What You'll Learn at YMCA Swimming Lessons
The YMCA of Greater Brandywine offers swim lessons for all ages and stages. Our progressive swim lessons teach swimming skills, stroke technique and water safety while encouraging a lifelong love of the water.
Beginning January 2025, YGBW swim lessons will be based upon age range and skill level to align with Y-USA's six-stage curriculum.
Below are the lessons that will be offered.
Parent/Child Swim Lessons
Two-Month Swim Semesters | Ages 6 months - 3 years
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.
Parent/Child classes help our youngest participants build a foundation for learning how to swim including body positions, blowing bubbles and fundamental safety and aquatics skills.
Preschool Swim Lessons
Two-Month Swim Semesters | Ages 3 - 5 years
- Stages 1 & 2 – Water Acclimation and Movement
This combined class is designed to guide beginner swimmers through the development of breath control (bubble blowing), submersion (bobs), front and back floating and gliding (5-10Ft), treading (10sec) and independent exit from the pool. By the end of Stage 2, all skills will be unassisted. Benchmark skills for these levels include jump-push-turn-grab and swim-float-swim (15ft). No prerequisite or swim evaluation needed.
- Stage 3 – Water Stamina*
Stage 3 swim lessons focus on developing stamina and improved breath control. Swimmers are challenged with longer independent swims on front and back (10-15yards) and longer treading time. Benchmark skills for this level include jump-swim-grab and swim-float-swim (15-25 yards). Swimmers must be able to complete all skills independently and without flotation before advancing. Prerequisite Skill: Stage 3 or swim evaluation.
- Stage 4 – Stroke Introduction*
Stage 4 swim lessons use the body position and stamina developed in earlier stages to incorporate stroke technique. Swimmers will become proficient in Front Crawl (freestyle) and Backstroke. Swimmers will be introduced to breaststroke and butterfly kicks. Swimmers will also start to build endurance of 15-25 yards. All four strokes/kicks must be mastered before advancing. Prerequisite Skills: Stage 4 or swim evaluation.
Youth Swim Lessons
Two-Month Swim Semesters | Ages 6 - 12 years
- Stages 1 & 2 – Water Acclimation and Movement
This combined class is designed to guide beginner swimmers through the development of breath control (bubble blowing), submersion (bobs), front and back floating and gliding (5-10Ft), treading (10sec) and independent exit from the pool. By the end of Stage 2, all skills will be unassisted. Benchmark skills for these levels include jump-push-turn-grab and swim-float-swim (15ft). No prerequisite or swim evaluation needed.
- Stage 3 – Water Stamina*
Stage 3 swim lessons focus on developing stamina and improved breath control. Swimmers are challenged with longer independent swims on front and back (10-15yards) and longer treading time. Benchmark skills for this level include jump-swim-grab and swim-float-swim (15-25 yards). Swimmers must be able to complete all skills independently and without flotation before advancing. Prerequisite Skill: Stage 3 or swim evaluation.
- Stage 4 – Stroke Introduction*
Stage 4 swim lessons use the body position and stamina developed in earlier stages to incorporate stroke technique. Swimmers will become proficient in Front Crawl (freestyle) and Backstroke. Swimmers will be introduced to breaststroke and butterfly kicks. Swimmers will also start to build endurance of 15-25 yards. All four strokes/kicks must be mastered before advancing. Prerequisite Skills: Stage 4 or swim evaluation.
- Stage 5 - Stroke Development*
Stage 5 swimmers will build on the breaststroke and butterfly kicks learned in earlier stages to become proficient in both strokes. Swimmers will also build endurance and refine technique in Freestyle and Backstroke (50-100 yards). All four strokes must be mastered before advancing. Prerequisite Skill: Stage 5 or swim evaluation.
- Stage 6 - Stroke Mechanics*
Stage 6 lessons focus on endurance for all strokes and introduce standing dives and flip/open turns. Swimmers will build endurance of 150 yards. Prerequisite Skill: Stage 6 or swim evaluation.
* Participants are required to complete an evaluation (or obtain an instructor recommendation) prior to registration to ensure that your child's skill level is matched with the appropriate level of swim lesson.
- If your child is currently enrolled in swim lessons at a YGBW branch, your child's swim instructor will recommend which swim lesson/level is appropriate.
- If your child is NOT currently participating in swim lessons at a YGBW branch, you can request an evaluation by contacting your local branch to schedule an evaluation.
Other Lessons
In addition to leveled group classes, we private and semi-private swimming lessons as well as group Diving lessons.
- Adult/Teen Swim Lessons
- Adaptive Swim Lessons
- Private Swim Lessons
- Springboard Diving Instruction: Beginner and Intermediate (West Chester branch only)
Swim Teams are available for children interested in advanced swimming instruction and competition.