Y SWIM LESSON (YSL)
We offer the National YMCA Swim Lesson Curriculum year-round for swimmers of all ages and skill levels. YMCA swim lessons emphasize water safety, skill, and stroke development. In stages 1-3 students learn personal water safety and achieve basic swimming competency by learning two benchmark skills —swim, float, swim and jump, push, turn, grab.
Having mastered the fundamentals, students in stages 4-6, 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. YMCA swim lessons follow the National YMCA's child-to-instructor ratio to ensure plenty of time in the water. We strive to foster a student-centered and caring atmosphere with well-trained professionals.
PARENT/CHILD
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.
WATER DISCOVERY
Ages 6 months - 36 months
With a parent or caregiver, infants and toddlers are introduced to the aquatic environment through exploration.
Children are required to wear a swim diaper and plastic covering (pants) if not potty trained.
WATER EXPLORATION
Ages 12 months - 36 months
A parent or caregiver accompanies children in this class where toddlers explore body positions, floating, blowing bubbles, and fundamental water safety skills. Toddlers should be comfortable entering and exiting the pool with the adult and be able to respond to verbal cues.
Children are required to wear a swim diaper and plastic covering (pants) if not potty trained.
PRESCHOOL
WATER ACCLIMATION
Preschool Ages 3-5
Students develop comfort with underwater exploration and learn to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water. This stage lays a solid foundation that allows a student’s future progress in swimming.
WATER MOVEMENT
Preschool Ages 3-5
Children focus on body position and control, directional change, and forward movement in the water. Stage 2 swimmers continue to practice how to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water.
WATER STAMINA
Preschool Ages 3-5
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. Prerequisite - Teacher recommendation or Aquatics Office approval.
WATER STROKE INTRODUCTION
Preschool Ages 3-5
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. Prerequisite - Teacher recommendation or Aquatics Office approval.
SCHOOL AGE
WATER ACCLIMATION
Ages 6-11
Water Acclimation increases students’ comfort with underwater exploration and introduces basic self-rescue skills performed with assistance. In this child only class, instructors will help develop your child’s basic skills to propel and glide through the water with assistance; teach participants about basic water safety and how to be responsible for their own decisions to help keep them safe.
WATER MOVEMENT
Ages 6-11
In the Water Movement Stage, students focus on forward movement in the water and basic self-rescue skills performed independently. Milestones worked on in this stage are: explore the aquatic environment using personal skills without instructor help; develop basic skills to propel and glide through the water without instructor help and about basic water safety and how to be responsible for their own decisions to help keep them safe.
WATER STAMINA
Ages 6-14
The Water Stamina Stage develops intermediate self-rescue skills performed at longer distances than in previous stages. Milestones worked on in this stage include: integrating arm action, leg action, and rhythmic breathing in back and front glides; developing forward movement on the front and back and practicing skills and safety techniques in deep water.
WATER STROKE INTRODUCTION
Ages 6-14
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.
STROKE DEVELOPMENT
Ages 6-16
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.
STROKE MECHANICS
Ages 6-16
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.
ENDURANCE, SPORTS, & GAMES Ages 10 and up
Barracuda continues to build endurance on all major competitive strokes and encourages aquatic sports and games as part of a healthy lifestyle. This class will enhance swimming skills and build endurance in competitive strokes. Class will also develop knowledge in aquatics sports such as water polo, snorkeling, diving and synchronized swimming.
(formerly Barracuda Club)
AQUATICS CONDITIONING Ages 10 and up
Aquatic Conditioning is one offering from the competitive pathway students can pursue following YMCA Swim Lessons. Students must successfully complete Stage 6 and be at least 10 years of age to be eligible to sign up for this program. The program focuses on continuing to build endurance and stroke technique on all major competitive strokes and encourages swimming as part of a healthy lifestyle. Students in this program will focus on the following important milestones:
- Developing endurance in competitive strokes
- Developing skills related to competitive swimming, such as flip turns, starts, and finishes
- Enhancing skills and building endurance
(formerly Porpoise Club)
AQUATICS INCLUSION CLASS Ages 6-9
This unique program has been developed exclusively for children & adults with physical and developmental disabilities. With a maximum of two participants per instructor, this program aims to meet the safety and swim development of each participant. Class will meet once a week and small class ratios will ensure that each class is designed specifically to meet the needs of each participant.
ADULT/TEEN SWIM LESSONS
Small Pool
Swim lessons are not just for kids! Adults who want to learn to swim or want to refresh their skills can take lessons at the Y; all levels are welcome. Beginners and those wanting to refresh or broaden their skills have a variety of options to accommodate busy schedules. Patient, certified instructors will evaluate your level at the first class and place you in the appropriate group. Don’t let fear stand the way of learning this valuable life skill.
COMPETITIVE SWIMMING STROKE CLINIC
Ages 8-10; 11-13; 14 & Over (no age limit)
Our sessions cover fundamental principles of swimming techniques, starts, and turns. In addition, we will discuss specific aspects of your strokes with input from professional coaches. A proper demonstration is key for a deep understanding of the basic concepts of resistance, speed, variation, and correct body position.
Must be on a swim team. Clinics conducted by Head Age Group Coach Roman Sloudnov.
In order to achieve the greatest benefit from swim lessons, attendance at every class is highly recommended. For safety reasons, make up classes are not available due to instructor/student ratio requirements. Refunds and credits will not be issued due to absences.
Swim Lesson Evaluations are free to YMCA of Montclair members. Swim lessons/stage evaluations are held in the Small Pool at Park Street YMCA, offered Monday through Thursday from 3:00pm - 3:45pm and no appointment is necessary. Swim lesson stage/class evaluations are free to YMCA of Montclair members and a fee of $35 for non-members. A Montclair YMCA membership is needed to enroll in classes and programs offered by the Montclair YMCA.
A swim evaluation is required if your child is new to our program or if 3 months have passed for a former participant. Evaluations are not needed for beginners as they may register for Preschool Stage 1 or School Age Stage 1. Please note a swim cap is required at the Park Street location for adults and children 5 years and older.
Our program is a progressive program and students may spend several sessions in the same session until skills are mastered to be promoted to the next Stage in our program. Early registration is encouraged as classes are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
For a swim team try-out please contact Roman Sloudnov, Director of Competitive Swimming at rsloudnov@montclairymca.org; try out fee is $35 with an appointment.