Swim Classes for Kids at New York City's YMCA

Q: Stage 1 Water Acclimation

Age: 5-12 years Class length: 45 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. Register

Q: Stage 2 Water Movement

Age: 5-12 years Class length: 45 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 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. Register

Q: Stage 3 Water Stamina

Age: 5-12 years Class length: 45 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 Kids 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. Register

Q: Stage 4 Stroke Introduction

Age: 5-12 years 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, kids learn additional water safety skills and build stroke technique. Register

Q: Stage 5 Stroke Development

Age: 5-12 years 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. Register

Q: Stage 6 Stroke Mechanics

Age: 5-12 years 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. Register

Q: Competitive Skills and Drills

Age: 5-17 years, varies by location Class length: 45-60 minutes, varies by location and age 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. Register

Kids from 5 to 12 can progress through six stages of classes as they learn to swim, work to refine strokes, and advance their water skills.

Spring I Programming starts February 24!
Member registration opens Saturday, February 8 and community registration opens Saturday, February 15. Session availability varies by branch location. Explore your branch offerings today and Join the Y today for early access and discounts!

Stage 1 Water Acclimation

Age: 5-12 years
Class length: 45 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

Age: 5-12 years
Class length: 45 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

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

Age: 5-12 years
Class length: 45 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

Kids 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

Age: 5-12 years
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, kids learn additional water safety skills and build stroke technique.

Stage 5 Stroke Development

Age: 5-12 years
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

Age: 5-12 years
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.

Competitive Skills and Drills

Age: 5-17 years, varies by location
Class length: 45-60 minutes, varies by location and age
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.

Not sure which level is the right fit?

Use our Swim Lesson Selector (PDF) to assess the student, or contact the Aquatics Director at your location.

Teen Swim Lessons

The YMCA of Greater New York is here for all. Financial assistance is available for swim lessons thanks to generous donor support of the Y's Annual Campaign. Learn more about how to apply.

Questions

Questions about swimming at the Y? Our branch aquatics directors are here to help you.

School Age Swim Lessons

Questions