Swimming Lessons

Safe swimming and having fun. That's what its all about at the Y!

At the Le Mars Indoor & Outdoor Aquatic Center, we offer swim lessons to infants/toddlers, elementary school kids, teenagers, and Adults. We believe that swimming is a vital skill that everyone should learn in life. These lessons help to introduce kids/adults to basic swimming skills and enhance these skills through progressive lessons that turn beginners into experts.

Group lessons are more structured in what they go through to help groups of kids pass through swim lessons. These lessons are great for kids who learn better in group settings and don't get easily distracted by other kids.
Private lessons are one instructor to one child. They are more specialized for that specific child and allow more time to work on specific skills that they may struggle with. These lessons are great for kids who have a hard time learning in group settings or need the attention of a one-on-one setting.

Types of swim lesson levels offered:

Parent & Infant/toddler swim lessons are about introducing kids into the water and educating parents on water safety and basic skills.
Pre-school swim lessons introduce toddlers to the water and give them a head start on the Learn to Swim levels once they are older.
Learn to swim lessons teach kids strokes and techniques to stay safe in the water. These skills are built with intensity and knowledge at every level.

Which level of swim lessons does your child need?

The Le Mars YMCA offers American Red Cross Swim Lessons to kids and adults of all ages.
- Infants and toddlers (6 months to 3 years old): Can participate in our parent & infant/toddler class or do private swimming lessons. This class requires the parent to be in the water with their child and follow instructions from the instructor to lead their child through skills and educate them on water safety.

- Children 3 years through 5 years old: Can participate in our preschool swim lessons (Group and Private). The skills in these levels are built to introduce the kids to the water and start beginner swimming skills in the 3 levels offered. Once all skills/levels are passed they can go directly to Learn to Swim Level 3.

- Children 6 years old and older: Can participate in our Learn to Swim lessons (Group and Private). This program consists of 6 levels that start with beginner skills and work up to more advanced skills.

- Adults: we offer private swimming lessons that are based on where their skills are and what they are looking to learn or achieve.

Please understand that your child may not pass a level immediately and it may take multiple sessions to build on skills.
Instructors will talk to you throughout the lessons and give you updates on your child's progress and if there may be things you can do to help them pass levels.

If this is your child's first time taking swim lessons you can call the YMCA or Email our Aquatic Director Jack Eckstaine @ Jacke@lemarsymca.org to help determine what level to start your child at. If your child has taken lessons at our Indoor or Outdoor pool in the past you can call or email us as we keep this on file.

Youth Private and Semi-Private Swim Lessons

An instructor will guide the participant through individualized lesson plans designed to meet the needs of the participant. Click on the link below to request lessons and our Aquatic Director will match you with an instructor. Lessons must be paid for by the first day of lessons.

Outdoor Pool Summer 2024 Private Swim Lesson Request Form:
https://forms.gle/gy61V2nfja5xy2V49

We are currently full for our spring private swim lessons. You can click the link above to submit a form for our Summer 2024 private swim lessons. PLEASE remember you will not be contacted about scheduling these lessons until May at the earliest.

Fee:
Private: $80.00 for five 30-minute sessions (1 child/instructor)
Semi-Private: $65.00 per child for five 40-minute sessions (2 children at the same level/instructor)

Parent & Infant/Toddler Swimming Lessons (6-36 months)

Introduce your tot to swimming with parent & infant/toddler swim lessons. These swim lessons will help educate and direct parents on how to help their infants & toddlers learn and develop in a fun and safe aquatic Environment. Parent & infant/toddler swim lessons focus more on introducing young kids to the water and exploring in a controlled environment. Along with giving parents the tools to help develop their little swimmer and be a part of the experience.

Level	Class Information	Swimming & Safety Skills
Parent & Infant/Toddler	5, 30-minute classes	During this lesson, an instructor will assist parents with helping their children interact safely and effectively in the water. You will learn techniques to support your child during front/back floats and help them relax in the water. The purpose of these lessons is to introduce young kids to the water and encourage them to interact with the water in a safe environment. A Parent must be in the water for every child present in the class.

Preschool Swim Lessons (3-5 years old)

Introduce your child to the water with swimming lessons that will teach them beginner skills and strokes to start their education to keep them safe in the water. These levels will help young children become comfortable in the water in a fun, learning environment. Participants must be at least 3 years old to enroll in preschool swim lessons.

