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PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
Click on a program to read more about itAerobic Waves and Wet & Wyld
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:
Put on a lifejacket, paddle short distance
Boating safety; ride on boat safely while wearing
lifejacket
Call for help, call for adult or dial 911 if someone is in
trouble
Climb down and up fireman’s pole
Pass ball back and forth while floating on noodle
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:
Jump into deep water, return to side
Lifejacket and boating safety
Call for help, 911 for someone in trouble; reaching
assist with noodle
Tub float with or without noodle
Pass and catch ball
Climb down and up fireman’s pole
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
Designed for non-swimmers, ages 6 –12, this beginnerlevel 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.
