Swim Lessons

YMCA of Greater Cincinnati offers swim lessons that use a skill-based approach designed to meet the needs of our members. Lessons are given in 6-week sessions.

Session Dates and Time Swim Assessment

Swim Sessions

2022 Swim Lesson Session Dates

6-week swim lessons
Members: $60/Community Members: $120
Visit your branch locations tab (under resources) for program offerings.

Session 3
April 3 – May 14
Registration opens Mar. 13 for Y-members Mar. 20 for the community

Session 4
May 15 – June 25
Registration opens April 24 for Y-members May 1 for the community

Session 5
June 26 – August 6
Registration opens June 5 for Y-members June 12 for the community

Session 6
August 14 – September 24
Registration opens July 24 for Y-members July 31 for the community

Session 7
September 25 – November 5
Registration opens Sept. 4 for Y-members Sept. 11 for the community

Session 8
November 6 – December 17
Registration opens Oct. 16 for Y-members Oct. 23 for the community

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Parent & Child Swim Lessons

Stage A: Water Discovery | Parent & Child Swim Lessons (ages 6 month-3)

Parents/guardians accompany children, encouraging them to enjoy themselves while learning about the water.

  • Blow Bubbles on surface, assisted
  • Front Tow chin in water, assisted
  • Water Exit parent & child together
  • Water Entry parent & child together
  • Back Float assisted, head on shoulder
  • Roll assisted
  • Front Float chin in water, assisted
  • Back Tow assisted, head on shoulder
  • Wall Grab assisted

Stage B: Water Exploration | Parent & Child Swim Lessons (ages 6 month-3)

Parents/guardians work with their children to explore body positions and fundamental safety and aquatic skills.

  • Blow Bubbles mouth and nose submerged, assisted
  • Front Tow blow bubbles, assisted
  • Water Exit assisted
  • Water Entry assisted
  • Back Float assisted, head on chest
  • Roll assisted
  • Front Float blow bubbles, assisted
  • Back Tow assisted, head on chest
  • Monkey Crawl assisted, on edge, 5 ft.
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Preschool Swim Lessons (Ages 3-5)

Stage 1: Water Acclimation | Preschool Swim Lessons

Develop comfort with underwater exploration and learn to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water.

  • Submerge bob independently
  • Front glide assisted, to wall, 5 ft.
  • Water exit independently
  • Jump, push, turn, grab assisted
  • Back glide assisted, at wall, 5 ft.
  • Front float assisted, 10 secs., recover independently
  • Swim, float, swim assisted, 10 ft.
  • Back float assisted, 10 secs., recover independently
  • Roll assisted, back to front & front to back

Stage 2: Water Movement | Preschool Swim Lessons

Focus on body position and control, directional change, and forward movement in the water.

  • Submerge look at object on bottom
  • Front glide 5 ft.
  • Jump, push, turn, grab
  • Front float 10 secs.
  • Roll back to front & front to back, float 10 secs.
  • Tread water 10 secs., near wall, & exit
  • Back glide 5 ft.
  • Swim, float, swim 5 yd.

Stage 3: Water Stamina | Preschool Swim Lessons

Learn how to swim to safety from a longer distance than in previous stages. Also introduces integrated arm and leg action.

  • Submerge Retrieve object in chest-deep water
  • Swim on Front 10 yd.
  • Water Exit independently
  • Jump, Swim, Turn, Swim, Grab 10 yd.
  • Swim on Back 10 yd.
  • Tread Water 30 secs. & exit
  • Swim, Float, Swim 15 yd.

Stage 4: Stroke Introduction | Preschool Swim Lessons

Develop stroke technique in front crawl and back crawl and learn the breaststroke kick and butterfly kick.

  • Endurance any stroke or combination of strokes, 25 yd.
  • Front Crawl rotary breathing, 15 yd.
  • Back Crawl 15 yd.
  • Dive sitting
  • Resting Stroke elementary backstroke, 15 yd.
  • Tread Water scissor & whip kick, 1 min.
  • Breaststroke kick, 15 yd.
  • Butterfly kick, 15 yd.
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School Age Swim Lessons (Ages 5-12)

Stage 1: Water Acclimation | School Age Swim Lessons

Develop comfort with underwater exploration and learn to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water.

