Aquatics / Swim Lessons
Find Aquatics / Swim Lesson Programs & Activities
Swimming is a life skill. The YMCA has been teaching people of Central Indiana how to swim for over 150 years, especially children, helping them to be safe around water and prevent accidents.
Water fitness and swimming provide health benefits across the lifespan, from young to those young-at-heart. Participants safely enjoy aquatic classes at all levels, from beginner to expert. Our parent and child lessons help toddlers get comfortable in the water; while all preschool and youth swim lessons develop progressive skills, building upon a child’s confidence in and out of the pool. All Y swim lessons can be group or private, including instruction for teen and adults. As a result, we make it easy for everyone to learn this important life skill.
For a guide to understanding your child’s skill level, check skill level guide.
Swim Lessons
This program introduces infants and toddlers to the aquatic environment
Parents accompany children in stage A, which introduces infants and toddlers to the aquatic environment through exploration and encourages them to enjoy themselves while learning about the water.
- Blow Bubbles – on surface, assisted
- Front Tow – chin in water, assisted
- Water Exit – parent & child together
- Water Entry – parent & child together
- Back Float – assisted, head on shoulder
- Roll – assisted
- Front Float – chin in water, assisted
- Back Tow – assisted, head on shoulder
- Wall Grab – assisted
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This program focuses on exploring body positions, blowing bubbles, and fundamental safety and aquatic skills.
In stage B, parents work with their children to explore body positions, floating, blowing bubbles, and fundamental safety and aquatic skills.
- Blow Bubbles – mouth & nose submerged, assisted
- Front Tow – blow bubbles, assisted
- Water Exit – assisted
- Water Entry – assisted
- Back Float – assisted, head on chest
- Roll – assisted
- Front Float – blow bubbles, assisted
- Back Tow – assisted, head on chest
- Monkey Crawl – assisted, on edge, 5 ft.
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This program increases comfort with underwater exploration and introduces basic self-rescue skills performed with assistance.
Students develop comfort with underwater exploration and learn to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water in stage 1. This stage lays the foundation that allows for a student’s future progress in swimming.
- Blow Bubbles – mouth & nose submerged, assisted
- Front Tow – blow bubbles, assisted
- Water Exit – assisted
- Water Entry – assisted
- Back Float – assisted, head on chest
- Roll – assisted
- Front Float – blow bubbles, assisted
- Back Tow – assisted, head on chest
- Monkey Crawl – assisted, 10 ft.
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This swim program encourages forward movement in water and basic self-rescue skills performed independently.
In stage 2, students focus on body position and control, directional change, and forward movement in the water while also continuing to practice how to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water.
- Submerge – look at object on bottom
- Front Glide – 10 ft. (5 ft. preschool)
- Water Exit – independently
- Jump, Push, Turn, Grab
- Back Float – 20 secs. (10 secs. preschool)
- Roll
- Front Float – 20 secs. (10 secs. preschool)
- Back Glide – 10 ft. (5 ft. preschool)
- Tread Water – 10 secs., near wall, & exit
- Swim, Float, Swim – 5 yd.
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This swim program develops intermediate self-rescue skills performed at longer distances than in previous stages
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.
- Submerge Retrieve – object in chest-deep water
- Swim on Front – 15 yd. (10 yd. preschool)
- Water Exit – independently
- Jump, Swim, Turn, Swim, Grab – 10 yd.
- Swim on Back – 15 yd. (10 yd. preschool)
- Roll
- Tread Water – 1 min. & exit (30 secs. preschool)
- Swim, Float, Swim – 25 yd. (15 yd. preschool)
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This swim program introduces basic stroke technique in front crawl and back crawl
Water safety is reinforced through treading water and elementary backstroke. 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.
- Endurance – any stroke or combination of strokes, 25 yd.
- Front Crawl – rotary breathing, 15 yd.
- Back Crawl – 15 yd.
- Dive – sitting
- Resting Stroke – elementary backstroke, 15 yd.
- Tread Water – scissor & whip kick, 1 min.
- Breaststroke – kick, 15 yd.
- Butterfly – kick, 15 yd.
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This swim program introduces breast-stroke and butterfly
Water safety is reinforced through treading water and sidestroke. 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.
