Aquatics

PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
Click on a program to read more about it

Swim Lessons
Lifeguarding
Splash
Arthritis Aquatics
Aerobic Waves and Wet & Wyld
Adapted Aquatics
Swim Team

YMCAs have been teaching people to swim for more than a century.
In the Licking County Family YMCA aquatic program, children learn
to be safe around water and they feel a sense of accomplishment
that comes with learning something new.

Youth progressive swimming is the YMCA's third most widely offered
program nationwide. It uses a problem-solving, guided-discovery
teaching approach in a positive, caring environment. Kids can develop
lifelong skills that can help them stay healthy.

Other YMCA aquatics programs include infant-parent classes,
preschool classes, classes for people with disabilities, and classes
for teens and adults. Additional classes include water exercise and
therapy. Competitive team programs are also available for youth.

Swim Lessons
(classes are all 30-minutes, unless otherwise noted)

Licking County Family YMCA swim lessons are taught in a caring
manner where swimmers can learn about water safety, water rescue
skills, water activities as well as self-confidence and self-esteem.
Class size is determined by the participant’s age and safety factors
to ensure that classes remain at a comfortable and fun level.

Skip
(ages 6 months to 3 years)

Skip is a water adjustment for infants and toddlers, ages
6 months—3 years. Parents work with their children in the water,
helping them feel comfortable in and around water. They practice
how to safely enter and exit the pool, blow bubbles, paddle with help,
sing songs, and play in the water. Most classes are instructor-led,
while some have an instructor only on the first day with parents
working with their children on consecutive days.

Children who are not potty trained must wear a swim diaper in the pool.

Pre-Pike
(ages 2—3 years)

This class is a water adjustment class for toddlers, ages 2—3 years,
who are ready to work on more skills, but are not old enough to start
group lessons (3 years old). Parents work with their children, learning
to kick with a noodle, blow bubbles, get eyes wet, jump in safely and
paddle to the side as well as sing songs and have fun.

Children who are not yet potty trained must wear a swim diaper in the pool.

Preschool Swim Levels
(ages 3—5 years)

Preschool lessons are generally a child’s first experience in the pool
without parental assistance. Children are taught the basic skills that
are the building blocks of swimming. They also learn about pool safety,
boating safety, and the use of personal floatation devices. The classes
are taught by certified YMCA Swim Lessons instructors. Class
participants are divided into the skill levels, and class size is such
that the instructor can provide the child with individual attention.

Pike

Designed for non-swimmers, this beginner level helps children
ages 3—5 years develop safe pool behavior, adjust to the
water in a group situation, and develop independent movement
in the water.

In order to progress to Eel, students must:

Explore water, get face wet and bob under water
Adjust to group situation, follow instructions
Move through water comfortably, without adult support,
on noodle on front, back and side
Swim about 5 feet, with no help or noodle, on front, back and side
Float front & back about 30 seconds with noodle

Other skills learned include:

Eel

This advanced beginner level reinforces Pike skills. It is for
children ages 3-5 years who are already comfortable in and
under the water.

In order to progress to the Ray level, students must:

Swim width of pool on noodle on front, back & side
Consistently swim width of the pool in deep water on front
(face in water), back & side without assistance
Front & back float, 10 seconds with no help

Other skills learned include:

Ray

These advanced levels are usually combined, but children’s
(ages 4 & 5) instruction is still tailored to their individual needs.
At this level of instruction, emphasis is placed on improving
stroke skills and endurance.

Once your child turns 6 years old, he/she should enroll in the
Guppy level. Skills mastered include:

Kick length of pool with kickboard on front, back, and side
Improve form & endurance: swim lengths of pool front crawl with
rhythmic breathing, back crawl, sidestroke, elementary backstroke,
introduction to breaststroke and introduction to butterfly
Tread water, front & back float about 30 seconds
Jump or dive into deep water

Other skills learned include:

Lifejacket and boating safety Dribble, pass, catch ball while
treading or on noodles Call for help - 911, throwing assist Tub,
front & back somersault; swim to bottom, fireman’s pole

Starfish

Children at this level review previously learned skills and begin
underwater swimming skills. Children can swim continuous
lengths of the pool on front and back.

Youth Swim Levels
(ages 6—12 years)

Children in the youth level build upon six levels covering all the
strokes, diving fundamentals and water safety skills. They also
learn about pool safety, boating safety, and the use of personal
floatation devices. The classes are taught by certified YMCA Swim
Lessons instructors. Class participants are divided into the skill
levels, and class size is such that the instructor can provide the
child with individual attention.

Polliwog

level helps school-age children develop safe pool behavior,
adjust to the water, and develop independent movement
through the water.

In order to progress to the Guppy level, students must:

Swim on front, back & side with noodle, width of pool
Consistently swim widths of the pool in deep water on front
(face in water); back and side without assistance
Front and back float, 30 seconds, no help

Other skills learned include:

Jump in deep water, return to side Lifejacket and boating
safety; jump in and swim with lifejacket on Call for help, 911,
reaching assist Dribble, pass, catch ball while floating on
noodle Tub float with or without noodle Climb down and up
fireman’s pole

Guppy

Students, ages 6 –12 at this advanced beginner level will
work on improving stroke skills and endurance. Correct
breathing and coordination of strokes is emphasized.

