WATCH VIDEO

SIMI VALLEY YMCA

YARROW FAMILY YMCA

Accompanied by a parent, infants and toddlers learn to be comfortable in the water and develop swim readiness. Parents learn about water safety and drowning prevention.

Stage A Water Discovery: The class introduces infants and toddlers to the aquatic environment through exploration.

• Class length: 25 minutes
• Qualification: None needed
• Adult participation: one parent or guardian per child must be in the pool for each lesson

Stage B Water Exploration: Focuses on exploring body positions, blowing bubbles, and fundamental safety and aquatic skills.

• Class length: 25 minutes
• Qualification: Child is comfortable in the water or child has taken Stage A Water Discovery
• Adult participation: one parent or guardian per child must be in the pool for each lesson

VIEW FULL LESSON SELECTOR PDF

Children learn water safety, basic swimming competency, and progress through levels as they develop skills.

Stage 1 Water Acclimation: Preschoolers develop comfort with underwater exploration and are introduced to basic self-rescue skills performed with assistance.

• Class length: 25 minutes
• Qualification: None needed. This class is for kids who aren’t yet comfortable going under water voluntarily.
• Skills Practiced:
  ○ Bob to submerge in water
  ○ Front and back glide to the wall for 5 feet with no help
  ○ Front and back float for 10 seconds with help
  ○ Roll from back to front and front to back with help
  ○ Jump, push, turn, grab with help
  ○ Swim, float, swim 10 feet with help
  ○ Exit the water

Stage 2 Water Movement: Preschoolers focus on body position and control, directional change, and forward movement in the water, while also continuing to practice how to safely exit in the event of falling into water.

• Class length: 25 minutes
• Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 1 skills.
• Skills Practiced:
  ○ Submerge to look at an object on the bottom of the pool
  ○ Front and back glide to the wall for 5 feet
  ○ Front and back float for 10 seconds
  ○ Roll from back to front and front to back
  ○ Jump, push, turn, grab
  ○ Swim, float, swim 5 yards
  ○ Tread water near the wall for 10 seconds
  ○ Exit the water

Stage 3 Water Stamina: Preschoolers learn how to swim to safety from a longer distance than in previous stages. The class also introduces rhythmic breathing and integrated arm/leg action.

• Class length: 25 minutes
• Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 2 skills.
• Skills Practiced:
  ○ Retrieve an object in chest-deep water
  ○ Swim on front and back for 10 yards
  ○ Roll from back to front and front to back
  ○ Jump, push, turn, grab 10 yards
  ○ Swim, float, swim 15 yards
  ○ Tread water for 30 seconds
  ○ Exit the water

Stage 4 Stroke Introduction: Having mastered the fundamentals, preschoolers learn additional water safety skills and build stroke technique.

• Age: 3-5 years
• Class length: 25 minutes
• Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 3 skills.
• Skills Practiced:
  ○ Swim the front crawl with rotary breathing for 15 yards
  ○ Breaststroke kick for 15 yards
  ○ Butterfly kick for 15 yards
  ○ Elementary backstroke for 15 yards
  ○ Dive from a sitting position
  ○ Tread water using a scissor and whip kick for one minute
  ○ Swim any combination of strokes for 25 yards

VIEW FULL LESSON SELECTOR PDF

Students learn personal water safety, achieve basic swimming competency, and progress to learn about the four competitive swimming strokes.

Stage 1 Water Acclimation: Kids develop comfort with underwater exploration and are introduced to basic self-rescue skills performed with assistance.

• Class length: 25 minutes
• Qualification: None needed. This class is for kids who aren’t yet comfortable going under water voluntarily.
• Skills Practiced:
  ○ Bob to submerge in water
  ○ Front and back glide to the wall for 5 feet with no help
  ○ Front and back float for 10 seconds with help
  ○ Roll from back to front and front to back with help
  ○ Jump, push, turn, grab with help
  ○ Swim, float, swim 10 feet with help
  ○ Exit the water

Stage 2 Water Movement: Kids focus on body position and control, directional change, and forward movement in the water, while also continuing to practice how to safely exit in the event of falling into water.

