Learn How to Swim at the Y
YMCA swim lessons emphasize water safety and skill development in a safe environment! We offer group swim lessons and private swim lessons so you can find a class that best fits your needs.
Group Lessons
Preschool
Ages 3–5
Toddlers are accompanied by their parents as they learn to be comfortable in the water.
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School-age
Ages 5–12
Students learn more about personal water safety and work to master two benchmark skills.
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Pathways
Ages 5+
Current pathway offerings include Endurance, Games, and Sports as well as Aquatic Conditioning.
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Private Lesson
Ages 3+
A private swim lesson is a one-on-one session between the student and a certified swim instructor.
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Private Lesson Series
Ages 3+
Eight 30-minute sessions between the student and a certified swim instructor.
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Semi-private Lesson Series
Ages 3+
Semi-private swim lessons are led by a certified swim instructor for a small group.
Learn MoreSave More as a Member
Get major savings when you join the YMCA of Central Florida.
Our members are able to save up to 50% on popular programs like camps, Youth Sports, and swim lessons! You’ll also enjoy priority registration.
Safe Start
Safe Start and Infant Swimming Resource (ISR) are the leading behavioral-based approach to swimming lessons. Certified instructors use techniques that are developmentally appropriate for your infant or young child.
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We offer swimming lessons for all ages and skill ranges. Our Aquatics team follows the outlined stages below based on national YMCA of the USA curriculum.
Swim Starters
Accompanied by a parent, infants and toddlers learn to be comfortable in the water and develop swim readiness skills through fun and confidence building experiences, while parents learn about water safety, drowning prevention, and the importance of supervision.
A Water Discovery
Parents accompany children in stage A, which introduces infants and toddlers to the aquatic environment through exploration and encourages them to enjoy themselves while learning about the water.
B Water Exploration
In stage B, parents work with their children to explore body positions, floating, blowing bubbles, and fundamental safety and aquatic skills.
Swim Basics
Students learn personal water safety and achieve basic swimming competency by learning two benchmark skills: swim, float, swim. They sequence a front glide, roll, back float, roll, front glide, and exit, as well as jump, push, turn, and grab.
1 Water Acclimation
Students develop comfort with underwater exploration and learn to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water in stage 1. This stage lays the foundation that allows for a student’s future progress in swimming.
2 Water Movement
In stage 2, students focus on body position and control, directional change, and forward movement in the water. They also continue to practice how to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water.
Swim Strokes
Having mastered the fundamentals, students learn additional water safety skills and build stroke technique, developing skills that prevent chronic disease, increase social, emotional, and cognitive well-being, and foster a lifetime of physical activity.
3 Water Stamina
In stage 3, students learn how to swim to safety from a longer distance than in previous stages in the event of falling into a body of water. This stage also introduces rhythmic breathing and integrated arm and leg action.
4 Stroke Introduction
Students in Stage 4 swimming develop stroke technique in front crawl and back crawl, and learn the breaststroke kick and butterfly kick. Water safety is reinforced through treading water and elementary backstroke.
5 Stroke Development
Students in Stage 5 swimming work on stroke technique and learn all major competitive strokes. The emphasis on water safety continues through treading water and sidestroke.
6 Stroke Mechanics
In Stage 6 swimming, students refine stroke technique on all major competitive strokes, learn about competitive swimming, and discover how to incorporate swimming into a healthy lifestyle.
Our Commitment
Your child’s safety is our priority. Find out more about our commitment to keeping kids safe.