Level	Class Information	Swimming & Safety Skills
Pre-school Level 1	Group Swim Lessons: 10 lessons are offered, and 8 are guaranteed - 30-minute classes Ratio: 1 teacher: 5 students Private Swim Lessons: 5 Lessons are offered and guaranteed - 30-minute classes. Ratio: 1 Teacher: 1 Student.	To pass to the next level the following skills must be completed: Enter and exit the water using a ladder, steps, or side of the pool. - Blow bubbles through mouth and nose. Submerge their mouth, nose, and eyes. Open eyes underwater and retrieve submerged objects in shallow water. Front & Back glide for 2 body lengths and stand up. Roll from front to back and back to front while swimming. Tread with arm/hand and leg actions. Kicking on front & back. Elementary backstroke arm and leg actions on the back.
Pre-school Level 2	Group Swim Lessons: 10 lessons are offered, 8 are guaranteed - 30-minute classes. Ratio: 1 teacher: 5 students. Private Swim Lessons: 5 Lessons are offered and guaranteed - 30-minute classes. Ratio: 1 Teacher: 1 Student.	To pass to the next level the following skills must be completed: Enter the water by stepping into should-deep water. Exit water using a ladder, steps, or poolside. Bob 5 times (Submerge entire body and head underwater). Open eyes underwater and retrieve submerged objects in chest-deep water. Front and back glides for 4 body lengths. Front and Back float for 10 seconds and recover to a standing position. Roll from front to back and back to front while kicking. Tread water using arm and leg actions. Elementary Backstroke arm and leg actions on the Back. Flutter Kick leg actions on front and back. Back Crawl arm actions on Back.
Pre-school Level 3	Group Swim Lessons: 10 lessons are offered, 8 are guaranteed - 30-minute classes. Ratio: 1 teacher: 5 students. Private Swim Lessons: 5 Lessons are offered and guaranteed - 30-minute classes. Ratio: 1 Teacher: 1 Student.	To pass to the next level the following skills must be completed: Enter water by jumping into shoulder-deep water. Fully submerged and holding breath for 10 seconds while blowing bubbles. Bobbing 10 times in chest-deep water (Fully submerge) Front float for 20 seconds. Back float for 20 seconds. Recover from a front/back float/glide to a standing position. Tread water for 30 seconds in shoulder-deep water. Elementary backstroke on the back for 5 body lengths. Back Crawl arm action on back for 5 body lengths Flutter kick leg actions on front and back for 5 body lengths.

Learn to Swim Lessons (6 years old and older)

Learn to swim lessons teach kids techniques and strokes to help keep them safe in the water. With every level, kids will learn more skills and be required to demonstrate these skills with increasing intensity at every level.
Participants must be at least 6 years old to enroll in Group Learn to Swim lessons.

