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 8-week sessions.
Session Dates and Time Swim AssessmentParent & Child Swim Lessons
Stage A: Water Discovery | Parent & Child Swim Lessons
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Register NowPrivate 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.
Register NowAdapted 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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