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

Swim Lesson Session Dates

6-week swim lessons
Prices vary by branch Members: $65/Community Members: $130

Session 3
April 2 – May 13
Registration opens : March 12 for Y members
March 19 for the community

Session 4
May 21 – July 1
Registration opens : April 16 for Y members
April 23 for the community (On April Pools Day!)

Session 5
July 2 – August 12
Registration opens: June 11 for Y members
June 18 for the community

Session 6
August 20 – September 30
Registration opens: July 30 for Y members
Aug. 6 for the community

Session 7
October 1 – November 11
Registration opens: Sept. 10 for Y members
Sept. 17 for the community

Session 8
November 12 – December 23
Registration opens: Oct. 15 for Y members
Oct. 22 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 our Private Lesson interest form to get more information on your specific branch program and to gain registration information.
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