Now registering for Summer 2025 Swim Lessons. |
Water Exercise Classes
To view our water exercise classes and pool hours please visit our group exercise schedule page.
Swim Lessons & Swim Club
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?
Please contact
Joshua Kelly
Senior Aquatics Director
joshuak@ymcasatx.org
WHAT AGE GROUP DOES THE STUDENT FALL INTO?
WHICH STAGE IS THE STUDENT READY FOR?
Click the below tabs to see what is 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:
(Please click on the below stages to view details and to register.)
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Can the student respond to verbal cues and jump on land? |
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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
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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? |
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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.
Parent required in water for all Pre- School Stages (1-4)
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.)
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Will the student go underwater voluntarily? |
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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:
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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
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Roll from back to front and front to back with help
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Jump, push, turn, grab with help
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Swim, float, swim 10 feet with help
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Exit the water
* Stages vary by Y location
You may register online or at our Welcome Center.
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Can the student do a front and back float on his or her own? |
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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:
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Submerge to look at an object on the bottom of the pool
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Front and back glide to the wall for five feet
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Front and back float for 10 seconds
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Roll from back to front and front to back
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Jump, push, turn, grab
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Swim, float, swim five yards
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Tread water near the wall for 10 seconds
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Exit the water
* Stages vary by Y location
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.
All school-age stages 1-3 require a parent/guardian to be in the water, assisting their child with hands-on skills for the duration of the lesson.
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:
(Please click on the below stages to view details and to register.)
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Will the student go underwater voluntarily? |
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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:
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Bob to submerge in the water
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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
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Swim, float, swim 10 feet with help
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Exit the water
* Stages vary by Y location
You may register online or at our Welcome Center.
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Can the student do a front and back float on his or her own? |
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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
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Swim, float, swim five yards
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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.
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) or click the link below.
For questions, please contact:
Josh Sandoval
Executive Director
joshsa@ymcasatx.org
Sharks Swim Club
Sharks Swim Club (Ages 7 years - 15 years): Becoming a member of a YMCA Sharks Swim Club means fun, fitness and teamwork. YMCA Shark Clubs are run by trained coaches and are designed to improve a child’s swimming skills, endurance, and racing techniques. This is a fun, semi-competitive environment designed as the next step after swim lessons.
Qualifications: Ability to swim Freestyle, Backstroke, and breaststroke 25yrds without stopping