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.

Father and daughter swimming together in indoor pool

Group Lessons

Father and daughter in swim lessons

Swim Starters

Ages 6 months – 3 years

Infants and toddlers are accompanied by their parents as they learn to be comfortable in the water.

Learn More & Register Now
YMCA Swim Instructor with Children in the Pool

Preschool

Ages 3–5

Young children will learn the foundation of water safety skills and build (on) their foundation of water safety skills.

Learn More & Register Now
Child in a Swimming Pool

School-age

Ages 5–12

Students learn more about personal water safety and work to master two benchmark skills.

Learn More & Register Now

Teen/Adult

Ages 13+

Teens, adults, and seniors can learn the basics or build on their foundation and learn additional swimming techniques.

Learn More & Register Now
Group of Kids in a Swimming Pool

Pathways

Ages 5+

Current pathway offerings include Endurance, Games, and Sports as well as Aquatic Conditioning.

Learn More & Register Now

Private Lessons

Preregister Now
YMCA Swim Instructor with a Child

Private Lesson

Ages 3+

A private swim lesson is a one-on-one session between the student and a certified swim instructor.

Learn More
Child in a Swimming Pool

Private Lesson Series

Ages 3+

Eight 30-minute sessions between the student and a certified swim instructor.

Learn More
Child in a YMCA Swimming Pool

Semi-private Lesson Series

Ages 3+

Semi-private swim lessons are led by a certified swim instructor for a small group.

Learn More

Save 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.

View More Member Benefits

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.

Learn More
Child in Safe Start Program by a Pool

Swim Stages

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.

Get in Touch

Do you have a question about swim lessons? Let us know!

School Programs

Our academic programs emphasize helping kids close the achievement gap!