(ages 6 months – 36 months) – The parent/child classes are designed for learning and fun for both the parents and children. Parents are given guidance on how to develop their children’s aquatic skills. Children have the chance to explore the water and build beginning swimming and water safety skills.

• Parent/Tot (6 months – 24 months) – Children are introduced to an aquatic environment and begin to learn basic water safety and swimming skills. This class is not designed to teach a child how to swim.
• Perch (24 months – 36 months) – Children begin moving more independently in the water with their parents guidance. This class will prepare them for Eel at the preschool level.

(ages 3-5) In addition to teaching stroke mechanics and water safety, our Preschool Swim Lessons cultivate self-esteem, encourage character development and offer long-term fitness benefits.

• Pike – A beginner class for children who have never been in the water or are fearful of the water. Children will work on building endurance, self-confidence and are introduced to skills that will progressively allow them to move without assistance. Students require an Instructional Floatation Device (IFD) and/or assistance from the instructor at all times.
• Eels – Students are more comfortable in the water, but are still considered a beginner. Students require the use of an IFD, but are working on coordination, confidence and endurance in the water.
• Ray – This intermediate preschool class is for swimmers who are using the Instructional Flotation Device less and less. They will improve stroke skills, personal safety and rescue skills and endurance by swimming on their front and back.
• Starfish – Our most advanced preschool class, for the swimmer who can swim across the pool on their front and back without assistance or an IFD. This class reviews and improves stroke skills on the front, back and side. Prerequisite: RAY

(ages 6 – 12) – Youth Swim Lessons consist of instruction based on The National YMCA Program. Stroke development, personal water safety, water sports, rescue and personal growth are included. During all swim lessons, participants and instructors find opportunities to learn and demonstrate the YMCA core values, (Caring, Honesty, Respect, Responsibility and Faith).

• Polliwog – This is our beginner level for those who are uncomfortable in the water or haven’t ever taken swim lessons. We teach basic water skills including floating and kicking. Swimmers in this level require help from an Instructional Flotation Device or assistance from their instructor at all times.
• Guppy – We help swimmers begin to refine their personal safety skills and strokes while they increase their endurance level. We slowly introduce deeper water so that swimmers can increase their independence.
• Minnow – Swimmers learn to perfect the front crawl and backstroke while we introduce them to the elementary backstroke and breaststroke.
• Fish – Students will work to perfect the crawl stroke, elementary backstroke, back crawl, breaststroke and sidestroke. They are introduced to the butterfly stroke.
• Flying Fish – At this advanced intermediate level, students work on refining their strokes and increasing endurance. Starts and turns are introduced.
• Shark – At this advanced level, students refine their strokes and increase their endurance, as well as add the inverted breaststroke, over arm sidestroke, individual medley and trudgen crawl.

(Ages 3+ years)
Private and Semi-Private swim lessons are for those individuals who wish to learn to swim at their own pace, or those who want to work on their technique. Classes are designed around the needs of each participant.

Stroke Clinic (Ages 6-18 Years)
Looking to keep your swimmers endurance and skills up in the off season? The Stroke Clinic is the place to be! Swimmers will improve swimming techniques in the four competitive strokes while making new friends! 

Riptides Swim Team
On the YMCA swim team, everyone is a champion. The emphasis is on having fun and doing one’s best. The team is open to all children ages 6-18. Those swimmers must be able to complete 50 yards (2 lengths of the pool) without stopping, have the ability to swim freestyle and backstroke, and complete at least an hour practice. A free trial period is available for those kids who want to try the team for a week.

 

 

Everybody plays and everybody wins in YMCA youth sports. Emphasis is placed on teamwork and good sportsmanship as participants learn the fundamentals of the sport from volunteer coaches who understand the YMCA’s youth sports philosophy.

Youth sports leagues offered include:

• All-Star Clinic
• Little Dragons
• Taekwondo
• Judo (brochure link)
• Ninjitsu( brochure link)
• T-ball (flyer link)
• Indoor Soccer (brochure link)
• Youth Tennis (brochure link)
• Volleyball (flyer link)
• Gymnastics
• Dance
• Cheer
• Tumbling