GENESEE COUNTY AQUATICS

It’s not just kid stuff.

 

Swim Lessons

          The Y is the starting point for many youth to learn about becoming and staying active, and developing healthy habits they’ll carry with them throughout their lives. And the benefits are far greater than just physical health. Whether it’s gaining the confidence that comes from learning to swim or building the positive relationships that lead to good sportsmanship and teamwork, participating in swim lessons is about building the whole child, from the inside out.

All children between the ages of 3-12 who have not taken a swim lesson at the YMCA must start at Level 1.

Youth (Ages 3 & up)

          Each level of our swim lesson program is designed to teach new skills while fine-tuning what students have already learned. Endurance and safety are stressed at each level and as a student progresses through the program the skills will become more difficult to learn.

          We have established a 35-minute time frame for our youth swim lessons. The 35-minutes allows for the instructors to plan for a perfect mixture of learning and fun. As a child progresses through the levels more emphasis will be placed on learning skills in preparation for swim team. 

 

 

 

Stage 1: This is a beginner level for children. This level allows children to become acquainted with the pool, the use of flotation devices and floating. Students will work on forward movement in the water, front and back glides, and how to safely exit the water. Other skills introduced include: bobbing underwater, swim-float-swim, jump-push-turn, roll from front to back and back to front with assistance and treading water.

Stage 2: Students will continue to practice and build upon basic skills from Level 1, without assistance from an instructor, and perform more skills with limited aid of a flotation device. In Stage 2, students build up endurance to swim 10 to 15 yards on their front and back. Students are introduced to integrated arm and leg action, submerging face while swimming, diving in the deep end, and submerging to retrieve an object from the bottom of the shallow end. Before moving up to Stage 3, students should be able to swim 10-15 yards without the use of a floatation device or an instructor’s assistance.

Stage 3: Students further refine the skills they have learned and build them to become more like those normally when swimming. In Stage 3, students will learn the breaststroke kick and the butterfly kick. Instructors will work on stroke technique for front and back crawl, as well as build on diving skills. By the end of this stage students should be able to swim multiple lengths of the pool, in different strokes.

Stage 4: In Stage 4, students work to further improve their stroke technique, as well as endurance for the crawl stroke, elementary backstroke, back crawl, breaststroke and butterfly. Children will be introduced to fins, flip turns, open turns, and some swimming competition terms. By the end of this stage students should be able to swim 50 to 100 yards of various strokes.

Swim Team Prep: In this advanced level, students work on refining their strokes and increasing their endurance. Instructors will encourage swimmers to use “legal techniques” and proper form while swimming. Students are introduced to and encouraged to use swim team terms and will learn how to understand practice sets. This is a 60-minute class.

 

Water Discovery (Ages 6-18 months)

This is a 30-minute parent-child class to allow your child to get comfortable in the water and have fun. Class consists of acclimating children to the water through songs and play. Parent(s) or a guardian must get in the water with the child.

Water Exploration (Ages 18-36 months)

This is a 30-minute parent-child class to allow your child to continue to get comfortable in the water, as well as begin to learn how to move through the water. Basic skills such as kicking, paddling, and blowing bubbles are taught as well as basic pool safety. Parent(s) or a guardian must get in the water with the child.

Private Swim Lessons

Private swim lessons are available for adults and children, ages 5 and older, who wish to learn to swim on an individual basis. Lessons will be scheduled based on the instructor’s availability, pool availability, and student’s/instructor’s schedule.

Private Swim Lessons Price Guide

 Cancellation Policy and No Show for Private Swim Lessons

Cancellation:

Please provide 24 hours’ notice for cancellation of a private swim lesson. Contact the YMCA via phone and alert your instructor via email. In the event that you cannot provide 24 hours’ notice, please contact the Y as soon as possible. We understand that extenuating circumstances sometimes happen, however, the YMCA reserves the right to still count the cancelled lesson as a lesson used for any cancellation within 24 hours.

No Show:

In the event that you do not show up for a scheduled private swim lesson, the YMCA will count the missed lesson as a lesson used. Three or more “no shows” to scheduled lessons will result in forfeiture of your purchased lessons with no refund.