- Endurance – any stroke or combination of strokes, 50 yd.
- Front Crawl – bent-arm recovery, 25 yd.
- Back Crawl – pull, 25 yd.
- Dive – kneeling
- Resting Stroke – sidestroke, 25 yd.
- Tread Water – scissor & whip kick, 2 mins.
- Breaststroke – 25 yd.
- Butterfly – simultaneous arm action & kick, 15 yd.
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This program refines stroke technique on all major competitive strokes
Encourages participants to include swimming as part of a healthy lifestyle. 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 – any stroke or combination of strokes, 150 yd.
- Front Crawl – flip turn, 50 yd.
- Back Crawl – pull & flip turn,50 yd.
- Dive – standing
- Resting Stroke – elementary backstroke or sidestroke, 50 yd.
- Tread Water – retrieve object off bottom, tread 1 min.
- Breaststroke – open turn, 50 yd.
- Butterfly – 25 yd.
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Private swim lessons allow for accelerated learning
Swim lessons offer individualized attention for each student. Participants will receive eight thirty-minute lessons customized by skill level and goals.
Request for Private Swim Lessons
Phone: (317) 881-9347
Semi-Private swim lessons are great for siblings, family members, and friends
These lessons allow two or more participants of similar skill level and age to learn together. Participants will receive eight thirty minute lessons with flexible scheduling that can be customized to your goals and needs.
Request for Private Swim Lessons
Phone: (317) 881-9347
Water Fitness
High intensity deep water fun!
Easily adaptable for all fitness levels, this deep water group exercise class puts the fun into an intense, high impact workout. This is a great class for anyone with joint problems.
Phone: (317) 881-9347
This is the perfect class for those with flexibility and stiffness issues
Warmth and buoyancy of water can decrease pain and/or stiffness and improve joint flexibility. With a RPE rating (rate of perceived exertion) of 2-3, this class is perfect for participants with Arthritis or Fibromyalgia, or for those recovering from injury.
Phone: (317) 881-9347
A high-intensity swim training program that combines both cardiovascular and muscle conditioning
The class utilizes both the deep and shallow end of the pool.
Phone: (317) 881-9347
Encourages people of all ages to utilize the buoyant qualities of water to enhance their physical fitness.
An ideal form of exercise for all ages and abilities, and the relaxation after a water workout is wonderful!
Phone: (317) 881-9347
Specialty Classes & Programs
Water fitness program specially designed for new and soon to be mothers
This class provides low and moderate intensity exercise and strengthens muscles stressed in childbearing.
Phone: (317) 881-9347
For children who love to swim but aren’t quite ready for the commitment of a swim team
Stroking Onward focuses on the continued development of the Y’s progressive swim skills as well as the responsibility of water safety.
View Days & TimesWater Access for Very Exceptional Swimmers (Ages 3+).
WAVES is a 40 minute class designed to benefit people with special needs.
This program encourages participants to use their physical attributes to the best of their abilities, while enhancing their spirits and minds with positive reinforcement. (Parents may be encouraged to swim with younger participants.)
View Days & TimesThe YMCA offers certified Lifeguard Training for ages 16 and up.
The YMCA Lifeguard Training course is the most comprehensive program available, including certifications in CPR/AED, Basic Life Support, First Aid and Oxygen Administration.Training in equipment-based rescues for aquatic environments, accident prevention and decision-making skills prepare participants for employment.
Participants must be 16 years old before the start of class. Attendance, full participation, and successful completion of written tests and performance of all water skills are required.
Participants must be able to:
- Tread water for at least 2 minutes
- Swim 100 yards of front crawl
- Swim 50 yards each of front crawl with head up, sidestroke, breaststroke, breaststroke with head up, inverted breaststroke kick with hands on stomach
- Perform a feet-first surface dive in 8 to 10 feet of water and then swim underwater for 15 feet
- Perform a series of tasks given by the instructor to demonstrate listening and scanning ability as well as stamina and endurance
Day Camp Swim Lessons
Ages 3-12yrs
This Swim Lesson Enrichment Program consists of four classes.
Class series is offered in a one-week period. Registration occurs weekly. You can sign up for just 1 week or every week. Counselors will bring your camper to their swim lesson and return them to camp when lessons are over.
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