Group Swim Lessons

Group Lessons

We serve the community as a resource in aquatic education and water safety through student-centered swim instruction. Children between the ages 4 years and 14 years old learn and practice new swim skills that last a lifetime. Swimmers in our program become more comfortable and secure around water as we emphasize water safety and stroke development.

Group swim lessons are 30 minutes in length, with 8 lessons in a month, and several different skill levels to pick from. We offer classes during the weekdays only and multiple time slots to choose from.

At the Y, we know families take a variety of forms. As a result, we define parents broadly to include all adults with primary responsibility for raising children, including biological parents, adoptive parents, guardians, stepparents, grandparents, or any other type of parenting relationship.

• Class times/days vary by month.  Please refer to our current Group Registration Form at the Welcome Center for details or view our current class selection online.
• Registration deadline is the 20th of the previous month, and lessons begin on the first Monday of the next month.  

Fees

Register online on our website or in-house at the YMCA of Abilene Welcome Center.

Types of Classes:

Swim Starters: (6 months – 35 months) 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. These group classes are only offered seasonally not year-round.

Level A. Water Discovery - Parent & Tot (6 – 18 months) seasonal

Level B. Water Exploration - Parent & Tot (19 – 35 months) seasonal

Swim Basics (5 years - 14 years) 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

While we recommend certain ages take certain classes, that is just a guideline for parents. As soon as they learn and achieve that level’s skills, they should move up to the next group regardless of age. These group swim lessons are offered March – November every year.

Level 1. Water Acclimation – (5-7 years old) Increases comfort with underwater exploration and introduces basic self-rescue skills performed with assistance.

Level 2. Water Movement – (6-10 years old) Encourages forward movement in water and basic self-rescue skills performed independently.

Level 3. Water Stamina – (8-14 years old) Develops intermediate self-rescue skills performed at longer distances than in previous stages.

* For stroke introduction or more advanced classes we recommend looking into private lessons or trying out for the Tidal Wave swim team here at the Y. Tidal Wave tryouts are held yearly in August for the new season or privately anytime during the school year by request to Coach Rebecca.

For more questions, please contact the Welcome Center at 325.695.3400 or email the Aquatics Director at rdantzler@abileneymca.org.