Swim Lessons

Take your child to the Y and complete a swim test and talk to your YMCA's Aquatics Team. Students can register for one of eight stages under our three swim categories depending upon their age and current swim ability.

Please utilize the swim selector below to assess your swimmers skill level. Please note private swim lessons are offered, click here to learn more.

Swim Lesson Level Finder

Not sure which swim lesson is right for your swimmer? Answer a few quick questions and we will help guide you to the best option. Our aquatics team can also help with final stage placement at your local YMCA.

How old is the swimmer?

Infant & Toddler6 to 36 months

Preschool3 to 5 years

School Age6 to 12 years

Teen & AdultTeen and Adult

Which best fits your swimmer?

Parent/Child Swim Lessons A caregiver participates in the water with the child. Lessons focus on water comfort, safety and helping parents learn how to safely support their child's development in the water.

FLOAT FLOAT provides individualized survival swim instruction for young children, teaching important skills such as turning, breathing and floating independently in the water.

Is your child comfortable working with an instructor without a parent in the water?

Comfortable Without a Parent in the Water Ready to work one-on-one with an instructor while a parent watches from outside the pool.

Needs a Parent in the Water More confident with a parent right beside them during lessons.

Can your child do a front and back float on their own?

Can Float on Their Front and Back Comfortable floating independently, without holding onto anyone or anything.

Cannot Float Independently Yet Still building the confidence and body control to float on their own.

Can your child swim 10 to 15 yards on their front/back?

Can Swim 10 to 15 Yards on Their Front/Back Swimming short distances with developing stroke technique.

Not Yet Swimming 10 to 15 Yards Still building the distance and stamina to swim that far.

Can your child swim 15 yards of front and back crawl?

Can Swim 15 Yards of Front and Back Crawl Ready to focus on refining stroke technique and building endurance.

Not Yet Swimming 15 Yards of Crawl Still developing front and back crawl technique and distance.

Can your child swim front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke across the pool?

Can Swim Front Crawl, Back Crawl and Breaststroke Across the Pool Comfortable with all three strokes over a full pool length.

Still Building Stroke Technique Working on front crawl, back crawl and/or breaststroke across the pool.

Is your child comfortable working with an instructor without a parent in the water?

Comfortable Without a Parent in the Water Ready to work one-on-one with an instructor while a parent watches from outside the pool.

Needs a Parent in the Water More confident with a parent right beside them during lessons.

Can your child do a front and back float on their own?

Can Float on Their Front and Back Comfortable floating independently, without holding onto anyone or anything.

Cannot Float Independently Yet Still building the confidence and body control to float on their own.

Can your child swim 10 to 15 yards on their front/back?

Can Swim 10 to 15 Yards on Their Front/Back Swimming short distances with developing stroke technique.

Not Yet Swimming 10 to 15 Yards Still building the distance and stamina to swim that far.

Can your child swim 15 yards of front and back crawl?

Can Swim 15 Yards of Front and Back Crawl Ready to focus on refining stroke technique and building endurance.

Not Yet Swimming 15 Yards of Crawl Still developing front and back crawl technique and distance.

Can your child swim front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke across the pool?

Can Swim Front Crawl, Back Crawl and Breaststroke Across the Pool Comfortable with all three strokes over a full pool length.

Still Building Stroke Technique Working on front crawl, back crawl and/or breaststroke across the pool.

Recommended

We recommend Preschool Swim Lessons – Stages 1–3

Your swimmer is building foundational water safety and swimming skills, including water comfort, floating, movement and stamina.

Select a YMCA to find classes near you, or choose Find a Class to view all available locations for the recommended class.

Your Selections

Swimmer—

Selected Pool—

All Y swim instructors are CPR/AED and Safety Around Water certified.

VIEW AVAILABLE LESSONS

Recommended

Inquire About Private or More Advanced Lessons

Your swimmer has mastered the foundational skills we assess here. To find the right next step — private lessons or a more advanced option — connect with our aquatics team.

