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 that 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 a child’s confidence in and out of the pool. All Y swim lessons can be a group or private setting, including instruction for teen and adults. As a result, we make it easy for everyone to learn this important life skill.
In 2019, the Jordan YMCA was chosen as one of 78 Make a Splash programs in the U.S. to receive grant money from the USA Swimming Foundation in 2019. The awarded money will go toward Jordan’s continued efforts to provide free or reduced cost swim lessons. The USA Swimming Foundation awarded a total of $436,515 to programs across the country that will provide swim lessons to an estimated 16,000 children.
Click Here to learn more about the Make a Splash Grant.
For more information about the Jordan Y swim lessons and classes, please contact Lexi Manges at lmanges@indymca.org.
Group 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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Beginner: (Ages 13+)
Designed to help non-swimmers feel comfortable in the water
Swimmers progress at their own pace and learn the enjoyment of water activities. Each session meets once a week for 6 weeks.
Intermediate: (Ages 13+) Designed for swimmers who feel comfortable in the shallow and deep ends of the pool, but now need to develop their swimming stroke. This class is not intended for those only needing technical refinement. Each session meets once a week for 6 weeks. For advanced instruction ask about MultiFit Alpha.
View Days & TimesPrivate/Semi-Private Swim Lessons
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
Email UsSemi-Private Swim Lessons
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
Email UsSpecialty Classes & Programs
This water-based class will build endurance in all competitive swim strokes while sampling various aquatic sports and games. Class drills will change each week and will involve activities such as swim sprints, water polo dribbling, snorkeling, synchronized swim moves, and more! For maximum enjoyment, participants should already be intermediate/advanced swimmers.
View Days & TimesGet your Aquatic Badges at the YMCA
In Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts or Brownies? Bring your scouts to the YMCA to earn their aquatic badges. Call (317) 547-9622 x240 to make your reservation.
Email UsYouth Swim Team
Join the NEW Jordan Mussel competitive youth swim team!
Designed for developmental as well as advanced swimmers, team members will compete with other YMCAs as well as other teams in the state. Practicing twice a week, the developmental group will focus on key swim team skills that include starts, turns, and stroke development. Meeting three times a week, the advanced group will practice with an emphasis on endurance building and stroke mechanics.
Various day and pricing options available
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Certifications & Training
The 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
Here’s your chance to learn diving techniques and equipment usage
Soon you will be exploring life underwater. The YMCA’s SCUBA courses have introduced many people to the adventurous diving lifestyle!
Contact your YMCA Center for Registration Information
View Days & TimesWater Fitness
Known as the Zumba “pool party”
With a RPE rating of 4-6 Aqua Zumba gives new meaning to the idea of an invigorating workout. Splashing, stretching, twisting, even shouting, laughing, hooting and hollering are often heard during an Aqua Zumba class. Integrating the Zumba formula and philosophy with traditional aqua ftness disciplines, Aqua Zumba blends it all together into a safe, challenging, water-based workout that’s cardio-conditioning, body-toning, and most of all, exhilarating beyond belief.
Water Aerobics ScheduleA high-intensity swim training program that combines both cardiovascular and muscle conditioning
The class utilizes both the deep and shallow end of the pool.
Water Aerobics ScheduleHigh 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.
Water Aerobics ScheduleThis 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.
Water Aerobics Schedule