School Age (7-13) Swim Lessons
This youth program teaches water adjustment and basic swimming skills for children 1st grade through 12 years. Children will progress through 3 levels in a student-centered program, allowing each child to progress at their own pace. Students are grouped by ability.
Descriptions of School-Age Swim Lesson Classes
This swim class focuses on water acclimation and is for the beginner school-age swimmer. In this class, swimmers learn all aspects of water safety, appropriate class behavior, listening skills, and independence in the pool. To advance to the next stage, children must master the following swim skills: bobs; proper water exit; jump-push-turn-grab (jump into water over their head, push off the bottom, turn, and grab the side of the pool); float on front and back for 10 seconds; and swim-float-swim for 10 feet without a floatation device.
This swim class focuses on water movement and is for the school age swimmer who has advanced out of school-age stage 1 swim lessons or has completed a swim evaluation. Participants learn forward movement in the water and basic water self-rescue skills. Swimmers increase their endurance and distance and learn the skill of treading water. To advance to the next swim level, children must master the following swim skills and demonstrate them without any assistance: jump-push-turn-grab (jump into water over their head, push off the bottom, turn, and grab the side of the pool); front and back float for 20 seconds; swim-float-swim for 5 yards; front and back glide for 10 feet; and tread water for 10 seconds.
This swim class focuses on stamina in the water and is for the school age swimmer who has advanced out of school-age stage 2 swim lessons or has completed a swim evaluation. Swimmers develop intermediate water self-rescue skills and increase their endurance and distance while mastering freestyle and backstroke. To advance to the next swim level, children must master the following swim skills: retrieve an object off the bottom of the pool; swim-float-swim for 25 yards; jump-swim-turn-swim for 10 yards; tread water for 1 minute; and swim freestyle and backstroke for 15 yards each.
This swim class provides swim stroke introductions and is for the school age swimmer who has advanced out of school-age stage 3 swim lessons or has completed a swim evaluation. Swimmers are introduced to breaststroke, butterfly, and elementary backstroke. This swim lesson reinforces endurance and water safety through treading water and the introduction of elementary backstroke. To advance to the next swim level, children must master the following swim skills: tread water using two different strokes for 1 minute; swim using freestyle with rhythmic breathing, backstroke, elementary backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly for 15 yards each; and demonstrate that they can swim any combination of strokes for 25 yards.
This swim class provides swim stroke development and is for the school age swimmer who has advanced out of school-age stage 4 swim lessons or has completed a swim evaluation. In this class swimmers are refining freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and elementary backstroke. To advance to the next swim level, children must master the following swim skills: tread water using two different kicks for 2 minutes; swim breaststroke and butterfly for 25 yards each; and swim for 50 yards with any combination of swim strokes.
This swim class is for the school age swimmer who has advanced out of school-age stage 5 lessons or has completed a swim evaluation. This class refines stroke techniques on all the major competitive strokes and encourages swimming as part of a healthy lifestyle. Students are introduced to flip and open turns. To successfully complete the School Age Lessons Program, children must master the following swim skills: tread water for 2 minutes; swim freestyle, backstroke, or elementary backstroke 100 yards; swim breaststroke and butterfly for 50 yards each; and swim continuously any combination of strokes for 150 yards. After completion of this course, swimmers are invited to explore our other aquatic programs to further their swimming careers.
Why School Age Swim Lessons are Important at Any Age
Swimming is one of the most critical skills for school-age children to learn with professional lessons. So when you decide to enroll your child in swim lessons, you’re making a conscious decision to:
If your child falls into the water or a friend pushes them into the water at a party, and they don’t know how to swim, the result could be dangerous. Swim lessons increase your child’s safety, teaching them to survive in the water and have more confidence whenever they are around water.
Enrolling your children in swim lessons allows you to take your family to pool parties, the ocean, lakes – any body of water and feel better about their safety. In addition, swimming lessons can open the door to new opportunities to have fun that weren’t possible before your children learned how to swim.
Preparing for Lessons
Personal items can be stored in the locker rooms; bring your own lock and leave your valuables at home.
Come to class dressed and ready for the pool in a family-appropriate and clean swimsuit. Swimsuits are required for all class and lesson participants. Please bring a towel to class.
- Swim diapers are required for children who are not yet pottytrained.
- Goggles are permitted and preferred in the pool; masks and snorkels are not, unless otherwise noted.
- Participants should use the restroom before class; staff are not permitted to take students to the restroom.
If you or your child has a fear of water or has had a bad experience with water, arrive at your class or lesson early to inform the instructor. Please let the instructor know of any information you think will help your child succeed.
- Parents of children age six and under must remain in the pool area with their children during lessons.
The pool might be available to Y members before or after lessons for open swim; check the pool schedules online for the most current information.
When you join the Y, you’re not only joining an amazing organization that strengthens our community, but you’re also becoming part of a community of people dedicated to improving their health and well-being.
Contact us
Still have questions
1699 Deerfield Road, Lebanon, OH 45036
Email: karla.roberds@ymcastaff.org
Phone: 513-932-1424 ext 243
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