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.
SWIM AT GEYER FAMILY YMCA
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 – 18 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 if not potty trained.
WATER EXPLORATION
Ages 18 – 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 if not potty trained.
WATER DISCOVERY AND WATER EXPLORATION
Ages 6 - 36 months
A combo class allows infants and toddlers to work with their caregiver and practice different ways to move through the water. Included are floating, blowing bubbles, using different body parts and fundamental water safety skills.
Children are required to wear a swim diaper if not potty trained.
WATER EXPLORATION (Leap Frog)
Ages 3 – 4 years
Starting out as a parent/child class, toddlers are transitioned to a child only level. The parent or caregiver accompanies the child for the first few classes where the focus is on water adjustments and beginning swimming skills. The child will alternate between working with the adult and with one of the instructors. The goal is to slowly have the parent participation phased out (from being in the pool to sitting on the benches in the pool area to waiting outside in the pool hallway or observation area).
Children are required to wear a swim diaper if not potty trained.
PRESCHOOL AND SCHOOL AGE
SWIM BASICS CHILD ONLY 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
WATER ACCLIMATION
Preschool Ages 3-5 / School Ages 6-9
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 / School Ages 6-9
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 / School Ages 6-9
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 / School Ages 6-9
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.
YSL SPECIAL NEEDS PROGRAM FOR STAGES 1-4
Preschool Ages 3-5 / School Ages 6-9
Children with special needs of all aquatic abilities will learn the skills to be safe and comfortable in and around water. Children work at their own pace on basic aquatic skills.
CHILDREN PRIVATE, SEMI-PRIVATE AND EXTENDED LESSONS
Children who want to enhance specific water skills, or those with busy family schedules can take Private or Semi-Private swim lessons at the Geyer Family YMCA. Both options offer seven classes per session and are scheduled directly with the Geyer Aquatics Department, allowing the student flexibility on timing. Private lessons offer a one-to-one instructor/student ratio, with personalized attention targeting the student’s specific needs. The individual attention provides enthusiastic swimmers the opportunity to brush up on previously learned skills or master new ones in short order.
Sometimes it’s better with a buddy! Semi-private lessons are for two children working with one instructor where they can make significant progress in this smaller class setting. To ensure both students realize maximum benefits, they must be at the same swim level. If only one student attends a scheduled Semi-Private class, it counts as a class for the absent student as well; a private make-up class will not be offered. Call 973-783-7640 or ask for information at the Welcome Center.
$260
for 7 lessons
Classes per session: 7
Class Length: 30 minutes
Membership Required
$350 ($175 per child)
for 7 lessons
Classes per session: 7
Class Length: 30 minutes
Membership Required
SWIM AT PARK STREET YMCA
SCHOOL AGE
Swim lessons for school age children are available from 6 years and up for the following classes:
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 6-11
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 6-11
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.
BARRACUDA CLUB
Ages 8-16
As an introduction to a swim workout, the Barracuda Club program is comprised of warm-up, endurance drills and cool down while using the pace clock with the opportunity to use equipment such as fins, pull-buoys and paddles. Prerequisite Successful completion of Stages 1 thru 6.
PORPOISE CLUB
Ages 8-16
Focus in the Porpoise Club is on stroke refinement aimed at efficiency and power to improve racing skills such as streamlines, pull-outs and dives. Prerequisite Successful completion of Stages 1 thru 6.
ADVANCED STROKE CLINIC
Ages 6-11
Advanced Stroke Clinic (ASC) is a class that commits to one particular stroke each class meeting. All strokes will be covered during the session. Focus is on technique while building endurance for efficient swimming. It is ideal for, but not limited to, participants who are interested in joining our Dolphins Swim Team. Requirements Successful completion of stages 1 thru 6 and at least one Porpoise and one Barracuda session.
TWEEN SWIM LESSONS
Ages 11-17
Tween Swim is a class exclusively for youth 11 years and up who are learning how to swim. This class will increase their confidence, while developing basic water skills in a pleasant learning environment with peers of the same age group.
MARLINS PRELIFEGUARD PREP
Ages 13+
Designed to prepare Members interested in becoming lifeguards, Marlins Club focuses on the importance of safety in and around an aquatic environment, while training participants in the necessary techniques and mechanics of water rescue. Successful completion will qualify participants to register for one of our American Red Cross Lifeguard Classes.
NEW Aquatics Inclusion Class Ages 8-Adult
This unique program is designed 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 SWIM LESSONS AND CLINICS
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.
Large Pool
Experienced adult swimmers can improve endurance and increase their distance swimming. Participants should be comfortable swimming in deep water.
Membership Required
ADULT PRIVATE, SEMI-PRIVATE AND EXTENDED LESSONS
Call 973-744-3400 or ask for information at the Welcome Center. Private lessons request forms are available at the Welcome Center.
$150
3/30 min. lessons
$270
6/30 min. lessons
We provide one-on-one personal instruction to better accommodate members' busy schedules.
Membership Required
$80 per person
3/30 min. lessons
$150 per person
6/30 min. lessons
Two to three students at the same swim level can pair up with one instructor for more personalized and targeted attention.
Membership Required
$180
3/30 min. lessons
$330
6/30 min. lessons
$225
3/45 min. lessons
$420
6/45 min. lessons
Private lessons are available with the Swim Team Coaches, Aquatics Director or highly experienced certified swim instructors.
Membership Required
In order to be placed in the correct swim stage, with the exception of those registering for Stage 1, new students must be evaluated. Current YMCA members must register in person or online for all programs. Community registrants must register in person at the Park Street YMCA facility. Early registration is encouraged as classes are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Swim Level Evaluation: By Appointment Only. Please contact the Welcome Center.
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.