Your Selections

Swimmer—

All Y swim instructors are CPR/AED and Safety Around Water certified.

REQUEST PRIVATE SWIM LESSONS

Have questions about scheduling or availability? Private lesson options vary by location. Contact your local YMCA to learn more about getting started.

Recommended

We recommend School Age Swim Lessons – Stages 1–3

Your swimmer is building foundational water safety and swimming skills, including water comfort, floating, movement and stamina.

Select a YMCA to find classes near you, or choose Find a Class to view all available locations for the recommended class.

Your Selections

Swimmer—

Selected Pool—

All Y swim instructors are CPR/AED and Safety Around Water certified.

VIEW AVAILABLE LESSONS

Recommended

We recommend School Age Swim Lessons – Stages 4–6

Your swimmer has developed foundational swimming skills and is ready to continue building stroke technique, endurance and confidence.

Select a YMCA to find classes near you, or choose Find a Class to view all available locations for the recommended class.

Your Selections

Swimmer—

Selected Pool—

All Y swim instructors are CPR/AED and Safety Around Water certified.

VIEW AVAILABLE LESSONS

Has your swimmer already mastered these skills? Additional swim team development options may be available at select YMCA locations with limited availability. Contact your local YMCA to learn more about options that can help your swimmer get swim team ready.

What type of swim lesson are you looking for?

I Prefer to Learn in a Group Setting

I Prefer One-on-One Instruction Tailored to Me

Recommended

FLOAT

FLOAT provides individualized survival swim instruction for young children, teaching important skills such as turning, breathing and floating independently in the water.

Your Selections

Swimmer—

Readiness—

All Y swim instructors are CPR/AED and Safety Around Water certified.

LEARN MORE ABOUT FLOAT

Recommended

Swim Lessons for Parent & Child 6 to 36 Months

A caregiver participates in the water with the child. Lessons focus on water comfort, safety and helping parents learn how to safely support their child's development in the water.

Select a YMCA to find classes near you, or choose Find a Class to view all available locations for the recommended class.

Your Selections

Swimmer—

Readiness—

Selected Pool—

All Y swim instructors are CPR/AED and Safety Around Water certified.

VIEW PARENT/CHILD SWIM LESSONS

Recommended

Private Swim Lessons

Individualized one-on-one instruction tailored to the swimmer's abilities and goals.

Your Selections

Swimmer—

Readiness—

All Y swim instructors are CPR/AED and Safety Around Water certified.

REQUEST PRIVATE SWIM LESSONS

Have questions about scheduling or availability? Private lesson options vary by location. Contact your local YMCA to learn more about getting started.

Recommended

Teen & Adult Group Swim Lessons

For teens and adults who want to become more comfortable in the water, learn to swim or improve their swimming skills.

Your Selections

Swimmer—

Readiness—

All Y swim instructors are CPR/AED and Safety Around Water certified.

VIEW TEEN & ADULT SWIM LESSONS

LEARN TO SWIM AT THE YMCA

Swim Lesson Level Finder

How old is the swimmer?

Which best fits your swimmer?

Is your child comfortable working with an instructor without a parent in the water?

Can your child do a front and back float on their own?

Can your child swim 10 to 15 yards on their front/back?

Can your child swim 15 yards of front and back crawl?

Can your child swim front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke across the pool?

Is your child comfortable working with an instructor without a parent in the water?

Can your child do a front and back float on their own?

Can your child swim 10 to 15 yards on their front/back?

Can your child swim 15 yards of front and back crawl?

Can your child swim front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke across the pool?

We recommend Preschool Swim Lessons – Stages 1–3

Your Selections

Inquire About Private or More Advanced Lessons

Your Selections

We recommend School Age Swim Lessons – Stages 1–3

Your Selections

We recommend School Age Swim Lessons – Stages 4–6

Your Selections

What type of swim lesson are you looking for?

FLOAT

Your Selections

Swim Lessons for Parent & Child 6 to 36 Months

Your Selections

Private Swim Lessons

Your Selections

Teen & Adult Group Swim Lessons

Your Selections