  • Submerge bob independently
  • Front glide assisted, to wall, 5 ft.
  • Water exit independently
  • Jump, push, turn, grab assisted
  • Back glide assisted, at wall, 5 ft.
  • Front float assisted, 10 secs., recover independently
  • Swim, float, swim assisted, 10 ft.
  • Back float assisted, 10 secs., recover independently
  • Roll assisted, back to front & front to back

Stage 2: Water Movement | School Age Swim Lessons

Focus on body position and control, directional change, and forward movement in the water.

  • Submerge look at object on bottom
  • Front glide 10 ft.
  • Water exit independently
  • Jump, push, turn, grab
  • Front float 20 secs.
  • Roll back to front & front to back Back float 20 secs.
  • Tread water 10 secs., near wall, & exit
  • Back glide 10 ft.
  • Swim, float, swim 5 yd.

Stage 3: Water Stamina | School Age Swim Lessons

Learn how to swim to safety from a longer distance than in previous stages. Also introduces integrated arm and leg action.

  • Submerge Retrieve object in chest-deep water
  • Swim on Front 15 yd.
  • Water Exit independently
  • Jump, Swim, Turn, Swim, Grab 10 yd.
  • Swim on Back 15 yd.
  • Roll
  • Tread Water 1 min. & exit
  • Swim, Float, Swim 25 yd.

Stage 4: Stroke Introduction | School Age Swim Lessons

Develop stroke technique in front crawl and back crawl and learn the breaststroke kick and butterfly kick.

  • Endurance any stroke or combination of strokes, 25 yd.
  • Front Crawl rotary breathing, 15 yd.
  • Back Crawl 15 yd.
  • Dive sitting
  • Resting Stroke elementary backstroke, 15 yd.
  • Tread Water scissor & whip kick, 1 min.
  • Breaststroke kick, 15 yd.
  • Butterfly kick, 15 yd.

Stage 5: Stroke Development | School Age Swim Lessons

Work on stroke technique and learn all major competitive strokes with the addition of water safety by learning new treading techniques and sidestroke.

  • Endurance any stroke or combination of strokes, 50 yd.
  • Front Crawl bent-arm recovery, 25 yd.
  • Back Crawl pull, 25 yd.
  • Dive kneeling
  • Resting Stroke sidestroke, 25 yd.
  • Tread Water scissor & whip kick, 2 mins.
  • Breaststroke 25 yd.
  • Butterfly simultaneous arm action & kick, 15 yd.

Stage 6: Stroke Mechanics | School Age Swim Lessons

Refine stroke technique on all major competitive strokes, learn about competitive swimming, and incorporate swimming into a healthy lifestyle.

  • Endurance any stroke or combination of strokes, 150 yd.
  • Front Crawl flip turn, 50 yd.
  • Back Crawl pull & flip turn, 50 yd.
  • Dive standing
  • Resting Stroke elementary backstroke or sidestroke, 50 yd.
  • Tread Water retrieve object off bottom, tread 1 min.
  • Breaststroke open turn, 50 yd.
  • Butterfly 25 yd.
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Teen & Adult

Private or Group Lessons ages 13+ | Teen & Adult

Whether you are two or 92, the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati can help you learn to swim. The Y offers swim lessons for children, adults, and those with special needs. For over 130 years, the Y has been a pioneer in swimming education. Low student-to-instructor ratio help individuals learn to swim and feel a sense of achievement from mastering a new life-long skill.

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Private Lessons

Private Lessons

Private or semi-private swim lessons allow the participant to work at a personalized level to achieve swim goals. Private swim lessons are good way to help swimmers focus on a particular skill, or to help overcome a fear of the water. Private swim lessons are available by appointment only.
Complete an Interest Form

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Adapted Swim Lessons

Ages 3 & Up | Adapted Swim Lessons

This is a course designed for those who have a disability. The class provides special attention that may be difficult to get in a group lesson. Individual or small group lessons are provided by both paid and volunteer staff. Instruction is based on the needs of the participant.

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YMCA of Greater Cincinnati