Water Exercise Classes

To view our water exercise classes and pool hours please visit our group exercise schedule page.

Swim Lessons

Number 1 in Water Safety

The YMCA swim lesson curriculum is designed to teach this lifelong skill to children and adults of all skill levels in a safe environment. We offer swim lessons for the beginner and for those looking to improve their strokes. Adult swim lessons are for individuals ages 13 and older.

What to Expect

All YMCA swim instructors are nationally certified and are trained in CPR, AED, First Aid, and Oxygen Administration.
Small instructor-to-student ratios
A curriculum focusing on skills-based instruction with an emphasis on personal safety.
Provided take-home tools and resources to support students and families outside of the Y.
Students’ progress is tracked throughout the session and discussed with parents.
Mid-session reports are given halfway through the session and certificates of achievement are given at completion.
Variety of class offerings at many convenient Y locations.

Helpful Documents

Pool Rules

Pool Supervision & Swim Band Guidelines

Program Overview

Parent Handbook

Questions?

Contact:

Miriam Fernandez-Morales
Aquatics Director
miriamfm@ymcasatx.org

Frank Cerda
Aquatics Coordinator
frankc@ymcasatx.org

What age group does the student fall into?

Which stage is the student ready for?

Click the below tabs to see the swim lessons offered by age range information.

PARENT AND CHILD

Ages: 6 months - 3 years

With a parent in the pool, infants and toddlers learn to be comfortable in the water and develop swim-readiness skills. Parents learn about water safety and drowning prevention.

Swim Starters

In this program, infants and toddlers learn to be comfortable in the water and develop swim-readiness skills through fun and confidence-building experiences. Parents learn about water safety, drowning prevention and the importance of supervision.

The stages offered are:
(Please click on the below stages to view details and to register.)

Stage A: Water Discovery

Can the student respond to verbal cues and jump on land?

Stage A: Water Discovery

Ages: 6 month-3yrs

Qualifications: None

Infants and toddlers are introduced to the aquatic environment and encouraged to enjoy themselves while learning about the water. This class is for kids who aren’t yet able to respond to verbal cues and jump on land.

In this class, you’ll help your child:

Blow bubbles on the surface of the water
Move and float with their chin in the water
Move and float with their head on your shoulder
Roll from back to front and front to back
Grab the pool wall
Enter and exit the water

* Stages vary by Y location

You may register online or at our Welcome Center.

Stage B: Water Exploration

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

Stage B: Water Exploration

Ages: 3-5 years

Qualifications: Stage A: Water Discovery

You’ll work with your child to explore body positions, floating, blowing bubbles and fundamental safety and aquatic skills. This class is for kids who aren’t yet comfortable working with an instructor without a parent in the water.

In this class, you’ll help your child:

Blow bubbles with mouth and nose submerged in the water
Move and float while blowing bubbles in the water
Move and float with their head on your chest
Roll from back to front and front to back
Monkey crawl
Enter and exit the water

* Stages vary by Y location

You may register online or at our Welcome Center.

PRESCHOOL CHILD

Ages: 3 - 5yrs

Kids learn safe water habits, underwater exploration, how to swim to safety and exit the water. Lessons are a mix of activities, games and drills.

Swim Basics

In this program, preschoolers learn personal water safety and achieve basic swimming competency by learning two benchmark skills—swim, float, swim and jump, push, turn, grab.

The stages offered are:
(Please click on the below stages to view details and to register.)

Stage 1: Water Acclamation

Will the student go underwater voluntarily?

Stage 1: Water Acclamation

Ages: 3 - 5yrs

Qualifications: None

Preschoolers develop comfort with underwater exploration and learn to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water. This class is for kids who aren’t yet comfortable going underwater voluntarily.

In this class, your child will:

Bob to submerge in the water
Front and back glide to the wall for five feet with 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

* Stages vary by Y location

You may register online or at our Welcome Center.

Stage 2: Water Movement

Can the student do a front and back float on his or her own?

Stage 2: Water Movement

Ages: 3 - 5yrs

Qualifications: (1) able to go underwater & comfortably open eyes without goggles, (2) able to float on front & back with minimal assistance, (3) able to jump in the pool, submerge & return to the wall with assistance.

Preschoolers focus on body position and control, directional change, forward movement in the water and continue to practice how to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water. This class is for kids who aren’t yet able to do a front and back float on their own.

In this class, your child will:

Submerge to look at an object on the bottom of the pool
Front and back glide to the wall for five feet
Front and back float for 10 seconds
Roll from back to front and front to back
Jump, push, turn, grab
Swim, float, swim five yards
Tread water near the wall for 10 seconds
Exit the water

* Stages vary by Y location

You may register online or at our Welcome Center.

Stage 3: Water Stamina - Not offered at this time.

Can the student swim 10–15 yards on his or her front

Stage 3: Water Stamina

Ages: 3 - 5yrs

Qualifications: (1) able to float on front & back unassisted, (2) able to push off the wall on stomach with face submerged for 10 feet unassisted, (3) able to Swim-Float-Swim 15 feet unassisted, (4) able to jump into deep water and return to the wall unassisted.

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. This class is for kids who aren’t yet able to swim 10-15 yards on their front and back.

In this class, your child will:

Retrieve an object in chest-deep water
Swim on their 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

* Stages vary by Y location

You may register online or at our Welcome Center.

Swim Strokes

Having mastered the fundamentals, preschoolers learn additional water safety skills and build stroke technique.

The stages offered are:
(Please click on the below stages to view details and to register.)

Stage 4: Stroke Introduction - Not offered at this time.

Can the student swim 15 yards of front and back crawl?

Stage 4: Stroke Introduction

Ages: 3 - 5yrs

Qualifications: (1) able to submerge & retrieve an object in chest deep water, (2) able to swim front crawl 15 yards while taking a breath, (3) able to Swim-Float-Swim 15 yards, (4) able to jump in & tread water for 30 seconds (5) able to swim to wall & exit.

Preschoolers learn the front crawl, back crawl, breaststroke kick and butterfly kick. This class is for kids who aren’t yet able to swim 15 yards of front and back crawl.

In this class, your child will:

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

* Stages vary by Y location

You may register online or at our Welcome Center.