All Swimming Programs
Swim Lessons
Lap & Recreational Swim
Swim Team
Outdoor Pools
Safety Around Water

Learn to Swim at the Y

We strive to help all ages learn how to swim, so they can stay safe around water and learn the skills needed to make swimming a lifelong pursuit for healthy living. 

Registration for Y members opens on the 15th of the month at 6:00 am for lessons that start in the following month. Registration opens for community on the 18th of the month at 6:00 am. Please note that some group swim lessons span multiple months and so not every month will have lessons open for registration. 

Swim Lesson Programs

Welcoming kids and adults of all ages and abilities, swim lessons at the Y offer a clear progression track to monitor achievement while every lesson emphasizes personal safety around water.

Swim Starters

Group Swim Lessons - Swim Starters


Accompanied by an adult, infants and toddlers learn to be comfortable in the water and develop swim readiness skills through fun and confidence-building experiences, while adults learn about water safety, drowning prevention, and the importance of supervision. Swimmers are introduced to the aquatic environment, explore body positions, and blow bubbles.

  • Ages 6 months-3 years
  • Classes progress through stages A and B

Swim Basics

Icon showing swim with numbers 1 2 3 4


Swimmers become comfortable and confident in the water through practicing safe water habits, engaging in underwater exploration, and learning how to swim to safety if they fall into a body of water. Swimmers will practice two key swim sequences that are the foundation for a safe swimming experience: swim, float, swim and jump, push, turn, grab. 

  • Preschool ages 3-5, Youth ages 5-12
  • Classes progress through stages 1 to 3

Swim Strokes

Icon showing three sets of swimmers doing different strokes in a lap lane


Having mastered the fundamentals, students learn additional water safety skills and build stroke technique for front crawl, breaststroke, back stroke, butterfly, sidestroke, and elementary backstroke. Students develop skills that can help prevent chronic disease, increase overall well-being, and foster a lifetime of physical activity. 
 

  • Youth ages 5-12
  • Classes progress through stages 4 to 6

Aquatic Conditioning

Icon showing kids doing aquatic conditioning


Swimmers in this program will work towards important milestones including building endurance in the  competitive strokes, developing skills related to competitive swimming such as flip turns, starts, and finishes, and incorporating swimming as part of a healthy lifestyle. 

  • Ages 6-21

Swim Lessons: Teen / Adult

Group icon in a mpool


This class encompasses all stages of swim lessons. The first day of class includes an assessment of current skills and comfort in the water. Students will then be grouped together by similar skill level to allow for appropriate progressive instruction ranging from swim basics to swim strokes. 

  • Ages 12 and up

Register for Group Swim Lessons

Please select the branch location where you would like to attend the group swim lesson to start the registration process.

» Auburn Valley YMCA
» Bellevue Family YMCA
» Coal Creek Family YMCA
» Dale Turner Family YMCA
» Downtown Seattle YMCA
» Kent YMCA
» Matt Griffin YMCA
» Meredith Mathews East Madison YMCA
» Northshore YMCA
» Sammamish Community YMCA
» West Seattle & Fauntleroy YMCA
 

Know Before You Go

  • Please arrive on time, dressed in swim clothes, freshly showered, and ready to swim. 
  • All swimmers and guests must sign a facility waiver agreement. 
  • We ask that parents escort their swimmer to the pool area where they will place their personal belongings in their designated space, and check-in with our aquatic staff for swim lessons. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is Swim Starters?

Swim Starters, or stages A and B, is our child with adult swim lesson program. 

What is Swim Basics?

Swim Basics, or stages 1 to 3, is a swim lesson program for ages 3 to 12 that focuses on learning basic swim skills, improving water safety, and building confidence in the water. Students will practice two key swim sequences that are the foundation for a safe swimming experience: swim, float, swim and jump, push, turn, grab.

What is Swim Strokes?

Swim Strokes, or stages 4 to 6, builds stroke technique and additional water safety skills for students ages 5 to 12. This program focuses on introducing and refining six swim strokes: front crawl, breaststroke, back stroke, butterfly, sidestroke, and elementary backstroke. 

When is registration?
  • Y Members: Registration will open on the 15th of each month at 6:00 am for lessons starting in the following month.
  • Community: Registration will open on the 18th of each month at 6:00 am for lessons starting in the following month. 
How long are group swim lessons?

Lessons will be offered for 30 minutes in length once or twice a week. Fees will adjust based upon total number of classes offered in a session.

What are your safety protocols for swimming lessons?

There is nothing more important to us than the safety of you, our members, our staff, and our volunteers. Guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), local health agencies, and public officials has been critical as we've updated our policies and reopened or facilities and programs.

  • Swim Instructors will be wearing face shields throughout the duration of swim lesson.
  • Each lesson will include up to 6 child/adult participant pairs. 
  • Staff will disinfect all touch points and equipment before every lesson. Instructional equipment will be limited to kick boards, kick sticks, and pull buoys and will be disinfected between users.
  • We’ve also improved air quality in our buildings, including limiting air re-circulation and maximizing fresh air intake.
What if I don't feel safe with my child not social distancing while in swimming lessons?

We are following the latest guidelines from the CDC to ensure our participants are safe. If you do not feel comfortable, we invite you to sign up for one-on-one private swim lessons.

Is it safe for people to swim in shared water?

Per the CDC, the virus cannot be transmitted through properly treated water. Our pool chemicals are always maintained within the required ranges set by the health department. Should our water ever go outside of that range, we do close down the pool until the water is safe to swim in again.

Does my child need to wear a mask while in the water?

We ask participants not to wear masks in the water as it presents a safety hazard.

Do I need to be a Y member to sign up for group swim lessons?

Beginning with swim sessions in April 2022, we no longer require participants to be Y members. Y members do get member-only benefits including lower pricing and priority registration.

How many parents or guardians are allowed on the pool deck?

To limit our building capacity, we are limiting the number of guests on the deck to one parent or guardian per swim lesson student.

.

Stay Engaged with the Y

Support Center

We've made it easier than ever to find member and account information with our new Support Center. Find instructions for managing your account, easy access to request forms, and a complete list of our policies all in one place.

Learn More

Camp & Outdoor Leadership

The YMCA has been the leader in Summer Camp for over 130 years. Over this time, we’ve fine-tuned our programs to meet youth and their families wherever they are in their journey with the outdoors.

Learn More

Join the Y!

With a shared commitment to nurturing the potential of kids, improving health and well-being, and supporting our neighbors, your membership will not just bring about meaningful change in yourself, but also in your community. 

Learn More
.