Group Swim Lessons

Focus: Water Exploration 
Class Goals: This class introduces infants and their caregivers to the water in a safe, supportive environment. Parents will learn how to hold and move their children in the water while encouraging comfort and enjoyment through songs, games, and introductory swim skills. 

No prior swim lesson experience is required. A parent or guardian (must be a Y member or approved non-member) is required to be in the water with the child. Swim diapers are required for any child who is not fully potty-trained. 

Focus: Foundational Swim & Water Safety Skills 
Class Goals: Children will begin developing basic swim and safety skills through fun, play-based instruction. Objectives include: 

• Swimming short distances to the instructor
• Comfortably putting their face in the water
• Unassisted front and back floats
• Front and back glides with flutter kicks
• Independent entry and exit from the pool 

No prior swim lesson experience is required. A parent or guardian (must be a Y member or approved non-member) is required to be in the water with the child. Swim diapers are required for any child who is not fully potty-trained. 

Prerequisites: None — no prior swim experience required. 

Level Objectives: This beginner-level class introduces foundational skills starting with parents in the water for the entire session. The goal is to build confidence and work toward independent swimming with instructors by the end of the program. 

Class Goals: 

• Submerging face in water
• Front and back floats with instructor assistance
• Front and back glides
• Flutter kicks
• Introduction to front crawl (beginner freestyle)
• Independent pool exit
• Safe jumping into the water with instructor support 

Parent / Guardian required in the water. 

Prerequisites: Comfortable participating in a classroom setting with an instructor without parents/guardians present. No prior swim experience required. 

Level Objectives: Students will become comfortable putting their entire head underwater independently and floating with minimal assistance. 

Class Goals: 

• Submerging while blowing bubbles
• Front and back floats with minimal assistance
• Front and back glides with flutter kicks
• Confidently jumping into the water to the instructor 

Prerequisites: Ability to submerge with head underwater independently, float with minimal assistance, and basic flutter kick skills. 

Level Objectives: Students will gain independence, requiring less hands-on support from the instructor, and demonstrate the ability to swim approximately 3 yards independently. 

Class Goals: 

• Independent front and back floats
• Independent rollover
• Independent flutter kicks on front and back
• Front glides with face fully submerged and streamlined body position
• Combining arm and leg actions to perform front crawl 

Prerequisites: Ability to float independently on front and back, and swim with combined leg and arm front crawl actions. 

Level Objectives: Introduction to side breathing and development of front crawl and backstroke techniques. 

Class Goals: 

• Swim-float-swim pattern using front crawl arms
• Demonstrate one side breath during front crawl
• Swim elementary backstroke 5–10 yards
• Introduction to backstroke 

Prerequisites: Ability to demonstrate one side breath while swimming front crawl, swim elementary backstroke 5–10 yards, and swim backstroke 3 yards. 

Level Objectives: Focus on increased endurance and further stroke development. 

Class Goals: 

• Swim front crawl with proper side breathing for 10 yards
• Swim backstroke for 10 yards
• Swim elementary backstroke for 10 yards
• Introduction to whip kick
• Introduction to treading water 

Prerequisites: No prior swim lesson experience required. 

Level Objectives: Become comfortable in the water and perform key skills with minimal to no assistance. 

Class Goals: 

• Front and back floats independently
• Independent rollover
• Flutter kicks on front and back
• Front glides with face submerged in streamlined position
• Combine arm and leg actions to perform front crawl
• Independent jumping into the pool 

Prerequisites: 

• Front and back floats independently
• Independent flutter kicks on front and back
• Front glides with face submerged in streamlined position
• Elementary backstroke 

Level Objectives: Swim 10 yards independently on front and back. 

Class Goals: 

• Front crawl with side breathing for 10 yards
• Front and back glides with streamline and flutter kick
• Backstroke for 10 yards
• Elementary backstroke for 10 yards
• Treading water for 15 seconds 

Prerequisites: 

• Front crawl with side breathing for 10 yards
• Backstroke for 10 yards
• Elementary backstroke for 10 yards
• Treading water for 15 seconds 

Level Objectives: Build stamina by swimming 20 yards on front and back. Introduction to breaststroke and butterfly kicks. 

Class Goals: 

• Introduction to whip kick
• Introduction to dolphin kick
• Treading water for 30 seconds using whip kick
• Introduction to circle swimming
• Flutter kicking on front for 25 yards
• Front crawl with side breathing for 20 yards
• Elementary backstroke for 20 yards
• Front crawl with open turn
• Backstroke with open turn 

Prerequisites: 

• Front crawl with side breathing for 20 yards
• Backstroke for 20 yards
• Whip kick for 20 yards
• Dolphin kick for 20 yards
• Treading water with whip kick for 30 seconds 

Level Objectives: Learn breaststroke and butterfly techniques, and improve front crawl and backstroke at an advanced level. 