Level	Class Information	Swimming, Diving & Safety Skills
Level 1	Group Swim Lessons: 10 lessons are offered, and 8 are guaranteed - 30-minute classes. Ratio: 1 teacher: 5 students. Private Swim Lessons: 5 Lessons are offered and guaranteed - 30-minute classes. Ratio: 1 Teacher: 1 Student.	To pass to the next level the following skills must be completed: Enter and exit water using a ladder, steps, or side independently. Blow bubbles through mouth and nose independently. Bobbing independently Open eyes under water and retrieve submerged objects independently. Front/Back Glides and Floats independently. Tread water using arm/hand and leg actions with minimal support in shoulder-deep water. Flutter Kick leg actions on Front and Back Elementary backstroke arm and leg actions on Back Front crawl and Back crawl arm and leg actions on Front and Back
Level 2	Group Swim Lessons: 10 lessons are offered, and 8 are guaranteed - 30-minute classes. Ratio: 1 teacher: 5 students. Private Swim Lessons: 5 Lessons are offered and guaranteed - 30-minute classes. Ratio: 1 Teacher: 1 Student.	To pass to the next level the following skills must be completed: Everything listed in Learn to Swim Level 1 plus: Front / Back Float Independently. Change the direction of travel while swimming in front and back independently. Tread water using arm and leg actions independently. Elementary Backstroke arm and leg actions on front and back independently. Front crawl and Back crawl arm and leg actions on Front and back
Level 3A	Group Swim Lessons: 10 lessons are offered, and 8 are guaranteed - 45-minute classes. Ratio: 1 teacher: 6 students. Private Swim Lessons: 5 Lessons are offered and guaranteed - 30-minute classes. Ratio: 1 Teacher: 1 Student.	To pass to the next level the following skills must be completed: Everything listed in Learn to Swim Levels 1 and 2 plus: Bobbing while moving to safety successfully and independently. Jump from the side in deep water, fully submerge, then recover to the surface and return to the side. Rotary Breathing for 10 - 15 Yards. Front / Back Float successfully and independently for a minimum of 30 seconds. Change from vertical to horizontal position on front and back successfully and independently. Tread water for a minimum of 30 seconds with all 3 kicks (Rotary, Whip, & Scissor). Push off in a streamlined position on front/back and flutter kick for 10 yards. Front Crawl / Back Crawl / and Elementary Backstroke for a minimum of 15 yards successfully and independently. Jump into deep water from the side or diving board, recover, tread water for 30 seconds, and swim to the side of the pool. Push off into a streamlined position, swim front crawl for 15 yards, change direction and swim 15 yards elementary backstroke
Level 3B	Group Swim Lessons: 10 lessons are offered, 8 are guaranteed - 45-minute classes. Ratio: 1 teacher: 8 students. Private Swim Lessons: 5 Lessons are offered and guaranteed - 30-minute classes. Ratio: 1 Teacher: 1 Student.	To pass to the next level the following skills must be completed: Everything listed in Levels 1, 2, and 3A plus: Headfirst entries from the side in sitting and kneeling positions successfully and independently (Provided pool depth is at least 9 - Feet Deep). Survival / Front / Back Float for 1 minute successfully and independently. While in a vertical position, rotate 1 full turn in deep water. Tread water for a minimum of 1 minute successfully and independently for each kick (Rotary, Whip, Scissor). Flutter, scissor, dolphin, and breaststroke kicks on front/back/side minimum 15 yards successfully and independently. Front Crawl with rotary breathing, Back Crawl, and Elementary Backstroke minimum of 15 yards successfully and independently. Jump into the deep water from the side, recover, tread water for 1 minute, and rotate one full turn, swim front crawl, and/or elementary backstroke for 25 yards. Push off in a streamlined position then swim front crawl for 15 yards, change position/direction as necessary, and swim elementary backstroke for 15 yards.
Level 4	Group Swim Lessons: 10 lessons are offered, and 8 are guaranteed - 45-minute classes. Ratio: 1 teacher: 6 students. Private Swim Lessons: 5 Lessons are offered and guaranteed - 30-minute classes. Ratio: 1 Teacher: 1 Student.	To pass to the next level the following skills must be completed: Everything in Learn to Swim levels 1, 2, and 3 plus: Headfirst entries from the side in compact and stride positions successfully and independently. Swim under a minimum of 5 body lengths successfully and independently. Feet-first surface dive provided the pool depth is 9 feet deep). Survival swimming / Front and back float for a minimum of 1 minute. Front crawl and Back crawl open turns. Tread water using 2 different kicks minimum of 2 minutes (Rotary, Whip, and Scissor). Front crawl, Back crawl, and Elementary Backstroke for a minimum of 25 yards successfully and independently. Breaststroke, Sidestroke, and Butterfly for a minimum of 15 yards successfully and independently. Streamlined flutter and dolphin kicks on back minimum 10 - 15 yards successfully and independently.
Level 5	Group Swim Lessons: 10 lessons are offered, and 8 are guaranteed - 45-minute classes. Ratio: 1 teacher: 10 students. Private Swim Lessons: 5 Lessons are offered and are guaranteed - 30-minute classes. Ratio: 1 Teacher: 1 Student	To pass to the next level the following skills must be completed: Everything in Learn to Swim Levels: 1, 2, 3, and 4 plus: Shallow angle dive from the side then glide and begin a front crawl successfully and independently. Tuck and Pike surface dives, submerge completely successfully and independently. Front Crawl, Back Crawl, and Elementary Backstroke for a minimum of 50 Yards successfully and independently. Breaststroke, Butterfly, and Sidestroke for a minimum of 25 yards successfully and independently. Tread Water for 3 minutes with all 3 kicks (Bicycle, whip, and scissor kick) and with no hands for 2 minutes.
Level 6	Group Swim Lessons: 10 lessons are offered, and 8 are guaranteed - 45-minute classes. Ratio: 1 teacher: 10 students. Private Swim Lessons: 5 Lessons are offered and guaranteed - 30-minute classes. Ratio: 1 Teacher: 1 Student.	To pass to the next level the following skills must be completed: Everything in Learn to Swim Levels: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 plus: Front Crawl, Back Crawl, and Elementary Backstroke for a minimum of 100 Yards successfully and independently. Breaststroke, Butterfly, and Sidestroke for a minimum of 50 Yards successfully and independently. Diving from Poolside: Forward Dive fall-in, Standing Dive, one-part take-off, two-part take-off. Diving from the Diving Board: Forward Dive fall-in, standing dive, One-part take off, Two-part take off. Tread water for 5 minutes with all 3 kicks (Bicycle, whip, and Scissor) and with no hands for 3 minutes. Exit Skills Assessment: Swim 500 Yards continuously using any 3 strokes, swimming at least 50 Yards of each stroke.