Cross Island YMCA
We're so excited to welcome you to swim lessons, instructional sports, and more.
Fall Programming is from September 4-October 29!
Member registration opens Saturday, August 12 and community registration opens Saturday, August 19. Session availability varies by branch location. Explore your branch offerings today and Join the Y today for early access and discounts!
Instructional Sports & Dance
Instructional Basketball, Ages 5-12
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.
Soccer, Ages 5-12
Soccer provides good physical conditioning that develops stamina, strength and endurance. This program will focus on all the fundamental techniques such as passing, dribbling, shooting, trapping and goal keeping skills.
Tennis, Ages 5.5-17
Quickstart tennis offers "real tennis", scaled down for children in every way – from equipment to court size. Youngsters can start playing during their first lesson, making the game available, accessible and enjoyable. Graduated sizes of racquets, lower-bouncing balls and scaled-down court sizes create a game that is customized to each child’s age and ability. Players learn to rally faster and enjoy the game sooner. Children eventually move to full-court tennis and a lifelong love of the game.
Quickstart Novice, Ages 5.5-8
Quickstart Beginner, Ages 5.5-8
Quickstart Advanced, Ages 5.5-8
Level I, Ages 9-12
Level I, Ages 13-17
Level II, Ages 9-12
Hit & Play, Ages 8-17
Tennis Tournament Training III
Tennis-Private Lessons, All Ages
Private Lessons for tennis are available.
| Length of Class | # Classes | Member Rate | Community Rate |
| 1 Hour Class | 6 | $400 | $450 |
| Half Hour Class | 6 | $250 | $275 |
Please contact the Cross Island YMCA branch at 718-551-9320 or email Byresha Waithe at bwaithe@ymcanyc.org to learn more!
Volleyball, Ages 9-17
This program will focus on the fundamental techniques of using your hands to bat the ball back and forth and skill development through drills and instruction.
Martial Arts, Ages 5.5 - Adult
Martial Arts develops physical conditioning, mental awareness, and self-defense strategies. Students will learn to develop speed, power, focus, and balance.
Beginner, Ages 5-6
Beginner, Ages 6-10
Beginner, Ages 9-17
Intermediate, Ages 12-17
All levels, Ages 18+
Dance, Ages 4-12
Ballet, Ages 4-6
Classes teach the basics of the classical ballet movement through various fundamental techniques. Children will develop flexibility, balance, coordination, and musicality through expressive art while refining elegance and grace.
Hip Hop, Ages 7-9
Participants will learn upbeat and freestyle dance moves.
Jazz, Ages 8-12
This class is based on classical jazz dance technique.
Modern/ Contemporary Dance, Ages 10-12
Participants will learn many foundations of modern dance. It focuses on spatial and body awareness, use of body weight, floor work, leaps, turns efficiency of muscle usage, and safe body alignment.
Track and Field, Ages 7-12
Speed and Strength, Ages 8-12
Arts & Education
Pre-school Prep, Ages 2.5-4
This is a pre-nursery school class for three-year-olds with lots of hands-on activities and gradual separation from parent or caregiver, designed to prepare your child in a nurturing and safe environment for an easier transition to preschool. Activities include art, story time, literacy development, free play, and movement. Caregiver participation is required at first, with a gradual phase-out based on each child’s readiness level. All programs will be modified to allow for additional safety precautions including ensuring social distancing as appropriate.
Art & Play, Ages 3-5
This class covers five essential art areas: collage, painting, drawing, printmaking, and construction. The children experience the art materials at their own pace. Our philosophy is that the process, not the finished product, is important when tapping into the child’s creative spirit.
Ready, Set, Science, Ages 3-5
Participants will practice following step-by-step instructions, making observations, and expressing outcomes in this science-based enrichment program. Staff will lead participants through step-by-step exploration activities utilizing various mediums such as sand, water, and oil. Parent participation is recommended for the entire session.
Recipe for Fun, Ages 3-5
A delicious class where participants learn to stir, mix, mash, beat, measure, and season then taste the results of their efforts. Families will create a cookbook full of healthy recipes and snacks to take home at the end of the session.
Painting & Me, Ages 5-7
No drawing skills needed! The hardest part is picking up the brush! This class uses acrylic paint on paper and encourages participants to finish projects at their individual speed.
Swim Lessons, Parent and Child
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.
Water Acclimation and Movement with Parent, Ages 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 no 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.
Swim Lessons, School Age
Stage 1 & 2, Ages 5-8
In Stage 1 students develop comfort with underwater exploration and are introduced to basic self-rescue skills performed with assistance.
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 water.
Stage 1 & 2, Ages 8-12
Students develop comfort with underwater exploration and are introduced to basic self-rescue skills performed with assistance. They also 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 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
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: Swim Strokes, 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 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, students 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.
Aquatics Conditioning, Ages 6-14
Student must have successfully completed stage 6. The program focuses on continuing to build endurance and stroke technique on all major competitive strokes and encourages swimming as a part of a healthy lifestyle.
Swim Lessons, Teens
Stages 1 & 2, Ages 11-17
Students develop comfort with underwater exploration and are introduced to basic self-rescue skills performed with assistance. They also 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.
Stages 3 & 4, Ages 11-17
In Stage 3, 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. In Stage 4, having mastered the fundamentals, students learn additional water safety skills and build stroke technique.
Stages 5 & 6, Ages 11-17
In Stage 5, students work on stroke technique and learn all major competitive swimming strokes. In Stage 6, 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, Adults
Stages 1 & 2, Ages 17+
Students develop comfort with underwater exploration and are introduced to basic self-rescue skills performed with assistance. They also 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.
Stages 3 & 4, Ages 17+
In Stage 3, 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. In Stage 4, having mastered the fundamentals, students learn additional water safety skills and build stroke technique.
Stages 5 & 6, Ages 17+
In Stage 5, students work on stroke technique and learn all major competitive swimming strokes. In Stage 6, students refine stroke technique on the major competitive strokes, learn about competitive swimming and discover how to incorporate swimming into a healthy lifestyle.
Safety Around Water
Swim Lessons for Martin Van Buren HS Students
A free YUSA funded Swim Lessons program for Martin Van Buren High School students.
Swim lessons help youth become more comfortable in the water, and teaches them to float and safely operate in the water while encouraging a lifelong love of the water.