Coney Island YMCA
We're so excited to welcome you to swim lessons, instructional sports, and more.
Fall II Programming starts October 28!
Member registration opens Saturday, October 12 and community registration opens Saturday, October 19. Session availability varies by branch location. Explore your branch offerings today and Join the Y today for early access and discounts!
Summer Camp
The Coney Island YMCA is thrilled to run in-person summer camp in 2022! Through our day camps and specialty camps, parents can trust the Y to give their kids a fun, enriching, and high-quality camp experience this summer — out of the house and off screens.
Early Childhood Programs
Free Universal Pre-K programs
Build strong kids, strong families, and strong communities through our Universal Pre-K and our 3-K programs, free for NYC residents!
Instructional Sports
Basketball for Beginners, Ages 5-12
Learn and master the basics of passing, dribbling and shooting and practice your offense and defense in fun scrimmages.
Intermediate Basketball, Ages 9-12
Kids learn to love the sport of basketball through age-appropriate drills, exercises while developing teamwork and sportsmanship. All programs will be modified to allow for additional safety precautions including ensuring social distancing as appropriate.
Beginners & Intermediate Gymnastics, Ages 5-12
Children will learn to improve their balance, develop strength, flexibility, agility, body posture and coordination in safe learning environment. Classes especially focuses on tumbling.
Swim Lessons, Parent and Child
Check out our Frequently Asked Pool Questions
Stage A: Water Discovery with Parent, Ages 6-36 months
- Class length: 30 minutes
- Qualification: None needed
- Adult participation: one parent or guardian per child must be in the pool for each lesson
The class introduces infants and toddlers to the aquatic environment through exploration.
Stage B: Water Exploration with Parent, Ages 6-36 months
- 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
Focuses on exploring body positions, blowing bubbles, and fundamental safety and aquatic skills.
Swim Lessons, Preschool
Important Swim Note: All new swim class participants wishing to register for levels higher than Stage 1, and students that have missed 2+ program sessions of classes, are required to have a swim evaluation prior to registering for class. Please email Oytun Tangul, Aquatics Director, at to schedule an appointment.
Stage 1: Water Acclimation, Age 3-5
- 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 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
Preschoolers develop comfort with underwater exploration and are introduced to basic self-rescue skills performed with assistance.
Stage 2: Water Movement, Ages 3-5
- Class length: 30 minutes
- Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 1 skills as follows:
○ Go underwater and comfortable open eyes without goggles
○ Float on front and back with minimal assistance
○ Jump into the pool, submerge, and return to the wall with assistance
○ This class is for kids who are not able to do a front and back float on their own. - 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
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.
Stage 3: Water Stamina, Ages 3-5
- Class length: 30 minutes
- Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 2 skills as follows:
○ Float on front and back unassisted
○ Push off the wall on stomach with face submerged for 10 feet unassisted
○ Swim, float, swim 15 feet unassisted
○ Jump into deep water and return to the wall unassisted
○ This class is for kids who are not able to swim 10-15 yards on their front and back. - 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
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.
Stage 4: Stroke Introduction, Ages 3-5
- Class length: 45 minutes
- Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 3 skills as follows:
○ Submerge and retrieve an object in chest-deep water
○ Swim front crawl 15 yards while taking a breath
○ Swim, float, swim 15 yards
○ Jump in and tread water for 30 seconds
○ Swim to wall and exit
○ This class is for kids who are not able to swim 15 yards of front and back crawl. - 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
Having mastered the fundamentals, preschoolers learn additional water safety skills and build stroke technique.
Swim Lessons, School Age
Important Swim Note: All new swim class participants wishing to register for levels higher than Stage 1, and students that have missed 2+ program sessions of classes, are required to have a swim evaluation prior to registering for class. Please email Oytun Tangul, Aquatics Director, at to schedule an appointment.
Stage 1: Water Acclimation, Ages 5-12
- 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 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
Kids develop comfort with underwater exploration and are introduced to basic self-rescue skills performed with assistance.
Stage 2: Water Movement, Ages 5-12
- Class length: 30 minutes
- Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 1 skills as follows:
○ Go underwater and comfortable open eyes without goggles
○ Float on front and back with minimal assistance
○ Jump into the pool, submerge, and return to the wall with assistance
○ This class is for kids who are not able to do a front and back float on their own. - Skills Practiced:
○ Submerge to look at an object on the bottom of the pool
○ Front and back glide to the wall for 10 feet
○ Front and back float for 20 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
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.
Stage 3: Water Stamina, Ages 5-12
- Class length: 30 minutes
- Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 2 skills as follows:
○ Float on front and back unassisted
○ Push off the wall on stomach with face submerged for 10 feet unassisted
○ Swim, float, swim 5 yards unassisted
○ Jump into deep water and return to the wall unassisted
○ This class is for kids who are not able to swim 15 yards on their front and back. - Skills Practiced:
○ Retrieve an object in chest-deep water
○ Swim on front and back for 15 yards
○ Roll from back to front and front to back
○ Jump, push, turn, swim, grab 10 yards
○ Swim, float, swim 25 yards
○ Tread water for 1 minute
○ Exit the water
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.
Stage 4: Stroke Introduction, Ages 5-12
- Class length: 45 minutes
- Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 3 skills as follows:
○ Submerge and retrieve an object in chest-deep water
○ Swim front crawl 15 yards while taking a breath
○ Swim, float, swim 25 yards
○ Jump in and tread water for 1 minute
○ Swim to wall and exit
○ This class is for kids who are not able to swim 25 yards of front and back crawl. - 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
Having mastered the fundamentals, preschoolers learn additional water safety skills and build stroke technique.