Lesson Pack Expiration:

All private swim lesson need to be used within a year of date of purchase. 

Water Exercise Classes

          The YMCA offers a wide variety of water exercise classes to meet the needs of our members. Each class is designed with specific goals and objectives. Selecting the right class will ensure you get the most out of your workout. Every class is taught by a YMCA staff member and is supervised by a certified lifeguard.

Water X

A low-impact, high energy aerobics class. Resistance training, flexibility, and strength will help to improve your cardiovascular system. The water provides the perfect environment for this class as many exercises that cannot be done on land are easily accomplished in the pool.

Mon/Wed/Fri: 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.        Tues/Thurs: 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Shallow Water X

All the benefits of Water X without the need to enter the deep end. Swimming experience is not necessary for this class as the entire program is taught in shallow water. Resistance training and flexibility are keys to the structure of this class.

Tues/Thurs: 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Adult Swim

Adult swim time for active older adults to enjoy a quiet pool time.  Noodles and buoys are available upon request.

Mon – Fri: 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. 

Water Tai Chi

Water Tai Chi starts out using light dumbbells for some upper body stretching and finishes with the same tai chi exercises members enjoy on land. This class is low impact so it can be enjoyed by all.

Currently seeking YMCA instructors

Water Yoga

This class uses yoga asana and pranayama while in the water lessening joint stress. Suitable for beginners and regular yoga students. Emphasis will be on connecting breath with movement. There will also be short meditations included.

Currently seeking YMCA instructors

Pool Rules

  • Members and guests must follow pool rules and obey the direction of the YMCA Staff.
  • Members and guests using the pool must take a soapy shower before entering the pool.
  • Proper swim wear is required, no tee shirts or cut-offs. Non-cotton exercise clothing is permitted.
  • No running on the pool deck.
  • No diving in the shallow end. Diving only in water 8 feet deep or deeper.
  • No punching, dunking, rough play or fighting allowed.
  • No hanging on the lane lines or pool dividers.
  • Starting blocks may be used only under the direction the YMCA Staff.
  • No food, drink or gum in the pool area.
  • No jumping from the green deck. Jumping must be done from the white drain area.
  • Non-swimming members and guests are asked to stay in the designated seating/observation area.

NOTE: The lifeguards on duty have the final say in enforcement of the rules.

Pool Policies

  • Members and guests using the YMCA pool must do so in accordance with staff instruction and pool rules. Failure to do so may result in expulsion.
  • Children under the age of nine (9), regardless of their swimming ability, must be accompanied by a parent or adult, 18 years of age or older, who must remain in the pool area while the child(ren) is/are in any family swim activity.
  • Children under the age of six (6), regardless of their swimming ability, must be accompanied in the water at all times by a parent or adult, 18 years of age or older. One adult can supervise a maximum of 4 children.
  • Members and guests wishing to use the deep end of the pool must successfully complete a YMCA Swim Test and wear an identifying wrist band when using the pool.
  • Swim tests are given by YMCA Aquatics Staff. Wrist bands are given out at the Service Desk only.
  • Members and guests who fail the YMCA swim test or decline to take the test will be restricted to the shallow end side of the floating lane line during open swim activities.
  • Only adults and children supervised by adults 18 years of age or older are allowed on the pool deck for observation purposes.
  • Individuals observing pool activities must stay within the designated spectator/observation areas and may not travel into the locker rooms from the pool deck.
  • Adult swim is restricted to individuals 18 years or older.
  • Lap swim is restricted to individuals who are 12 years or older unless supervised by an adult who is 18 years or older.
  • U.S. Coast Guard approved personal floatation devices (PFD) are the only ones permitted. No inflatables.
  • Children under the age of three (3) must wear a specifically designed swim diaper under a bathing suit or as their suit. Children older than 3 but not yet potty trained must also wear a water diaper.
  • Per the Genesee County Health Department, the Genesee County YMCA will close the pool during a thunderstorm and for 30 minutes after the last strike of thunder and/or lightning.