Posted on: Thursday, February 8th, 2018
New YMCA Swim Lessons Curriculum
This winter, our YMCA is updating our swim lesson program, so expect to see a great new look and simpler class names. The latest evolution of Y Swim Lessons accommodates varying abilities and will foster a sense of achievement as swimmers progress between levels. Through this approach, advanced swimmers flow more easily to higher levels while swimmers who need more instruction can learn at their own pace. This results in more confident swimmers who stick with lessons and develop a love for swimming that can last a lifetime.
Our Youth Program Guide explains everything and provides a schedule for all the new classes, but here’s a quick overview. In our updated curriculum, there are three general categories of Y Swim Lessons:
SWIM STARTERS: Baby & Toddler Lessons with Parent
Accompanied by a parent, infants and toddlers learn to be comfortable in the water and develop swim readiness skills. Parents are coached to guide their child toward greater water independence while learning about the importance of supervision.
Swim Starters classes are Stages A, B, C.
SWIM BASICS: Fundamentals of Swimming
Students develop basic swimming competency and learn personal water safety. They begin by developing comfort in the water, then work on proper body position and control. While developing fundamental techniques, swimmers increase stamina for longer distance swimming.
Swim Basics classes are Stages 1, 2, 3.
SWIM STROKES: Refining Stroke Technique
Having mastered the fundamentals, swimmers build on stroke technique, including all major competitive strokes. The emphasis on water safety continues, and swimmers learn about competitive swimming and how to incorporate exercise swimming into a healthy lifestyle.
Swim Strokes classes are Stages 4, 5, 6.
Each Swim Lessons category has three stages or levels that are designed for swimmers of every age and ability.
SWIM STARTERS BABY & TODDLER LESSONS WITH PARENT
Parent/Child
6 Months – 3 Years
Accompanied by a parent, infants and toddlers learn to be comfortable in the water and develop swim readiness skills. Parents are coached to guide their child toward greater water independence while learning about the importance of supervision.
A / WATER DISCOVERY
Parents accompany children in stage A, which introduces infants and toddlers to the aquatic environment through exploration and encourages them to enjoy themselves while learning about the water.
B / WATER EXPLORATION
In stage B, parents work with their children to explore body positions, floating, blowing bubbles, and fundamental safety and aquatic skills.
C / WATER INDEPENDENCE
Parents work with their children to develop comfort in underwater exploration by learning self rescue techniques. This class is geared for children not ready to be independent from parents.
SWIM BASICS FUNDAMENTALS OF SWIMMING
Everyone
Ages 3 and up
Students develop basic swimming competency and learn personal water safety. They begin by developing comfort in the water, then work on proper body position and control. While developing fundamental techniques, swimmers increase stamina for longer distance swimming.
1 / WATER ACCLIMATION
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 for a student’s future progress in swimming.
2 / WATER MOVEMENT
In stage 2, students focus on body position and control, directional change, and forward movement in the water while also continuing to practice how to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water.
3 / WATER STAMINA
In stage 3, 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 integrated arm and leg action.
SWIM STROKES REFINING STROKE TECHNIQUE
Everyone
Ages 5 and up
Having mastered the fundamentals, swimmers build on stroke technique, including all major competitive strokes. The emphasis on water safety continues, and swimmers learn about competitive swimming and how to incorporate exercise swimming into a healthy lifestyle.
4 / STROKE INTRODUCTION
Students in stage 4 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.
5 / STROKE DEVELOPMENT
Students in stage 5 work on stroke technique and learn all major competitive strokes. The emphasis on water safety continues through treading water and sidestroke.
6 / STROKE MECHANICS
In stage 6, students refine stroke technique on all major competitive strokes, learn about competitive swimming, and discover how to incorporate swimming into a healthy lifestyle.
In the coming days, we’ll provide some helpful resources to make sure everyone in your family will know how to choose the right Swim Lesson class, and if you have any questions please stop in at your local YMCA or give us a call.
