The following is a list of aquatics
programs offered by the YMCA of Greater Dayton:
Parent/Child: 6–36 months
Preschool: 3–5 years
Youth: 6
and up
Adult: 14
and up
Parent/Child
Ages 6–36 months
This program promotes water enrichment and aquatic readiness for children from six to 36 months. Parents will accompany their child in the water during this lesson and will learn ways to help their child become more comfortable in and around water.
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Preschool
Ages 3–5 years
This progressive program teaches water adjustment and basic swimming skills for children ages three to five years of age. Children will progress through four levels as they develop skills.
Pike—Beginning Swimmer
Child develops safe pool behavior, adjustment to the water, and basic paddle stroke. To progress, swimmer must be comfortable holding face in water while blowing bubbles, and must be able to float on their back.
Eel—Advanced Beginner
Child is comfortable in the water. Swimmer is taught to kick, dive, float, and paddle stroke. To progress, child must swim across the pool without assistance with their face in the water, with or without a floatation device
Ray—Intermediate I
Child can swim 15 yards independently without a floatation device.
Starfish—Intermediate II
Child improves stroke skills, builds endurance, and treads water. Child can swim on their front and back without assistance.
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Youth
Ages 6 and up
This student-centered program allows each child to progress at his or her own pace. Students are grouped by ability levels as follows:
Polliwog—Beginner
Students become acquainted with the water, floatation devices and pool. Students will learn paddle stroke, side and back paddle. To move to the next level they will need to swim across the pool without assistance with their face in the water.
Guppy—Advanced Beginner
Students are introduced to lead-up strokes: front and back crawl, sidestroke, breaststroke, and elementary backstroke. Before moving on students must swim the length of the pool without assistance.
Minnow—Intermediate I
Students further refine the lead-up strokes: front and back crawl, sidestroke, breaststroke, and elementary backstroke. To move to the next level they need to be comfortable swimming all strokes 25 yards.
Fish—Intermediate II
Students work to perform the crawl stroke, elementary backstroke, back crawl stroke, and sidestroke with turns. They are introduced to butterfly stroke as well as mask and fins. To advance, students must be able to swim all stokes 50 yards without stopping.
Flying Fish—Advanced Level I
Students work on endurance and refining their strokes, turns, and starts. To move on, students must be able to swim all strokes 100 yards.
Shark—Advanced Level II
Students can perform individual medley and additional water skills. New skills include inverted breastroke, trudgen crawl, and the overarm sidestroke.
Porpoise—Advanced Level III
Passed all levels. Advanced watermanship.
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Adult
Ages 14 and up
Instructors will work with all levels of swimmers to increase their comfort and competency in and around water.
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