• Class length: 30 minutes
• Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 1 skills.
• Skills Practiced:
  ○ Submerge to look at an object on the bottom of the pool
  ○ Front and back glide to the wall for 5 feet
  ○ Front and back float for 10 seconds
  ○ Roll from back to front and front to back
  ○ Jump, push, turn, grab
  ○ Swim, float, swim 5 yards
  ○ Tread water near the wall for 10 seconds
  ○ Exit the water

Stage 3 Water Stamina: Kids learn how to swim to safety from a longer distance than in previous stages. The class also introduces rhythmic breathing and integrated arm/leg action.

• Class length: 25 minutes
• Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 2 skills.
• Skills Practiced:
  ○ Retrieve an object in chest-deep water
  ○ Swim on front and back for 10 yards
  ○ Roll from back to front and front to back
  ○ Jump, push, turn, grab 10 yards
  ○ Swim, float, swim 15 yards
  ○ Tread water for 30 seconds
  ○ Exit the water

Stage 4 Stroke Introduction: Having mastered the fundamentals, kids learn additional water safety skills and build stroke technique.

• Class length: 25 minutes
• Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 3 skills.
• Skills Practiced:
  ○ Swim the front crawl with rotary breathing for 15 yards
  ○ Breaststroke kick for 15 yards
  ○ Butterfly kick for 15 yards
  ○ Elementary backstroke for 15 yards
  ○ Dive from a sitting position
  ○ Tread water using a scissor and whip kick for one minute
  ○ Swim any combination of strokes for 25 yards

Stage 5 Stroke Development: Students work on stroke technique and learn all major competitive swimming strokes.

• Class length: 25 minutes
• Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 4 skills.
• Skills Practiced:
  ○ Swim the front crawl with bent-arm recovery for 25 yards
  ○ Breaststroke for 25 yards
  ○ Butterfly with simultaneous arm action and kick for 15 yards
  ○ Back crawl for 25 yards
  ○ Sidestroke for 25 yards
  ○ Dive from a kneeling position
  ○ Tread water using a scissor and whip kick for 2 minutes
  ○ Swim any combination of strokes for 50 yards

Stage 6 Stroke Mechanics: Students refine stroke technique on the major competitive strokes, learn about competitive swimming and discover how to incorporate swimming into a healthy lifestyle.

• Class length: 25 minutes
• Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 5 skills.
• Skills Practiced:
  ○ Swim the front crawl for 50 yards and do a flip turn
  ○ Breaststroke for 50 yards and do an open turn
  ○ Butterfly for 25 yards
  ○ Back crawl for 25 yards and do a flip turn
  ○ Sidestroke or elementary backstroke for 50 yards
  ○ Dive from a standing position
  ○ Swim any combination of strokes for 150 yards
  ○ Swim any combination of strokes for 50 yard

VIEW FULL LESSON SELECTOR PDF

Teens and adults can choose from different levels of classes, beginning with water safety and swimming competency, to building and refining swimming stroke techniques.

Stage 1 Water Acclimation: Students develop comfort with underwater exploration and are introduced to basic self-rescue skills performed with assistance.

• Class length: 25 minutes, varies by branch and age
• Qualification: None needed. This class is for students who aren’t yet comfortable going under water voluntarily.
• Skills Practiced:
  ○ Bob to submerge in water
  ○ Front and back glide to the wall for 5 feet with no help
  ○ Front and back float for 10 seconds with help
  ○ Roll from back to front and front to back with help
  ○ Jump, push, turn, grab with help
  ○ Swim, float, swim 10 feet with help
  ○ Exit the water

Stage 2 Water Movement: Students focus on body position and control, directional change, and forward movement in the water, while also continuing to practice how to safely exit in the event of falling into water.

• Class length: 25 minutes, varies by branch and age
• Qualification: Student must be able to demonstrate all Stage 1 skills.
• Skills Practiced:
  ○ Submerge to look at an object on the bottom of the pool
  ○ Front and back glide to the wall for 5 feet
  ○ Front and back float for 10 seconds
  ○ Roll from back to front and front to back
  ○ Jump, push, turn, grab
  ○ Swim, float, swim 5 yards
  ○ Tread water near the wall for 10 seconds
  ○ Exit the water

Stage 3 Water Stamina: Students learn how to swim to safety from a longer distance than in previous stages. The class also introduces rhythmic breathing and integrated arm/leg action.

