Learning to swim gives a child a tremendous sense of accomplishment, builds their confidence level and empowers them to enjoy water activities safely. And nobody does swim lessons like the YMCA. In 2006, YMCAs celebrate the 100 year anniversary of group swim lessons. In 1906, George Corson at the YMCA in Detroit radically changed the way people learned to swim by teaching students strokes outside the pool first, and beginning instruction with the front crawl, typically the easiest stroke to master.
Aquatics are activities all ages can enjoy. Whether you are interested in swimming lessons , lap swim, water exercise or just fun! Our swimming lessons are taught by certified instructors.
COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
"When will my child learn to swim?"
Each child develops at their own pace. Some children may be able to kick their feet and float
on their own with bubbles on the first day while others may need the help of an instructor for
several weeks. Please accept these differences and refrain from comparing one child to the next.
"Why do you use floatation aids?"
There are many reasons including
- Floatation aids encourage self confidence and a positive attitude.
- The child learns to swim without becoming dependent on the instructor and becomes happily independent.
- Floatation aids make learning to swim more enjoyable because the timid child does not have to get his face wet immediately.
- Floatation aids allow extended period of time for the child to practice stroke mechanics without the need to support himself in the water. They help build endurance.
- The child learns to swim in a much shorter period of time and will grow to love the water.
Floatation aids are not safety devices. They are strictly teaching aids. The child must be closely supervised while swimming with a floatation aid.
All preschool classes are 30 minutes. The "bubbles" used in the program are an instructional
flotation device, not a life preserver. Non-participants are asked to leave the pool deck once the
lesson has started. The last class of the session is Family Day. You are invited to watch the entire
class. Siblings that might be watching during Family Day must stay seated.
Preschool Swim Lessons – Parent & Child
(6 months-kindergarten)
An adult must accompany the child in the water - one child per adult. Disposable diapers are
not allowed in the pool. Cloth diapers or tight legged swimsuits with plastic/rubber liners are required.
The instructor will help introduce basic swimming and water safety to your child.
6 months to 18 months
Water adjustment, coordination & fun!
19 months to 35 months
Toddlers are introduced to basic swimming skills through songs and games!
3 years to kindergarten
Children not ready to go in alone. Basic swimming skills introduced through songs and games.
Preschool Swim Lessons –
(3, 4 years – kindergarten)
This program is divided into three levels. Expect your child to spend more than one session at each
level. The instructor will adjust the air level in your child's bubble as needed. Please have your child
visit the bathroom and shower before class begins.
Pike – Beginner Level (without parent)
For younger children who are inexperienced in water but ready to take the plunge. It is the
child's first experience in swim class without a parent. Children at this level may be fearful
and unable to move through the water on their own. The main emphasis at this level is for the child
to become comfortable in the water, adjust to a group situation, and learn to move independently using
a bubble. They are also introduced to basic water safety. Child must be toilet trained.
Eel – Intermediate Level - (Must have passed Pike)
This is an intermediate level for the swimmer who can move through the water independently with or
without a bubble. The child's body position will start to become more horizontal as their paddle stroke
becomes stronger. At this level, the child will learn basic swim skills including rhythmic
breathing and develops swimming endurance. They will also be introduced to the use of life jackets
and water safety awareness.
Ray – Advanced Level - (Must have passed Eel)
This is a more advanced level for the child who can swim without the aid of a bubble. The goals
for this level are increased endurance and confidence. In addition, emphasis is placed on rotary
breathing, diving, and treading water.
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Youth Swim
Lessons –
(1st graders & up)
Polliwog, Guppy, Minnow (beginner-advanced beginner)
This is a beginner-advanced beginner class. Non-swimmer to swimming 25 yards crawl.
Polliwog is an orientation to the pool, water and flotation devices. They will be
introduced to floating rhythmic breathing and paddle stroke while they gain confidence in the water.
Guppy is for children who have a high level of comfort in the water and do not need a flotation device
to stay afloat.
Fish, Flying Fish, Shark (advanced levels)
This is an advanced level class. Swimming 25 yards, rotary breathing and learning all other strokes.
The swimmer at Fish level can swim several lengths of the pool. They will learn elementary backstroke
and breaststroke. Emphasis is also on underwater swimming skills and basic first aid.
At Flying Fish level, students should have refined front and back crawlstrokes and a solid breaststroke.
They will be introduced to butterfly, turns and the individual medley.
Porpoise (highest level – ages 12 & up)
Perfecting all swimming skills. This class has a distinction from the rest of the levels because it is a club and not just
a swim class. It is for those swimmers who have completed SHARK. They will develop leadership
skills through challenging activities such as snorkeling, water polo and competitive swim.
YMCA Lifeguard Training
Participants must be 16 or older at time of
registration for this training program. Must
be able to swim 500 yards, do breaststroke, sidestroke, tread water for one
minute. Must also hold current CPR and First Aid certifications. This class
usually only runs in our Spring I session during March and April.
Adult Aquatics
Adult Swim Lessons
A class to brush up on the basics and even learn
some competitive strokes, while improving their swimming. Registration required.
Aqua Exercise
This drop-in program is in the shallow/deep end of
the pool. Get suited up for this
cardiovascular water workout. Improves flexibility and strength. No registration required.
Aquatic Stretch Class
This is a drop-in program. A relaxing full body stretch class designed to provide
maximum mobility in all joints. Helps relieve arthritis pain. No registration required.
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One of our Aqua Exercise classes in action.
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The following is a copy of the letter handed out to parents at the first swimming class of the session.
Welcome to The Melrose Y instructional swim program. We hope your child will enjoy his/her swimming class and
and that he/she will continue lessons throughout the year. We would like to invite you to visit your child's class and
talk with the instructor during our traditional "peek week", which is the last week of the session. If you have
questions before that, please feel free to call Donna Cerrato, Aquatics Director at 781-665-4360.
Swimming is a skill that will last a lifetime and is something your child will always be able to fall back on, whether
it be for fun, to stay fit or to help recover from an injury. In the more immediate future, his/her teen years, when
he/she heads off to the beach with friends or a pool party, you will rest a little easier knowing he/she was taught
to swim at the Y where swimming also means thinking safety. Something that will last that long and do so much
cannot be learned overnight. All of us here at the Y hope your child will stay and complete the Y Progressive
Swimming Program.
Things You Should Know
- The skill sheets that are handed out the last day of each session are a guideline for you and your child. These
sheets show your child's accomplishments and let you know what they are capable of doing in the water. Safety
and endurance are a top priority in classes at all levels. Each class revolves around building a child's confidence,
safety awareness, swimming endurance and skill level. Moving from one level to another is not a sign of pass
or fail but a sign of readiness.
- Flotation aids (bubbles, barbells, kick boards, etc) are teaching aids that are used throughout the program. They
are used to teach new skills, to reinforce old ones, or when a child becomes fatigued so they can continue to
participate.
- Please be aware that during busy lesson times the children will be assigned a specific place around the pool
deck to meet with the instructor. Please allow your child to go to that assigned meeting place when you enter
the pool area.
- Spectators are not allowed on the pool deck during the lesson time. However, they are invited in for the last
five minutes of the lesson and may observe the entire last class of the session.
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Melrose
YMCA Sharks Swim Team Home Page
The Melrose YMCA Sharks Swim Team have their own informative web site. It can be visited at
http://www.melroseysharks.org/.
Preschool
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