Aquatics / 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

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.

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.

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.

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)

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.

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.

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.

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.

Swim Club for ages 8-16, this is a fun alternative to competitive swim programs

Participants will utilize skills mastered in Y Swim School. Seasons are designed in length to offer swimmers the most from development. The Advanced group participates in YMCA swim meets and may represent the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis in USA Swimming invitational competitions. Contact the Aquatic Director for more details: (317) 554-8077.

The YMCA offers community water safety programs

Safety Around Water is a FREE program held each JUNE,  designed to reach children that are at risk of drowning. Our goal is to teach them basic water safety skills to reduce their risk of drowning. We believe that swimming is an essential life skill for children and adults and that everyone should have access to water safety education.

The Safety Around Water program is funded by the YMCA Annual Campaign, which also helps to reduce or eliminate fees in our other programs for qualifying groups and participants. Please ask your Y’s Aquatics Director how you can signup as a participate or otherwise support one of these vital community programs.

Water 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.)

Adopt-a-Lifeguard program aims to give potential Indianapolis youth a leg up on program fees.

The prerequisite certification cost of becoming a lifeguard is a barrier for many Indianapolis teens; without, this idea first-job is unattainable. Your donation of $50 or $350 gives them access to opportunity and employment. Adopt a lifeguard and start a LIFE-SAVERS’ career.

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

This certification program is for current lifeguards

Lifeguards who need to get re-certified for their CPR/AED for professional rescue.

Heartsaver® CPR AED is a video-based, instructor-led course

The course teaches adult and child CPR and AED use, infant CPR, and how to relieve choking in adults, children, and infants. This course teaches skills with the AHA’s research-proven practice-while-watching technique, which allows instructors to observe the students, provide feedback, and guide the students’ learning of skills. This course is for anyone with limited or no medical training who needs a course completion card in CPR and AED use to meet job, regulatory, or other requirements.

This Heartsaver® course is a combination of our CPR/AED course and first aid course.

You will learn adult, child and infant CPR and AED use, how to relieve choking, as well as how you can respond to basic first-aid emergencies at home, in the workplace, and outdoors.

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!

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.

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.

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.

This is the perfect class for those with flexibility and stiffness issues

With a RPE rating of 2-3 this class is perfect for participants with Arthritis, Fibromyalgia or recovering from injury. Warmth and buoyancy of water can decrease pain and/or stiffness and improve joint flexibility.