body position, and basic movement in the water.
Adult Intermediate Swimmers will focus on swim strokes, from stroke introduction to proper mechanics of all strokes.
PRIVATE SWIM LESSONS – (Ages 3 and up)
We offer a limited amount of Private (1 student :1 instructor) and Semi-Private (2 students :1 Instructor) Swim lessons are available for ages 3 years and older and for all abilities. Lessons are individually tailored to meet the needs of the swimmer(s) in the class. We do not pair together semi-private lessons. You must have both swimmers in mind when registering for a semi-private class.
Cost: (6) 30 minute private lessons or (4) 45 minute private lessons cost $210 for members and $240 for guests. (6) 30 minute semi-private lessons or (4) 45 minute semi-private lessons cost $300 for members or $330 for guests (price includes both participants).
Private swim lessons are scheduled through our website by purchasing a package of lessons and scheduling lessons directly at the time of purchase. While there is a “book later” option, we ask that you do not select that option. All lessons should be scheduled at the time of purchase to ensure lessons are delivered in a timely manner. If there are no lesson times available we are fully booked and you should try again at a later date. Packages of lessons expire one year after the date of purchase.
SWIM TEAM AND MINI MARLINS
Looking for the next level? Join our Marlins Swim Team!
For the competitive swimmer 8 and up, this team swims both YMCA and US Short Course meets during the Fall and Winter season and US Long Course in the Summer. Visit the VSY Marlins page.
Mini Marlins
The Mini Marlins is designed for children who are interested in joining the swim team but still need to learn how to swim all four strokes. Swimmers who participate in the mini marlins program will learn how to swim butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle. They will learn how to perform flip turns and starts. These are non competitive group lessons run by the swim team coaches.
Pre requisites: Swimmers must be able to swim 1 full lap without stopping(sinking) in at least 2 out of 4 strokes.
For additional information about all of our aquatic classes contact our Andrea Lendroth, Aquatic Director at alendroth@vsymca.org or 860.399.9622 x 110.