LEARN HOW TO
SWIM WITH CONFIDENCE
AT THE YMCA.
The YMCA offers swim lessons designed to help swimmers overcome fears, build confidence in the water and develop essential skills that will last a lifetime.
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Our programs are about more than just the techniques and skills. They are about nurturing swimming skills, developing self-esteem and creating positive experiences that will last a lifetime. When it comes to swimming and water safety, no one is trusted more than the YMCA.
Our curriculum focuses on a core group of water skills every person needs to be safe around water. These core skills naturally progress to competitive swim strokes. 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.
WHICH SWIM
LESSONS ARE
RIGHT FOR YOU?
Find out below
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REGISTER FOR
SWIM LESSONS
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STAGE A+B
Ages 3 - 36 months
Infants and toddlers are introduced to the aquatic environment through exploration. Parents work with their children to explore body positions, floating, blowing bubbles, and fundamental safety and aquatic skills.
Prerequisite Skills:
- None
![](https://ymcaokc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017-09-27_SWIM_3780-1024x683.jpg)
STAGE 1: WATER ACCLIMATION
Ages 3-12
Students develop comfort with underwater exploration and learn to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water. This stage lays the foundation that allows for a student’s future progress in swimming.
Prerequisite Skills:
- None
![](https://ymcaokc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017-09-27_SWIM_8189-1024x683.jpg)
STAGE 2: WATER MOVEMENT
Ages 3-12
Students focus on body position and control, directional change and forward movement in the water while continuing to practice how to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water.
Prerequisite Skills:
- Submerge face underwater
![](https://ymcaokc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017-09-27_SWIM_0495-1024x683.jpg)
STAGE 3: STAMINA
Ages 3-12
Students learn how to swim to safety from a longer distance than in previous stages in the event of falling into a body of water. This stage also introduces rhythmic breathing and integrating arm and leg action.
Prerequisite Skills:
- Submerge face underwater
- Float unassisted on front & back
![](https://ymcaokc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017-09-27_SWIM_5003-1024x683.jpg)
STAGE 4: STROKE INTRODUCTION
Ages 3-12
Students develop stroke technique in front crawl and back crawl, and learn the breaststroke kick and butterfly kick. Water safety is reinforced through treading water and elementary backstroke.
Prerequisite Skills:
- Submerge face underwater
- Float unassisted on front & back
- Swim 10-15 yards unassisted on front/back
![](https://ymcaokc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017-09-27_SWIM_6104-1024x683.jpg)
STAGE 5: STROKE DEVELOPMENT
Ages 6-12
Students work on stroke technique and learn all major competitive strokes. The emphasis on water safety continues through treading water and sidestroke.
Prerequisite Skills:
- Submerge face underwater
- Float unassisted on front & back
- Swim 10-15 yards unassisted on front/back
- Perform 10-15 yards of breaststroke & dolphin kick
![](https://ymcaokc.org/wp-content/uploads/AdobeStock_633533079-Large-1024x683.jpeg)
STAGE 6: STROKE MECHANICS
Ages 6-12
Students work on stroke technique and learn all major competitive strokes. The emphasis on water safety continues through treading water and sidestroke.
Additionally, students will learn about competitive swimming, and discover how to incorporate swimming into a healthy lifestyle.
Prerequisite Skills:
- Submerge face underwater
- Float unassisted on front & back
- Swim 15-25 yards unassisted on front/back
- Perform 10-15 yards of breaststroke & dolphin kick
![](https://ymcaokc.org/wp-content/uploads/AdobeStock_204596478-Large-1024x682.jpeg)
TEEN/ADULT SWIM LESSONS
Ages 13+
Students develop comfort with underwater exploration and learn to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water. More advanced students focus on body position and control, directional change, and forward movement in the water. Water safety is reinforced through introduction to treading and back floating.
Prerequisite Skills:
- None
![](https://ymcaokc.org/wp-content/uploads/AdobeStock_391537376-Large-1024x683.jpeg)
ADULT PRIVATE SWIM LESSONS
Ages 18+
Swim lessons in a one-on-one setting with curriculum fit to meet the swimmers individual needs. Lessons are offered at various times dependent upon your schedule, pool schedule, and instructor availability. Sessions may vary based on location. Talk with a swim instructor at the YMCA before registering for private lessons.
Prerequisite Skills:
- None