The YMCA of Greater Dayton offers swim lessons for all ages and capabilities all year long!

The Y strives to help all ages learn how to swim, so they can stay safe around water and learn the skills needed to make swimming a lifelong pursuit for healthy living. We're proud to offer a variety of swim lessons for people of all ages and abilities, both in group and private settings. We also offer Lifeguard certification courses at many of our locations. Click on a button below to view descriptions of classes in that category.


Guide to Swim Placement

How Old Is Your Child?

  

 

What age group is your child?

 

We recommend you register for STAGE A (Parent/Child Swim Lessons)

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We recommend you register for STAGE B (Parent/Child Swim Lessons)

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Will your child go under water?

Can your child swim 5 feet on their stomach with their face in the water?

 

Can your child do a front and back float on their own?

Can your child swim 15 feet on their stomach with their face in the water?

 

Can your child swim 15 yards on his/her front and back?

 

Can your child swim 25 yards of back crawl and front crawl?

Can your child tread water for 1 minute?

 

Can your child swim 25 yards of front crawl and back crawl with proper technique?

Can your child swim breaststroke and butterfly 15 yards

 

Can your child swim 50 yards of all competitive swim strokes?

 

We recommend you register for Water Acclimation (Preschool Swim Lessons) for children develop safe water habits and adjust to being in the water.

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We recommend you register for Water Movement (Preschool Swim Lessons) for children develop skills to propel themselves in water, rest, and safely exit the pool.

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We recommend you register for Water Stamina (Preschool Swim Lessons) for children practice water safety skills that focus on swimming distances.

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We recommend you register for Strok Introduction (Preschool Swim Lessons) for children practice skills to build stamina while learning strokes.

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We recommend you register for Stroke Introduction (Preschool Swim Lessons) for children practice skills to build stamina while learning strokes.

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We recommend you register for Stroke Development (Preschool Swim Lessons) for children continue building stroke technique and stamina.

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We recommend you register for the Stroke Mechanics (Preschool) for children refine their strokes and learn about swimming as a healthy lifestyle.

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We recommend you register for the Swim Team (Preschool). Contact your Aquatics Director for swim team information.

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Will your child go under water?

Can your child swim 5 feet on their stomach with their face in the water?

 

Can your child do a front and back float on their own?

Can your child swim 15 feet on their stomach with their face in the water?

 

Can your child swim 15 yards on his/her front and back?

 

Can your child swim 25 yards of back crawl and front crawl?

Can your child tread water for 1 minute?

 

Can your child swim 25 yards of front crawl and back crawl with proper technique?

Can your child swim breaststroke and butterfly 15 yards

 

Can your child swim 50 yards of all competitive swim strokes?

 

We recommend you register for Water Acclimation (Youth Swim Lessons) for children develop safe water habits and adjust to being in the water.

REGISTER NOW

We recommend you register for Water Movement (Youth Swim Lessons) for children develop skills to propel themselves in water, rest, and safely exit the pool.

REGISTER NOW

We recommend you register for Water Stamina (Youth Swim Lessons) for children practice water safety skills that focus on swimming distances.

REGISTER NOW

We recommend you register for Stroke Introduction (Youth Swim Lessons) for children practice skills to build stamina while learning strokes.

REGISTER NOW

We recommend you register for Stroke Introduction (Youth Swim Lessons) for children practice skills to build stamina while learning strokes.

REGISTER NOW

We recommend you register for Stroke Development (Youth Swim Lessons) for children continue building stroke technique and stamina.

REGISTER NOW

We recommend you register for the Stroke Mechanics (Youth Swim Lessons) for children refine their strokes and learn about swimming as a healthy lifestyle.

REGISTER NOW

We recommend you register for the Swim Team (Youth). Contact your Aquatics Director for swim team information.

REGISTER NOW

 

 

Parent/Child Swim Lessons: 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 the lessons and will learn ways to help their child become more comfortable in and around water.

 

Stage A: Water Discovery 

Introduces infants and toddlers to the aquatic environment. A parent or guardian at least 16 years of age must be in the water.