Class Goals: 

• Streamline flutter kick for 25 yards
• Streamline kick on back for 25 yards
• Front crawl for 50 yards
• Backstroke for 50 yards
• Whip kick for 25 yards
• Introduction to breaststroke
• Dolphin kick for 25 yards
• Introduction to butterfly
• Treading water for 60 seconds 

Prerequisites: 

• Streamline flutter kicks on front and back
• 50 yards freestyle with side breathing
• 50 yards backstroke
• 25 yards whip kick
• 25 yards dolphin kick
• 10 yards breaststroke
• 10 yards butterfly
• Treading water for 60 seconds 

Level Objectives: Build endurance and refine technique across all strokes. Introduce competitive swimming techniques. 

Class Goals: 

• Swim 100 yards freestyle and backstroke with proper technique
• Swim 50 yards breaststroke and 25 yards butterfly
• Swim 100 yards individual medley
• Introduction to sculling and flip turns 

Prerequisites: 

• Swim 50 meters nonstop in any stroke
• Tread water for 1 minute
• Demonstrate proper technique for 25 meters of each competitive stroke: freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly 

Level Objectives: 
Improve technique for all four competitive strokes, build endurance, and focus on drills while promoting overall health and wellness through swimming. 

Prerequisites: No prior experience required (parent participation optional). 

Learning Objectives: Focus on water safety and basic water competence. 

Class Goals: 

• Understand the importance of asking permission before entering the water
• Learn safe methods for entering and exiting the pool
• Practice swimming to and exiting the pool wall
• Develop orientation skills to find the nearest wall or ladder in an emergency
• Build foundational water skills: floating, kicking, and arm movements on both front and back 

Prerequisites: No prior experience required (parent participation optional). 

Learning Objectives: Emphasis on water safety and building water competence. 

Class Goals: 

• Ask permission before entering the water
• Safely enter and exit the pool
• Swim to and exit the pool wall
• Develop orientation skills for emergency exits
• Practice floating, kicking, and arm movements on front and back 

Prerequisites: No prior experience required (aide participation optional). 

Learning Objectives: Water safety and competence with a focus on foundational skills. 

Class Goals: 

• Ask permission before entering the water
• Learn safe entry and exit techniques
• Swim to and exit the pool wall
• Orient to find the nearest wall or ladder during emergencies
• Develop floating, kicking, and arm movements on front and back 

Prerequisites: No prior swimming knowledge or experience required. 

Learning Objectives: Gain comfort in the water and learn to swim 10 yards on both front and back. 

Class Goals: 

• Fully submerge while exhaling through the nose and inhaling through the mouth
• Front and back floating skills
• Swim front crawl with side breathing
• Introduction to backstroke, elementary backstroke, and breaststroke

Prerequisites: 

• Submerge five times
• Swim 10 yards front crawl with side breathing
• Swim 10 yards backstroke
• Swim 10 yards elementary backstroke
• Swim 10 yards breaststroke 

Learning Objectives: Build endurance and refine stroke techniques for freestyle, backstroke, and breaststroke. 

Class Goals: 

• Swim 25 meters front crawl with proper technique
• Swim 25 meters backstroke with proper technique
• Introduce front and back glides
• Learn open turns 

Prerequisites: 

• Swim 25 yards freestyle and backstroke
• Whip kick for 25 yards
• Breaststroke for 25 yards 

Learning Objectives: Stroke refinement and endurance building for fitness swimming. 

Class Goals: 

• Maintain proper technique under fatigue
• Build endurance potentially for Masters swim team participation
• Introduction to flip turns and interval training
• Prepare for lifeguard proficiency testing 

• Refunds may be requested 6 or more days before the session start date.
• No refunds will be granted after that time.
• Refund processing fees apply: $10 for credit card refunds and $25 for cash or check refunds. 

• The YMCA does not offer makeup lessons for missed classes.
• If your child is ill, please keep them home to protect the health and safety of other students and staff. 

• A parent or guardian must remain on the pool deck or in the designated viewing area for the entire duration of their child’s swim lesson or program.
• This policy is strictly enforced for safety reasons.
• The supervising parent/guardian may not work out in the gym during their child’s class. 

• Up to two adults may be designated on a non-member account to bring a student to their swim classes. No additional non-member adults will be permitted to accompany the student for supervision or spectating.
• Siblings of non-member participants may enter the building if necessary but must remain with their parent or guardian at all times. Siblings must also be designated on the non-member account to enter the facility.
• Non-members may not use YMCA amenities or participate in any programs, including Family Swim.
• All non-member adults must show ID, have their photo taken, and sign a waiver before their first entry.
• Please arrive at least 15 minutes early for your first visit to allow time for check-in and timely arrival to class. 

• Children ages 8 and under may change in the opposite gender locker room if accompanied by a parent/guardian of that gender.
• If a parent needs to accompany a child of the opposite gender, they must use the locker room that matches the adult’s gender identity or an individual changing room (available at Berkeley and Pleasant Hill).
• Children under age 13 are not allowed in the Women’s or Men’s Locker Rooms at the Berkeley and Oakland Y. Children under age 13 should change in the Girls’ or Boys’ Locker Room, or use an individual changing room if available.