In order to progress to the Minnow level, students must:

Swim 20 yards each: front crawl with rotary breathing;
back crawl; elementary backstroke; sidestroke;
intro to breaststroke.
Tread water, 20—30 seconds;
Front & back floats, 1 minute each.

Other skills learned include:

Kneeling & standing dives in deep water Tub float and
front & back somersaults Call for help, 911, reaching and
throwing assists Lifejacket and boating safety

Minnow

Designed for students, ages 6—12, who have mastered
the Guppy level. This intermediate class continues to refine
strokes and build endurance. They learn self-discipline
and goal-setting.

In order to progress to the Fish level, students must:

Consistently swim 25 meters each: front crawl with good form;
back crawl with good form, sidestroke with scissors kick;
elementary backstroke; beginning breaststroke.
Tread water 1 minute or more; resting stroke 3 minutes
Standing dive

Other skills learned include:

Reaching and throwing assists; recognize non- breathing
victim, call 911 Dribble, pass, shoot ball while treading
water - Dolphin, oyster Lifejacket and boating safety

Fish

At this advanced intermediate level, students, ages 6-12,
continue to perfect their strokes and increase swimming distances.

In order to progress to Flying Fish students must complete:

Swim 50 meters each, freestyle with good form, back crawl
with shoulder roll, sidestroke with glide; breaststroke with
glide, dolphin kick.

Other skills learned include: Tread water with different kicks,
3 minutes; float 6 minutes Learn about snorkeling, boating
safety, swim with mask and fins Standing dives; sculling head
first and feet first; dribble, pass, shoot ball

Flying Fish

This advanced level is usually combined with Shark, but
students’ (ages 7-12) instruction is still tailored to their
individual needs. Students continue to build endurance
and refine strokes.

To successfully complete these levels students must:

Continuously swim 75 to 100 meters each, using good form,
freestyle, with bent arm pull and front flip turns; backstroke
with bent arm pull and back turns; breaststroke with pullout
and turns; butterfly; sidestroke.

Other skills learned include:

Racing starts; dives Basic rescue and first aid skills Tread
water 4—6 minutes Swim with mask, fins and snorkel Boating
safety Swim underwater, sailboat, ballet leg Shark

At this most advanced level, children continue to improve
their strokes with starts and turns. Opportunities are
provided for further work on synchronized swimming,
wetball and diving skills.

Lifeguarding

This course is designed to train and prepare individuals for the
responsibilities of lifeguarding. The YMCA LIFEGUARD
CERTIFICATION course is a comprehensive program covering a
wide range of skills and topics such as: safety and survival
techniques, accident prevention, guarding techniques, emergency
systems, rescue skills, first aid in aquatic environments, spinal injury
management, weather and open water dangers, legal responsibilities,
pool management and tips on seeking a job in aquatics. The Licking
County Family YMCA program provides lifeguards with skills and
knowledge necessary to keep patrons of aquatic facilities safe in
and around the water. Certification includes:

YMCA Lifeguard
AED Training
Red Cross Lifeguard
Red Cross CPR-PR
Red Cross First Aid
Red Cross Preventing Disease Transmission

Splash

A begin to swim program for non-swimmers ages 6-12 years old.
This class is designed to introduce water safety and beginning
swimming skills. Children should not be expected to swim by the
end of this program.

Arthritis Aquatics

Arthritis Aquatics was jointly developed by the YMCA and the
Arthritis Foundation to help participants feel better and move more
freely. Gentle movements performed in warm water increase or
maintain range of motion, strengthen muscles and enhance overall
fitness. Each exercise is designed to help a specific joint and
surrounding muscles. Exercise in water minimizes stress on joints
and often helps decrease pain and stiffness.

Aerobic Waves and Wet & Wyld

Aerobics Waves and Wet & Wyld are group exercise classes which
enhance strength and flexibility, improve muscle tone and
endurance while at the same time providing a great cardiovascular
workout in the pool.

The aerobic waves class works in the shallow area of the pool while
the wet & wyld class focuses on deep water conditioning.

Adapted Aquatics

Adapted Aquatics is designed to meet the individual needs of children
and adults with developmental disabilities. Emphasis is placed on basic
swim and safety skills. Our program strives for inclusiveness that
includes social interaction for individuals with a physical or
developmental disability as well as accident and disease recovery.
We specialize in promoting health, wellness, and independence by
serving the physically and developmentally challenged.

YMCA Swim Team

The YMCA Swim Team is for youth 6 to 18 who are interested in
competitive swimming. The Swim Team is committed to offering a
quality swim team with emphasis on teaching the value of
competition through teamwork, sportsmanship and doing one's
personal best. The program strives to offer a well-rounded,
value-centered program for every member from the youngest and
newest member to our veteran senior swimmer. The Swim Team
teaches proper stroke technique, promotes self-esteem,
self-discipline and good sportsmanship in order to provide the
opportunity for all participants to set and attain goals for all levels
of swim both individually and as a team member.

http://LCFYSharks.org/