Learn to Swim information page
Somerset Valley YMCA – Hillsborough, Bridgewater and Somerville
SKIPPERS (Ages 6 - 36 months)
SKIP (Ages 6 – 36 months) (30 min.) An introduction to the aquatic environment for parents and their Children. Children will learn basic water skills and have fun playing with toys and learning new songs.
Perch + (Ages 18 months - 4 ) (30 min.) Children continue learning basic water skills and have fun playing with toys and learning new songs. Pike skills are introduced and children begin to work more with the instructor.
Pike with Parent (Ages 2 1/2 - 4 ) (30 min.) This class is designed for new swimmers, teaching basic paddle stroke and kicking skills with the comfort of their parent.
PERS (Ages 3 - 5)
Pike - (30 min.) At this level, children usually begin attending classes without their parents. This level helps children develop safe pool behavior, adjust to the water, and develop independent movement in the water. It is designed for new swimmers, teaching basic paddle stroke and kicking skills, pool safety and comfort in holding their faces in the water while blowing bubbles and swimming.
Eel - (30 min.) This advanced beginner level reinforces Pike skills. It is for children who are comfortable in the water. They are taught to flutter kick dive, float and perform the progressive paddle stroke. Children can swim across the pool without assistance by the end of this level.
Rays - (30 min.) At this level children review previous skills, improve stroke skills, build endurance by swimming on their front and back. Children learn to tread water and perform more progressive diving skills. They are also introduced to the elementary backstroke and sidestroke.
Starfish - (30 min.) Children at this level review previously learned skills and refine their front crawl, back crawl and elementary backstroke. They also learn underwater swimming skills and are introduced to the breaststroke pull. Children can swim a length of the pool on the front, back and side at the end of this level.
PROGRESSIVE (Ages 6 - 14)
Polliwog - (45 min.) This is the beginning level for school-age children. It gets children acquainted with the pool, the use of flotation devices and front and back floating. By the end of this level, they should know the front paddlestroke, side and back paddle and some synchronized swimming and wetball (the lead-up game to water polo movements).
Guppy - (45 min.) The children continue to practice and build upon basic skills. Now they perform more skills without the aid of a flotation device. They are introduced to lead-up skills for the front and back crawl, sidestroke, breaststroke and elementary backstroke. More synchronized swimming and wetball skills are taught, as well as some diving skills.
Minnow - (45 min.) This is the initial intermediate level. The children further refine the lead-up skills they have learned for the front and back crawl, sidestroke, breaststroke and elementary backstroke. They learn still more
synchronized swimming, wetball and diving skills.
Fish - (45 min.) At this point, students work to improve the crawl stroke, elementary backstroke, back crawl, breaststroke and sidestroke and perform them with turns. Students are introduced to the butterfly stroke. They continue learning additional synchronized swimming movements, wetball skills, diving skills and may be introduced to the use of mask and fins.
Flying Fish - (45 min.) At this advanced level, students work on refining their strokes and increasing their endurance. They develop the ability to perform more complex combinations of synchronized swimming skills. Students learn to dive off a starting block and/or a one-meter board, if available. They develop better wetball playing skills
Shark - (45 min.) The students at this level continue to improve their strokes with starts and turns and are introduced to the inverted breastroke, the trudgen crawl and the overarm sidestroke. Opportunities are provided for further work on synchronized swimming, wetball and skin diving.
Porpoise Club - (60 min.) At this level, students will continue to prefect their strokes, learn new skills to prepare for a lifeguarding course, and increase their knowledge of aquatic safety. Students will be introduced to a leadership role by learning how to assist instructors in teaching swimming and aquatic safety. Students will also continue to develop their own personal fitness through swimming and aquatic exercise.
STROKE MECHANICS (Ages 8 - 15) (60 min.) This program is for swimmers who have completed Shark or the equivalent, and want to continue improving their techniques in all strokes and turns. Interval training for swimming is introduced at this level. Students must be ages 8 & up who have a recommendation from their Porpoise Class Instructor, or have received approval from the Aquatic director.
INTRO TO COMPETITIVE SWIMMING (Ages 8 - 15) (60 min.) This program introduces interested swimmers to the fundamentals of competitive swimming. The goals of this program are: learn the safety rules for competitive swimming, gain proficiency in each of the four major competitive strokes and learn goal setting. Students must have completed the Fish level or equivalent to be eligible for this program.
ADULT LESSONS (AGES 15 and up)
BEGINNING ADULT (45 min.) This class is for adults who don’t feel at ease in the water. Non-swimmers are taught basic swimming skills and water safety.
INTERMEDIATE ADULT (45 min.) This is a class for adults who are comfortable in the water and who would like to work on stroke development and endurance. It’s great for those who have limited swimming skills and who would like to improve their techniques.
PRIVATE SWIM LESSONS (30 min.) Individual instruction for children or adults. Contact the Aquatic Director at your facility for more information or to schedule a lesson.
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CREDIT REFUND POLICY
No refunds for any classes. Requests for credit accompanied by a doctor’s note will be considered when four or more classes are missed due to illness. Requests in writing must be received within the program session. Classes cancelled due to weather-related emergency closings will not be rescheduled.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
All programs may not be available in all facilities. Please refer to the current Program Guide for days, times, facilities and fees for all classes and programs.