Stage 5: Stroke Development, Ages 5-12
- Class length: 45 minutes
- Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 4 skills as follows:
○ Front crawl and back crawl 25 yards
○ Swim breaststroke kick and dolphin kick 15 yards
○ Tread water using multiple kicks for 1 minute
○ This class is for kids who are not able swim the front crawl, back crawl, and breaststroke across the pool. - 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
Students work on stroke technique and learn all major competitive swimming strokes.
Stage 6: Stroke Mechanics, Ages 5-12
- Class length: 45 minutes
- Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 5 skills as follows:
○ Swim the front crawl with bent-arm recovery for 25 yards
○ Swim back crawl with stroke rotation for 25 yards
○ Swim butterfly with over arm recovery
○ Swim breaststroke for 25 yards achieving stroke rhythm
○ Dive from kneeling position
○ This class is for kids who are not able swim the front crawl, back crawl, and breaststroke across the pool and back. - 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
Students refine stroke technique on the major competitive strokes, learn about competitive swimming and discover how to incorporate swimming into a healthy lifestyle.
Swim Lessons, Teens & Adults
Important Swim Note: All new swim class participants wishing to register for levels higher than Stage 1, and students that have missed 2+ program sessions of classes, are required to have a swim evaluation prior to registering for class. Please email Oytun Tangul, Aquatics Director, at to schedule an appointment.
Stage 1: Water Acclimation, Ages 12-17 & 18+
- Class length: 45 minutes
- 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 help
○ Front and back float for 20 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
Students develop comfort with underwater exploration and are introduced to basic self-rescue skills performed with assistance.
Stage 2: Water Movement, Ages 12-17 & 18+
- Class length: 45 minutes
- Qualification: Student must be able to demonstrate all Stage 1 skills as follows:
○ Go underwater and comfortable open eyes without goggles
○ Float on front and back with minimal assistance
○ Jump into the pool, submerge, and return to the wall with assistance
○ This class is for kids who are not able to do a front and back float on their own. - Skills Practiced:
○ Submerge to look at an object on the bottom of the pool
○ Front and back glide to the wall for 10 feet
○ Front and back float for 20 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
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.
Stage 3: Water Stamina, Ages 12-17 & 18+
- Class length: 45 minutes
- Qualification: Student must be able to demonstrate all Stage 2 skills as follows:
○ Float on front and back unassisted
○ Push off the wall on stomach with face submerged for 10 feet unassisted
○ Swim, float, swim 5 yards unassisted
○ Jump into deep water and return to the wall unassisted
○ This class is for kids who are not able to swim 15 yards on their front and back. - Skills Practiced:
○ Retrieve an object in chest-deep water
○ Swim on front and back for 15 yards
○ Roll from back to front and front to back
○ Jump, push, turn, swim, grab 10 yards
○ Swim, float, swim 25 yards
○ Tread water for 1 minute
○ Exit the water
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.
Stage 4: Stroke Introduction, Ages 12-17 & 18+
- Class length: 45 minutes
- Qualification: Student must be able to demonstrate all Stage 3 skills as follows:
○ Submerge and retrieve an object in chest-deep water
○ Swim front crawl 15 yards while taking a breath
○ Swim, float, swim 25 yards
○ Jump in and tread water for 1 minute
○ Swim to wall and exit
○ This class is for kids who are not able to swim 25 yards of front and back crawl. - 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
Having mastered the fundamentals, student learn additional water safety skills and build stroke technique.
Stage 5: Stroke Development, Ages 12-17
- Class length: 45 minutes
- Qualification: Student must be able to demonstrate all Stage 4 skills as follows:
○ Front crawl and back crawl 25 yards
○ Swim breaststroke kick and dolphin kick 15 yards
○ Tread water using multiple kicks for 1 minute
○ This class is for kids who are not able swim the front crawl, back crawl, and breaststroke across the pool. - 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
Students work on stroke technique and learn all major competitive swimming strokes.
Stage 6: Stroke Mechanics, Ages 12-17
- Class length: 45 minutes
- Qualification: Student must be able to demonstrate all Stage 5 skills as follows:
○ Swim the front crawl with bent-arm recovery for 25 yards
○ Swim back crawl with stroke rotation for 25 yards
○ Swim butterfly with over arm recovery
○ Swim breaststroke for 25 yards achieving stroke rhythm
○ Dive from kneeling position
○ This class is for kids who are not able swim the front crawl, back crawl, and breaststroke across the pool and back. - 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
Students refine stroke technique on the major competitive strokes, learn about competitive swimming and discover how to incorporate swimming into a healthy lifestyle.
Aquatics Conditioning
Important Swim Note: All new swim class participants wishing to register for levels higher than Stage 1, and students that have missed 2+ program sessions of classes, are required to have a swim evaluation prior to registering for class. Please email Oytun Tangul, Aquatics Director, at to schedule an appointment.
Aquatics Conditioning, Ages 8-17
- Class length: 45 minutes
- Qualification: Student must be able to demonstrate all Stage 6 skills as follows:
○ 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 - Skills Practiced:
○ Swim any combination of strokes for more than 150 yards
○ Refining technique for all strokes
○ Water polo
○ Starts and flip turns
○ Dives
Swimmers build strength and endurance while refining technique and getting ready for competitive swim team. We work on self-confidence, goal setting, and team building during aquatic activities such as conditional swimming and water polo.
Private Swim Lessons
Private Swim Lessons, All Ages
Work one-on-one with a YMCA certified instructor to meet your swimming goals.
Contact our branch aquatics supervisor for more information!