Long Island City 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!
In Person Registration/Wait List
If you would like to register for one of the programs after the registration period has ended, you will need to contact our Branch or Membership department directly or stop by the branch in person.
Join the Waitlist!
Due to popular demand, some of our classes may fill up quickly, but don't worry! You can still secure your spot by joining our waitlist. Simply visit our front desk, call our membership team at 718-392-7932, or send an email to our Aquatics Director, William Tsuda, at wtsuda@ymcanyc.org to add your name.
LIC YMCA Refund/Credit/Makeup Policy
Cancel before session starts: You'll receive an 80% refund.
Cancel during the session: Unfortunately, no refund can be issued.
Medically excused absence: With proper documentation like a doctor’s note, you'll receive a credit.
Makeup sessions: Each participant is entitled to one makeup lesson per session period.
School Age Instructional Sports & Dance
Beginner Basketball, Ages 5-12
Young kids will learn and master the basics of passing, dribbling and shooting and practice your offense and defense in fun drills and game.
Instructional Soccer, Ages 4-12
Participants will learn and master the basic soccer skills as well as a love for the sport. We will work to develop teamwork and practice offense and defense in fun drill and games.
Taekwondo, Ages 5-11
Martial Arts develops physical conditioning, mental awareness, and self-defense strategies. Participants will learn develop speed, power, focus and balance.
Advanced Soccer , Ages 6-12
Participants will build their soccer skills in this next level class. Drills and games will deepen their understanding of offense and defense while continuing to enhance the love of the sport!
Swim Lessons, Preschool
Stage A: Water Discovery, Ages 6-36 months
Stage B: Water Exploration, 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.
The class focuses on exploring body positions, blowing bubbles, and fundamental safety and aquatic skills.
Ages 6-18 months
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Ages 18-36 months
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Stage 1: Water Acclimation, Ages 3-5 with Adult
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.
Stage 1: Water Acclimation, 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.
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 comfortably 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: 30 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
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 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
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 comfortably 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
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 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: Stroke Introduction, Ages 5-12
Class length: 30 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: 30 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: 30 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
Stage 1: Water Acclimation Ages 12-17
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 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
Students develop comfort with underwater exploration and are introduced to basic self-rescue skills performed with assistance.
Stage 2: Water Movement Ages 12-17
Class length: 45 minutes
- Qualification: Student must be able to demonstrate all Stage 1 skills as follows:
○ Go underwater and comfortably 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 those 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
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
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 15 feet unassisted
○ Jump into deep water and return to the wall unassisted
○ This class is for students 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: Stroke Introduction Ages 12-17
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 15 yards
○ Jump in and tread water for 30 seconds
○ Swim to wall and exit
○ This class is for those 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 12-17
Class length: 45 minutes
- Qualification: Student must be able to demonstrate all Stage 4 skills as follows:
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
- 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:
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
- 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
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
Stage 1: Water Acclimation, Ages 18 & Up
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 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
Students develop comfort with underwater exploration and are introduced to basic self-rescue skills performed with assistance.
Stage 2: Water Movement, Ages 18 & Up
Class length: 45 minutes
• Qualification: Student must be able to demonstrate all Stage 1 skills as follows:
○ Go underwater and comfortably 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 those 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
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 18 & Up
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 15 feet unassisted
○ Jump into deep water and return to the wall unassisted
○ This class is for students 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: Stroke Introduction, Ages 18 & Up
Class length: 30 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 15 yards
○ Jump in and tread water for 30 seconds
○ Swim to wall and exit
○ This class is for those 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 18 & Up
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 those who are not able to swim 25 yards of front and back crawl.
• 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 18 & Up
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
• 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
Students refine stroke technique on the major competitive strokes, learn about competitive swimming and discover how to incorporate swimming into a healthy lifestyle.
Private Swim Lessons
A YMCA certified swim instructor could be just what you or your child needs to get comfortable in the water or achieve your swimming goals. Private lessons are designed to meet your specific needs for ages 6 months and up. Please stop by our front desk to join the waitlist.
Adult Programs
Capoeira, Ages 18 & Up
Class Length: 60 minutes
Capoeira is a Brazilian martial art disguised as a dance and performed to musical instruments and traditional Brazilian songs. It is comprised of specific offensive and defensive movements and, unlike in other martial arts, the participant is constantly in motion because of the basic movement, the ginga.