Swim Lesson Descriptions
(YMCA and Brown
County Red Cross)
We are striving for
instructional excellence,
If you have any questions or comments
please contact Ashley at 605-225-4910
 The Aberdeen Family YMCA and the Brown
County Chapter of the American Red Cross have teamed together to offer American Red
Cross Swimming Lessons. We will limit our classes to 8 participants
for the better instructor to participant ratio.
Age requirements: Participants in our Water Babies program, which is our Infant/Toddler Learn-to-Swim program, must be at least 6 months of age, up until 3 years of age.
Participants in our Pre-School Aquatics program must be about 3 years old, up until 5 years of age. We offer Pre-School Levels 1-3.
Participants in our Learn-to-Swim program, should be 5 years of age and older. We offer Learn-to-Swim Levels 1-6. Levels are grouped by ability.
We suggest your child’s progression should be from Water Babies to Pre-School Aquatics, and then through our Learn-to-Swim Levels for the best possible success rate through our aquatic programming. If you are unsure which level your child should be placed in, please view the Red Cross Level Requirements or contact
Ashley Elbers at 225-4910.
Passing Classes: It is not uncommon for a child to stay in a particular level several times before successful completion. It is natural for participants to develop motor skills and become comfortable with water at a different pace. Practicing skills during open and family swim is strongly recommended to improve swim skills.
Missed Classes: Sorry, missed classes cannot be made up; nor are they refundable.
Parent Observation: Unless involved in the Water Babies class, parents are only allowed to be in the pool deck seating area or along the south wall by the Lap Pool during lessons. This is to provide your child with the best possible learning experience. Please do not move chairs to the area of your child’s class. It is our ambition to help your child grow in their confidence and to progress with their skill level.
Low Participation Policy: Due to cost, any lesson with fewer than 3 participants may be shortened or combined with classes of similar skill levels. Although the Aberdeen Family YMCA will try to accommodate your first choice for swim lessons, we reserve the right to change or cancel classes, based on registration. Participants who cannot attend a changed class will receive a refund.
Registration: May be made by phone or in person. Payment must be received at time of registration. No refunds or credits once a session begins.
Swim Lesson Requirements Printable Version
 Pre School Aquatics
Gives young children about ages 3 to 5 a positive, developmentally appropriate aquatic learning experience that emphasizes water safety and survival concepts. Skills are age-appropriate, helping participants achieve success on a regular basis while in a class environment with their peers.
PRE-SCHOOL LEVEL 1
Helps participants feel comfortable in the water and to enjoy the water safely.
- Enter water by stepping in
- Finning arm action on back
- Exit water using ladder, steps or side
- Front and back floats and glides
- Bobbing
- Roll from front to back and back to front
- Open eyes under water and retrieve submerged objects
- Tread water using arm and leg actions
- Recover from a front and back float or glide to a vertical position
- Staying safe around aquatic environments
- Combined arm and leg actions on front and back
- Don’t just pack it, wear your jacket
- Recognizing the lifeguards
- Recognizing an emergency
- How to call for help
- Too much sun is no fun
PRE-SCHOOL LEVEL 2
Builds on the skills learned in Level 1 and gives participants success with fundamental skills such as floating and basic locomotion.
- Enter water by stepping in
- Exit water using ladder, steps or side
- Open eyes under water and retrieve submerged objects
- Bobbing
- Front and back floats and glides
- Roll from front to back and back to front
- Recover from a front float or glide to a vertical position
- Recover from a back float or glide to a vertical position
- Tread water using arm and leg actions
- Combined arm and leg actions on front and back
- Finning arm action on back
- Staying safe around aquatic environments
- Recognizing the lifeguards
- Don’t just pack it, wear your jacket
- Recognizing an emergency
- How to call for help
- Too much sun is no fun
PRE-SCHOOL LEVEL 3
Builds on the skills in Level 2 and improves participants’ coordination of simultaneous arm and leg actions and alternating arm and leg actions.
