Swim

The YMCA of Greater Charlotte is dedicated to helping everyone have the necessary capabilities to be strong, confident swimmers.

We offer programs and various schedules for every age, skill level, and interest. Whether you want to introduce your child to the joys of swimming, yearn to become more confident in the water, or learn a new swim stroke, we’ve got you covered!

Swim Starters >

No prerequisites are needed to register for this class. 

In Swim Starters, Infants and toddlers, accompanied by a parent, learn to be comfortable in the water and develop swim readiness skills through fun and confidence-building experiences. Parents learn about water safety, drowning prevention, and the importance of supervision.

Swim Starters A:  Parent/Child

Students must be able to respond to verbal cues and jump on land to register for this class.

Parents accompany children in this stage, which introduces infants and toddlers to the aquatic environment through exploration and encourages them to enjoy themselves while learning about the water.

Swim Starters B:  Parent/Child

In this stage, parents work with their children to explore body positions, floating, blowing bubbles, and fundamental safety and aquatic skills.

Swim Basics >

In Swim Basics, students learn personal water safety and achieve basic swimming competency by learning two benchmark skills: Swim, float, swim and jump, push, turn, and grab.

Swim Basics 1:  Preschool, School Age, Teen/Adult

Preschool: Students must be able to work with an instructor without a parent to register for this class

School Age: Students must be able to respond to verbal cues and be able to work with an instructor without a parent to register for this class

Teen/Adult: Students must be able to respond to verbal cues to register for this class. 

Students develop comfort with underwater exploration and learn to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water in stage 1. This stage lays the foundation that allows for a student’s future progress in swimming.

Swim Basics 2:  Preschool, School Age, Teen/Adult

Students must be able to go underwater voluntarily to register for this class.  

In this stage, students focus on body position and control, directional change, and forward movement in the water while also continuing to practice how to exit safely in the event of falling into a body of water.

Swim Basics 3:  Preschool, School Age, Teen/Adult

Students must be able to go underwater voluntarily and front and back float on his or her own to register for this class.

In this stage, students learn how to swim to safety from a longer distance than in previous stages in the event of falling into a body of water. This stage also introduces rhythmic breathing and integrated arm and leg action.

The small group lesson format is perfect for the child who learns better in a more intimate setting.  We blend what we do best in group and private lessons to give your child more time in the water and with their instructor.

Swim Strokes >

Having mastered the fundamentals, students in Swim Strokes will learn additional water safety skills and build stroke technique, developing skills that prevent chronic disease, increase social-emotional and cognitive well-being, and foster a lifetime of physical activity.

Swim Strokes 4:  Preschool, School Age, Teen/Adult

To register for this class, students must be able to swim 10 – 15 yards on their stomachs and backs. 

Students in this stage develop stroke techniques in front and back crawl and learn the breaststroke kick and butterfly kick. Water safety is reinforced through treading water and elementary backstroke.

Swim Strokes 5:  School Age, Teen/Adult

To register for this class, students must be able to swim 15 yards of front and back crawl and tread water for 1 minute.

Students in this stage work on stroke techniques and learn all major competitive strokes. The emphasis on water safety continues through treading water and sidestroke.

Swim Strokes 6:  School Age, Teen/Adult

To register for this class, students must be able to swim 25 yards of front crawl and back crawl, tread water for a minute, and have some knowledge of breaststroke and butterfly.

In this stage, students refine stroke techniques on all major competitive strokes, learn about competitive swimming, and discover how to incorporate swimming into a healthy lifestyle.

Swim Lessons