Class Ratio: 1 Instructor: 10 Parent/Child Pairs

 

Stage B: Water Exploration

Focuses on exploring body positions, blowing bubbles, and fundamental safety and aquatic skills. A parent or guardian at least 16 years of age must be in the water. Children MUST pass Level A: Water Discovery to register for this class. 

Class Ratio: 1 Instructor: 10 Parent/Child Pairs

 


Preschool Swim Lessons: 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 three levels as they develop skills.

 

Stage A: Water Acclimation 

Increases comfort with underwater exploration and introduces basic self-rescue skills performed with assistance. Skills introduced: Bobs, front and back float, jump, push, turn, and grab, and swim float swim.

Class Ratio: 1 Instructor: 5 students


Stage B: Water Movement 

Encourages forward movement in water and basic self-rescue skills performed independently.  Participants must successfully demonstrate all Level 1 skills prior to moving to Level 2. New Skills introduced: Submerging to look at an object and treading water.  

Class Ratio: 1 Instructor: 5 students


Stage 3: Water Stamina 

Develops intermediate self-rescue skills performed at longer distances than previous stages.  Participants must successfully demonstrate all Level 2 skills prior to moving to Level 3.  New Skills Introduced: swim on front, swim on back, submerge and retrieve and object.

Class Ratio: 1 Instructor: 5 students


Stage 4: Stroke Introduction 

Introduces basic stroke technique in front crawl and back crawl, nd reinforces  water safety through treading water and elementary backstroke.  Participants must successfully complete Level 3 prior to advancing to level 4.  New skills introduced are swimming 25 yards of each stroke, rotary breathing, diving, breaststroke, resting strokes, and butterfly.

Class Ratio: 1 Instructor: 5 students

 


Youth Swim Lessons: 6 - 12 years

This student-centered program allows each child to progress at his or her own pace. Students are grouped by ability levels as follows:

 

Stage 1: Water Acclimation  

Increases comfort with underwater exploration and introduces basic self-rescue skills performed with assistance. Skills introduced: Bobs, front and back float, jump, push, turn, and grab, and swim float swim.

Class Ratio: 1 Instructor:  6 students


Stage 2: Water Movement

Encourages forward movement in water and basic self-rescue skills performed independently.  Participants must successfully demonstrate all Level 1 skills prior to moving to Level 2. New Skills introduced: Submerging to look at an object and treading water.

Class Ratio: 1 Instructor: 6 students


Stage 3: Water Stamina

Develops intermediate self-rescue skills performed at longer distances than previous stages.  Participants must successfully demonstrate all Level 2 skills prior to moving to Level 3.  New Skills Introduced: swim on front, swim on back, submerge and retrieve and object.

Class Ratio: 1 Instructor: 6 students


Stage 4: Stroke Introduction 

Introduces basic stroke technique in front crawl and back crawl, and reinforces water safety through treading water and elementary backstroke.  Participants must successfully complete Level 3 prior to advancing to level 4.  New skills introduced are swimming 25 yards of each stroke, rotary breathing, diving, breaststroke, resting strokes, and butterfly.

Class Ratio: 1 Instructor: 6 students


Stage 5: Stroke Development

Introduces breaststroke and butterfly, and reinforces water safety through treading water and sidestroke. Participants must successfully complete Level 4 prior to enrolling in Level 5. New skills introduced: sidestroke and swimming 50 yards of each stroke.  

Class Ratio: 1 Instructor: 6 students


Stage 6: Stroke Mechanics

Refines stroke techniques on all major competitive strokes and encourages swimming as part of a healthy lifestyle. New skills: flip and open turns, and swimming 150 yards of each stroke.

 


Additional Swim Lesson Options


Private & Semi Private Swim Lessons

A Y certified Swim Instructor could be just what you or your child needs to become comfortable in the water. Private swim lessons are designed to fit your specific goals and offer the flexibility that a busy schedule needs. Receive 1:1 instruction or bring a swim buddy for 1:2 instruction.

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Adult Swim Lessons: 13 years +

Instructors will work with all levels of swimmers to increase their comfort and competency in and around water.

 

Adult Group Lessons

For swimmers ages 13 and older who need to improve their stroke, want to enter the world of swimming workouts or to overcome their fear of water.


 

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