- Enter water by jumping in
- Fully submerging and holding breath
- Bobbing
- Front, jellyfish and tuck floats
- Recover from a front and back float or glide to a vertical position
- Back float and glide
- Change direction of travel while swimming on front or back
- Tread water using arm and leg actions
- Combined arm and leg actions on front and back
- Finning arm action on back
- Staying safe around aquatic environments
- Don’t just pack it, wear your jacket
- Recognizing an emergency
- How to call for help
- Too much sun is no fun
- Look before you leap
- Think so you don’t sink
- Reach or throw, don’t go
Learn-to-Swim Aquatics - Level 1 through Level 6
Gives children about age 5 and older a logical, six-level progression that helps swimmers of varying abilities develop their swimming and water safety skills. It is designed to give participants a positive learning experience.
LEVEL 1: INTRODUCTION TO WATER SKILLS
Helps participants feel comfortable in the water.
- Enter and exit water using ladder, steps or side
- Blow bubbles through mouth and nose
- Bobbing Open eyes under water and retrieve submerged objects
- Front and back glides and back float
- Recover to vertical position from a front glide and back float
- Roll from front to back and back to front
- Tread water using arm and hand actions
- Alternating and simultaneous leg actions on front and back
- Alternating and simultaneous arm actions on front and back
- Combined arm and leg actions on front and back
- Staying safe around aquatic environments
- Recognizing the lifeguards
- Don’t just pack it, wear your jacket
- Recognizing an emergency
- How to call for help
- Too much sun is no fun
LEVEL 2: FUNDAMENTAL AQUATIC SKILLS
Gives participants success with fundamental skills.
- Enter water by stepping or jumping from the side
- Exit water using ladder, steps or side
- Fully submerge and hold breath
- Bobbing
- Open eyes under water and retrieve submerged objects
- Front, jellyfish and tuck floats
- Front and back glides and back float
- Recover from a front/back float or glide to a vertical position
- Roll from front to back and back to front
- Change direction of travel while swimming on front or back
- Tread water using arm and leg actions
- Combined arm and leg actions on front and back
- Finning arm action on back
- Staying safe around aquatic environments
- Don’t just pack it, wear your jacket
- Recognizing an emergency
- How to call for help
- Too much sun is no fun
- Look before you leap
- Think so you don’t sink
- Reach or throw, don’t go
LEVEL 3: STROKE DEVELOPMENT
Builds on the skills in Level 2 through additional guided practice in deeper waters.
- Enter water by jumping from the side
- Headfirst entry from the side in sitting and kneeling positions
- Bobbing while moving toward safety
- Rotary breathing
- Survival float
- Back float
- Change from vertical to horizontal position on front and back
- Tread water
- Front crawl and elementary backstroke
- Scissors kick
Reach or throw, don’t go
- Think twice before going near cold water or ice
- Push off in a streamlined position then begin flutter and dolphin kicks on front
LEVEL 4: STROKE IMPROVEMENT
Develops confidence in the skills learned and improves other aquatic skills.
- Headfirst entry from the side in compact and stride positions
- Swim under water
- Feet first surface dive
- Survival swimming
- Front crawl and backstroke open turns
- Tread water using 2 different kicks
- Reach or throw, don’t go
- Recreational water illnesses
- Think so you don’t sink
- Look before you leap
- Front and back crawl, elementary backstroke, breaststroke, sidestroke and butterfly
- Push off in a streamlined position then begin flutter and dolphin kicks on back
LEVEL 5: STROKE REFINEMENT
Provides further coordination and refinement of strokes.
- Shallow-angle dive from the side
- Shallow-angle dive from the side then glide and begin a front stroke
- Tuck and pike surface dives
- Front flip turn and backstroke flip turn while swimming
- Tread water
- Front and back crawl, elementary backstroke, breaststroke, sidestroke and butterfly
- Standard scull on back
- How to call for help and the importance of knowing first aid and CPR
- Recreational water illnesses
- Reach or throw, don’t go
- Look before you leap
- Think so you don’t sink
- Think twice before going near cold water or ice
- Wave, tide or ride, follow the guide
LEVEL 6: SWIMMING AND SKILL PROFICIENCY
Refines the strokes so participants swim them with ease, efficiency, power and smoothness over greater distances.
- Level 6 is designed with “menu” options that focus on preparing participants for lifetime fitness and safety, as well as more advanced courses, such as the Water Safety Instructor course, or other aquatic activities, including competitive swimming or diving. Options include—Personal Water Safety, Fitness Swimmer, and Fundamentals of Diving.
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