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.

Program Locations

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.

AQUATICS INCLUSION CLASS Ages 6 years and up 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.

Schedules at a Glance
Schedules at a Glance
Swim Lesson Selector
Pool Policies

PARENT/CHILD

Dad teaching baby to swim in indoor pool playful moment

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.

  • PARENT/CHILD STAGES A & B

  • Water Exploration & Water Discovery
  • Ages 6 months to 3 years

PRESCHOOL

Child swimming with pool noodle in a bright blue water setting.

In addition to water safety, preschool-age children learn water acclimation, water movement, water stamina, and water stroke introduction in stages 0-4.

  • PRESCHOOL STAGES 0-4

  • Water Acclimation, Water Movement, and More
  • Ages 3 to 5 years

SCHOOL AGE

Children taking a swimming lesson with instructor in a pool

In addition to water safety, school-age children learn water acclimation, water movement, water stamina, water stroke development, water stroke mechanics, water endurance sports & games, and aquatics conditioning in stages 1-7. An Aquatics Inclusion class is also offered for participants with diverse abilities.

  • SCHOOL AGE STAGES 1-7

  • Water Acclimation, Water Movement, and More
  • Ages 6 to 16 years

ADULT/TEEN

Senior man enjoying swimming with foam noodle in pool

Swim lessons are not just for kids! In addition to learning water safety, teens and adults can refresh their skills with beginner – intermediate/advanced levels.

  • ADULT/TEEN STAGES 1-6

  • Beginners, Intermediate/Advanced

  • Ages 13 years and Up

STROKE CLINICS

This clinic is for swimmers with basic ability and are able to swim a minimum of 50 yards. All four competitive strokes are evaluated and corrected with the use of drills and corrective feedback to further develop existing skills. The goal of the clinic is to help swimmers improve stroke technique and teach drills that will enable the continued refinement of the stroke. Swimmers are not required to swim all strokes and may work on only those strokes they choose. Swimmers must wear a cap and goggles. During the clinic, hand paddles and fins may be used. Participant may use ours or bring their own.

  • ADULT/TEEN

  • Intermediate/Advanced

  • Ages 18 years and Up

COMPETITIVE STROKE CLINICS

Targeted Swim Clinics are designed for current or aspiring swim team participants. Clinics will be conducted by the YMCA of Montclair’s swim team coaches. These are clinics to IMPROVE strokes, NOT TEACH strokes. Clinics are held at the Park Street YMCA.

DETAILS:

  • AGES 6-18

  • Swimmers must be able to swim 50 years of each stroke.

  • Non swim team participants must swim proficiently at Stage 6 or higher: 1. Front Crawl (Freestyle) 2. Backstroke 3. Butterfly 4. Breaststroke

Helpful Reminders

Make-up classes are not available due to instructor/student ratio requirements. A system credit may be issued for missed classes provided a doctor’s note is presented to the Aquatics Department within 7 days of the missed class.

Refunds will only be issued if we must cancel a class due to lack of registration. A 75% refund will be issued provided participants give notice one week before the start of the program. No refunds are issued once a program has started.

Reusable swim diapers or disposable swim diapers with plastic pant covering is required for all program participants who are not potty-trained. Diapers are not permitted in the pool at any time.

Swim caps are required for program participants ages 5 years and older.

Program participants must wear a swimsuit (no street clothes), pool deck shoes (flip flops, slides, crocs, etc.), goggles, swim cap, and must bring a towel.

The YMCA of Montclair is dedicated to the safety and well-being of our members and program participants. The YMCA maintains a safe environment by closing swimming pools when there is lightning and thunder. Thunder is the sound of lightning, which is a warning that lightning is either present or will soon be visibly present. The YMCA of the USA, FEMA, the American Red Cross, NOAA, and the National Lightning Safety Institute all advise not to use plumbing of any kind during thunder and lightning and to stay clear of windows. For these reasons, our YMCA pools will close if there is lightning and thunder within 10 miles of the branch’s location. YMCA of Montclair staff will use the Weather Bug app to monitor lightning strikes. Pools will remain closed until 30 minutes after the last lightning strike.
 
Swim lessons may be canceled in advance of an anticipated storm. We recommend calling the branch directly whenever you hear thunder or see lightning before heading over to the branch. Please understand that weather is unpredictable and pool status can change at any time. 
 
We thank you for your cooperation and understanding of our Thunder and Lightning Policy.

Swim Lesson Evaluations

Swim Lesson Evaluations are free to YMCA of Montclair members and a fee of $35 for non-members. A YMCA of Montclair membership is needed to enroll in classes and programs. Evaluations are not needed to enroll in Stage 1. A swim evaluation is required if your child is new to our program and wants to participate in Stage 2 or higher, or if 6 months have passed for a former participant. Our program is a progressive program, and students may spend several sessions in the same stage until skills are mastered to be promoted to the next Stage. Early registration is encouraged as classes are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Reservations are not required! Swim lesson evaluations for ages 6 year and older are offered Monday through Thursday from 3pm-3:45pm. Evaluations are not needed to enroll in School Age Stage 1. Please note a swim cap is required at the Park Street location for adults and children ages 5 and older.

Reservations are not required! Swim lesson evaluations for ages 3-5 are offered Thursday’s 3:20pm- 3:50pm & Saturday’s 2:30pm-3:30pm.

THANK YOU TO OUR FUNDERS

Thank you to the YMCA of the USA Strategic Initiatives Fund, NJ YMCA State Alliance, USA Swimming Foundation, and Association of Aquatics Professionals for their generous support that helps us provide swim lessons and access to water safety and drowning prevention programs to children who would not otherwise have the opportunity to learn to swim.

PARK STREET CONTACT

Brett Ilie, Director of Aquatic Operations
[email protected]
(973) 415-6130

GEYER FAMILY CONTACT

Claire LaMonica, Aquatics Coordinator
[email protected]
973-415-6123