At the Y, we believe everyone should learn to swim! It's why we introduced group swimming lessons over 100 years ago.
Swimming skills are progressive, so it’s important to pick the right level for you. Our YMCA-trained and certified instructors offer swimming classes for kids, teens, and adults. We cover swimming skills, stroke technique, and water safety in a friendly and encouraging environment. Whether in a group or private swimming lesson, all ages can learn with our six (6) stage program.
Swimming Programs Session Dates
Session Dates: January 6, 2025 – February 23, 2025
Registration: December 18, 2024 – January 19, 2025
Browse Programs Starting: December 9, 2024
Priority Family Registration Opens: December 16, 2024
*Priority family member registration applies to family, family +1, and single parent family memberships.
Session Dates: March 3, 2025 – April 19, 2025
Registration: February 19, 2025 – March 16, 2025
Browse Programs Starting: February 10, 2025
Priority Family Registration Opens: February 17, 2025
*Priority family member registration applies to family, family +1, and single parent family memberships.
Session Dates: April 28, 2025 – June 15, 2025
Registration: April 16, 2025 – May 11, 2025
Browse Programs Starting: April 7, 2025
Priority Family Registration Opens: April 14, 2025
*Priority family member registration applies to family, family +1, and single parent family memberships.
Session Dates: June 23, 2025 – August 10, 2025
Registration: June 4, 2025 – July 6, 2025
Browse Programs Starting: May 26, 2025
Priority Family Registration Opens: June 2, 2025
*Priority family member registration applies to family, family +1, and single parent family memberships.
Session Dates: September 8, 2025 – October 26, 2025
Registration: August 20, 2025 – September 21, 2025
Browse Programs Starting: August 11, 2025
Priority Family Registration Opens: August 18, 2025
*Priority family member registration applies to family, family +1, and single parent family memberships.
Session Dates: November 3, 2025 – December 21, 2025
Registration: October 15, 2025 – November 16, 2025
Browse Programs Starting: October 6, 2025
Priority Family Registration Opens: October 13, 2025
*Priority family member registration applies to family, family +1, and single parent family memberships.
Swim Lesson Selector
Not sure which class you or your child should register for? Answer the questions below to find the swim lesson that fits.
Questions
Can your child respond to verbal cues and jump on land?
Can your child swim 5 feet on their stomach with their face in the water?
Can your child swim 15 feet on their stomach with their face in the water and float on their back for 10-20 seconds?
Can your child swim on their stomach and their back for 15 yards without assistance?
Can your child swim on their stomach and their back for 25 yards, and tread water for 1 minute?
Can your child swim front crawl and back crawl 25 yards with proper technique, and swim breaststroke and butterfly 15 yards?
Can your child swim 25 yards of all competitive swim strokes including front & back crawl, breaststroke and butterfly?
Parent/Child - Water Discovery
Parents accompany children in this stage, which introduces infants and toddlers to the aquatic environment through exploration and encourages them to enjoy themselves while learning about the water.
Parent/Child - Water Exploration
In this stage, parents work with their children to explore body positions, floating, blowing bubbles, and fundamental safety and aquatic skills.
Stage 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.
Stage 2 - Water Movement
In this stage, students focus on body position and control, directional change, and forward movement in the water while also continuing to practice how to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water.
State 3 - Water Stamina
In this stage, 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.
Stage 4 - Stroke Introduction
Students in this stage 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.
Stage 5 - Stroke Development
Students in this stage work on stroke technique and learn all major competitive strokes. The emphasis on water safety continues through treading water and sidestroke.
Stage 6 - Stroke Mechanics
In this stage, students refine stroke technique on all major competitive strokes, learn about competitive swimming, and discover how to incorporate swimming into a healthy lifestyle.
Swim Lesson Age Groups
Parent/Child
These lessons are for parents to participate in alongside their child.
Ages: 6 months - 3 years
Stages: Water Discovery, Water Exploration
Preschool
These lessons are for preschool children who are just learning how to swim.
Ages: 3 years - 5 years
Stages: 1-4
School Age
These lessons are for school age children who are learning to swim at all experience levels.
Ages: 5 years - 12 years
Stages: 1-6
Teen/Adult
These lessons are for teens & adults who are learning to swim at all experience levels.
Ages: 12+ years
Stages: 1-6
Swim Lesson Stages
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.
Age Group: Parent & Child
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.
Ages: 6 months - 18 months
In stage B, parents work with their children to explore body positions, floating, blowing bubbles, and fundamental safety and aquatic skills.
Ages: 18 months - 3 years
Swim Basics
Students learn personal water safety and achieve basic swimming competency by learning two benchmark skills:
- Swim, float, swim— sequencing front glide, roll, back float, roll, front glide, and exit
- Jump, push, turn, grab
Age Groups: Preschool, School Age, Teen & Adult
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.
Ages: 3+ years
In stage 2, students focus on body position and control, directional change, and forward movement in the water while also continuing to practice how to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water.
Ages: 3+ years
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.
Ages: 3+ years
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.
Age Groups: Preschool, School Age, Teen & Adult
Students in stage 4 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.
Ages: 3+ years
Students in stage 5 work on stroke technique and learn all major competitive strokes. The emphasis on water safety continues through treading water and sidestroke.
Ages: 5+ years
In stage 6, students refine stroke technique on all major competitive strokes, learn about competitive swimming, and discover how to incorporate swimming into a healthy lifestyle.
Ages: 5+ years
Other Swim Lesson Options
Private & Semi-Private Swim Lessons
Prefer to have 1-1 instruction for yourself or your little one? Our certified Y swim instructors provide private and semi-private lessons are for all swimming abilities in kids age 3 and above.
30-minute lessons are scheduled with an instructor and participant(s). For any age, students learn the basics of swimming, refine current skills, and perfect stroke mechanics with personalized lesson plans.
Private Swim Packages:
- Members: five lesson package - $175
- Non-members: five lesson package - $350
Semi-Private Swim Packages:
- Members: five lesson package - $125
- Non-members: five lesson package - $250
Members who are interested in lessons can register or make a registration request through our member portal. Private and semi-private lessons are only available at select branches.
Special Needs Swim Lessons
The YMCA’s swim program setting provides a unique experience with an emphasis on skill learning, social interaction, and fun. We strive to positively impact youth with special needs in the Philadelphia and the surrounding regions by providing safe, fun, and interactive programs to grow and socialize in a nurturing environment.
We offer several programs for all abilities at select Y locations! Plus - our facilities are accessible for everyone and provides specialty equipment to serve every member’s ability level.
Stroke and Turn Clinic
Calling all advanced swimmers!
The Y Swim Clinic is designed for swimmers who have advanced through YMCA Swim Lessons and are able to swim a length of the pool of both front and back crawl. Participants should also have rudimentary breaststroke and butterfly strokes. Be sure to browse! Different stages may be available for different locations.