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: 
Crystal Cantu
Aquatics Director
crystalc@ymcasatx.org
(210) 433-6391
WHAT AGE GROUP DOES THE STUDENT FALL INTO?
WHICH STAGE IS THE STUDENT READY FOR?
(Click the below tabs to view information on the swim lessons offered by age range.)
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:
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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:
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Blow bubbles on the surface of the water
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Move and float with their chin in the water
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Move and float with their head on your shoulder
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Roll from back to front and front to back
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Grab the pool wall
-
Enter and exit the water
* Stages vary by Y location
You may register online or at our Welcome Center.
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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:
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Blow bubbles with mouth and nose submerged in the water
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Move and float while blowing bubbles in the water
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Move and float with their head on your chest
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Roll from back to front and front to back
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Monkey crawl
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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:
|
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
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Front and back glide to the wall for five feet with help
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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.
|
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.
|
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:
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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:
|
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:
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Swim the front crawl with rotary breathing for 15 yards
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Breaststroke kick for 15 yards
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Butterfly kick for 15 yards
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Elementary backstroke for 15 yards
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Dive from a sitting position
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Tread water using a scissor and whip kick for one minute
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Swim any combination of strokes for 25 yards
* Stages vary by Y location
Currently, we do NOT offer Stage 4 Stroke Introduction swim lessons.
Please click below to see offerings from the Davis-Scott Family YMCA.
You may register online or at our Welcome Center.
School-Age Child
Ages: 5 -12 years
Starting with water safety and basic swimming competency, kids progress to learn about the four competitive swimming strokes.
Swim Basics
In this program, school-age kids 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:
|
Will the student go underwater voluntarily? |
|
Stage 1: Water Acclamation
Ages: 5 - 12 yrs
Qualifications: None
Kids 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.
|
Can the student do a front and back float on his or her own? |
|
Stage 2: Water Movement
Ages: 5 - 12 yrs
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.
Kids 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 10 feet
-
Front and back float for 20 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.
|
Can the student swim 10–15 yards on his or her front |
|
Stage 3: Water Stamina
Ages: 5 - 12 yrs
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.
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. 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 15 yards
-
Roll from back to front and front to back
-
Jump, push, turn, grab 10 yards
-
Swim, float, swim 25 yards
-
Tread water for one minute
-
Exit the water
* Stages vary by Y location
You may register online or at our Welcome Center.
Swim Strokes
Having mastered the fundamentals, school-age kids learn additional water safety skills and build stroke technique.
|
Can the student swim 15 yards of front and back crawl? |
|
Stage 4: Stroke Introduction
Ages: 5 - 12 yrs
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.
Kids 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
Currently not offered at the Westside Y. Please view offerings at Davis-Scott Y by clicking the button below.
You may register online or at our Welcome Center.
|
Can the student swim front crawl, back crawl, & breaststroke across the pool? |
 |
Stage 5: Stroke Development
Ages: 5 - 12 yrs
Qualifications: (1) able to front crawl & back crawl 25 yards, (2) able to swim breaststroke kick and dolphin kick 15 yards (3) able to tread water using multiple kicks for 1 minute.
Kids work on stroke technique and learn the major competitive strokes. This class is for kids who aren’t yet able to swim the front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke across the pool.
In this class, your child will:
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Swim the front crawl with bent-arm recovery for 25 yards
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Breaststroke for 25 yards
-
Butterfly with simultaneous arm action and kick for 15 yards
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Back crawl for 25 yards
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Sidestroke for 25 yards
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Dive from a kneeling position
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Tread water using a scissor and whip kick for two minutes
-
Swim any combination of strokes for 50 yards
* Stages vary by Y location
You may register online or at our Welcome Center.
|
Can the student swim front crawl, back crawl, and breaststroke across the pool and back? |
 |
Stage 6: Stroke Mechanics
Ages: 5 - 12 yrs
Qualifications: (1) able to swim front crawl with bent arm recovery & rotary breathing for 25 yards, (2) able to swim back crawl with stroke rotation for 25 yards, (3) able to swim butterfly with over arm recovery, (4) able to swim breaststroke for 25 yards achieving stroke rhythm, (5) able to dive from kneeling position.
Kids refine stroke technique on the major competitive strokes, learn about competitive swimming and discover how to incorporate swimming into a healthy lifestyle. This class is for kids who aren’t yet able to swim the front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke across the pool and back.
In this class, your child will:
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Swim the front crawl for 50 yards and do a flip turn
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Breaststroke for 50 yards and do an open turn
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Butterfly for 25 yards
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Back crawl for 25 yards and do a flip turn
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Sidestroke or elementary backstroke for 50 yards
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Dive from a standing position
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Tread water for one minute and retrieve an object from the bottom of the pool
-
Swim any combination of strokes for 150 yards
* Stages vary by Y location
Currently, the Westside Family YMCA does not offer Stage 6 Swim Lessons for School-Aged Children.
Click below to view other YMCAs near you that DO offer Stage 6 Swim Lessons for School-Aged Children.
You may register online or at our Welcome Center.
Adult Swim Lessons
The YMCA Swim Lesson Curriculum is a core group of aquatic skills every person needs to be safe around water. As the foundation of our program, these skills allow students to learn correct swim stroke techniques. Students begin with and build upon skills they are ready to learn, helping them to celebrate their successes, build self-confidence, and enjoy learning to swim and water safety.
Teens & Adults
Ages: 13 +
Teens and adults can begin with water safety and continue on to learn and refine skills in the four competitive swimming strokes.
You may register online or at our Welcome Center.
PRIVATE SWIM LESSONS
All beginner swimmers and any swimmer under 6 years old, must have a parent or guardian accompany the child into the water and assist with hands-on skill practice. Swim Instructors will maintain 6ft of social distance, teaching the majority of the lesson from outside of the water and refrain from any hands-on contact, unless responding to an emergency situation.
Private Swim Lessons for ages 3 and up allow for individualized attention to help improve or master swimming skills. Together, the instructor, participant, and/or parent determine the goals for the session, and the curriculum is customized in order to meet these goals.
Cost: Y Member: $130 | Non-Member: $150
Lessons: held twice a week for two weeks (Session includes 4, 45 min lessons)
All beginner swimmers and any swimmer under 6 years old, must have a parent or guardian accompany the child into the water and assist with hands-on skill practice. Swim Instructors will maintain 6ft of social distance, teaching the majority of the lesson from outside of the water and refrain from any hands-on contact, unless responding to an emergency situation.
To register for private swim lessons please visit the Y Welcome Center (Front Desk)
Private lessons vary, please contact:
Janice Becerra Sanchez
Senior Program Director
Janices@ymcasatx.org
(210) 433-6391