• Class length: 25 minutes, varies by branch and age
• Qualification: Student must be able to demonstrate all Stage 2 skills.
• Skills Practiced:
  ○ Retrieve an object in chest-deep water
  ○ Swim on front and back for 10 yards
  ○ Roll from back to front and front to back
  ○ Jump, push, turn, grab 10 yards
  ○ Swim, float, swim 15 yards
  ○ Tread water for 30 seconds
  ○ Exit the water

Stage 4 Stroke Introduction: Having mastered the fundamentals, student learn additional water safety skills and build stroke technique.

• Class length:25 minutes, varies by branch and age
• Qualification: Student must be able to demonstrate all Stage 3 skills.
• Skills Practiced:
  ○ Swim the front crawl with rotary breathing for 15 yards
  ○ Breaststroke kick for 15 yards
  ○ Butterfly kick for 15 yards
  ○ Elementary backstroke for 15 yards
  ○ Dive from a sitting position
  ○ Tread water using a scissor and whip kick for one minute
  ○ Swim any combination of strokes for 25 yards

Stage 5 Stroke Development: Students work on stroke technique and learn all major competitive swimming strokes

• Class length: 25 minutes, varies by branch and age
• Qualification: Student must be able to demonstrate all Stage 4 skills.
• Skills Practiced:
  ○ Swim the front crawl with bent-arm recovery for 25 yards
  ○ Breaststroke for 25 yards
  ○ Butterfly with simultaneous arm action and kick for 15 yards
  ○ Back crawl for 25 yards
  ○ Sidestroke for 25 yards
  ○ Dive from a kneeling position
  ○ Tread water using a scissor and whip kick for 2 minutes Breaststroke for 25 yards
  ○ Swim any combination of strokes for 50 yards

Stage 6 Stroke Mechanics: Students refine stroke technique on the major competitive strokes, learn about competitive swimming and discover how to incorporate swimming into a healthy lifestyle

• Class length: 25 minutes
• Qualification: Student must be able to demonstrate all Stage 5 skills.
• Skills Practiced:
  ○ Swim the front crawl for 50 yards and do a flip turn
  ○ Breaststroke for 50 yards and do an open turn
  ○ Butterfly for 25 yards
  ○ Back crawl for 25 yards and do a flip turn
  ○ Sidestroke or elementary backstroke for 50 yards
  ○ Dive from a standing position
  ○ Swim any combination of strokes for 150 yards
  ○ Swim any combination of strokes for 50 yards

VIEW FULL LESSON SELECTOR PDF

Private Lessons: Group lessons aren't for everyone. Work one-on-one with a swim instructor to meet your swimming goals. Contact your branch Aquatics Director for more information, pricing, or to schedule your lesson today!

• Designed for 1:1 instruction
• Class length: 25 minutes

Semi-Private Lessons: Bring a swimming partner and work two-on-one with an instructor for focused attention on your swimming goals and needs. Contact your branch Aquatics Director for more information, pricing, or to schedule your lesson today!

• Designed for 2:1 instruction
• Class length: 30-60 minutes
• Qualification: Participants must register as a pair.

PRIVATE LESSONS: Yarrow Only Register Here

GROUP LESSONS:
Due to the limited number of staff and available pool space, we are not offering make-up lessons for missed group classes. No refunds or credits will be issued for missed classes. Credit will be issued due to pool closures or other unforeseen events. All refund requests must be submitted in writing. Verbal requests will not be accepted. A 100% refund is available if requests are made 72 hours prior to the first class. A 75% refund is available for requests received after the deadline and prior to the 2^nd day of class. Requests received after the deadline are subject to an additional $15 fee. No refunds will be issued for requests after the 2^nd day of class. 

PRIVATE SWIM LESSONS:
Make-up lessons MAY be available as per instructors’ availability and available pool space, and are limited to 1 per session. Make-up lessons are not guaranteed. No refunds or credits will be issued for missed classes. Credit will be issued due to pool closures or other unforeseen events. All refund requests must be submitted in writing. Verbal requests will not be accepted. A 100% refund is available if requests are made 72 hours prior to the first class. A 75% refund is available for requests received after the deadline and prior to the 2^nd day of class. Requests received after the deadline are subject to an additional $15 fee. No refunds or credits will be issued for requests after the 2^nd day of class.